The Life of the Marty Party: May 2008

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Flashback

We got together with old college friends for Memorial Day! One couple, Jason and Christy, we hadn't seen in 14 years! I guess that's like admitting I'm old...did I say, college friends? I meant middle school friends...yeah, we hadn't seen these middle school friends for like 14 years...okay, never mind! I'm old!
Anyways, it was so much fun reminiscing about the college days and talking about old friends and who we were still in touch with etc.
We had such a great time. Our friends Kim and Kyle hosted. Big thanks to them. We had way too much food as usual! The "boys" played bocce ball...The girls chatted...the kids had fun on the slip and slide and the trampoline, and we all kinda ate and ate and ate! The weather could not have been more perfect!
It was a great day with very special old friends! ...and by old, I mean long-time, not elderly.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

My Guy!

Well, last Thursday was Q's birthday, it was a beautiful day! We got a babysitter that evening and went out for Chinese, Q's favorite, and just talked and hung out together. There's really no place I'd rather be than spending time with Q.
I wanted to take this opportunity to "sing his praises" and honor him.
Quenton, I am so grateful to have you for my husband, and partner in this adventure that God has us on...Our Life! There is no one on this earth that I would rather spend my life with. You are such a wonderful husband. I have so much fun with you...you make me laugh every day. You are always striving to improve in all areas of your life, and I feel very blessed to have such an amazing spiritual leader as the head of our home. You are wise beyond your years and I find so much security in the decisions you make for our family. You are the most selfless person I know. You always put others first and I appreciate the example you have been to me and the kids in this area. Thank you for making me a better person...I've really enjoyed the past 11+ years growing in our marriage, faith and family together. You are such a good daddy to our 3 beautiful children, and it shows in how much they adore you. I love it that you are very deliberate about spending time with each of them; taking them on "dates" and planning special things to do with them. I'm so thankful for May 22nd 1974...The day you were born. I praise God that we found each other...I truly believe He brought us together! I'm excited to grow old with you! I'm keeping you forever and for always. I love you

Sunday, May 11, 2008

I slept in 'til 9...the end!

that was about the extent of "spoiling" for me this Mother's Day! It was not the typical, breakfast-in-bed-eating-don't-lift-a-finger-to-cook-or-clean-take-a-long-nap-Daddy-will -take-care-of-the-kids-don't-you-worry-about-a-thing,-Mommy Mother's Day for me!
Q is in Rwanda, Africa, and I had two post-construction cleanings that had to be done no later than TODAY...an hour's drive from here!
so, I slept in 'til 9 but only because the kids happened to not wake up until then! I made French toast for breakfast, reminded the kids to wish me a Happy Mother's Day, and we rushed off to church. I helped in Truman's class and Eden came with me and helped me help.
We had KFC for lunch, but only because it was "on the way" to where we were cleaning, and we had a lot of work to do so it needed to be fast! Then, we cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and didn't get home until 10 o'clock PM! It was a long, very un-mother's day sorta day!
But, I could not be more grateful to God for blessing me with three beautiful children, and I got to spend the whole day with them and they were perfectly sweet and helpful. What more could a mother want?
...and a happy Mother's Day to my Mom! You are an amazing woman, I've learned so much from you. I miss you and love you!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Gramma and Gruppa...

...as Briar would say!
We had such a good time with my mom and dad here for the week. Normally, when we see them, it's a major holiday and there's a lot of divided time and running to and fro. This time, we were so glad to just be able to stay home and hang out with them without a bunch of "extra-curricular" activity. We did do some fun Lancaster County

stuff...we saw "Daniel and the Lion's Den" at the Sight and Sound theater, we went to Roots(a popular nearby open market), and we had "the best ice cream in Lancaster Co." at The Creamery in Strasburg, but only after we shopped the main street with all the cute boutiques and bakeries. I would say though, the highlight was playing two or three games minimum every night of "The Settlers of Catan". It's definitely our newest favorite board game.We taught my parents how to play the first night they were here and the rest was history! Q and I have been addicts since the first game we played and they loved it too.

We stayed up 'til about 2 am every night...er...morning! Needless to say, we had a great time and made a lot of really special memories. When it was time for them to leave,Truman said, "but they just got here!" He was right! ...the time went way too fast.
Love you Mom and Dad!
Q B E T & b

