This is Halloween

Ever since Jess was in nursery (18 mos.) her favorite movie has been "Nightmare Before Christmas". The first time I introduced it to my children, I was grossed out by the many weird characters. I decided that I never needed to see it again. Little did I know I had created my own little monster. Rockin' out to the soundtrack in the car (all year long) calms all the girls down. I've reserved movie viewing to only the most special or dire circumstances. I don't know what it is about the movie that my little girl loves. At a time when most girls are into princesses, Jess picked a Jack Skelington lunch box as her souvenier from D-land. She wears an oversized Nightmare t-shirt to bed. She loves singing like the Oogie Boogie man and she loves pretending to be Sally. After your child finds something they love, isn't it interesting that you start to like it too? Going to Disneyland during Christmastime just so we could go on the Nightmare Before Christmas version of the Haunted Mansion, shows that we all have been charmed. Happy Halloween from Sally & Sally (with so many little girls we always have multiple Sallys), Zero (hopefully next year Ashley will voice her own opinion), the Mayor (is it because I have two faces?), and Jack.

Ghost Walk

I think I believe in ghosts. Let me rephrase that: I've always been afraid existing ghosts would reveal themselves to me. In my religion, we believe in life after death so it's seems plausible that these spirits could visit on special occasions. When my grandma died when I was very young, I would shut my eyes real tight whenever the lights went off. I was afraid she would come and try and comfort me about her death. No thanks!

When my family moved to one of the most haunted cities in the world, York, England, I could feel the ghosts around me. My mom said I had a very active imagination. . .but was it just my imagination? First day we arrived in this new city my parents hailed two handsome cabs and toured us around our new neighborhood. I saw a smokestack on my side of the car and asked, "What's that over there?" My mom explained that was our local crematorium! The subsequent answer to my next question, "What's a crematorium?" sent ice through my veins.

We lived in a four story flat that once had been the servants quarters of a mansion on the Mount. The place was filled with old furniture, a dank cellar, a small yard with a large bell, doors that were sealed shut, and tons and tons of vases, urns and other vessels that could easily hold ashes. When I would turn on the landing and look out the window at the old bell mounted to the side of the yard, I could just imagine a paranormal green orb sliding up and down the chain reminding me of the horrible household accidents for which that bell might have tolled. I imagined being trapped in the cellar while rats ate out my eyeballs. Those locked doors were probably entrances into the main house so that the servants could be at the master's beck and call. But what was hiding behind them now? Were they locked from my side only? That doll propped next to the porcelain vase in the upstairs closet. . .Was that to pay homage to the poor child's ashes inside?
One day while playing in our back garden, my siblings dared each other to sneak through the hedge that divided our plot from the grand yard belonging to the house. While playing hide and seek merrily in that proper garden I glanced up to the attic window. A face was watching us! Screaming we jumped back through the hedge.

I went to Scarcroft Primary School. The urban legend was that this old gothic boarding school was haunted. After giving into the 4th Level mob mentality, we could all hear the howling and wailing of old school girls in the attic by the time recess was over.

My parents thought it would be great fun to go to the candle light service at the Minster during Christmas time. I don't think any of my brothers or sisters were phased like I was. Walking through that place I felt like I was in a huge crypt! Tombs with marble carved figures lying on their backs, fingers pointing to heaven. . .they might as well have been the shriveled up dead bodies lying on a stone. It was that macabre to me. No wonder I developed nervous ticks that year!

Now in my 32nd year, my imagination is weak. Fact and reason have won me over. The true test of rationality, however, came when I revisited York last year. In the light of day our old flat looked charming. Instead of a haunted house I discovered a classic manor with moss growing on it's facade. The grand garden wasn't forbidden, but green and cheerful ready for the next garden party. My school looked darling and I felt right at home when I saw a picture of my teacher on the board. And the York Minster? It's amazing! Walking in there with my eyes wide open I was in awe of the architectural detail, the stained glass and the history of the place.

As for ghost sightings? I've seen only one. She was a nervous 10 year old girl with curly hair and freckles. I found her looking over the hedge with me into that old victorian garden. Parts of her are gone forever and sometimes I fear that she will completely fade away. But then I look in the mirror and smile. She's still there.

San Diego=Heaven

Our beautiful condo in Carlsbad

Our lagoon and beach right outside
Tamarack Surfing Beach

Sea World

Jammies from the Vacation Fairy
Sandcastles
More condo pics

It was so incredible to be that close to a lion!

Vacation Fairies

How did you like San Diego?
Jess: Good. I liked it so much.
Chloe: I loved it!!!

What was your favorite place?
Chloe: Legoland
Jess: Do you know why I liked Legoland? I liked the Dino-coaster.

Why did you like the Dino-coaster?
Jess: Because it goed fast.
Chloe: Because it's sideways and a big hill!

What did you like about our condo?
Chloe: The fluffy sheep skin rug. And the sea!
Jess: I liked the bed I slept in and the fishies on our shelf.

What animals did you like seeing?
Jess: Elephants and pandas, even meercats!
Chloe: The dolphins, the koala bears and the flamingos
Jess: Mom, I liked the penguins, the dolphins, and the shamu too. I had a lot.

What did you like eating?
Jess: I liked eating chicken and coconut cream pie.
Chloe: I liked having the oreo pie and the quesadilla.

Who is the vacation fairy?
Jess: The vacation fairy brought us some things.
Chloe: A small hula girl, that's what I think it is. She brought us some things.

Did you ever see her?
Jess & Chloe: No.

What does a vacation fairy do?
Jess: She brings us stuff when we're on vacation.
Chloe: She brings us stuff and she knows where we're going that day, so she brings us stuff that has to do with it.

What did she leave you when we went to San Diego Zoo?
Jess: She bringed us a wild animal book.

What did she leave you when we went to Legoland?
Chloe & Jess: Pajamas!

She sounds very cool!

Jess & Chloe: She is cool!

How long have we been gone from Utah?
Jess: Seven days.

Are you excited to go home?
Jess: Yes.
Chloe: Ya, because I want to go to the West Jordan Park.

What did you miss from home?
Jess: I miss my toy animals.
Chloe: I miss the park and my friends.

How about school?
Chloe: Ya!
Jess: Can we send this to the vacation fairy? Mom, does the vacation fairy have a computer?