Jackson Wins Dirtiest Toes Contest

Jackson Taylor and Michel Newman were the finalist for the dirty toes contest but Jackson won by about two layers. Better luck next year Michel at the Taylor Family Reunion dirty toe contest.

It was the best of reunions and the worst of reunions. Jerry and Jane were robbed while we were sitting at the lake. Jerry and Jane were saddened but philosophical and grateful no one was hurt, and in the end stuff is just that stuff. Computers can be replaced but Jane's earrings that were a high school graduation gift from a beloved friend and her fortieth anniversary gift from Jerry cannot.

Marc's four, four week old orphan miniature dachshunds were the, need I say it, hit of the reunion. Daisy, Heidi, Emma and Dirk did not lack cuddling time with various family members. They were either sleeping, waddling around on the grass for a little play/poop time or nestled on someones chest. When the puppy formula came out it was all eyes on the wee ones. Stephanie, Nora and Cathy would have done a little dog napping if forty pair of eyes hadn't of been on them. Watching the orphans thrive was one of the biggest joys ever at The Taylor Family Reunion.

This reunion sort of went to the dogs. Summer had Rocco, Anne-Lizette had Rudy, Mike and Kathy had Harvey and Izzy, and Cara had Elly. I'm here to tell you a dogs life is pretty sweet.

Mark's reunion t-shirt was another hit. Jeff is every one's favorite and there he was in all his lovable glory eternally memorialized in the most fantastic drawing ever. Thanks Mr Mark you out did yourself causing so much pleasure to all the family.

Otherwise it was a pretty typical reunion. We sat and watched the orphans, the dogs, the campfire, the kids, the food, the fishermen, the walkers, the kayakers, the runners, the World Series fans, each other, the fall leaves change color, the rain, and the mighty fine Oklahoma lightening storm.

My two favorite reunion moments among many mighty fine reunion moments was Michael telling us the fire was broke after it had burned down to nothing one very warm afternoon. He couldn't throw his candy trash into the fire because it was broke. Love it.

And Connor trying to put his hand up to stop the Oklahoma lighting storm that followed him from the campfire and up the hill and into his cabin. "Stop" he said as he very deftly shut the door to the storm. That was something his Granny, nor his mommy and daddy could fix.

Connor didn't like the storm but he sure was entranced with Janice's video the next morning. When all was safe and sound and the sun was shinning his eyes got big and round with a big ole "woo" every time he saw another flash of lighting.

Connor bathed, ate, slept and pooped his way through the reunion. He learned to walk around the fire, go to the play ground, and run with the big boys. It was a magical year for this granny.

Well, there is a third favorite moment. After Conner had discovered the Goodie Box when ever he heard the words "Goodie Box" his little head went up like a Meercat on a swivel as he tracked the action and off he went. He would desert Granny or anybody and anything else. He did like the Goodie Box.

Other reunion moments was Jackson surprise when I presented him a prize for his dirty toes.
My pink hug from Avery, she didn't really want to hug me but her pink t-shirt could.
Popcorn cookies made twice: Jean and Amber.
The shopping trip for Vera Bradley and shrimp.
Next year there will be a bloody mary bar.
GG's fried baloney sandwiches.
Everybody loves a rain sanctuary, including Jeff.
We might have been baconed out.
Mark's two Seattle groupies.
Blaine helped everyone.
Hannah, Hannah, everybody loves Hannah.
Chocolate biscuits.
Tethered Janice.
Clark was missed.
Andy and Alec were welcomed.
Art doesn't wobble with his fake hip.
Bugs, bugs, bugs and bees. Enough to go around.
Jan let Connor wake up and play with a razor during her watch.
Stephanie deserted Connor if the bug was big and ugly enough.
It didn't matter if it was her watch.

Lots of good people and good food.

But my fun didn't end at the reunion. After the cabins at the lake I went to apartments, dorms, townhouses, homes and saw every bodies nests. Nora's new Fort Smith home is gorgeous; decorated, delightful, urban, two blocks from her new hotel and home to The Taylor Family Christmas breakfast December 10th, not the 3rd, due to some football game that interfered. You know you are in Oklahoma, or in this case Arkansas, if you plan events around football schedules.