Q and I have been married for 16 years. We've been through so much together from traveling the world and living overseas to the births of each of our 4 children and everything in between. Our marriage is stronger than ever and for that we are very grateful. We do not take it for granted and we're always working on staying close and improving our relationship. Marriage definitely has it's ups and downs just like every part of life, but we've chosen to relish the good and to learn from the bad and grow through it. In 1996, we started our life together in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Q was an associate pastor for 5 1/2 years. Our life changed forever in 1999 when we had our first baby...a girl. In 2001 we had a boy.
In 2003, Q began working for HOPE International. We moved our little family of four to Kiev, Ukraine for the first 15 months and then transferred to Lancaster, PA where the HOPE headquarters is located. We lived in Lancaster for 4 years. During that time we happily welcomed our sweet baby #3, another girl.
Then, in January 2009, Q resigned from his position with HOPE and we moved our family overseas to Krakow, Poland to join Q's parents and siblings in a family business. The business was called "More Than A Cookie". We baked and sold gourmet cookies and brownies, ice cream, and specialty coffee drinks. Our passion has always been to further the Kingdom and support ministries close to our hearts so the idea was to give a portion of every purchase to support children's ministry.
In December 2009, we moved back to the states yet again. This time to the home we know and love *Minnesota*. [We have since sold the rights to our family business in Europe]. It has been a great experience to reconnect with family and friends after being gone for 6 1/2 years. I was able to start up my cleaning business again and I still love it. Q is back with HOPE International working as the development representative doing fundraising work here in the twin cities and Chicago as well. We feel so blessed to be part of such a great organization.
In May 2010, We bought a house on a lake...which is so fitting for Minnesota...and we have really enjoyed getting settled into our life here. Have you heard the saying "new house new baby"? Well, we found out baby #4 was on the way only 4 months after we moved in!*SURPRISE*
We evened the score with another boy and our party of five became six last May. We know each one of them is a special gift from God and we are enjoying this incredible journey of parenting together. It's not always easy but we can't imagine our life without any of them. We feel so blessed.

Eden is 12 years old. She is a beautiful, sweet, fun and very creative girl. Eden enjoys sewing, drawing, painting and any kind of art project. She is also very talented in singing. She's played fall soccer for the past 2 seasons and this year her team even won the championship. It has been such a joy to watch her grow into a young lady {preteen}...it could not be more true "the years go by so fast" we have enjoyed every stage so far. What a great big sister and help to Mommy and Daddy she is! She is very responsible and is always watching out for her little brothers and sister.

Truman is 10. He loves sports. His most favorite is football...any version...He plays on a city league team, he plays on the Playstation, he plays with his friends at school and with just himself in the backyard while narrating the play by play (this version is especially fun to watch out my kitchen window) and then of course there's his favorite NFL team, the Vikings, he loves to watch on Sundays...he even collects football cards. He also plays on the traveling basketball team and he is very good. He was on the track team in the spring and he won several blue ribbons in that as well. He's just one of those athletic kinda guys.
He also really loves fishing! His biggest catch was on a guys' weekend with Daddy when he caught a 24 inch Northern.
Although Math is his favorite subject in school, like his sisters, he is also very good in art and he even has his own little creative side.
He has such a great sense of humor. He's always making all of us laugh. He is a total entertainer. But, he is also one of the most thoughtful, sweet and sensitive boys you'll ever meet. We love this about our Truman. Most of all he is so happy to finally have a brother! It's been so fun to watch him with Jude.

Briar is 5. She started Kindergarten this year and so far she loves it. She goes for half days. In the morning she rides to school with Truman and then she comes home on the bus at noon. I love getting her dressed in the morning and doing her hair in fun braids or piggy tails, buns or curly buns. I want to take a picture of her every day because she is so stinkin' cute! Briar also played soccer for the first time this fall. She did a great job. She's not terribly aggressive or anything but it was still really fun to watch her.
She is such a fun little girly girl! She loves to play kitchen, babies, Barbies, Polly Pockets, dress-up, make-up...I guess "girly girl" would suffice! She even has her own little sense of humor. I wish I could video tape every moment right now because she is so adorable and she says the cutest things in her sweet tiny voice.
Briar is my best helper in the kitchen. I love that she doesn't just get bored with it half way through and quit. She always helps until everything is completely done.
She has been loving her new role as "big sister". She is definitely Mommy's little helper. Briar always helps me with bathtime for Jude and she loves to change his diapers and even burp him. I have loved watching her with him. It is truly precious. Every day when she gets off the bus she runs to give Jude a big hug and kiss!

Jude Blaser Marty baby number 4. Arrived on May 21st at 10:27am via C-section.
Weight: 7 lbs 6 oz
Length: 21 inches.
We didn't know we would ever have a 4th baby, yet here we are...completely in love with this little boy. He has completed our family. We are all crazy about him.
Jude is such a perfect "baby of the family". He is so laid back. He is very patient...it's like he knows there are 3 siblings to compete with for our time and he's totally okay with it. He's such a little love nugget speaking of which he already has so many nick names including but not limited to:
Ju.d.ju
juju.b
jude dude
lovey love
the man
the one
total munch
munchabunch
love munch
kicky bubbles
honey love