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!

Ruby is Growing Up!

I can't believe that our little Rubes is 6 months old! Time really does fly. I was looking at some pictures I had taken with my phone of her and couldn't believe my eyes...

Just a Day Old

Daddy/Daughter time :) One Month Old

Two Months

Four Months

5 Months

Love you RUE!

Spring Break=St. George

We had such a great time down in Sunny St. George over spring break with Nate's brother and his family. Despite the fact that we LOST CLAIRE for about 25 minutes when we got there and Nate and I in a full out panic...it was so nice to feel that warm sun and enjoy some off time with the fam!

the Fam

Did a little fishin' one afternoon. Girls liked to catch them...not some much touch them :)

Of course, plenty of swimming and swimming and more swimming with a few break times for some more sugar!

Little Claire stopped just so I had enough time to take a picture before she started climibing again!

Boo taking a break for a photo op :)

Mares at the Sand Dunes

This is Ruby. Pretty much the situation she was in the entire trip. She might not look it, but she loved it!

So much fun playing with cousins!!

Cute nephew Dax...what more can I say.

On the way home, we stopped for on more little climb and photo for a picture with the St. George temple in the distance. Love my girls!