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So, I don't remember exactly what "back to school night" was when I was a kid – something at the school… something far less fun than our new tradition:  back to school fondue night.  We love a good excuse to have it.  And this time, even Zach enjoyed himself!  
 

My grandpa Woodward passed away this past week, and I had the blessing of being able to make it out for his funeral (thanks to Nate for holding down the fort, his employer for giving him a little time off, and to the Loves for getting me out there on standby flights).  During the week leading up to it, and the time I spent there, two things kept coming to my mind:  “Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die." (D&C 42:45)… and something my grandma always says, "Aren't families just wonderful!"  

My grandpa was a wonderful man.  It was so neat to hear stories about him that I hadn't heard at the funeral and as I talked with relatives.  So many people were blessed by his life.  The memory I shared at his funeral was this:  

If you ever met Grandpa, you would never forget it.  He would certainly tell you a story – about someone he knew, someone he told about the Book of  Mormon, someone he met, something from his days on the basketball court or on the front lines of Korea.  I have listened to these stories since I was a kid – spinning on grandpa’s living room chairs (that have been repaired more than once, probably because of my spinning), sitting in the kitchen, or taking to him on the phone from my house in Minnesota.  The older I’ve become, the more I appreciate these stories, and every time I listened to Grandpa, I would want him to talk forever.  Now, whenever I tell a good story, or strike up a conversation with someone I don’t know, and talk for a while, my husband looks at me and says, “You’re definitely a Woodward!” and I smile, thinking of Grandpa and feeling happy to be like such a great man in some small way. 

Our latest purchase on itunes was the Star Wars theme.  It has been more than worth the money.  It is played over and over and over (at top volume, of course) and inspires the best Jedi moves.  

I am not sure why it has taken us till the end of summer to get on the ball and have some friends over – it has been so much fun for the kids, and so nice for me to have them not fight!  This was "friend Friday" – and I hadn't planned on taking pictures, but the girls were so cute kicking and drinking the slip n' slide, and Zach and his buddy were having such a good time poring over the Lego Star Wars book that I couldn't help myself.  


  

The kids and I were all in need of a good adventure that took us away from the Rochester scene for a day, so we jumped at the chance to go with some friends to LaCrosse for a day of raspberry picking, the children's museum, lunch and boat watching along the Mississippi, the "dragon park", and an old-fashioned ice cream shop.  We enjoyed the scenery, road-trip music, the real fire truck at the children's museum, and the adventure without time constraints… and of course, the raspberries.  

 

 

 Once, when Emma had a friend over, they made what they call "treat bags" – paper bags that they decorate, and that I am then supposed to put a treat in while they close their eyes.  The "treats" that we have at our house aren't necessarily spectacular… usually a dum-dum, or a marshmallow, or something like that.  This particular time I had found some halloween-packaged animal crackers… which they ate, and then informed me that "that wasn't a treat.  Where's the treat?"  Okay, girls – marshmallows it is.  

 Carter spends most of family home evening asking, "Is it time for the treat?"  He was super excited for twist cones from McDonald's this night.  It has been our favorite cheap treat this summer!  And yes, he is always this messy about it.  

 …the bigger the fun.  As you can see, this was an ESPECIALLY fun day with friends.  There was a complete Star Wars Lego takeover of the dollhouse, and a mass-shopping trip followed by the set-up of a few new houses for babies…everyone got along, the clean-up took us less than 15 minutes, and the fun was way more than worth the mess.  

 Emma played soccer this summer, and LOVED it.  She had a huge smile on her face the entire time she was playing… whether she was near the ball, or not!  She was an especially good goalie, and made a lot of great saves!  It seemed like whenever Emma had a practice or a game, it was one of those super-hot, super-humid days… and on the worst of them, the team had only 3 players show up… so they played the WHOLE game.  Talk about endurance!  And she was still smiling.  If you ask her what her favorite part of the season was, she will tell you… "I loved everything!"  From the practices to the games to the treats to her uniform to her teammates, she really did.  Great season, Emma!  

 This summer in Minnesota has been unusually warm – at least it seems like that to us.  Where summers past have had me wishing for endless summer, this one is making me wish for fall!  (I did let Carter in, right after I took the picture.)