The one playing the piano

Earlier this month, the kids and I went over to Mindy Gledhill's house to practice some music I was playing for her.

Drew: "Mom. Where are we gonna go?"

I had one of Mindy's CD's there on my table. So I picked it up, showed him her picture on the cover: "We're going to this nice lady's house. Her name is Mindy."


Drew scanned the picture for a minute. Very matter-of-factly nodded in approval:
"Alright, Mom. She's pretty. We can go there."


They're born that way. What do ya do?

* * *

Anywho.

There are so many reasons why I love playing the piano. For one, I get some sweet opportunities. Like meeting up and playing for Mindy. That was great. Love her.

Secondly, it's been a real help to our family financially- a way to make a the extra's and still be a "stay-at-home-mom".

I also love the stress outlet the piano is . . . I feel like I never can say what I mean, just the way I mean to say it. Put me on a piano though- and it comes out all on it's own.

There are plenty of other reasons. But of all the things I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about playing the piano, this is my new favorite:

The one with an unexpected snooze

Saturday was such a long day for all of us Farr's. Not only because I'd spent the ENTIRE night before WIDE awake, but because Halle had a dance competition (I'll put up pics and details later), I was the dance company's photographer (which lasted almost 10 long hours), Drew spent the day playing hard with his Grandpa, while Kevin had tests and homework all the day and night long.

I was so relieved today was a Sunday.

Half-an-hour before church started, with everyone ready to head out the door, Kev and I took a minute to chill together on the couch.

"We'll leave in ten minutes."

A little over half-an-hour later we . . . WOKE UP!! All of us had immediately fallen into a deep sleep! So, we scrambled and arrived, once again, LATE to church. Drat. Ah, well.

Church was awesome though. During testimony meeting, Halle said,

"Mom, I want to bare my testimony!

I think I can do it!

Will you come up with me?"

I was totally shocked. About a year ago, after her friend had gone up to say her testimony, Halle told me emphatically

"Mom! I would NEVER EVER do that!"

So today I asked Halle what she would say if she went up there?

"I want to tell the people that I know Heavenly Father loves me

and that I love my family."

Alrighty then.

I walked up with her, half expecting her to not really make it up to the podium. But, to my amazement, our public-speaking-shy Halle found some out-of-the-blue bravery I've never seen in her before. When her turn came, she went with no hesitation! I can not tell you how happy and proud I was. The last week or two we've had some really special late-night chats together. To see her really start to feel and understand things. . . it's an incredible thing.

Honestly though, it does make me a LITTLE bit sad at the same time. Sad cuz my baby girl is changing and growing up Sooooo Fast!

Boy, am I REALLY even old enough to say something like that!??

The one about freckles

"Freckles"

I used to care so much about what others think about

Almost didn't have a thought of my own

The slightest remark would make me embark

On the journey of self doubt

But that was a while ago

This girl has got stronger

If I knew then what I know now

I would have told myself don't worry any longer it's OK

'Cuz a face without freckles is like a sky without the stars

Why waste a second not loving who you are?

Those little imperfections make you

beautiful,

lovable,

valuable,

They show your personality inside your heart

Reflecting who you are

Who you are

I wondered if I could trade my body with somebody else in magazines

Would the whole world fall at my feet?

I felt unworthy and would blame my failures on the ugliness I could see

When the mirror looked at me

Sometimes I still feel like the little girl who doesn't belong in her own world

But I'm getting better

And I'm reminding myself

That a face without freckles is like a sky without the stars
Why waste a second not loving who you are?
Those little imperfections make you

beautiful,

lovable,

valuable,

They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are
Who you are

- Natasha Bedingfield

The one At the End of the Rainbow

Can you even believe those crazy leprachans?

(don't answer that in front of the kids)

;)

The one on St. Patty's Day

Yesterday Ora came over and we made these St. Patty's Day truffles with the kids. We were all pretty proud of how they turned out. And they don't just look pretty, Picky-Eater-Kevin thinks they tasted amazingly. That's saying a lot.

Here are some more pics from the day's fun:

Today the kids are in a state of super alert - hunting for Leprechauns, anyone not wearing green, and of course the gold at the end of the rainbow. (Don't tell, but it's back behind the shed! Send your kids over 'cuz there's enough gold-wrapped-candy for them all.)

