My dear parents, Moisi and Nadia Bagdanov, with their newest granddaughter Hope. This picture represents the oldest and youngest at our family gathering at my sister Vera’s home in Huntington Beach. My parents have 8 living very adult children and 7 of those children with all their children and one great grandchild were all together for the first time at Christmas since 1991. We have one brother whose family does not celebrate with us.
My kids with their grandparents (Baba and Deda).
Katie and her cousin Melissa (one of my sister Kathy’s daughters). My kids with their Aunt Lana and cousin Caleb. Levi and Joseph (Levi, Caleb, and Joseph are 3 of my brother Steve’s boys).
My brother Leonard’s family. Leonard, Mandy and Miss Hope! They flew in from Dallas to celebrate with all of us.
We decided to walk a few blocks to the beach to take some family photos. This photo is of our girls, 3 nieces and auntie Lana.
Our kids.
All the cousins and spouses of cousins. We are missing 8 cousins including spouses in this photo…
The Ladies! Kristin (my sister Vera’s DIL), Melissa (my sister Kathy’s daughter), Katie (mine), Miss Hope (my brother Leonard’s daughter), Debbee (my sister Vera’s daughter) Jessica (my brother Steve’s DIL), Laura (my DIL), Michelle (my sister Kathy’s daughter).
The Gents! Caleb (my brother Steve’s #3 son) Ryan (my sister Kathy’s SIL), Jackson (my sister Kathy’s Grandson), Levi (my brother Steve’s #2 son) Joseph (my brother Steve’s #4 son) Timothy (my brother Steve’s #1 son) Dan (mine), David (my sister Vera’s son), Josh (mine)
The Newlyweds, Timothy and Jessica.
David and Kristin.
Jackson with one of his favorites, Debbee!
Katie down by the water. A storm was rolling in and we just finished our photo shoots before the rain started.
And here’s ellen b. having so much fun with Miss Hope!
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007 to 2015 hostage and has replaced them all with ugly black and grey boxes asking for a ransom to have them re-published. Such a frustrating bother as I go through each post to delete the ugly boxes.
I was able to restore this post as of May 2021 after we did a back up of all our photos off a very old computer!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
So fun!!! Christmas Eve is always the best…but having all the Bayles there made it perfect. Love you all and thanks for making the quick trip.
I’m so glad the Seattle folks made it. I was praying. Thanks for the photos – they are precious. What weather contrasts you experienced!
We had a good Christmas too.
Love, Jeanie
Ellen, I’m so glad everyone made it in. Looks like quite the gathering! Love the very first picture of your mom and dad and Hope. So precious.
I love this post, Ellen! Kelly nailed it…Christmas Eve is one of my most favorite times, but this year definitely took the cake! It really was SO amazing having you all there…I hope we can do that again someday! 🙂
Ellen your family photography belongs in a life magazine. it is just wonderful and dressed so dapper. . .just a delight to the eyes.
These photos look like professional ones! You could sell them!
You look so happy with Miss Hope!
Christmas Eve-My favorite day of the year. It truly is! Great pictures Ellen, you did a great job of capturing the day. I loved having you guys here, we are so lucky to have such an amazing, loving family!
You have a beautiful family! Merry (belated) Christmas to you, friend!
Hello,
Beautiful family!
Happy New Year!
~ Gabriela ~
I love all your pictures…and that everyone dressed up for Christmas!!
What a dear family you have!!
How glorious. I LOVE the first one—it just made me happy to look at the three of them. Your sister Lana and Hope look like twins in their beautiful outfits. Hope you’re chillin out this week.
wow…beautiful shots and wonderful family memories I am sure. Thanks for sharing.
What lovely pictures!!! Miss Hope is just too adorable…. especially in her Christmas outfit and coat!!!
You got some wonderful pictures. You are a wonderful photographer. The collages you put together are so special. Sounds like you had a wonderful time with all of your family.
What a special time. The photos say it all. I love the one of your folks with Hope. That day was one of the chilliest Christmas Eve’s I have experiences in Orange County!
The soups in your birthday post look so hearty and delicious.
how wonderful!!
now, I have that song in my head…
Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother will say
Did you ever see a goose
Kissing a moose?
Down by the bay!