family life

Hi-i-i-i-stayin’ alive…stayin’ alive

February 1, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 10 Comments

I may look like I’m scared…..or about to fall. But really I’m just singing and groovin’ to ‘Hi-i-i-i-i stayin’ alive’. Like my shirt? I thought so. My personal tribute to times gone by.

So Christine and Sue and I took

some big kids

and some little kids

and one really crazy kid
Photobucket
to the second most germ infested hangout in town……second to the bowling alley of course.

the teen girls bonded while trying to not knock over very small children…..

Taylor and Andrew took first place in the scooter race…..while Emme and Morgan finished strong in thirteenth…..

and then of course there’s the hokey pokey….my personal favorite….

and apparently a favorite of Marcus as well.

Most of the afternoon, this is what I looked like. Not because I kept falling, but because I skated so fast that I was a blur to everyone around me. I’m going back next week. I have plans to ‘dominate’ (Taylor and Andrew’s word) all the 13 year olds in the races.

BTW, Marcus can skate. I mean really skate. Those darn hocky players.

If I had a salon, I’d call it COIFFEDINGRACE…..

January 27, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 18 Comments

I didn’t write this on Friday, but it is kinda funny. Here’s what I started singing when Taylor agreed to let me cut his hair:

“I got skillz….they’re multiplYing….and I’m loooooooosing contro-ol….for the power you’re supplYing …It’s ELECTRIFYING”. I sang it all night long. Then I tried to find my Grease video.

Meanwhile, he sat in the chair looking scared. I shoulda got a ‘before’. It was a shaggy, mangy mess with near dread-locks. This is much better. Look, he has eyes. Don’t look at me like that. I’m your mother. And I love you. And I know that musicians can’t have jacked up hair. Just trust me. Don’t I look like a professional?

Now just to fill you in on a little trivia, my mom was a ‘beautician’ as we called it back in the day. So I grew up in the salon. I saw more gray haired women get their hair rolled than you could shake some scissors at. I went to slumber parties for the sole purpose of ‘fixin’ everybody’s hair. And last year when I went to visit Donia with my angel friends Donna and Sue, I begged to get my hands in their hair. I can do a mean do.

I think I’ve got a pretty rockin’ technique. I’ve seen it done so many times that I really feel like I know what I’m doing. Of course, I don’t. But that’s not the point now is it?

Look at the dexterity….the precision….the shear skillz (bad pun intended). Never mind the outfit. I’ve got more important things to worry about than whether or not I have on my lounge pants at 7pm. Which I do. But whatever.

then Emme demanded to ‘style’ it for him….

We mean business at this salon.

So, what do ya think? Would you let me cut your hair? Or at least let me tease it and do Farrah Fawcett bangs?

I think I’ve proven that I have very happy customers. And I’m cheap.

There are a few people who don’t trust me and would rather play rock, paper, scissors.

I like my scissor skillz way better. It’s a beautiful thing to cut your own son’s hair!

Don’t come home a-drankin’……with lovin’ on your mind

January 24, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 5 Comments

I have been privileged in this life to have a sister (Gina) and a cousin who functions for all intents and purposes like a sister (JamieKnoxville). I guess that gives me two sisters. And today is Jamie’s birthday. So in her honor I give you a little peek into our shady past. She sent me this picture for Christmas enlarged to a 5×7 with the sole purpose of making fun of my rusty little shoes. (I’m sporting the bottle and she’s to my left rubbing her eyes). She also pointed out my mom’s stylish pants. That’s my daddy with the hat on. He was always making us laugh!

And here we are years later, celebrating the high school graduation of her daughter Jordan. That’s Jamie in the back (middle). I know….. she’s gorgeous! And that’s my sister Gina to my right. I know, she’s a beauty too! The three of us have always been close knit. That probably stems from the fact that we share a past that had it’s dark and twisty elements. Our parents were party-ers back in the day….in a hillbilly/George Jones/Coal Miners Daughter kind of a way. We’ve spent the last 20 years calling each other on the phone saying, “Omigosh, do you remember the time….they left us in the car for 4 hours with a bottle of RC and some fritos while they went honky-tonkin’……or the time y’all moved in with us ’cause soandso ‘busted out all the winders’…..or all the funerals we went to together and made fun of the ‘Jesus called’ plastic telephone…..or the time we visited our cousin in prison…….you know, just normal family memories. I guess all families are dysfunctional, but the fact that we’re not all three in a psych ward somewhere rocking back and forth, is almost amazing.

