We Rock!

Carter on drums, Nadia on mic, Jensen and uncle Scott on guitar doing their rendition of We Will Rock You.

With the addition of the Wii Rock Band drums and a fourth controller, the whole family can rock-- we've loved it.

And when the boys are at school, Anja gets the chance to play the drums. This is her rendition of Ghostbusters.

Build-a-Bear

With all the Birthday's going on around here, Anja's feeling a bit left out. Santa thought this might happen and brought her an unstuffed "Build-a-Bear" to work on. So, she and I headed to the mall to get the pink bear stuffed and dressed. We had a blast! She didn't look twice and picked out "Sleeping Beauty" clothes for her bear. When the lady asked her what she wanted to name her bear Anja said, "Sleeping Beauty." Of course, what else is there? I'm guessing this is the first of many trips we'll make to the Build-a-Bear factory.

Happy 10th Birthday Carter!!

Carter is a 2000 year baby. That same year the US Treasury department started the state quarter program. His Grandma Coombs started collecting the state quarters and this year, she gave the entire collection to him. Carter was so excited he took them to bed and "read" them before falling asleep.

What could be more appropriate than Grandpa and Grandma Bywater giving Carter the necessary items to move into the Webelos? Oh yeah, and cash. They know him well.

Happy Mario Bros. Cake!

The family gave Carter the Wii Lego Rock Band drums. It was a fun night.

Happy Birthday Boys!!!

A combined birthday at Boondocks last weekend made for fun memories!

No more brace-face

Before they were gone.. one last tin-grin...

..and finally a picture perfect smile!

Way to go Carter and Dr. Tew! We love doctors willing to take a chance and try something new. Carter's case will be one of the cases highlighted at next weeks Orthodontist convention (anyone going?). We are hoping by being a successful case more young kids will get the benefit of using the appliance Carter used to correct a severe under bite without surgery. Braces put the final touch on his smile and a hidden semi-permanent retainer behind his teeth will keep them in alignment as he grows. Smile baby, smile-- show us what we paid for!!

(How's that for an early birthday present)

A New Year's tradition

Grandma and Grandpa Bywater hosted a New Year's Eve party (that ended at 10:30 p.m.) for our three kids. They watched movies, drink soda pop and even had noise makers. It was so fun!

Anja and pappa pulling the sting on a popper.
This celebrating stuff was VERY loud!

Jensen doing his popper.

Carter making a "little" noise.

Anja learning how to make her parents heads hurt with noise makers..

baby talk

Setting: at the library with Anja mid afternoon. She's looking at the rats they have on display in a clear aquarium on the desk. She's tapping on the glass trying to get them to wake up.

Librarian: "Don't tap on the glass, sweety. It says right here we can't tap on the glass because it bothers the rats."
Anja: "I can't read." (keeps tapping)-- score one for the two year old. Dumb librarian.

The month of birthdays

Get ready.... it's a regular birthday extravaganza around here in the next few weeks!!!

Carter January 18 (10 years old)
Rich January 2o
Jensen January 30 (7 years old)

Finally, Christmas morning

All Carter really wanted and got were Lego's.. that's all he did all day long.. hour upon hour, instruction book after instruction book.. he was in heaven.

Rich worked with Jensen on his Lego's hour after hour, box after box... well you get the idea. I think secretly Rich enjoys this. But he did say he couldn't feel the tips of his fingers by that night.

One little girl; two doll houses. Life is good.

Life is good all day long..

Jensen getting more Lego's


As is tradition the Bywater's were over for Georgia Breakfast casserole (Rocky's recipe) and sweet rolls. We didn't leave the house but we all showered, at some point. It was a great day.

Yet, again..

Alas, another beautiful Christmas dress and cute holiday ties for the boys and another attempt for a nice "family" picture. :( Memories...

Grandma and papa gifts

Tradition in the Bywater family dictates that we open the gifts from grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles and cousins on Christmas eve. We do it for a few reasons: First, we're all together. Second: grandparents always give the best gifts. Third: Everyone gets to enjoy seeing the kids play with the gifts they picked out, not the one Santa brought.

Anja was THRILLED, THRILLED, THRILLED, with the princess castle.

The boys "scored" with some power miner Lego's.

Side Note: Carter left a note for Santa asking him to put the Lego's together while he was at the house that night. Santa didn't find the note until after midnight. However, Santa responded saying Carter's dad must have done it because both were built when he got to the house (mom note: at 3:30 a.m. she told dad to come to bed).

The Bywater Nativity

The whole cast...
A very lovely Mary played by Nadia.

Our angel/Tinker Bell (Anja) got stage fright just before her big scene so Uncle Scott (who couldn't fit into the Tinker Bell wings) graciously stepped in to keep the show moving. Next year we'd like to see him wear the wings and tights... Shelbi, can you find him a costume?

Christmas Cookies and PJ's

The whole gang including two extra "second cousins" Paige and Perri.
Christmas cookies and grandma Bywaters!

She used nearly all the sprinkles on one cookie

Visit with Santa

Carter: An old pro at this.. be exact, that way you get exactly what you want.

Jensen: A little nervous but worth the anxiety to make sure Santa knows what you want.

Anja: No Way!!

Nadia heading down the hill-- nearly hitting the car.


Anja playing on the slide. She was a little shocked when she flew off the slide because it was extra slick with her snow pants on.

The three-some doing their best to break a bone. I told them only nose bones can be broken--we have a monopoly on a good doctor.

We live in an awesome neighborhood that has its own park complete with hills for sledding. Anja wouldn't even get on the sled; the boys tried to kill themselves and Nadia tired to "one up them" by going off a little jump and getting the wind knocked out of her.

Anja got bored and went and played on the swings. I love suburbia life.

Christmas dancing

We'll start from the beginning...

We'll start from the beginning... just before Christmas, Anja participated in her first dance recital. Her teacher held a "concert" for just Anja's class-- mostly because they wouldn't sit still long enough to see the other dancers and the four little dancer's costumes were just Christmas pajamas. Anja did okay until it was time to do the turns, then she just kept turning and turning and turning...