We did a drive by to Brittany's dorm filled with girls and girls underwear every where. I have never seen so much girlie stuff in one place -- EVER. It was wonderful for me to check out Brittany's dorm because I have never had one or even been in one, it was all a brand new experience. All I knew about dorms was what I have read and reading does not do it justice. Imagine a girls dorm room and then triple that mental image and you might have an idea of the chaos.

Julia's townhouse is cheerful and whimsical with all of her bird art, one fat cat that could have been homeless if she hadn't of relented and took it in, and so precise and organized it inspired me to come home and get precise and organized. Even her closets were inspiring. She had a coffee bar, a nautical room, a bird watching deck, a shower to die for, hot and pulsating, and enough comfy couches and chairs for everyone. Perfect, perfect.

Jeff's is filled with memento's and photo's a veritable jaunt down nostalgic lane. Actually I don't think he has a home as much as he has a gallery. Seeing Christian at eight years old with his cousins and their matching plaid shorts brought a flood of memories. Jeff has lots of Jason's military paraphernalia; from graduating from boot camp to landing in North Carolina when the soldiers came home from Iraq. He has two shelves stuffed with treasures up to and including the candy box I gave him two days before. When I commented on it he said well I ate the candy, it's just the empty box!

I had so much fun meandering around Northwest Arkansas with my most excellent hosts. I went to NW AK to see Julia and Jeff, but my cup runneth over with other joys. Jeff sure knows how to stock a touring van with all the necessaries; water, beer, champagne, snacks, maps, Kleenex, walking sticks, step stools for his fat old sisters, and a semi-itinerary, never cast in stone always open for options. It did piss me off though when Jeff jumped on the trail he hadn't walked before Julia could get a photo of it. They have walked ever damn trail in a thirty mile radius and many in a one-hundred mile radius. Walking fools! Julia post some pictures.

Jean's home is filled with nests. Love it! Love it! There was Jean's three nests: one in the dining room, one in the bedroom, and one in the living room. She looked comfy to me.

And I want everyone to know I'm not a crazy old lady driver unless Julia, Nora, Jeff and Jean are crazy old lady drivers also. They went down the wrong side of the road, yes they did, and they took wrong turns, didn't know where to turn, had to back track. It was most satisfying to see them mess up. So there!

We had good food everywhere. The reunion was good as always, but the highlight will be the Instant Karma restaurant in Joplin Missouri where we had bacon wrapped deep fried hot dogs. Need I say more? AQ chicken was as fabulous as I remembered, and we had an Andrew sighting who was as fabulous as I remember, and we had enough left overs for Julia's birthday dinner the next night. Only Julia would appreciate a birthday dinner of left overs. Fun stuff.

We ate at Market Place, First Watch, and Mama Roja's, all new places to me and all such unique and delicious food. Then we ate at some old standbys like Braums where we went in to have a sausage biscuit and ate bananas and yogurt instead. If a Taylor is eating their way through Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri they are having fun. Yes we did!

I came home smooth as a cucumber. Ian gave good directions to the car. It took me an hour and a half from touch down to front door and an hour and a half to get back to life. I unloaded the suitcase, checked email and mail, looked for pictures of Connor on face book and was watching a movie by eight o'clock.

The Inn at Mukilteo is open for business;

girl parties -- Cathy
generational parties -- Kathy
family parties -- Amber
romantic not family parties -- Amber
wanderlust parties -- Jerry
run away parties -- Jean
spa parties -- Nora
play parties -- Brittany
shopping, eagle watching, driving, foodie -- any kind of party you can dredge up.
Any one up for a film fest party come on.

Ian left a note, "laundry done... dishes done... mail checked... Welcome home! See you on Monday! p.s. I left my car key just in case with my itinerary and money. Sorry I spent $5.00."

Now, I ask you, would you begrudge Ian $5.00 dollars after all that?

And he left a cheesecake in the refrigerator...

No more sitting around The Taylor Family Reunion campfire for a year.

Next year we will have a new design for our camp fire circle, instead of random groupings it will be those with fake limbs sit in one area, the asthmatic/COPDers another, we will have a geriatric section, those with health issues, those with dietary needs, those with kids, those with dogs, guests, and a smoking section.

Back to plain old ordinary life. Now what fun is that?