Afterglow

My apologies for the same ol' , same ol', Stuff of Sleep for over a month ( makes me yawn just thinking about it ). The holiday season kicked my tukus right out of the blogoshpere and then some. I'm hoping this doesn't become a pattern. It always cracks me up when people post about not posting. And so it goes... BESIDES! This IS The Post Party isn't it? I think I had to pack up Christmas ( along with all the Orthodox folks half way through January! sheesh... )before posting about it all. As this is incredibly long, you'll have to just look at it as a family album from the last month. Take your time, or skip on through. AND, it moves backwards. Now to then...

So many blessings to speak of... Oh where to begin? Annabelle's first Christmas was wonderful, sparkling white, and incredibly eventful. We are so grateful for safe travels, being able to spend unforgettable time with family and friends, and gathering to meet people who have relentlessly prayed and invested so much into our family.

Well, hope you enjoy the afterglow!

Now to then... Annabelle is going to the Team Kess Academy two days a week, and she loves it!

New Year's Day: Annabelle's Circle continues! The only thing missing from these New Year's photos is Solmaz, the one behind the camera!

Keaton is my youngest good buddy!

and I love him.

Happy Sidney

Happy New Year!!

Grandma Lucille's lamp post in Richland. The place to meet aunts, uncles, cousins...everyone! A very Rich Land indeed.

Generations

Four generations of the gals!

Uncle Wes

The continuous cast signing. That's crazy Aunt Kristi.

Auntie Heather

View from Grandma Lucille's balcony

AAaahh siblings...and CC!

enjoyable decor

I love my name's sake!

The photo shoot with Grandma Lucille

Gram & Papa

Mommy & Auntie Heather

Papa & Daisy

Heather & Cousin Crystal ( CC! )

Wesley

You can't expect me to always be ON!

Gram, Neal, & Marcia

CC smooches! She loves me.

They finally meet!

Traveling with Gram and Papa takes us to places like this...

Bernie wrote a beautiful poem for me and gave it to Mommy & Daddy.

That's Auntie Ju Ju too.

Papa had to cancel church because of snow, so church came to us!

Meeting for Sushi with Michelle. She kissed my cast!

Meeting the Lovely Parkers

Our wonderful neighbor Roseanne made Annie this beautiful sweater, and she wore it the whole chilly, snowy trip! Thanks Roseanne!

Bloggin' w/Daddy at our Days!

They love me.

Cookin' curry with Jenn.

Sadly, I don't have photos from our snowy Dunsire party. Sorry team.

Christmas at Gram & Papa's house. There were these beautiful, chubby Robins all gathering in their berry trees for food. Tons of them in the snowy branches. So pretty!

Gram's tree always looks so nice.

Christmas with Team Kess

And at home...

My first tree!

Wishing I had more photos of the wonderful Christmas party with Sunday School class in Escondido. Warmest thanks and blessings to you.

Mom's Christmas work dinner

Picking out our tree!

My Mama wore this when she was little like me.

So if that all seemed chaotic...um...living it was too. Chaoticly wonderful!!

Big thanks to Gram & Papa for flying us to Washington, and to Mike & Anna Cook for house and Buckley sitting, and surprise working on our house!

May God bless you this year!!!