I Think They Miss Daddy!

The other day I was working in the kitchen & Macall was in the family room playing when she said "Mommy, I miss Daddy." I said "me too, but we'll be strong & we will get through it." She obviously misunderstood me & she replied (quite offended) "I will not get over it!" Since that day she has several times out of the blue says comments like "I will not get over Daddy being gone, Mommy." Good thing he has a cheerleader back home!

Since Dad's been gone Macall Sleeps with Mom when I let her.

Preston & Maddy had a sleep-over last weekend in Preston's room. When I went to kiss them goodnight I saw Maddy had brought Daddy along with her (& a few toys.)

Today I moved Maddy's Daddy pillow off her bed while I fixed her sheets & found her stash of letters Dad has sent under it. Her personal "Daddy shrine."

Even Reggie has decided to sleep here, a little closer to the rest of the family, instead of his kennel.

Our Favotite Valentine (or Anytime) Cookie

Ginger Cookies

1 c. Shortening
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. molasses
2 Tbsp. Vinegar or lemon juice
2 tsp. soda 1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp cinnamon 6 c. flour
Mix shortening & sugar, then add eggs & beat well. Add vinegar or lemon juice & continue to beat. Add dry ingredients (may need more four or a few drops of water for a good consistency.) Roll out about 1/4” thick & cut into shapes.
Bake at either: 375° for 6 min.
350° for 8 min.
Makes 5-8 dozen depending on size of cookie. Cookies freeze well (before frosted.)

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8 oz. block cream cheese (room temp.)
1/2 cube margarine (room temp.)
Vanilla
Powdered sugar

Mix together & frost cookie if desired. Frosted cookie also tastes & looks great with coconut & red hot candies.

These are a Walker family tradition for Valentine’s Day, a great big gingerbread heart with cream cheese frosting, coconut & red hot candies—Nothing better!


One reason these are a favorite, (other than the fact that they are the BEST) is the dough is stiffer than a sugar or shortbread cookie which makes it easier to work with without having to refrigerate before rolling.

Valentines Day wouldn't be complete without them!

Thank you Great-Grandma Walker for passing this tradition down!

Off to Iraq

Jan. 16th was a sad morning at the airport for us. Derrick's final days in the Air Force are being spent in Iraq, his first and only deployment.

Derrick being transported from his first stop (2-days) in Qatar to his duty base, Kirkuk. When he left I was showing the kids pictures on-line of Iraq & where Dad was going. Maddy's first comment was "aren't there any flowers, trees or bushes?" Dad sent this picture to show her that he found a flower (granted it's a weed growing in a pile of rocks, but a flower!)

Behind these cement pillars is the hospital.

This is their fancy break room.

This is the ultra high tech E.R. in the hospital, got to love the bicycle wheels on the gurney.

This is his new home. He is lucky, he has his own room & shares a bathroom with only one other person. Each of the trailers has 2 rooms with the bathroom in between.

These are his bunks, they sleep with their flack vest & helmet on the top bunk in case they get hit with a mortar (comforting thought to sleep on!)

Also in AZ...

Since we are around Uncle Greg we've got to get a new family snapshot. Kind of last minute, but a must before Dad heads to Iraq.

Christmas Roadtrip!

First Stop:

Utah

Christmas would not be complete without a snowman for Grandma (especially since we got so much fresh snow!) Maddy & Daddy worked hard on this enormous snowman, standing over 6-feet tall! The next morning we woke up & he was squashed flat!!! All that remained were 2 sets of truck tire tracks; over the curb, into the yard & over our snowman. Maddy collecting the finishing touches for her snowman.

Christmas Eve
The Christmas Story (without baby Boston, the sheep, she gave up on her acting career)
Grandma & the girls in their new pink P.J.'s

Grandpa & the boys in new P.J.'s

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning we all got up & were ready to go downstairs, but we couldn't find Preston. He had already headed down to check out his stocking. His new P.J.'s say "I've been good all year" true, until Christmas morning!

Macall finally gets her very own Leapster, no more sharing!

Maddy is digging into that huge pile of presents (not all for our family)

Christmas would not be complete without playing games.

Of all the presents these two got today, they played with this gag gift Grandma got, a remote control wheelchair race.

Meanwhile the adults played some silly new board game, D drew the worst cards. He had to wear a mask he had before his next turn and make u puppet out of the next players sock.

Lights, reindeer, & ice cream (as if it wasn't cold enough) at Thanksgiving Pointe.

Next Stop:

Arizona
So this is the only picture of our activities here in Arizona, not because it wasn't fun though.

While we were in AZ Grandpa had knee replacement surgery & the kids had fun with cousins, we just didn't pull out the camera except while decorating cookies!