November Wrap Up

Here is the November wrap up with commentary:

This is random, but our neighbors were putting up their Christmas lights and grabbed this beautiful picture of our house. Shantel joked that this is the picture that we'll use when we try to sell our house. We'd just need to photoshop out our garbage can. 

In May when we went to Lagoon I dropped my phone on the cement and it fell in just the wrong way. Even with the case the screen was totally cracked all over. I wanted to get it fixed, but I could not find anywhere that would fix the screen. I wanted to wait for the newer google phone to come out and so I decided I could use that for a while longer and use the cracked screen phone. The Pixel 5a came out in September and I was pretty sure I would end up getting that, but the Pixel 6 was planned for October and I decided if I'd waited that long, I could wait another month to see the Pixel 6, but I figured that one would be too expensive. When it finally did come out, it was less expensive than I'd thought and with some pre-order deals I was able to get it within my budget. This is the first picture I took with my new phone. I'm excited to have a new phone and think it will be a good one. 

Here is our Christmas planning book. Shantel has been working really hard to help us get everything organized so that we could be done with shopping before December. We had a few things we got on Black Friday, but now we really are pretty much done with most all of our shopping, just a couple small things left, but it will be nice to be mostly done shopping as we focus on the Savior. 

We had our first date where we left Lydia at home by herself! We dropped the boys off at a birthday party and took Lucy, but decided that Lydia could stay home by herself for an hour or so. We got french fries and had a great time. Lydia has also been helping pick Caleb up from preschool or watching the kids if Shantel leaves while I'm working from home and it is awesome. 

Lydia asked recently about being able to have a sleepover with her friends. Shantel and I have talked before and really decided that sleepovers are probably not something that we want to have our kids do. We feel like part of our job of protecting and taking care of our kids is understanding what is best for them and feel like those sleepovers don't provide good opportunities for them with friends that we can't let them cultivate in other ways. So when Lydia asked, we told her she could not do a sleepover, but could do a late night with friends. So she invited her friends over for her first late night friend night. She requested that we had hamburgers, games and a movie. Her friends brought some treats and we did hamburgers for them and some other special treats. They watched a movie (Annie) and then played some games. They had a really great time and it was so cute to see Lydia interacting with her friends. She was nervous to invite her friends over, but I think she had a great time. We are really grateful that she has some really good friends right now. Lily and Iris Young and Lilly Wardell came over and it was awesome. 

We had the primary program and the kids did a great job singing. 

The Van: A few weeks ago we got in the car to drive to Hale Center theater to got to a youth play. When I got in I noticed that it sounded really weird and Shantel said it had just started sounding odd. We had to go, so we drove down and figured we could check on it later. On the way back we were set to pick up Pizza and then meet Jenna and her kids back out the house. However, as we got off the freeway, it really started to have a hard time. We called Jenna to go get the pizza so we could try to just drive straight home. However, it became clear we needed to stop, so we started driving to the nearest repair shop. When I stopped there, they said it would take a couple weeks to look at it, which was way too long. So we decided that instead that Jenna would come get Shantel and then she could get the car to come get the kids. Then I would try to drive the van to Larry H. Miller in Sandy where we usually take the van for repairs. Note: At this point we still don't have a check engine light on, we can just tell something is off. I get on the freeway and get past our exit and I can only go about 50 miles per hour, but I figure I can drive for 15 minutes and make it. Then on the hill up to point of the mountain, everything just gives out and I had to creep along the side of the freeway to the 14600 South exit. I called a tow truck to take the van to Larry H. Miller. Unfortunately, it turned out the transmission was gone and we had to replace it for about $4,500. It was a heavy blow, but I was grateful we had the money to make the repair, even if it will put is behind on saving for our next vehicle. It took about 2 weeks that Shantel had to be without the van and try to use my car to get around. Fortunately she had some good home school friends that helped take Lydia on field trips so that Shan could take the other kids in the car. Then, when we got the car back it was making a rattling noise and we had to take it back in. It turned out to be a loose bolt (and we also needed some new brakes/rotors and got that done for another $450). We are grateful to have transportation to get us around (and are sad when it is not working). (See more on this in the November Gratitude post)

Shantel had an eye appointment and took Lucy with her and they got to try on some glasses. 

Caleb learned to ride a bike without training wheels. This summer he had tried a little bit and I think he could have got it, but was not really feeling up to it and I did not push it. Then this last week his training wheel piece had fallen off and he and Shantel just worked together and he learned to ride all by himself. He is an amazing boy and we are so proud of him. He has just been zooming up and down the street and it is so awesome. 