The great thing about it though….is that we have each other. Jamie remembers EVERYTHING in painful detail. She’s been like a therapist/best friend/sister all wrapped into one. I guess my ADD has served me well…in that, I’ve forgotten a lot of the crazy jazz that we went through and what I do remember is usually cased in a gracious amount of laughter. So, Jamie, here’s to your birthday. (I’m holding up my glass of wine…and I’ve ordered Gina an apple martini). I love you like no other. I thank you being to me what noone else could have been. I thank you that you know my story and love me anyway. I think Gina still holds a grudge against you for always making her be Haus’s wife when we played Bonanza. Oh course, you always got Little Joe….which left me with Adam. But all grudges aside, I apologize that I didn’t manage to video myself singing Satin Sheets for your big day. I think you’ll like this one though. We know all the words. I’m singing it realloud.

Brothers and sisters….

January 15, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 19 Comments

I had lunch today with my brother and sister. It’s kind of a rare occasion really. There was no special reason….no birthday or funeral. Just to visit. And I think it’s so easy to take for granted how wonderful it is to be able to talk and laugh and visit with someone who’s seen you in your skivvies while you had the chicken pox and still picked your nose. And who knows that you’re not nearly as smart or funny or responsible as people think you are. And who shared a room, the flu, a boyfriend, a few knock-down drag-out fights and a car with you. And who has seen you at your worst and best moments. And somehow still loves you more than almost anyone in the world. It’s a immutable bond that we share. An inside track. A ‘knowing’ that is intimate and forgiving and forever.

We may seldom verbalize it but there’s a sense that no matter what happens in our own personal private lives, things with the three of us will never change. My sister will make the calls, my brother will do the dishes, and I will find something funny to laugh about. He will call me ‘sister’. I will call him ‘brother’. Gina will call us both and tell us what time to be at lunch. And where.

I find it ever comforting to know that these two people are ‘mine’. They will take my calls. And listen to my new ‘obsessions’ and endure my rantings and love on my children…..and hold my hand when life goes dark. They will not leave. No matter what. And for that I am thankful. Even the closest of friends can hardly compare to that kind of loyalty. It makes me grateful that my children have each other. And reminds me how important ‘family’ really is in life.

They know our history. Our deepest fears. Our failures. Every vulnerability. And our greatest joys. They make us who we are. And keep us safe. And loved. Here’s to friendships that have depth and staying power. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gifts.

P.S. Brother: Sorry that I ripped your Farrah Fawcett poster in 1977. I did it with volition and malice. In retrospect, I coveted her hair and had to make room for Shawn Cassidy.

Sis, I’m finally able to say I forgive you for stealing my middle school boyfriend. In retrospect, I realize you were sweet and always home when he called. And let’s face it, you were very well developed and I had a mullet.

I love you both dearly. And I’m practicing up for the next installment of Rock Band.

Family Tradition

December 26, 2008 by Edie Wadsworth 7 Comments

My family gathered for the last hurrah! last night and feasted on steak and shrimp. It was a delightful dinner and I’m pretty sure I pulled some ab muscles laughing so hard. I literally fell onto the floor laughing at one point…..not to be confused with me literally falling out of the bed last night…(thanks for all the concern about my possibly fractured hip, Stevie). We performed our redneck version of the 12 days of Christmas and recorded it to send to my JamieKnoxville (my beloved cousin who makes her home among the yankees of New Joisey). She could be in debt to me for life for orchestrating that piece of musical prowess. Loretta Lynn ain’t got nothin’ on me. If you’re quick on the draw, you might be able to see it later today mingled into an older post. But in the interest of protecting the last ounce of self-respect I still possess, I’m not leaving it there long. If you do happen to view it, remember two things. 1. Most of my relatives call me ‘sister’. 2. The favorite funeral decoration among us is the plastic phone carefully nestled among all manner of carnations that reads “Jesus called”. Need I elaborate? I didn’t think so.
And for those of you who are wondering how ‘baby dog’ is doing. He’s absolutely the most darling adorable little pooch you’ve ever seen. And in the interest of preserving all things southern, we named him HANK. Max sounded too much like he was from New York and wore argyle sweaters…..and had a doggy umbrella. HANK has a certain “I drive a Ford f150 and have a rifle rack” sound. He’s much more of a HANK. And since our family has a really bad habit of butchering all names, I knew that within the hour, we’d be calling him Maxipad.
Scooter (our other dog) has refused all acknowledgement of baby HANK. He pretends not to see him at all….and when HANK comes in for a sniff, he growls. Nice. Way to show him some southern hospitality Scooter. Where are your doggie manners. You should be showing him around…..showing him where to find all the dirty underwear and shoes. You should be giving him the scoop on mealtimes and doggie treats. But no. You refuse to welcome Baby Hank to the family. Just wait til he’s 50 pounds and giving you the cold shoulder. You won’t like it then buddy.
So, in 24 hours, here’s what we’ve called him

