A Family Christmas

This past weekend I attended my uncle’s holiday party in Kansas city. And here’s something you should know about my uncle- he’s one of the most sought after talent coaches in the pageant industry. I know I bullshit a lot, but I’m 100% serious about this. He’s worked with almost every Miss America out there.

So when he throws a holiday party, it’s full of Miss Americas and all of the very talented people he runs with. He had a piano player on every floor of his house playing Christmas tunes. There were guitar players and harpists and other random musicians at every corner. And then there was me. Creeping around his big old house all by myself with a bottle of champagne just the way I like it.

And did I mention there was food? Lots and lots of amazing food.

My family stayed on the third floor, which is also where the party ended around 3:00 a.m. surrounded by the piano singing Jingle Bells. Although I had retired for the night much earlier (I’m a happy hour kinda gal, not an after-hours gal.) So in an attempt to keep the late night party animals from bugging me while I slept I chose to sleep on the floor beside the bed, not on it- a fact which would lead my parents to think I was lost from about 1:00 a.m.- 3:00 a.m. But that’s neither here nor there at this point.

The third floor is about twice the size of my apartment in Chicago. Pretty standard for a man who lives alone, right?

Sadly this is the only photo my family managed to get for the night. If you cross your eyes it actually doesn’t look that bad. And if you’re drunk it actually looks really clear.

The following morning I did what any normal girl would do and proceeded to creep around the house taking photos in all of the practice rooms pretending I was one of my uncle’s elite pageant girls. I think I fit right in.

I know what you’re probably thinking, “But Taylor, if you’re uncle is such a big deal in the pageant world why on earth didn’t you ever jump in?” Good question. Well guys, the truth is that I lack a little bit of what one might call… talent. My uncle specializes in vocal and piano lessons (I think.) Or at least that’s what he always told me.

But perhaps he took one look at me as a child at our family get togethers when I would willfully get up and dance and sing for everyone and thought to himself, Please don’t ever let this child ask me to be her talent coach. 


Whenever my uncle would come back for Christmas it was tradition that he would get on the piano and play Christmas songs while we all sat around and listened. At one point I would always jump up and start to belt out the song, trying my hardest I might add to sound just like Ariel from the Little Mermaid, and my uncle would smile at me sweetly and say bless her heart. I know this to be true because we have it all on video tape.

Bless my heart indeed. I’m still the fang toothed little girl who just doesn’t know when to quit.

And now I’m going back to bed because my annual Christmas sickness has returned once again to remind me never to take my health for granted.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

 photo signature-23.png

Share:

27 Comments

  1. December 22, 2014 / 1:05 pm

    this looks amazing. I bet this party was a blast. I went to bed early one night when my family stayed up til 5. i love the pics around the house. you fit right in.

  2. December 22, 2014 / 1:14 pm

    Wow. Sounds like quite a party. And your recollection of childhood awkwardness is just so good.

  3. December 22, 2014 / 1:50 pm

    I just started following your blog, and I have to tell you that you are my new spirit animal (in a good way, I promise). I plan on living my life vicariously through you. I hope that's alright! Added bonus: I live about 45 minutes outside of Chicago, so your blog will help me find some sweet new things to try out downtown!

    That who-ville lookin' centerpiece is amazeballs!
    Your skirt is incredible!
    That last pose is AWESOME!

    Hope you have a great Christmas.
    From a new follower 🙂

  4. December 22, 2014 / 3:07 pm

    Your play-by-play on Twitter was my highlight of the evening.

  5. December 22, 2014 / 4:56 pm

    Your uncle sounds like a ball of fun. How cool that he worked with all those women. I would have totally done the same thing and danced with a statue!

  6. December 22, 2014 / 5:08 pm

    Your uncle sounds awesome. I have always wanted to throw big Christmas parties like that!

  7. December 22, 2014 / 9:47 pm

    I've always wanted to go to a Christmas party like that, let alone a house like that.

    And hey, if you keep working at it maybe one day you will sound like Ariel. But if you're anything like me, you could only dream.

    Cheers,
    http://lifelustandotherstuff.blogspot.com.au/

  8. December 23, 2014 / 3:22 am

    You had to stay on the third floor?! With Kevin Mcallister? 😉 haha

  9. December 23, 2014 / 2:01 pm

    I live in Kansas City! Did you get a chance to go see the Christmas lights on the Plaza? They're beautiful!

  10. December 23, 2014 / 2:44 pm

    Eww I'm pretty sick too. :(((

  11. December 25, 2014 / 1:38 pm

    A talented uncle with a house like that? I'd really , really like to swap a family member or two x

  12. December 25, 2014 / 6:11 pm

    Oh my goodness, how fun!

  13. December 26, 2014 / 3:33 am

    OMG, you're uncle is Bill Wolfe!

    I'm star-struck.

    Yes. EVERYONE has worked with him! Except me, of course, because I never had a talent. Monologues don't exactly fly in the Miss America system. Anyway, as a former contestant and longtime Miss America fan, I loved this post.

    Awesome party. I'm jealous. A Taylor Wolfe AND A Bill Wolfe together in one place?

    This has-been beauty queen blogger cannot even…

  14. December 26, 2014 / 8:26 pm

    Very fancy set up! I wish our family was fancy! Haha. We try to be classy during the holidays but all it ever ends up being is a bunch of talking over each other!

  15. December 24, 2015 / 5:57 am
  16. April 21, 2016 / 7:45 am

    Your own animosity and outlooks accomplish the article alone yours. Never be beneath the consequence that you are additional to somebody. Anticipate that you are a being of importance. Crush the cerebral barrier to accommodate your individuality in your writings. Accumulate in mind; you are able of accomplishing annihilation great.
    http://essaychest.com/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *