A couple more Christmas pics...

OK all you parents out there - how the heck do you survive the holidays yeayr after year??? We were absolutely EXHAUSTED by Christmas afternoon! Maybe it was everyone feeling a sick. Maybe it's from having a newborn in the house and no one is sleeping thru the night. Unfortunately as the weekend wore on our visits became shorter, the meltdowns started earlier and the number of pictures being taken became les and less. We all have a lot of sleep to make up and there's LOTS of gifts to be put away! Everyone was so generous as usual! Thanks to all for making the holidays special for the kids!!

Nicholas playing the piano with Pepe.....


Nicholas checking out the electric train going around the Christmas tree at Grandpa and Nana's house....

Jason in his new sweater that the neighbors gave him. It was hand knit - how sweet!! Notice his hair. Dan decided that his hair was falling out in an unattractive manner and took his clippers to his head to spiff him up for the holidays. Obviously I wasn't home when this was happening. Dan tried to play sly and put a hat on Jason so mom wouldn't notice until he left for work. I obviously had some choice words for him after that!! Jason must be the only 5 week old with razor burn on his neck..... poor guy!

Christmas morning

After a long night on Christmas Eve - actually I think we were home by 8:30 - Christmas morning started early! I know that will be the norm from now on but it was still tough on mom and dad! We started out the morning with cinnamon rolls and a BIG pot of coffee!

My new horse from Auntie Lisa and cousin Christopher is a little scary at first - but he's so much fun to ride on the counter!


Look mom, I collected the stockings for all of us to open .....



Opening stockings with Mom ....

Playing with my new toy train set I got from Santa......

Nicholas back on the couch watching Seame Street again. Unfortunately Dan was joining him now since he was starting to feel under the weather too.

Nicholas playing with his new cars from Aunt Mary, Uncle Roger and Uncle Chuck. He loves the songs they play!

Jason enjoying his usual position :)

Christmas Eve

What a week leading up to Christmas! Nicholas woke up with the stomach flu on the Monday night before and had cold symptoms and a fever also. I thought for sure he had the flu! The vomitting was gone by early morning but the fever and really bad cough and runny nose stuck around. He spent the next four days on the couch ALL day watching the SAME Sesame Street episode over and over again. Come to find out there was a break out of RSV in the next room over at daycare. We headed to the doctor on Thursday and the doctor said that's probably what he had. Luckily his fever broke Christmas Eve morning and everyone in the Loach family wanted to see him even if he could still be contagious. So off the the Loach Christmas Eve party we went!!

Nicholas' favorite moment of the party was standing on one of his presents and dancing and clapping while everyone was laughing and clapping for him. What a ham! He loved all the attention!



Aren't all the presents here for me??




Hey Uncle Roger, any good at basketball?? I still prefer playing ball over any new toy.

A picture of all the cousins. Age range 22 years old to 5 weeks old. Crazy huh! The oldest cousin - Andy - was even home from the Navy!

Jason is 1 month old...

Time sure does fly! Here are Jason's stats from his one month appointment:

weight = 11 lbs, 10 oz (91%) - he was actually bigger than Nicholas at his 1 month appt - uh-oh :)
height = 22.5" (81%) - same height at Nicholas was

Trip to Pro Bass Shop...

With such an active toddler and the weather getting too cold to hang out outside, we are constantly looking for free indoor activities to keep Nicholas busy. The Pro Bass Shop dpwn at Patriots Place had a huge winter wonderland set up for the season - complete with a free picture with Santa Claus. It was a great place to go where Nicholas could check out the stuffed wild animals and get on all the boats and ATVs. And because it was set up for kids activities, the place was even more kid friendly than usual!

Nicholas enjoying one of the many ATVs .....


Santa looked interesting from afar ....



But was not a hit once we got to the front of the line....



Jason chilled for most of the day .... we opted not to have him get out and visit Santa with him being so small and me being so paranoid of germs...

Look Dad, if we get this one I could drive you around everywhere!

Random pics ....

Mom - can we PLEASE get this min van??



Trust me - it's so comfy that I refused to leave the driver seat for 30 minutes while as the car show...



Mom - this close up makes my nose look big....

Nicholas loves to dump all his clothes out of his cabinet...

I love to sleep in my carseat ....

Mom - this hat is already too small for me .....

Hangin' with Auntie Aimee and cousin Kylie....

Trying a bite of Grandpa Loach's brisket.....

Some videos...

Mommy's little helper ......



Rockin' out with Dad ......



Bumper cars ........

Time to pick out a Christmas tree...

A family portrait taken by one of the tree farmers ........



Mommy and Nicholas looked high and low for the perfect tree .......

But Daddy and Nicholas ended up finding the perfect one....

Jason found tree shopping quite boring....

But he was quite interested once the loghts went on the tree.....

Nicholas loved playing with the fake cranberry ropes....

Nicholas and Daddy putting on the tree topper ..........