San Diego

With Nate heading to his promised land, Alaska, next month, we decided to go on a quick trip for some sun and R&R in San Diego. It was so much fun! We spent our days at the beach, kayaking, beach biking, long walks around the Marina, watching SeaWorld's fireworks from our Hotel along Mission Bay, visit to San Diego Temple, shopping, eating and taking beautiful drives along the coast. It's just what the doctor ordered!

The girlies had a vaca of their own at Grammy and Papa's with a visit from Anne. They loved every minute!! Thanks Grammy and Papa!! 

Beach Day on Mission Beach

Ahhhh....

San Diego temple...so Beautiful!
(except for my jet lagged face :/)

Thanks Grammy for the pudding...every night!
I love sleepovers!! Love, Ruby

Girls Weekend

So, my little sista Anne is in college up in Rexburg at BYU-I (or Ricks College back in the day)...

And with Rexburg being such a  fancy getaway destination, my Mom, Emily, Dana and sweet baby Camryn who is perfect, decided to drop in for a quick visit to see Anne and how my old stomping grounds has changed...and believe me...IT'S CHANGED!

So we loaded up in my mini-van (you can't travel to Idaho in anything else) and went on our way. When we arrived Anne had a packed schedule. She took us on a tour of the campus, showed us her cute apartment that I once lived in, went out to dinner, hot tub, and of course laughed and laughed until the wee hours...

Next morning Anne had us out the door and on a hike up to the R, saw a car crash along the way, lunch from my favorite sandwich shop and picnic in the gardens. To top it all of...I had my first pedicure...Yes, I did it. I am not a fan of feet or people touching mine, except for 4 year olds feet and under. But I took faced my fears and did it. It was great! Why haven't I done it sooner?!?

Thanks Anne for a packed and fun filled weekend! Don't worry, we know it's not usually that exciting in Rexburg, but we'll keep it our little secret :)

Dana, baby Camryn (in the carseat), Mom, Me, Anne, and Em

Ballet 2012

Maren and Brookie wrapped up their Ballet year at Clytie Adams Ballet with a sweet and wonderful recital up at Weber State. I love it! The girls are so happy performing, the costumes are so cute, and the music is beautiful. The girls did such a great job! Way to go Ladies!

Maren (Alloquette), Claire, Brookie (Twinkle, Twinkle)
It was so great taking Claire to watch the girls during practice. She loved to watch them dance and can't wait until next year when she gets to do the same thing! I can't believe we will have 3 Ballerinas!! So fun!



Mares and Boo so excited to start the big show. I don't know what they loved more, dancing, or the after party with the Magician and moshing to Justin Beber :)




Maren invited her BFF Madi to join us. Thanks for coming!




Brookie and sweet friend Halle.




the Parents with our Ballerina's! Can't wait for Claire to join next time!



Last Days

of Soccer!...another successful season down :) It's always a good time watching the little ladies out on the field.

This was Brookie's first year playing. Here she is joined by some of the cute girls on her team!

Maren's cute team has been together pretty much since the beginning. They are a blast to watch!

SCHOOL! The girls (and mom) loved their classes and teachers this last year! Claire graduated from Miss Tami's, Brookie passed Kindergarten with flying colors in Mrs. Schafermeyers class, and Maren had the teacher of OUR dreams in the 3rd grade with Miss Penland.

Little Claire lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance at her preschool graduation. I always thought it was hands on the heart, but Claire was more comfortable on the tummy :)

Claire and Miss Tami

Brookie and Mrs. S

Brookie, Claire, and Ruby at Boo's Kindy program. We missed ya Mare!

Can't wait until next school year!

Happy Monday!

Ruby Rubes...6 1/2 months :)

Maren turns 9!

So every year on May 20th, I get a reality check of how old I REALLY am. And, let me just say, I felt old yesterday! Our Mare turned 9!! Still can't believe it! We love this girl. Not only funny and so sweet, but such a great example and friend. She loves her family. She loves her friends. And she loves being 9!

Good Birthday Morning!
(notice the wrapping job that her proud father did of the gifts...
a little Christmas, birthday, and Valentine paper all sealed up with duck tape. Ahhh...)

This year is our "family" party year! Yipee! So Maren took along the sistas and one cute little friend to Get Air at the Sportsplex. Girls loved jumping and jumping and jumping. I think our little Claire found her home away from home!

