The Life of the Marty Party: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Baby's First Halloween

baby lion

Q and I went to Briar's school for the costume parade. It was so cute when she went through Truman's classroom.

Smurfette, the Grinch, and a blue man

Grandma came over with Rose and James so Briar could trick-or-treat with her cousins

Eden and her haul

Jude er...Mommy got some halloween peeps

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

1 in Football, 2 in Soccer and 1 in... Diapers

Everybody loves Coach Q. He truly is inspiring to watch. Anyone who knows my husband wouldn't be the least bit surprised that he is so good with the kids and so composed even in the most frustrating of situations...these are 4th grade boys!

I love to watch Tru play football

had to get a picture of the two of them together...

...and then the girls wanted one too

me and my favorite QB ...or whatever position he happens to be playing...he's just plain ol' my favorite

Q was assistant coach for Eden's team

I'm so proud of her for getting in the game and being aggressive

Eden's soccer team won the championship. It was so exciting to watch...actually, I got so into it I felt like I was going to barf. They beat the only undeafeated team in their league.

Eden and her friend Rebecca thought it would be fun to take some far off pictures of them on this hill.

It was so much fun sitting at the games with Jude. Fortunately, the weather this fall has been beautiful.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Morning Conversations with Daddy

Jude loves to talk to Daddy in the mornings and we love to hear what he has to say! he started doing this around 3 months. It is the cutest thing ever. Here's a video that Eden took the other day.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Knee Surgery

Q had a tear in his meniscus...
He had the pain for awhile but this is a guy who literally NEVER goes to the doctor. In fact he's been to the doctor exactly ZERO times since we got married...until now. The pain was bad enough that he knew he had to do something about it.

so he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Tuesday, October 18th

Jude kept an eye on him and kept him company

and Briar made him a get well card...

The kids had off school on Thursday and Friday of that week so we all got to take care of Daddy!

and that is more than we wanted to see

He had a very speedy recovery. He was only on crutches for about a day and a half, but he wasn't allowed to leave the house for a few days. I must say it was nice to baby him for a change. He's always taken such good care of me after my surgeries [4 C-sections]. I'm glad I got to return the favor. We had his favorite, Chinese take-out and watched episodes of Parenthood on Netflix. It was really kinda special.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Apple Orchard

Briar's first field trip was to the apple orchard and I got to go as a chaperone.

Briar's class

On the hayride

They each got a bag to put their apples in. I love how Briar writes her name.

learning about the apples

How to make apple cider

taste test...fresh apple cider

on the bus

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