The Life of the Marty Party: September 2008

Sunday, September 28, 2008

piggy tails

Briar's first piggy tails! She's worn a bun and pony tails and she's had piggy buns (my favorite) and I think Eden's even braided her hair a couple times...but Friday was the first time I've ever done the real-deal little girl piggy tails! She looked so cute all day! Doesn't she look like such a "big girl"? I still call her "the baby", but she's really not a baby any more. I'm always a little sad when the baby stage is over...but she's such a fun girl with a really cute funny personality. I'm just enjoying every new age, and so far, 2 has been so much fun!!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Flag Football

Now we know why Truman's middle name is Q! It stands for Quarterback!!!
Truman had his first flag football game! It was totally raining but it was still so much fun to watch. Q is the coach of his team. Truman LOVES football. His favorite position is running back. I am his mom so I may be biased and I really know very little about football, but I think Tru is totally the best player on his team. He had a sweet touch-down pass his first game and he ran from like the "5 yd. line" for a touch-down!(the field is actually kid-size, but whatever) He's unstoppable!
So much fun!

Coach Daddy

Me and Brizee watchin' the game just tryin' to stay dry

Friday, September 19, 2008

It's Potty Time!!!

Briar FINALLY went potty on her potty chair for the FIRST TIME EVER!!! This is crazy to me, because Eden and Truman were both potty-trained completely...through the night...everything...by 2 1/2! Briar has thrown me for a loop with her love of the diaper and potty refusal. I will admit she's got 4 big people babying her all the time and she pretty much always gets her way, but c'mon...who wouldn't rather sit on a potty than sit in...it?

Thursday, September 18, 2008

When in Lancaster...

...do as the Amish do? Yes, this is in my back yard! When we first moved back from Ukraine, my dear grandmother generously gave us her mint-condition washer/dryer set that was at the very least already 20 - 25 years old. So, after 4 years of dedicated service to our family...the dryer finally passed. With the sale of our house and possible move overseas, we find it silly to invest in a new dryer. So, here we are hanging clothes on the line outside strung between our deck and our swingset. [To say I feel Amish] This would actually be an insult to the Amish...they've got the designer clothesline with the whole rope and pulley system! I don't think they even have to leave their houses to hang out their clothes.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

"I'm Lovin' It"

Every Sunday, for a month...we had an open house from 1-3...after church, the kids and I would go to McDonald's while Daddy stayed at home to show the house. We would sit at Micky-D's for like 2 hours and just keep goin' up for more...haha...usually one "course" at a time! I think by the 4th Sunday they were starting to recognize us. We had some wild and crazy adventures that I could go on and on about including, but not limited to, an extremely grouchy old lady [customer] who had some pretty nasty...and untrue I might add...things to say about sweet little me! (??????) I know!!!
...and there was the one week where I saved the McDonald's by informing them of a fire in the mulch in the drive thru! That was a close one (wink wink) ...well, I suppose it could've gotten ugly if the guy hadn't thrown the bucket of water on it.
Anyways, it was a great photo opportunity with the kids and their ice cream cones...I just had to share.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

FiZBO...

a.k.a. For Sale By Owner! It's how Realtors "lovingly" refer to these listings. Well, for those of you who don't already know...we did sell our house...by owner...in this market...in one month!
It was a step of faith, and we believe God confirmed it's a step in the right direction!
There are some exciting changes in our future and we will definitely keep you posted on our blog! I've shared often that it is difficult for us to live so far away from family, so we've prayed a lot and have decided to make a move. We have family in the midwest and we have family overseas. So, the two choices are Minnesota or Poland!
As I said, we'll keep you posted!
Just as all houses have their special memories, this one is no exception! We bought it in July 2005 and completely remodeled and redecorated the entire thing! If you saw the "befores" you wouldn't even believe it's the same house.
We brought Briar home from the hospital to this house...it's in a great neighborhood with beautiful tree-lined streets great for taking a walk with the family, or going for a run! We've truly enjoyed our 3 years in this house and will miss it. We close on October 22, and plan to move out mid-November...
We covet your prayers as we seek what God has for us next!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

No Backpacks Required

We had our first day of home-school on Tuesday [the day after Labor Day]! Even though jammies are always an option for home-schoolers...we thought we would put on our special not-back-to-school outfits and take some pictures! Of course we had to let Briar in on the fun as well.
This is our first time doing home-school, and so far so good! The kids love it...and, I think I do too!

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