The Life of the Marty Party: August 2010

Monday, August 23, 2010

American Girl

For her birthday, Eden wanted to go to American Girl Place at Mall of America and pick out something special for her dolls. We decided to go on Daddy's lunch break so he could come too! We all had fun walking around this beautiful 2-level store of dolls in excess!

While we were there, she got a very special birthday phone call from Grampa and Gramma in Poland. If you look closely, you can see that she is wearing Daddy's blue tooth.

Briar loves American Girl too!

just bein' silly shopping in the mall

We had lunch at the food court.The birthday girl's choice: a loaded baked potato

Ironically, Daddy's lunchbreak was over by the time we sat down to eat, so he had to head back to work.

After Truman's football practice that night, we all went out for ice cream at this great little place in town. Eden opened her presents while we were there...

We invited Andersons to join us on short notice--how fun to live close enough to do that!

the kids with their favorite "big brother" Joshy!

It was a great day celebrating our Eden! Happy Birthday, Eden!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

EDEN is ELEVEN!!!

Mexican food!

Eden doesn't really prefer sweets in general, but she does love pie! Her favorite is pumpkin...but because of the pumpkin shortage of 2009, there was no pumpkin available in August of 2010. So, we settled for cherry. It was YUM!

she had her "best cousin", Haley, for a sleepover

She LOVED this place, "Color Me Mine". We had been there for our girls' weekend in July, and that's when she decided she wanted to come back for her birthday! Briar loved it too!

It was such a fun birthday. I can't believe she's already 11!!!??? Where does the time go?

Friday, August 20, 2010

Are You Ready for Some Football?!

We're well into Truman's first season of tackle football {3rd Grade}and it has been F*U*N!!!

He loves having Daddy for the head coach! Q is loving it too!

Big sister is proud too.

Go Clemson Tigers!!!

Truman is so much fun to watch. He's really serious about his favorite sport. I think he wants to be the next Adrian Peterson! {he's the running back for the Vikings for those of you who don't keep up with such things}

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A Week in Wisco!

It was the second week of August, Q had an opportunity to speak about HOPE at my Grandpa's Rotary Club meeting. We all went down to Sun Prairie [Wisconsin]with Daddy so we could visit with my side of the family...but then the girls and I decided to stay for the week. Truman and Q went back up to Minnesota for work and football and then came back to get us the following weekend. It was so great to spend some time with my older sister, Remick, and her daughters, and my mom and dad and my grandparents and just have some time to hang out and relax.

a few pictures from our time there...

Briar got to spend time with a couple of her favorite cousins, Evyn and Sawyer

Eden and Dakota

Evyn again...

We spent a day at the Wisconsin State Fair...IT. WAS. HOT.

My niece, Dakota, was working at the fair in this food stand {owned by our friends} so we got to see her and have some of Charlie's famous fair food...

When I saw her in there all "grown up" like she is I totally cried!!! It's just crazy how time flies-- it seems like just last summer I was 16 and working in this stand???

YES, CREAM PUFFS

...at the Wisconsin State Fair! YUM!

Dakota got to walk around with us for awhile on her break

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