Boo!

It’s Halloween, so essentially Christmas time I guess, and I’m happy to say it certainly feels like the holidays here! That might have something to do with Chris being home on post-deployment leave this week, or all the squadron parties and events we’ve been going to.

Between a squadron trunk or treat, a preschool Halloween event, and actual Halloween (with daytime school trick or treating as well as evening activities) the kids had lots of opportunities to dress up. Isaac stuck with his Optimus Prime costume he picked out with Grandma. Eloise ricocheted between Rapunsel, Cleopatra, and Spidergirl. A girl’s gotta have options, after all.

This year I observed something I hadn’t quite gotten the hang of previously: the style I call Mom Halloween Daytime Chic. No, I’m not wearing a costume, it seems to say. Yes, I’m adorable in my all-black, drapey linen and crinkle cotton with a perfect gold animal ears headband I can pretend my kids made me wear. I just happened to wear gray and thought I’d pop on these fair trade orange tassel earrings and onyx long bead necklace for preschool drop off. I’m so relaxed…yet festive.

It was inspiring. So for the elementary school parade I wore a high waisted black circle skirt with Isaac’s pumpkin{pi symbol} orange tee tucked in, a gold tab “boo!” necklace, black gem earrings, and festive Jack-o-lantern nails, then switched to an orange Island Bungalow aloha print blouse for evening, plus a blinking pumpkin necklace from my dad. Tres Mom Halloween Chic.

“Base does Halloween right,” observed Chris as we headed home. So many people decorate, sit out front, play music and movies, and even serve food! Plus we got to join our friends for a casual dinner overlooking the wide blue sea first, so that’s always nice. What I like about Halloween is that it’s sort of the community holiday, then Thanksgiving and Christmas are family-centric. But no one feels a need to croon “I’ll be home for Halloween,” and we’re free to enjoy the kids, our friends, and our friends’ kids—without any bittersweet regrets or longing. Just fun! And a very Happy Halloween.