Hobbies in my spare time

Im still having a lot of fun with my laser engraver.  Ive started thinking about what I can create for birthday gifts for the Young women next year.  

Last week we make these cute haunted houses for our activity:

Im also trying to finish up designing my website to hopefully sell some temple tracking momentos.  I would like to sell enough so it can help pay for my hobby.

 

23

 Gabe turned 18 and Avram turned 23! Avram is such a good man.  He tries so hard to do the best he can.  He is patient and loving and he is so good to Naite.  He wants so much to create a life and family similar to the home where he grew up.  

Adam played in a golf tournament in California this summer.  He won an Aaron Donald signed jersey.  It so happens that one of Avrams all time favorite football players is Aaron Donald so when I learned about the jersey I immediately told Adam that we needed to give that to Avram for his birthday.  

Avram was so excited! He said it is the best gift he has ever received.  

Oh and the biggest news of all is that Avram and Naite are expecting their first child! Avram is going to be a great Dad.

Another year

 

Another year has come and our Adam Gabriel would have been 18 years old.  He would be in his senior year of high school. 

Mom, Crystal and I have done lunch and visited the grave that past few years.  It's so nice of them to remember him each year. I love that Q has been with us these past few years.  It makes me happy seeing the grave be a happy and fun place to visit.  

Labor Day

We escaped to the weekend for 2 days over Labor Day.  It's the first time we were able to get Naite and Avram there together.  

I love seeing Ila on 4 wheelers.  She is my prissy, makeup, perfect hair, nails girl that turned into the craziest mud loving girl.  She has been riding with me since she was a small baby and so she is a little too comfortable on these machines.  

 

"Won't you be my Neighbor"

 Before we returned home from Alaska we started receiving calls and texts from our Neighbor Joann.  Joann live across the street from us.  She has been divorced 3 times and doesn't have any children.  She has one brother that is more than 10 years younger than her and he has medical problems so she actually has to do a lot to help care for him but that cant be reciprocated.  

Over the years Joann has suffered from her addiction to cigarets.  She has been diagnosed with COPD and her lungs suffer from any changes to weather, pollution, sickness, etc.  Joann has over come multiple emergency trips to the hospital.  She actually spent 3 months in the hospital, about 10 years ago. Despite joann being a very independent individual, she has had to humble herself and turn to us for help.  

10 years ago we didn't think we would ever see her again, as we took care of her yard and home while she was away.  Since then there has been multiple trips to the hospital lasting anywhere from days to weeks.  After 3 different ambulance rides/ hospital visits in August she was forced to go into a care center for 3 weeks.  

During those weeks I went daily to the care center to visit with her and help care for her.  We took advantage of the time and remodeled her basement.  She only lives in her basement because it is a walk out basement into her backyard where her garage is at.  Her home is old and she really needed new carpet, paint and some work done. Primarily the work needed to be done to hopefully improve her health.  Being an older home there were, of course, several unexpected surprises that needed to be repaired but we were able to complete all the work needed before she returned home.  

Although Joann is home her health is fragile. It keeps me busy checking in with her daily and taking in dinner several times a week. 

The Grand Finale of Summer 2026

The Grand finale of this extremely busy summer was an Alaskan cruise.  Mom and Dad splurged and took the whole Anthony family clan on the cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  Honestly, under the circumstances there isn't a better trip for our family.  Everyone was able to visit, vacation, shop, eat and sleep as much as they wanted.  We met up most evenings to have dinner together but other than that everyone did their own thing.  

Utah is always so hot in July so it was a nice change from the heat.  This cruise must be on of, if not, the most beautiful cruise you can go on.  The scenery was breathtaking.  We also got to see several whales.  

 

It was fun having Naite and Avram with us.  

Ila loved having her groupies follow her around each day.  I know this was an expensive trip for Mom and Dad, but it was the highlight of the summer and the year for us.  It was also really fun spending time with the extended family.  It's really hard for us all to get together.  Sadly its the cousins that really loose bonding time so this was a great opportunity for everyone.