November Homeschool

Austin

Because Austin turns 8 next September, we started talking about what we could do to prepare him for his baptism. Although it's something that is important to me for him to get baptized and receive the blessings of the Holy Ghost and full membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, I want this to be something that HE wants, that HE is prepared for, that HE chooses for himself. He is excited and we outlined a plan to study 10 different gospel topics with 10 scriptures/stories/study pieces each. 10x10=100, which is perfect for our Math loving boy. He also decided, on his own, that he wants to read the Book of Mormon before he gets baptized. We have a schedule and we haven't missed a day so far. I know that it won't be easy, but I'm really proud of him for his desire to be prepared. He was able to write his own part in the Primary program this year and this is what he said "I would like to read the Book of Mormon before I turn 8 so I can know how to have the Spirit in my heart." 

Lydia

Bought a sewing machine with the money she had been saving and is SO excited about it. Her first project was a pair of fleece pajama pants. For our rotations we decided to make aprons and bonnets with the girls (for cooking and for their own pioneer outfits). They will be double sided and each one will be blue gingham on one side and their own pattern choice on the other. I'm so excited about it! 

Field Trips
Our field trips were heavy into Utah History this month. Instead of detailing each field trip, I thought I'd share a few things about the place or a few things we learned while there. Going on these field trips gives our children the opportunity to EXPERIENCE their education. It's like exploring living history and is making such an impact on them. Though each visit, each adventure, they tuck a piece of knowledge and shared experience into their education that will carry them forward. 

Ensign Peak

Ensign Peak is a prominent hill on the northern edge of the Salt Lake Valley. On July 26, 1847, two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and seven other pioneer leaders climbed the hill to survey the valley. From its summit they laid out in their minds the city they intended to build. It also served as an important place for the Native American people that lived there, as they would often use it to scout game or to come to meditate. 



Golden Spike National Historic Site

We learned about the transcontinental railroad and visited the Golden Spike monument. We learned about the changes that happened with the coming of the railroad for the land, the animals, the Native American Tribes, the pioneers, and the settlers that came after. We learned about all the different nationalities that worked so hard to make this truly remarkable feat come to pass and how difficult it was for each railroad team. We learned how there wasn't a single Chinese railroad worker in the famous photograph and how unfair that was and we celebrated the accomplishment of something that would make it possible to connect our country from sea to shining sea. (Remember? History is complex.) 

As a #familyhistory side note: My Great-great-great Grandfather, Richard Todd Brown is in the historic "meeting of the rails" Golden Spike photograph. He was a cook for the Union Pacific Rail Line. He's on the left side raising his hat. We also learned that Brigham Young strongly supported the rail line because of the benefits it would bring to the saints and he even stopped construction on the temple to send workers to help aid the railroad. That knowledge that came from working on the railroad allowed them to come back and build their own railroad track from the granite quarry directly to the Salt Lake Temple. What previously took three entire days to get a load hauled down the mountain to the quarry now took less than 3 hours. 

"The last rail is laid, the spike is driven, the pacific railroad is completed" here at Promontory, Utah, at 12:47 p.m. on May 10, 1869. The driving of a Golden Spike completed the first transcontinental railroad, climax of a dramatic railroad building race between the Union Pacific building from the East and the Central Pacific building from the West. This event symbolized attainment of a long sought goal - a direct transportation route to the pacific ocean and the China trade and it achieved the great political objective of binding together by iron bonds the extremities of continental United States. A rail link from ocean to ocean. 

As a side trip to our Golden Spike Adventure, we went out to the Spiral Jetty and let the kids run and play. The water is so low you couldn't even see the edge of the lake (we are in the middle of a horrible drought year), but there were enough puddles to make this a child-adventure dream come true for the kids.  

It's so lucky when your sister is your best friend and she homeschooles her kids, too, so you can go on homeschooling adventures together. 

Glass Works - Dale Chihuly Art Study & Holdman Studios
Apparently I didn't take a single picture of this, but for our rotation we took a week and did an Art Study of Dale Chihuly. He's an amazing glass-artist. We learned about him and did several hands on art projects simulating his artwork. Then we were able to tour our local glassworks Holdman Studios. The kids got to see them making stained glass, watch a professional making glass blown Christmas ornaments, and learn about glass as art. Then the big girls went back for a fused glass workshop. 