It's fun and all, but I always wonder: Who came up with this holiday anyway? It's sooooo random!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

The one full and happy home

This weekend Drew had his first friend-sleepover with his new bud, Cache. I'm so glad he's found such a good friend. It's probably wrong to admit this, but I was glad when I saw that they'd had to be seperated during Primary's Singing Time. :)

Those two are so funny. It takes them at least a half hour to get from one of our houses to the other. There are just too many amazing rocks, bugs, sticks and piles of dirt in between. It is soooo cute to watch!

Cache calls me "Drew'smom".

"Hello, Drew'smom."

"Drew'smom, me and Drew are going to be extreeeemely careful now."

"Drew'smom, you can't be mad at Drew. He is very very sorry."

"Drew'smom, I just wanna talk with Drew'sdad for a minute."

Check out this pic of them "fishing" on the couch:

You should hear their hillarious conversations.

Cache: (crying when Drew knocked him over)

Drew: "I'm sorry, Cache."

(Crying imediately stops)

Cache: "You are VERY good at saying you are sorry, Drew!!"

I love having our home full of friends.

It was almost a year ago that we started looking for homes in Provo. (I'm so glad those days are over!) I remember the first time we drove down our steet: There were basketballs boucing. Bikes and scooters were littered everwhere. A dad was teaching his daughter to ride her bike. A couple was planting flowers in their yard. Neighbors were laughing together on porches. . .


To me, the home sold before we ever walked inside.


And I haven't been dissappointed:

The one about a date with my Halle

Halle looked forward to our "date" all week long. Every day (at least once) she asked, "How many more days until our date???" Last Wednesday the day finally arrived . . . We went to the Draper Temple with my niece, Bailee, good friend Amanda, and her daughter Kestle. Ora was gonna come, but Trey got sick and she stayed home with him. Bummer.

Walking through the temple with three little Girly Girls. . .it might as well have been Cinderella's castle. They were awestruck - everything was "sooo wonderful!" and "sooo beautiful!" They were FULL of questions: "What is this room? What is that for? Why? Why? Who? Where? How....?"

Halle especially loved the mirrors in the sealing room. I held her up so she could see. "Oh, Mom that makes sense! The light [the reflection of the chandelier] goes on and on and on and on and on . . . just like we get to be together forever! It makes sense!"

Tada!

Their favorites were the "sparkly light" in the Celestrial room, and the "beautiful" Bride's room. They giggled through the men's dressing room, and got hyper on the bus ride home. No surprises there . . . they are

100% Girls.

But, to be honest, Amanda and I did all those things too:

(Check out the man in the background who's so obviously NOT paying attention. :D)

Afterward, we went back to Ora's and hung out for a bit. You know, cuz O and I don't talk enough on the phone as it is. *wink, wink*. Bailee took pics of us. She wants to be a photographer like me. Yay!

Then we took ALL the kids to Cafe Rio

and had a scream-fest....I mean dinner.

Anywho, I'm gonna keep up on these one-on-one "dates" with my kids. I love, love spending time with them, w/o the stress of cleaning the house, answering the phone etc. It was wonderful. Now I've just got to decide when/what our next date will be .. .

Thanks for the date, Halle Girl!

The one about Kevs

Well.

Tonight I'm feeling just a little blue. My hubbie works and goes to school all day, every day but half of Saturday and then Sunday. He gets home around midnight, and he's gone early in the morning. Day after day goes by . . sometimes after the kids are in bed and the house is quiet. I just wish he was around and we could watch a show together, hold hands on the couch, or . . whatever.

Don't feel bad for me, I'm fine. Honest. And it's not gonna be this way forever- just 'til school's done. Tonight, I'm just killin' the time -ignoring the taxes I've gotta finish, and the bathroom I could get cleaned- and thinkin' about my man/best friend. I thought maybe I'd do one of these tag things . . .

1- What is your husbands name? Kevin Kimball Farr Junior

2 - Who is taller? I am. *wink, wink*

3 - Where did you meet your husband? In Mrs. Gooch's Biology Class. 1st period, first day of High School.