Hankie

Hankie Doodle

Hammerin’ Hank

Bocephus

Hanky Panky

Hanker

Hankerin’

Spanky Hanky

Hank-a-hank-a-burnin’ love

Tom Hanks

Hanks-a-million

Hank Jr.

The Incredible Hank

Hank You. Hankyouverymuch.

Hanks-a-lot

and songs we’ve sung to him:

“Hey, hey good lookin’ whatcha got cookin'” by Hank Williams

Hankie Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony

“They get on me wanna know Hank why do ya drank” by Hank Jr.

I’m sorry little baby dog. Living here will at least be interesting.

Hope your Christmas was merry!

What do iced sugar cookies, knitting and G.K. Chesterton have in common?

December 13, 2008 by Edie Wadsworth 10 Comments

Here at our homeschool, we’re following a strict curriculum. Today’s goal: Bake Grandma Evadne’s sugar cookie recipe in the shape of stars….and ice them. Recite G.K. Chesterton’s A Christmas Carol. Make snowflakes while dancing to “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause”. Punishment awaits those who do not fully participate!

You must try this recipe. It’s fantastic and comes from the north woods of Minnesota. Of course it’s always better when Grandma makes it….but we had fun and they turned out fantabulous. (And as side note, my kitchen looks like a nuclear fall-out shelter.

Notice the vintage aprons that we bought this summer while we visited Steve’s family in MN…

and ta-da……the most wonderful Christmas cookies ever.

and to make this festive celebration more vintage…..my sweet mother-in-law sent me three beautiful pieces of hammered aluminum…..THE most beautiful pieces that I have received or collected to date…..

and as if that weren’t wonderful enough, she knitted the girls the MOST ADORABLE booties you have ever seen. EVER.

This led us to a grammar lesson about ‘how to write a thank you note’ which the girls thoroughly enjoyed. There’s something so grown-up about addressing an envelope. And don’t forget to admire the snowflakes…..thank you Sandy for the link.

So there you have it…..a wonderful evening of baking…..

and enjoying the festivities of Christmas.

We finished it off by watching ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

C.S. Lewis is a genius…..and his mentor G.K. Chesterton was too. So enjoy the following recitation of his poem “A Christmas Carol”. And here’s a shower of hugs and kisses to Grandma for making our evening so special. We’ll eat a cookie for you.

P.S. Thank you to brother Jeff for the email he sent to Issues,Etc…..which apparently won us blog of the week…….Hitchkicks are in order, I believe.

Grandma’s Sugar Cookie Recipe

Beat together and set aside.

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

4 T. milk

Mix the following together like pie crust:

3 1/4 C. flour

1 t. soda

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. vanilla

1 c. softened butter (2 sticks)

Mix the egg mixture into the flour mixture. Roll out and cut into your favorite shape. Bake at 400 for 8-9 minutes.

For the icing, I mix 1 stick butter (softened) with 1 stick of Land ‘O Lakes margarine (softened, and don’t try to substitute some other margarine, K? just get the right kind) and then add 1 bag (2 pounds) powdered sugar and 1-2 T. milk, a pinch of salt and 1 t. vanilla. I then pipe the icing onto the cookies and sprinkle. Have a wonderful Saturday and happy baking.