We visited the California museum, which had lots of different things to see and learn about. Ben and Jason loved seeing Harrison Ford honored in the Hall of Fame and Jason was excited to see the pistol that was used in Star Wars, but also commented that he thought it would be bigger.
In addition to seeing the exhibit on the Japanese internment camps, there was a special section on Sacramento's lost Japantown, which was really interesting for all of us to learn about.
So, truth be told, our trip to Sacramento wasn't inspired by our interest in teaching the kids about California history... but we did witness a piece of history!
Since we've always loved basketball and the kids are now more interested in basketball, we could not pass up the opportunity to see a local girls team from our area play for the California state championship. We had watched the Clovis West girls play locally and they crushed their opponents, but it was always fun to watch them because they are just that good. And to watch them play against one of only two teams to beat them all season... we had to go!
The icing on the cake was that we got to meet up with the Itagakis and have a chance to catch up, see how much all of kids have grown and spend some time together.
When I was a teenager and I watched basketball with my dad on TV, he'd always tell me I was too loud. During the game, Ben turned to me and said, "wow, Mom. It's like you have a built in whip (the instrument he learned to play that makes a whipping sound) and megaphone." I guess it's still true.
It was a GREAT game. We all cheered and were excited to see Clovis West win by four and take home their first state championship!
And then the real competition began...
When we stay in a hotel, inevitably one kid has to sleep on the floor. Though they don't mind, we always feel bad for the one that draws the short stick. But this time, we walk into the room, I see the built in bench by the huge window and I say, "oooh! Who wants to sleep there!"
Sho immediately starts laughing and says this is me doing my Jedi mind tricks on the kids, like I used to do when I was little. Miwa and Todd probably remember the salad bowl that no one wanted placed in front of them... until they learned it was not a chip in the bowl, but a fork rest!!
Ben was the big winner of the special sleeping quarters, equipped with privacy curtain.
Before we headed home, we stopped at the Railroad Museum and saw so many huge trains.
We all loved the different exhibits and we learned about the amazing experiences people had in the first class dining cars and how each railroad had their own set of china.
But their favorite was sitting in the front of the high speed rail.
We definitely had a great (and quick) trip with good food, good friends and great times...
Our last stop before getting back home was at Paradise... which it always is. Especially when you catch the second half of the UNC vs. Kentucky game while you eat!
We are a little obsessed with basketball right now... it is March!