4 - How long did you date before you married? about 4 years

5 - How long have you been married? 7 years in July

6 - Who kissed who first? This might sound weird but I honestly don't know! It's funny, but our first kiss kinda happened out of the blue. There was no awkwardness, and really no thought before hand. It seemed...natural. Afterward, I thought, "Hmmm. Ok, we just kissed. Wait, have we done that before?" VERY different from any other "first kiss" I've had.

7 - When & where was your first kiss? He was dropping me off at home after our first "real" date, so we were in his parents’ van. It was the day before Halloween in our Junior year of high school.

8 - Who said I love you first? Again, I don't know. I can see it have being either one of us.

9 - What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Tonight I'd take anything. . .

10 - Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? The whole "Left and Right" thing confuses me. Are we looking at the bed, or are we on the bed? Hahaha. Either way, I sleep snuggled up under his left arm. It's my fave place in the world. Yum.

11 - Do you have any children? Yup. 2 really great ones.

12 - What does he do that surprises you? When he's serious. He is ALWAYS teasing me. So every once in a while he'll answer a question straight forward and seriously- which in itself makes it seem like it's just another joke. So I'm always like "Sure, whatever hun." When it turns out that he WASN'T kidding, I'm totally surprised.

13 - What is my favorite feature on him? His smile. But not his "smile for the camera"...I mean his REAL smile. Mmmmm. I LOVE IT!!!!

14 - What is my favorite quality of his? Two things. First of all, he has more integrity than anyone I've ever known. Secondly, he's an amazing father- who could ask for more than that?

15 - Does he have a nickname for you? Ya, quite a few of them. Honey. Honeygoose. Junebug. Babe. The Best Boss. . . Ya, I'm sure you don't wanna hear the rest. lol.

16 - Does he have any hidden talents? He's really really good singing and at the guitar.

17 - What is his favorite food? Hm Probably steak? No shrimp? Or maybe Ice cream. No, it's got to be. . . maybe anything if it's cooked, ripened or seasoned JUST RIGHT. Gourmet style.

18 - What is his favorite sport? Hunting is a sport right? Bow hunting.

19 - What is his favorite music? The CD that Halle made for him of her singing.

20 - What do you admire most about him? He is so selfless. Day after day he's working, studying, taking tests, working some more. . . all without complaining. He works so hard and is so dedicated to our family. He's amazing.

21 - Who can sing best? He's gonna say me. I'm gonna say him. Then we're both gonna roll our eyes at each other and argue. . .and get nowhere. So who knows?

22 - Who is smarter? Same as answer #21. But refer to #10 to prove my point. lol.

23 - Who does laundry? I do, but I have no doubt he would help out if he was able to be around more.

24 - Who pays the bills? Same as #23

25 - Who mows the lawn? He does it whenever he can...again, #23

26 - Who cooks dinner? Sunday nights, he usually cooks and is a MUCH better cook than I am. Especially lately. I'm so burned out of being in the kitchen these days....! All the other nights, I make it.

27 - Who wears the pants? Hmmm. I think we both do in different ways or at different times. He teases me that I'm "the boss", but I think/hope he knows I'm there for him and will support him in whatever he needs. And visa versa.

28 - Will he read this? Only if I tell him he should go check out my blog, turn the computer on, pull up a chair, open my blog, and then read it out loud. Hahahaha. (Prove me wrong, Kevs! I'll owe ya. lol.) But he's busy, and I don't mind. It's all a bunch of ramblings anywho.

Love ya, Kevs.

The one about the Thrillionares

If any of you are looking for something inexpensive and fun to do, go check out the Thrillionaires. They're on Center Street in Provo every Saturday night at 8:00 pm. It cost $8 online, $10 at the door. Here's the link to get your tickets:

http://www.coveycenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=4

It's a comedy-improv-musical ... thing. Group. Sooo funny! Kevin and I are still laughing about it. We got lucky enough to go on the same night as one of my "besties" Julia performed with them. GO JULIA! You are amazing!

Then, to add a little more spice to our date, we decided to pretend we were out on our first. Total strangers. I swear I've never been that forward on a first date before. . . ;)

Anyway. . Go and Enjoy. You can thank me later.