"Christmas in the Park" downtown San Jose CA

On Saturday night, the 28th of Novemeber we,(my family, Lisa's Family, Mike and Vickie Macias and Chris and Melissa went to Christmas in the park. At first the kids weren't impressed with the different decorations on the many trees, but then quickly changed their minds when they say santa's helpers with the moving elves and trains.

There are bundles of candy canes in this display...
Then the train comes by that carries the candy canes somewhere else...
The kids were fascinated with the train and watched till it had all gone by.
Chris and Melissa are such good sports going along with us to all these places. We love you both!


Penguins parachuting on a carausel turning display.
Since we were in California, there was an attempt at making snow...bubbles really and the kids thought this was very cool!
Taking a little break from the walking.
All lined up for a photo op...
Just a cute pic of Zach...what a face!
The alligator band display was another favorite.
Zach especially liked this one because santa is stuck with his head in the chimney.
We were constantly telling the kids to stay together so they wouldn't get lost in the crowd...they did the choo choo!
The happy group at the end of the tour!
Vickie got the kids these cool rainbow light up toys and Jessie decided that they were unicorn horns...so here's your picture of the unicorns on tour.
The two best buds at the restaurant after the park tour.
The group happy after getting something more substantial in their tummies and it's not thanksgiving leftovers tonight! Variety is good!

cousins and filling the hours of the day!

When these two played it was either as best friends or worst enemies. This is after they decided they both could play with the cars together. The candy smarties always helps too. They deposited them in the backs of the cars and drove them around.
Meanwhile, Zach was playing the groom, while Jessie is of course the bride and Kirsten the Bride's maid of honor. They played so well together.
Caleb is showing me how he has eaten all of the candies from his train of cars.
Nathan helped break up the Christmas decorating time by reading the story of "elfie" Santa's elf that watches children during the day and then reports back to Santa on how the kids are doing. Elfie comes right after Thanksgiving and stays till Christmas.
My Zach loves to build things, but like all boys he loves to break things apart and see how they work and if they can go back together again. This alien was beheaded.

Macias Tree Hunting!

The victorious hunters are glad that the perfect trees were found so quickly as it was cold with the slight drizzle coming down on the top of the mountain. This was a fun adventure for our kids to share in because their tree at home comes from a box.
If you have boys and ever go walking out in the brush you will be expected to find the perfect walking/swinging :) stick. All the boys had to have one.
Caleb had more fun poking around with his stick than looking for the tree. He attempted to help fell the chosen tree by hitting it.
It was Uncle Chris that caught MJ and Lisa's tree after MJ finished cutting it down with the saw. Go Mr. Muscles!
An there goes the perfect tree on its journey to the Macias house.
Then into the truck along with the kids...just for the picture of course!
and here it is in the house getting a new and improved look. All the kids were great helpers. When the space was filling up...then the kids would bring the ornaments to Lisa and MJ and they would find the vacancies in the branches.
More pictures of helping hands...Caleb playing with the movable and noise making ones first.
The little boys are tiring of the decorating and find their own sense of entertainment...notice Tanner under the tree. I think this is where Caleb started playing with the marshions from toy story.

Baby Hunter one-on-one

Isn't baby Hunter just a little doll! He's just as sweet natured as he looks too.
Here with Zach he looks like a chubbier version of Tanner! This is one of the rare moments that he is awake during the day.
Kirsten was always wanting to hold Hunter and he wasn't always available, but she was happy to take him awake or asleep.
They both started out sitting propped up by the arm of the chair and then snuggled down to get comfortable. They both took a snooze!

Thanksgiving in California!

A Gale tradition for Thanksgiving to keep the kids busy is the pineapple hor'dourves turkey. The kids really enjoyed this part that they got to help with the Thanksgiving feast. As always, there is alot of eating going on in the process of getting this bird dressed! :)

Zach's 7th Birthday celebrations!

(Zach has been asking for the Wii Star wars lego game and we finally got it for him)
We drove all night wednesday the 24th of Novemeber to San Jose, CA to the Macias' for Thanksgiving and arrived a little after 5am. The kids were rested, Nathan and I weren't. The cousins loved being together. While we tried to recoop the kids played during the day. Later in the evening we broke out the presents, cake, ice cream and the surprise tickets from Vickie and Mike Macias to the Sharks Hockey game.

Adam Epson and Zach trying out the new Wii game! Zach was delighted that someone liked the wii as much as himself.
Zach we more presents from GG& G Gale ($ for savings) and the building lego gripper that Zach made out of G & G Stitt's present. Thanks everyone for celebrating the birthday of our Zachary Michael Stitt.
Here it is time to blow out the cake. Zach had to blow them out fast because there were lots of willling helpers. I told Zach that since we were traveling he would get to go pick out a cake at the store...Zach wanted me to bake his cake at home. So Aunt Lisa picked us up a mix (thank you) and he got to spread the sprinkles on his home cooked cake.
I guess I was mistaken when I said that the kids were rested. On the way to the game with Mike and Vickie Macias, Dad, Kirsten, Caleb, Zach, Uncle Chris, Adam Epson, and Jessie...most of the kids took a snooze.
Once at the game both Zach and Caleb bit the dust again to sleep! Kirsten, Vickie, and Jessie are still hanging in there. All the kids had a blast! Thanks Vickie and Mike!
Zach in a pose at the Sharks game!
The inseparable cousins, Kirsten and Jessie!

Stitt family picture... minus some men of the family!

I forgot to add this picture to the end of the recital pictures, but didn't want to not add it to the blog. This is almost everyone from Nathan's family. Danny, Rachel's husband is missing and Dad Stitt, Ryan and Steve too. Back: Baby Ellie, Rachel Woodhouse, Aubrey, Camille and Andrew. Bottom: Caitlin, Kirsten, Mom, Zach, Me, Caleb, and Nathan. What a good lookin family!