Winter Fun!

     Winter is finally coming to an end and despite the cold, time has just been flying by.  Meredith is getting bigger and bigger, with longer and curlier hair (still red, too!).  We've been hanging out at home, with friends, visiting family and just keeping busy in general.  Meri is getting so fun.  She is saying more and more words and now seems to completely understand things when I ask her to do something, get something or help me with something.  She's full of energy and is such a social butterfly.  Here are some pics from the last couple of months!!

Meri trying my apron on!

She loves sitting at her table and coloring!

I went down to Clear Lake, Iowa to have a fun girl's weekend

Getting a little crazy later in the night, stay tuned - you'll be seeing these tanks again!

Hanging out at Nicole and Travis' for the end of the Super Bowl!

Cousin Paul reading a book to Meri.  We finally were able to schedule a dinner with my cousin Jess and her hubby Paul.  It was fun catching up!

Daddy and Meri cuddling together on a quiet evening at home

Meri spending time with Uncle Justin and Gpa John at Red Lobster for my dad's birthday!

Meredith playing with her new friend, Nora, at Nora's 3rd birthday party

Meri trying to be involved with masquerade mask making at Nora's B-day party

My cousin Jana came for a visit this past weekend and was able to babysit for us while Jon and I went to the Food and Wine Show at Target Field.  Thanks Jana!!

Having fun despite the cold

   In January we were quite busy.  A few weekends ago I went to a baby shower for my good girlfriend, Katie, from college.  She had her son just a week later.  It was fun getting together with a bunch of college girls I haven't seen in a long time and to celebrate Katie's upcoming bundle of joy.  The following weekend, Jon and my sister's husband, Andrew - headed up north to ice fish.  So, my sister and her two kids came up here to spend the weekend.  We hung out at home Friday night and Saturday we took all the kids to the Children's museum in St. Paul.  It was tons of fun, the kids had a great time and so did we.  Here are some pictures from those past weekends!!

All the preggo "Whitehouse" girls

Having fun at Katie's Baby Shower (she had her son a week later....)

No, Meri didn't become a giant baby, she decided to climb into her dolls bed!

Visit from my sister, her daughter, Madison, and son Brooks while our hubbys went ice fishing up North

Brooks and Meri, hanging out

Here at the Children's Museum - having a ball

Brooks and Madison

Meri having fun tooling around

Meri's big cousin catching her at the bottom of the slide

Banging on the drum

Photo Op!

Crawling around in the ant tunnels

And through a log

And Up? the slide

Uh oh, Maddy's stuck in the ant tunnel!!

Now playing with the bubbles

And water

Dancing to the music with Auntie Emily

Grooving with mommy

Christmas and New Years....

  A lot was doing on in December.  Jon's father came for a weekend visit in mid-December.  Then we had a few family Christmas, and impromptu Pfaffinger family get-together,  one with just our family, one with my mom's family and none with my dad's.  Then we had some fun with my college friends and their kids for New Year's Eve!

A fun visit with Grandpa Jack

Meredith and her cousin Madison opening presents at our impromptu Pfaffinger family gathering

Madison had a lot of fun with her cousin Madison, following her around and playing with her.  Here Madison is showing her strength - holding Meri.

Present opening at our McCue Family Christmas.  Meri really likes her new chair.

A gift from Jon's office manager - a fun talking book!

Meri's helping to open her present

We're ready for a Christmas Eve dinner - ham, green beans, and sweet potato

Down in Blue Earth on Christmas Day.  Meri made a new best friend, my step-sister's son - Isaiah!

All the kid's at my mom's Christmas.

Opening presents at my mom's

Dancing with my step-brother in-law.

Having fun with her Great-Grandma Wickersham

New Year's Eve with my old college roomies and our little ones - Sequins, Sparkles and Glitter!

A great family photo op!

Hanging out with her new friends ready to watch a movie.

I guess she's still ready to party!

Ready to toot her horn!

The boys downstairs singing a little Rock Band

The next day hanging with the college gals for our Annual Bennies Christmas