and down will come baby, cradle and all.

i'm quite positive that starting in November,

my monthly gas budget is going to go up dramatically,

due to often visits to see my little nephew.

6 weeks and counting.

i can't wait to meet you, little guy.

-aunt abby.

It's the days that I make a new friend,

Or become closer to those I already have,

That I remember that hole,

That seems impossible to fill.

I cry too.

You're not the only one.

There Is Beauty All Around

Maybe it was when my brother had tears rolling down his face from laughing so hard at the story he just told about the bedtime stories he would get when he was 5.

Or maybe it was when all six kids were singing "Hi Ho" at the dinner table.

Or maybe it was when baby Daniel kicked Heather in the middle of our meal and she said "The baby just kicked me so hard in the ribs. Rude."

Or maybe it was when Stephen killed me and I killed Loline and Mom just got killed all during one verse of "Love at Home" slash a silent game of Mafia.

But today I realized how truly blessed I was to have the family I do.

Because guys. They're hysterical.

And they're all mine.

xoxo, a lucky girl.

Welcome to Provo.

Parking was ridiculous, which landed us at church a little late.

Church in a science building? Weird thing number 1.

No seats left in that General Bio Classroom/Chapel makes for awkward moment 2.

The chairs in the hall were connected in rows of five.

Dragging five chairs into the back of the room while the bishop is bearing testimony?

Ahh, my bad dude.

HUGE giant column slash pole slash who knows what right in front of me.

Couldn't see a thing for 3 hours, didn't even know what the bishop looked like!

Great spirit in sacrament meeting; testimonies from the bishopric and their wives.

Everyone stayed together in that same giant room for Sunday School,

But since I couldn't see the teacher, I was quickly distracted from the lesson on 2 Corinthians.

Bethy and I were trying to scope out cute boys.

Boy leading music, Boy with the glasses, and Boy named Jake who I'd met in the condo parking lot on Saturday.

Total count: 3.

Great.

Moving on to combined Relief Society and Priesthood.

In that same room.

Behind that same stupid pole.

Bishop generally got to know us by asking us to stand up if we were from Utah, which school..etc.

Then he asked for unique talents.

Boy sitting the row in front of me and to the right of the pole,

"For fun, I make medieval chain mail armor. I make shirts, and ties, and dresses..."

Wait. What??

After getting to know us a little, he opened the last 30 minutes up for questions.

I'm thinking "Great! A nice gospel discussion where we can ask our sweet Bishop whatever we want."

And it started out as such.

We discussed a few different gospel principals, a few ward activities, and learned a little about our bishop.

Then, boy on the second row (boy who led the musics' brother) says,

"Bishop. How do you know how soon is too soon to kiss a girl?"

Shut the front door, are we serious right now?

Immediately, I turn to Bethy and say "What on earth am I doing here?"

We discuss this for TWENTY MINUTES.

Our discussion included comments such as:

"Bishop, how do you know when you love someone? Like, how does it feel."

"I've never kissed a boy, and I'm not really sure how to do it. Can you explain?'

"Bishop, how many dates did you go on with your wife before you kissed her?"

My head was just spinning at this point. Am I at the right church? Are you sure?

I have never been so happy to say amen to a closing prayer.

We walk back down to the parking garage, get in the car, and just laugh.

I get home, call my mom, and tell her all the nitty gritties. I was just amazed.

Ward prayer that night, we walk down and stand on a ledge next to a cute boy.

"Hey, I'm Taylor something something the third."

"Hi, I'm Abby."

"I'm the one that asked about kissing in church."

"I'd like you to know that I've been making fun of you all day."

We then proceeded to continue this kissing discussion,

Which was followed by said Taylor demonstrating on Bethy what signs you should and should not give,

What they mean,

And how close two faces should be before it's obvious that you're going to kiss.

Obviously, it was the most entertaining Sunday of my entire life.

Welcome to Provo, Abbs.

For The Love Of Hair.

Dear Blogger World:

I am Abby Richards.

Sophomore at Utah Valley University and resident of Provo, Utah.

I am studying to become a Dental Hygienist and am the violist in the UVU Honors Quartet.

While teeth and viola are two of my biggest loves, HAIR is also a big obsession.

I have had an interest and love for hair since I was very young.

My mom recognized this interest and let me start doing my own hair when I was 5.

My kindergarten picture is killer, believe me.

She bought me my first doll head when I was 8 and put me in private lessons when I was 11.

I have been cutting, dying, bleaching, perming, and doing hair for about 8 years.

I recently moved to Provo and have lost all my AF and Cedar clients.

And so this is me, humbly coming to you, asking for your help!

PLEASE.

If you have friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, coworkers, brothers, sisters, neighbors

or other acquaintances that need their hair cut, please, help a girl out and give them my info.

GUYS: $8

GIRLS: $10 

($15 with style)

abbyjean33@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/abbyrichards3

abbyrichards.blogspot.com

Shoot me an email, write me a message, or leave a comment and I'll be happy to give you my number and any other info you may need.

I seriously appreciate all the help I can get to build my clientele here in the Orem/Provo area.

Muchos gracias, my friends!!

-Abby