Sutter's Fort & Pioneers

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real family fun!

We have just completed two badges for American Heritage Girls:

The Cooking Badge (for another post) and an Our Heritage Badge through Sutter's Fort.

Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is located in Sacramento.  The girls (and parents) had fun learning about life as a pioneer in the 1800s.  It was a very fun and educational day, as we love to learn about our California history.

Everyone dressed the part...well, almost everyone.  I bailed out on my pioneer-wear at the very last minute.  Not that I did not want to participate, I just looked, well,...all wrong.  :o)  I felt like a party pooper, but it was much less uncomfortable for me.  :oP

There was about 70 girls from AHG joining us.  Our troop was one of four AHG troops.  It was fun to spend the morning with troop friends and to meet new friends!

{pretty}

{happy}

Games of pioneer-times

{funny}

The Kitchen station, I thought, was the most interesting.  Although, all five stations were excellent!

The pretty ornate block is actually tea that would last for years and years and years!

Mother/Daughter lunch & shops at Old Town Sacramento, O'Sacramento St. Patrick's Parade & Old Schoolhouse

The above picture was not taken at Sutter's Fort, but at Old Town Sacramento (another national historic landmark).  I had forgotten about the O'Sacramento St. Patrick's Parade, while thinking I could treat my Little Lamb to a fun and historic lunch.  It was the perfect afternoon.
We visited the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum - very nice!  The ladies were excited to see her dressed in her pioneer costume (thinking she was a participant in the parade).
And I (almost) never leave without visiting my favorite chocolate store for a treat of a caramel apple.  The absolute best!

{real}

I love the School Curriculum and  The Five Virtures

The Doll in glass case is the original doll belonging to Patty Reed

While browsing through Sutter's Fort Trade Store, I purchased the book Patty Reed's Doll - The Story of the Donner Party.  A group of pioneers were stranded by very heavy snow in the winter of 1846 while traveling from Illinois to California...many perished, an eight year old girl, Patty, survived.  The story is told/seen through the eyes of Patty's doll and the hardship and struggles they endured.  Little Lamb and I will read the book together and discuss the other historic and mortal dangers that occurred.  Real.

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

~ pretty, happy, funny, real ~ Summer Family Car Trip August 2013

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

and linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network

2013 Monthly Link-Up Blitz

Visiting the California Missions and Colleges and everything in between!

Treasures we picked up along the way...
others will be revealed until Christmas!

When my husband and I were first married, over 23 years ago, we drove to all the California Missions up and down the El Camino Real.

We bought a book about the Missions, read up on each one, and drove...

We have a lot of memories and fun stories that we try and remember to share with our children.  We were SO excited to plan our recent trip to visit several colleges and Missions, as well as some fun amusement & theme parks and museum.  Actually, Butterfly mapped out our entire route and printed out a package for us to follow!  I just love industrious teens!
  (thank you, sweetie! xo)

{pretty}

Across the street from San Juan Bautista Mission

 The skies were so very {pretty}!

As were all the Missions and the art, statues and religious artifacts within the church walls...

Inside the Mission San Miguel Archangel

We had a very knowledgeable tour guide take our family through the San Juan Bautista Mission - it was awesome!

This was not a Mission, but one of the several colleges that we toured...we were excited to celebrate the Holy Mass in the chapel.

{happy}



Ronald Reagan Museum

This family trip had something for everyone...everyone was {happy}!

These wine barrels were neither in the CA Missions or Colleges (well, I'm sure you might find a keg or two of some kind of spirit in one or two frat houses). 
Disneyland.  Surprise, surprise!






(Mom & Dad) enjoy a glass of wine as we watch the parade passing by...this may be why they call it "the happiest place on earth". 





We jumped over to California Adventure and headed over to Paradise Pier...California Screamin' was the name of this ride:

They take a picture of you as you are screaming your head off...Butterfly just smiled sweetly. 

{funny}

Door within a door at San Juan Bautista Mission

This is not a mouse house...on the contrary, it is a cat door!  Cute and {funny}.

Personal favorite of mine  :o)

Another favorite  :D
Liquid Bread...from our monks!

After we checked into our hotel, we took a walk...we had dinner at an old friend's...KARL.
Karl Strauss.  We went for the burgers & fries. 

When mama is happy, everybody is happy!

Up next, Universal Studios.
This qualifies as {happy}, too:

  and this:

 Do not be fooled, this was my after lunch appetizer. 

Met this {funny} lady:

Lucy...I'm home!

{real}

Conductor admiring and taking pictures of traditional vestments
Mom trying to slyly take a picture of him, taking a picture...

The Fantasmic show was pretty impressive...although I could not get any good shots

All the Disney characters on the Mark Twain

One of the best pyro techy shows, ever.  {real} entertaining.

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...