SLC - Beehive House & Dale Chihuly
We went on a tour to the Beehive house. It was the official residence of three Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow, and Joseph F. Smith. Brigham Young was also governor of the Utah Territory, and the Beehive House was also used to receive and entertain visitors to the territory. The Beehive House was constructed in 1854. It gets its name from the beehive sculpture that adorns the top of the mansion—a Churchwide symbol of cooperation, industry, and hard work. The kids asked approximately 100 questions throughout the tour so I can't put all the neat things that we learned here - but one of my favorite parts was at the end when we asked our tour guide if she could answer our third "big question", What did the pioneers build? (meaning, what legacy did they leave through their work and efforts?) She spoke beautifully about making the desert "blossom as the rose" and how important it was for Brigham Young for the Saints to have all the advantages possible to them here, even though it was so far away from what any of them had ever known. These early settlers worked hard to find plants that would grow, to create a community that could thrive, and to be worthy of building Zion in this land. 


After the Beehive House we went to see the Dale Chihuly statue at Abravanel Hall, and as hard as I tried, I could never connect with anyone who would be able to let us inside the building. Luckily we could see the statue from the outside, and even though it's not the same, it was still a neat conclusion to our art study. Plus the kids loved riding the trax train, so it was worth it for that alone. 


The Sorcerers Apprentice Youth Production @ Hale
This darling rendition of the Sorcerers Apprentice ended up being my all time favorite Youth Production that we've ever been to and is pretty high up there for my favorite play I've seen at the Hale. It had fun music, great acting, and a beautiful message about working hard. Afterwards they opened up a panel for questions from the kids and it was fun hearing about why they like acting and learning about how they do some of the stage magic. 

Fillmore - Territorial Statehouse

On September 8, 1851 Governor Brigham Young placed his cane on the NE corner of the block and designated this geographically centered location as Utah's capital. The large open space, water and building materials were favorable for settlement. In a political move, the Governor named the town Fillmore and the county Millard after the current president, Millard Fillmore. This building was originally built to serve as Utah's state capitol, but only the south wing was ever completed because it was not central to the population living in the territory and with the coming of the transcontinental railroad, Salt Lake was determined to be a better State Capitol. The existing portion was finished in time for the December 1855 meeting of the Territorial Legislature, which was the only full session held in the old statehouse. In December 1858, the seat of government was moved to Salt Lake City. This is Utah's oldest existing governmental building.

 

We LOVED this field trip. Fillmore is pretty far away and we ended up swapping it out on our field trip calendar for a different field trip. But in the end, the weather was beautiful so we decided to squeeze it in as a mid-week field trip. The Young family joined us and we spent almost 5 hours at the museum exploring and learning. We were able to arrange for a tour and although it was requested last minute we received a top-notch historical narration throughout the statehouse. The head curator of the museum took time out of his day to take us on a tour and teach us a tiny piece of what he knows (which is a lot!) Woody's enthusiasm made such an impact on our kids that they are still talking about the Utah War and Utah Statehood a full week later. We loved the scavenger hunt at the end looking for carvings on the exterior of the building. We came away with smashed pennies (our favorite souvenir) to remind us of the role that Fillmore played in Utah State History!

We are looking forward to celebrating Statehood Day on January 6th! 

Thanksgiving 2021

 We had a really wonderful thanksgiving this year. We had Walker Thanksgiving the Saturday before Thanksgiving and then went to the Peaden Thanksgiving on Thursday. 

Walker Thanksgiving

Lucy was so cute with Ruby and was even trying to train him the same way Lydia does. She would go and get a dog pebble and tell him to "stay" and then say come for him to come get his dog food. It was also so cute to see her and Sadie sitting next to Grandma Knowles as she went through Jewelry.

We were grateful to spend time together as a family. Two other favorite things: 1) We played a game called Neanderthal where you can only use 1 syllable to try and describe a word. It was so much fun that we even did a competition later to see who could go the longest without using more than 1 syllable. 2) We stayed up super late just talking and it was really enjoyable to spend that time talking to everyone. It was great because everyone except Kevin Haderlie was able to make it. (Matt and Brooklyn were not originally planning to come, but changed plans when we thought that Grandpa Walker was not going to make it through COVID - see separate post).

