Playing in the back yard

Howdy all!  I hope you're doing great!  Things were excellent out here this past week!  We've been really focused on safety this past week, as you can see with Elmo below!  Everybody buckle up!!

Winry was a super cutie this past week (as usual)!  I feel like she's grown up so much recently.

Winry has started to kick the play mat just like Brooke did!  We place her down and she'll get her feet over on the pole and kick and watch all the toys sway!  It's great!

Monica has done a really good job exercising lately.  She's started doing it first thing in the morning, which has really helped keep her consistent.  This means that sometimes Brooke wakes up before Monica is done, but that's typically not a problem!

Also, Jelly even does some stretching from time to time!

Monica was trying to get a video of Winry smiling this past week.  Winry is cute in this video, but the real gem is Brooke in the background.  I'll transcribe that for you in case you're having trouble, "The pout pout fish on the bus goes blub, blub, blub!"  Classic!  She made that all up by herself.

Today Brooke and Winry wore their Easter dresses so we grabbed some pictures of them together after church!  What a bunch of cuties!!

We had some struggle getting Brooke to take this picture, so the compromise was to get to take some pictures on this blanket after, and of course that means we had to get some pictures of her feet...

After pictures we were getting ready to head out into the back yard.  Of course, this means I needed to get my shoes on, but no worries, Brooke helped!  We headed into the backyard to burn some energy before dinner which involved Brookes first time playing lacrosse!  She had a blast!

We also took out a ball with us, which naturally means Brooke played penguin!  What else would you do with a ball in the backyard?

Oh yeah, that's right, you'd set up a tomato cage and play basketball!  Brooke loved this too.  I think we're gonna have to get her a little basketball hoop for this summer.  I had a blast out there with her, so I think we'll have to keep this love for sports alive!  Also, look how great she's doing!

Errr... mostly...

But really, we had such a blast!  We even did some "basketball" from up on my shoulders.

Today in church we had a member of the stake presidency there to release the EQ presidency and talk about the new changes to the EQ as well as ministering.  We spent most of the time talking about the new ministering program.  I think it will be great!  As I've spent time thinking about it I think it is a very inspired program, and I think great things will come from it.  My impression of ministering is that it is meant to help build unity within the church.  The goal is to try to develop a stronger community, and to have a network within the church akin to family, so that people, no matter where they may live, can have someone to rely on when challenging moments happen.  As I thought about it, I feel that ministering is a pathway into the law of consecration.  We are striving to build a stronger community in the church, so that people always have others who they can turn to for assistance and care.  I feel that as the bond between members grows stronger there will be greater support as people go through life's struggles.  I also think of pioneer times, where the saints were literally driven from their homes multiple times.  The pioneers needed the band together to survive and prosper.  I feel that ministering is a starting block to building the bonds that the pioneer community had together.  While I don't think that the saints as a whole will be driven from their homes, I think that as the world continues to veer farther and farther from the laws of God it will be essential for the saints to have a strong bond and fellowship.  I am grateful to have a prophet, and to have continuing revelation on the earth.  I know that God watches over and loves His children.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.