Horseback Riding!!

Anna Caitlin has been dying to start horseback riding lessons. So, that was her birthday present from us. And yes, her birthday was in February. But, between a busy summer and the crazy heat, we have just now started lessons.

Anna Caitlin is LOVING riding! Her teacher is awesome and the stables are beautiful! Her teacher tells us that she is extremely good for a beginner and that she is a natural. And the best part is that Anna Caitlin loves all of it, including taking care of the horses. Her favorite thing to do is to pick the rocks and dirt out of their hooves! I think this is the start of an addiction for our little princess...

Movie Night!

One of my very favorite parts of living in our neighborhood is the fun family events that they plan throughout the year. Movie night is one of our favorite events! To kick off fall, we got together with friends for dinner at La Parilla (where else??) and the movie Rio at the ampitheater. The kids had a great time. The boys spent more time playing on the playground than watching the movie, and the girls played big sister to Kyleigh. A fun way to kick off the weekend!

Labor Day Lake Fun!

We spent Labor Day at the Ruddell's lakehouse on Lake Oconee. We had such an awesome time! We went to look at a camper that Mandy's aunt and uncle were planning to sell to see if we may be interested, and walked away the proud owners of our very own camper! We cannot wait to try it out!

We went for a boatride on their boat, and in true Hayworth fashion, we broke down. The good news was we were right beside the Ritz...the bad news was that we had to have another boat tow us back to the lakehouse. Once we got back, the kids swam and played on the four wheelers. I think that our kids have found a new pasttime...they LOVED riding these! And I am sure that made their daddy so proud!


Anna Caitlin rode the big four wheeler with her daddy!

Joshua was ready to go!! He got to ride with Ms. Mandy!

School Days!

Our fabulous summer is over! School started back on August 15, and for the first time, I have TWO babies in BIG SCHOOL! It is hard to believe! Miss Anna Caitlin started the second grade and my Drewsie started Kindergarten! They both have fantastic teachers. Anna Caitlin has Ms. Smith, who she LOVES and Drew has Ms. Nix and Ms. Foster who are the best Kindergarten teachers ever! I think we may send these two sweet ladies into shock teaching Drew after they taught Anna Caitlin.

They both had a great first day. No tears from anyone (including Mommy!) Anna Caitlin came home saying that school was great, and Drew came home from school informing us he was not going the next day because school is too long. I agree! Such a long day for a five year old.

We are now three weeks in and they both really do love school. Some of my favorite Drewisms so far this year:

Drew: "Ms. Nix, why is it going to rain on my birthday?"
Ms. Nix: "Drew, why do you think it is going to rain on your birthday?"
Drew: "Because you put my birthday on the umbrella." (for April showers)

Ms. Nix: "Drew, come over here." as he goes into the woods to pee outside on the playground.

Ms. Nix to me: "Is this you correct phone number? Drew said this is not it."
Me: "That is because we learned our address last night, not our phone number."

I LOVE THIS BOY! It is going to be an awesome year!

Cutest group of Kindergarteners ever!

Sweet second graders!

Camping...Again!

The weekend before school started, we went camping with our buddies from Ms. Carol's house. The Youngs got a new pop up and wanted to try it out. NOTE: The Hayworths are still camping in a tent. With three children. In August. In Georgia. Is there something wrong with this picture??

We went to our favorite spot...McKinney. We have a perfect little cul-de-sac for the kids to play, and we are right on the lake for the kids to swim.

Joshua was so excited to have his buddy Cole with him. Finally...someone his own size! They had a blast riding the 4 wheeler and playing in the sprinklers.

The big kids had a blast playing on the plasma car with Chandler.

And the big-big kids had a great time sitting by the campfire (without a fire) talking and hanging out.

I LOVE these memories we are making of their childhood!!

Girl's Night Out!!

Mandy did it! She finished her doctorate in counseling and we are SO proud of her!! We had a great time celebrating her accomplishment. Whit had us over for a girl's sleepover at her new house and it was SO much fun! I love spending time with these girls!

Congratulations Dr. Roo!!!

Baptism

Our beautiful little girl, Anna Caitlin, was baptized on July 31. She came home several weeks before that telling us that she wanted to be baptized. We talked about what baptism means and how you ask Jesus to live in your heart. Her response "Oh, yeah, I have done that tons of times." We also talked about after you ask him once, you don't ever have to ask again. I love the sweet innocence of children!

Westridge requires all school age children to take Splash Class before they are baptized. This was a fabulous class where Pastor Brent broke it down for the kids. How Jesus died for their sins and how the cross makes the way for them to go to Heaven. It was the perfect way to explain it to kids. I think sometimes grown ups make things way too hard!

Anna Caitlin has been so very excited about her baptism day. When she was filling out her testimony as to why she made this decision, her answer was "because I want Jesus to always be with me, especially when I am getting ready to take hard tests." LOVE that girl!

It was an incredible feeling to watch your child be baptized and make such an important decision. We are so very proud of her!

After the service, we had family and some friends over for a celebration luncheon. We are so blessed to have so many people who have led her on this journey. It definitely takes a village to raise them!

Her daddy and I had a special canvas painted for her as a keepsake of this day. "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future."

Anna Caitlin with her cousins...

Anna Caitlin and Bella...

The boys...