Peaden Thanksgiving

We had a great day on Thanksgiving and enjoyed playing games (Scum). The next morning we decided to go Black Friday shopping. It has been quite a long time since we last went Black Friday shopping because when most stores started opening at 5 pm on Thanksgiving, we just did not feel like it was worth going the next day to get any special in store deals (we assumed those things would mostly be gone). Then last year was COVID-19, so we decided not to go. This year we decided to go and Wendy, Sam and Josh Rencher all joined us. We bought a few small things, but the Rencher's ended up with way more stuff than we did. We loved going with them. We did get a few small things and now we are almost completely done with Christmas Shopping, which is totally amazing. 

Gratitude

As I was thinking about Thanksgiving I was thinking about what I'm grateful for this year. I'm especially grateful for Shantel and our kids, but Shantel beat me to that at the Walker table so I had to share something else, below are a few things that stand out this year. 

I'm grateful for the vaccine for COVID-19. Last year at this time we could not see my parents for Thanksgiving and had to quarantine for 2 weeks so we could see them for Christmas. It is such a miracle that a vaccine that is safe and works was able to be developed in such a short time. I believe it is an answer to prayer and fasting. President Nelson urged us last April to pray and fast for help and I feel so blessed that the Lord inspired those tasked with developing a vaccine. 

I'm also grateful for answered prayers and for family members who paved a path that has blessed my family with financial stability. When we were on our trip to the Redwoods I was driving the van through a city and transmission started to feel a little bit funky to me. It reminded me just a little bit of when I was driving on a vacation in 2006 with my parents and was driving their car and the transmission gave out. It was not so bad yet, but I could sense that something seemed to be wrong. Immediately I started to pray - specifically that our van would work while we were on our vacation and be able to get us home safely. If the van broke down while we were in California, it would be really challenging to deal with during our trip. I was really worried we would be stuck on the road. It sounded bad for a little bit longer and then, seemed to be fine. Then on the way home and after we got home, I did not notice a thing, it seemed to be totally fine. If not for what happened next, I might have just though I was hearing random car noises and interpreting them as a problem. 

A few weeks ago when we got in the van to drive to Hale Center Theater for a youth production I immediately could tell something sounded off (though it did not sound like the transmission). I figured I would take it to be looked at after we did the play. On the way home from the play it kept sounding worse and worse until I got off the freeway to try and just sneak home. However, as we kept going I did not think we could make it. I drove to the nearest mechanic and stopped there. They said it would be at least a week before they could look at it, so instead we called Larry H. Miller and they said they could look at it in just a couple hours. Jenna Haderlie went to the play with us, so we had her come pick up Shantel and then they went back to the house, and Shantel took the van back to pick up the kids. Then I tried to drive the van to the dealership (just a 15 minute drive per google). As I got going up the hill at the point of the mountain, the van just lost power all the way up until I was crawling along the side of the freeway and finally pulled over off 14600, with a basically totally dead van. I called a tow truck, who went and hauled it to Larry H. Miller. 

The bad news came later that day, the transmission was totally dead and the repair would be $4,300. It was pretty hard to take, that is just an incredible amount of money, especially for a car with less than 100,000 miles on it. We have been saving about $400 for new vehicles, so that amount is basically a whole year's savings. It was a bit of a gut punch. We did not have much of a choice, so we told them to go ahead with the repair. 

From this, I had a couple of thoughts. 1) I am so grateful that we had the money to pay for the repair. We took some money from our car fund, and some emergency/repair and maintenance money to pay for the repair. I am so grateful we had the financial means to do that. While I won't say paying the money was not disappointing and unfortunate, we had the money instead of feeling an incredible stress about it, it was okay.  Having the financial means to pay for that comes because we are standing upon the shoulders of our grandparents and parents before us. They worked so hard to give us the education and skills needed to be financial sound and we have been blessed by the Lord to have financial stability. I'm grateful for that and for our parents for deciding to go to college. 

Thought 2) You might be thinking - why didn't you take it to check the transmission right after you thought there might be a problem in September? Certainly, I should have, but I did not because it sounded totally fine on the rest of the trip and over the next two months. I honestly believe that the answer to our prayer, was that it did not break down in California, but the answer was not that it would not break at all. It did break down and I really believe, that if not for the power of God through a prayer offered for help, the transmission would have died two months sooner and a really inconvenient time. Instead it broke when it was much more convenient and now I can see that Heavenly Father truly answered my prayer. He can take broken things and make them work. Whether that is a van or whether it is our lives, he loves me and is aware of me and my needs. 

I'm grateful for those things, Happy Thanksgiving!