Jen & Daddy in Nana’s famous lily garden, circa 1973

It all started in 1972. Jen was born to Kennie & Kenneth Taylor in Hickory, NC (and yes…my mother’s name is Kennie), a cold Saturday on the 25th of November. Mom still says that it was the turkey that forced Jen out.

Blonde hair & hazel eyes, Jen was the only child of the 2 Ken’s until 1977 when her brother, John, made his world debut. Again, a November baby (the 8th), but he was born in sweltering Miami (our family had long gone from NC). In 1981, they would add the last of the Taylor children, as their baby sister, Kathleen, showed up on inauguration day, January 20.

A little Jen circa 1976

She lived life in Miami Springs…Virginia Gardens to be exact (the even smaller suburb) attending Miami Springs Elementary, Miami Springs Junior High & Miami Springs Senior High. Being very active, she was a member of the Thespians, President of Anchor & a regular on the MSSH Morning News. After graduation in 1990, she spent 4 more years in Miami working. In March of 1994, she was offered a promotion with her company, to relocate to Los Angeles.

In 1995, she had the first of her four children. A daughter, Claudia Elizabeth, was born on December 20th. What a great Christmas present! She continued to add to her brood in 1997, 2000 & 2002 with the additions of son Gabriel on August 22nd, daughter Lea on April 4th & son Jacob on August 4th.

In 2004, she moved in with her best friend of 17 years, author D. Challener Roe. 2006 saw them ALL sick of Los Angeles & what it failed to offer them, so they packed up the kids, cats, dogs & junk….headed East to Raleigh, NC. There they all are living, happily in their golf course townhouse, trying to carve out their niche as the All American Family.

The woman behind the lens