FYI: the night before the girls went to their school's birthday party that included a little hair spray paint and face paint. They didn't want it washed off...gross, I know, but they were happy!

Madi and Maren..bff's :)

We had a special birthday lunch of Maren's favorite foods.
And Grammy and Papa came bearing gifts...
Sewing Lessons!!

Nothing like singing Happy Birthday a half a dozen times and out of tune to make things exciting!
Happy Birthday Maren!!! We love our #1 Girl!

Only Nate

There are a million reasons why I love this guy.

Not only handsome, charming, and voted best eyes in the 7th grade.

He...

Let's his girls use his cell phone to dance to all the Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift there little hearts desire AND sometimes the girls even snap cutie pictures like this one when he's not looking :)

Finds no need for a pick-up truck. He is man enough to admit the only thing he needs is a mini-van for all of his hauling pleasure :)
(Yes, all four girls plus the wife are in there and are all wearing seat belts. Amazing!)

He is perfectly content with having all girls and wouldn't change it for the world. Even if some of those girls (mainly Ruby) get to play, "if you were a boy, I would do your hair like this..."



Love My Boy Nate!

Mother's Day

Happy Mothers Day! We had a little get together at my parents for Madre Day. It is always great seeing the grandparents and cousins. I am really bad at remembering my camera on occassion...well, most occassions, so thank heaven for sisters that do remember! Here are just a few little snaps of the evening.



Mothers Day BBQ with the cousins.
Those three girls (plus one more not pictured) is the reason I love being a mom :)



Love this picture of Grandpa Burke watching the kiddos play.
We love Grandpa Burke!

Little Ruby Rubes...


Hope everyone had a wonderful Mothers Day!

Let's Celebrate!

Last week we celebrated my Grandmothers 86th Birthday!! It was such a special and fun night. We are so grateful for Gram in our lives and the chance we had to celebrate her big day! Here are a few highlights:

Not only beautiful, but our talented cousin Shanon put together the invites. They were sent not only to our Utah family, but to Arizona, Idaho, Texas, Ohio,  and New York! Why wouldn't the country want to celebrate this big occasion!

We all know Gram lOvEs PINK!

It's time to PaRtY! Can't Wait for Gram to arrive!

Thanks to everyone that sent pictures...and thanks to Emily (beautiful and talented also) for making the "86" sign! Can't wait to use it again at Grams 98th Birthday!

Quist girls are ready to PARTY! Can't you tell by Claire's punch lips?

and Ruby.

It wouldn't be a Peterson get together without the infamous Parson's Chocolate Angel Food Cake!

From Gram's Lazy Daisy cupcakes, Cutlers Cookies, Lion House Ribbon Sandwiches, Fresh Fruit, PB Hearts, Robin's Rainbow Jello, and Staples Strawberry Salad...we enjoyed some yum that brought back many good foodie memories with dear Gram.

Gram even coordinated her outfit with the spread :) Enjoy!

Let's Eat!

Beautiful and Talented Lindsay, Cutie Pie Lucy (Brynn's), and the happiest newlywed on the planet, Carly Porter.

Lovely Little Girls

Sweet Sage and Megan! So happy you came :)

It was a night of favorites...from our favorite 86 year old, to favorite foods, and our favorite things.  Thanks for sharing ladies!! 

The Originals were represented...Joyful Jana, and Radiant Robin!

Thank you for sending all the letters and pictures! Gram loved the book. We told her when she has a minute, and when her and Grandpa Burke have a minute to be alone, they could read the notes together :)

So fun seeing some great pics of Gram and the stories behind them!

At the end of the party, everyone was given a balloon to write their favorite word that describes our beloved Gram.

We then took them outside (on a very windy eveing)...counted to three...

One...Two...Three!!

We let our balloons fly high and promised to remember the one word we wrote on our balloon and then promised to try to better live that word in our own lives :)

It wouldn't be an official birthday without singing "THE SONG." Gram gave everything she had to blow out those candles...

But needed help from the cute little girls. Gram only has one lung, you know.

Grams Peeps...We Missed ALL of you that couldn't make it, but felt your spirit there.
Thanks Again to everyone who brought food, sent letters and pictures!
It wouldn't of been the same without you!

P.S. Just wanted to throw this picture in for keepsake sake.
Gram and the Quist girls...wow, there really are a lot of us!

Just to top it off...the (one of many) Brookies!


THE END!