Legend of Sleepy Holland.

Last Friday night we packed up the family and headed north to New York

 to the quaint town of Sleepy Hollow.

Yes, there is actually a town called "Sleepy Hollow" 

where the author Washington Irving wrote his famous tale:

 "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".

Christian and I have decided to make visiting the town of Sleepy Hollow

a Halloween tradition.  We were able to go last Halloween, too.

In anticipation of Halloween 2005, our annual Sleepy Hollow trip

was super special since our friends,  Matt and Paige Holland 

and their four darling children joined us.

The Hollands moved to Princeton for a year-long sabbatical, 

and I am so glad to have them here!  I'm not so homesick anymore!

We decided to meet up at the Horsemen Diner on the corner

of the street near Washington Irving's estate.

After dinner, we headed to the Irving estate where a gravel path

 leads around the perimeter of the house outlined by thousands of carved pumpkins.

People dressed up as ghosts roamed around and scared the children.

There were storytellers recreating Icabod’s superstitious tale,

 and pirates serenading us with quirky songs and stories.

We also came upon a graveyard filled with spooks who sauntered around

 (some playing fiddles, too), but

Claire’s favorite spot was at Ichabod's barn because it was full of ghosts that

 danced under a black light and it accentuated their white robes.

But the reason we go to the town of Sleepy Hollow 

is to see the actual headless horseman who rides around the grounds

 like a black shadow scaring everyone in his path.

His black cape billows in the wind as he sits atop his black stallion,

 it's stunning and eerie.

Matt lovingly called Paige “Pagie-ee” throughout the night

 and it was really cute.

Paige and I chatted the whole night while carrying our babies, 

wiping noses, and taking photos.

Matt had baby Danny in his backpack carrier and took Jane

 from me from time to time so Paige and I could catch up on living in New Jersey. 

Christian carried Oliver and spent most of the night answering 

Claire's inquisitive questions: 

"No Claire, they aren't real."

"Yes, those people are just dressed up."  

"Yep, that's just make-up, honey."

We were the last ones on the estate.

The night was long but so much fun.

On the hike back to the car, with tired kids (some already asleep),

we inquired about Elder Jefferey R.Holland, who is Matt's dad,

and a friend of my childhood family.

I was happy to hear that all is well in Salt Lake City.

Happy Halloween, from us back in the Eeeeeeast.