Friday, December 31, 2010

The Final Adventure of the Year.

Peter and Jacob
were walkin' through the woods
and
they saw
a big, big dinosaur.
It
was
a
big,
big
dinasour.
The name was T-Rex.
And it wasn't just any dinosaur.  It was a flying dinosaur.
Peter and Jacob were like WOAH!
And then they crept up and jumped on it and the dinosaur took them for a ride.
It was so fun.
The end.

Written by my 6 year-old nephew, Mr. James Byron Taylor

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Details in this Post May or May Not Be Accurate.

I often make the excuse that I have to come home for Christmas because my mother would murder me if I didn't.  I explain that no one has ever missed a Christmas and I wouldn't dare to be the first one. 
But the truth of the matter is that I had a dream. 
A dream that one day, I would be an actress in the Best Christmas Skit.  I was fully aware that if this were going to become a reality, I must show up for the Taylor Christmas celebrations.  And so, year after year, wherever I was in the world, I returned to the Taylor home base. 
I toiled year after year.  Whether with the Christmas story painted on feet, the PowerPoint version of the Christmas story, or raps done to intimidate other rappers, Sarah and I tried with all our might. 
But every year we failed.
And every year I thought, next year.  Next year we will be victorious.
The stakes were raised last year as a trophy was introduced. The Yodeling Pickle of Christmas was introduced and snatched up by Peter & Dan's "The Verbs of Christmas".  I cried a little bit that night.
But I was determined that 2010 would be the year that Sarah & I would snatch that Pickle. 
I awoke on the morning of the twenty-fourth, fully aware of what needed to be done that day.  After sitting on my sister and forcing her awake, we descended into the basement, we photographed, video-ed, sang, and recorded.  And then we edited it.  It was a beaut.  As we saw the time come near, we knew that we were ready.  Ready for the Yodel. 
Once again we descended the stairs.  We opened the laptop.  We plugged in the projector.  We pushed "fn" and "f3" simultaneously.  And alas, nothing happened.  Despair fell upon us.  We saw the pickle slipping from our fingers.  Just as we were about to sit and feign laughter at the other skits, the Tech Guy that surpasses all tech guys appeared.  We were unable to see his fingers, as they became a blur on the keyboard.  We saw drivers downloading and wondered what a driver actually is.  We saw cords being switched.  We saw computers being restarted.  And then we saw our hope for the Yodeling Pickle of Christmas upon the wall. 
The rest is history. 
Dan saved us.
Sarah was laughed at.
And we won.
For the first time in Taylor history, females are the victors.
We are the Picklettes of Christmas.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

End of the Semester Check List

Semester completed?  Check.  
Children hugged?  Check.
Grades figured and printed?  Check and check.  
Levels assigned for next semester?  Check.  
Books bought for next year? Chec..well, not completely checked, but almost.
Note to parents written/translated?  Check/check.  
Parents conferenced?  Check.  
Classroom clean?  Eh...it can wait.
Apartment clean?  Check.
Gifts prepared?  Check.
Bags prepared?  Workin' on that one.
Itinerary printed?  I'd classify that as a priority.
Ready to see my family and friends?  Checkity check.