The Life of the Marty Party: June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Slawkowska 18

That's the address of our SECOND LOCATION!!!

What an exciting past few weeks it's been getting this new location ready to sell some more cookies, brownies, and cupcakes in Krakow. Q and Dad have been putting in LOOOOOONG hours every day these past five weeks...designing, building, and installing literally everything themselves.

beginning stages

the walls are painted...

this is the frame of the awning

I even got to contribute some final touches by hand

painting fun words and phrases on the base of the awning, and it only took me 30 hours. Thank you to my sister-in-law, Jessica, for making it possible by babysitting my kids for most of them. I did have Briar come with me the second day and she was such a good girl I wish I had gotten a picture of her taking her nap on the floor. The passers by thought it was so funny! It was a ten hour day. She was there the whole time, but didn't even complain once. Q and I loved the

time we spent together too...we love it every chance we get to work together!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...He is faithful and continues to provide all our needs.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Kitchenaid

Briar loves to hold the mixer for me! We had a craving for whoopie pies...I guess we miss some things from Lancaster County...so we decided to make some. And then, I couldn't resist taking this picture of my little kitchen helper!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Strawberries

My mother-in-law came home with a HUGE bowl of Stawberries the other day...I tasted one and immediately thought "strawberry pie". They were so good and sweet. I love to make pie and I love to eat pie and I think strawberry pie is so pretty I have to make at least one every year when strawberries are in season. Well, I decided to get my sister-in-law in on it too since my pie crust recipe is for a double crust and I only needed half of that. So I ran upstairs and asked if she was interested and she said, "I've never made a pie before..."

So here it is! Jessica's first pie and now I'm sure it won't be her last! I was so honored to teach her...

Strawberry pie with homemade whipped cream...what could be better?

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Cafe Cleaning

Q cleaning all the high stuff

Our cafe needed a good spring cleaning so a couple of our [Polish] friends who work for us, and Q and I, and Jess and Steve and Justin spent a few hours on a Saturday night disinfecting and washing and organizing and cleaning literally everything! We moved everything and cleaned behind and underneath the refrigerator and the display case and even the front counter...it was so much work...but we all managed to have so much fun doing it!!! Special thanks to Elena and Ania for staying after hours to help...we definitely wouldn't have finished by midnight without them!

Jessica washing the walls and baseboards

I still love to clean!

Elena and Ania cleaning and organizing the drawers

Spring 2009 Family Photos

Before we left the states, we had my sister, Brook, do a spring family photoshoot for us. It's so nice to have such a great photographer in the family. Thank you, Brookie! You did an amazing job...we love them all...miss you so much!

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