It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...in Old Sacramento!

Okay all you East Coast Warta's-This picture is for you!

I took the kids and their friends, Jessica and Nate Flores, to Old Sacramento on Saturday for a free dockside tour of a Square Topsail Ketch named, Hawaiian Chieftain. This retired pirate ship docked in Old Sacramento Nov. 1 and leaves Nov. 23. The ships costumed crew consists of 12 pirates; 8 full time pirates and 4 volunteers. The ship is part of a fleet from the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport. This fleet travels around the world offering exploring expeditions, school field trips, moonlight sails & dockside tours.

A pirate who lives and operates this ship. Bethany chose to sit this one out.

The ship was full of things to explore-a fully operating kitchen, a single on-dock sleeping quarter, several port holes for viewing below the deck level, canons, and lots more.

I just love this picture of the two girls with their American Girl dolls on the upper deck of a REAL pirate ship!

"Candy Heaven" is a must stop barrel candy store in Old Sac that the kids just love going to. What kid doesn't like going into a candy store! This is like no other candy store that I have ever been in. In this store, the owner sings a little rhyme every few minutes encouraging the children, "to have a few pieces of candy and if you eat it in the store, it is free, so try some". Somehow he still makes a decent earning with this philosophy because his register is always hoppin'.

You can't go to Old Sac without walking through the old school house. I think this was the kid's favorite stop. They were so interested in how the kids learned back in the days of one-room schoolhouses. I could hardly get them out of there!

This was quacking me up! The boys were so enthralled at the chalk boards and fabric erasers.

Here the boys were saying, " Hey, turn to page 23 this is cool!" They were having so much fun!