A New Beginning

And just like that, my little boy is off to his first day of preschool.

Off to learn and grow and become more of who he will be in life. Off to, step-by-step, become a more separate individual, someone apart from me and his dad. This is all good, I know...but it's a bittersweet breaking away that makes me stop and say, "Hey wait...that's my boy, getting so big!" When you carry someone in your body and birth them and watch them grow from a helpless baby who can do nothing to a little person who can talk, reason, remember, imagine, connect, and play it's an amazing step to send them out into the world - albeit a safe, small preschool world. I already have a lump in my throat just thinking of what the first day of kindergarten will be like.
I'm sure I'll enjoy my 3 hours, two days a week spending some one-on-one time with Hazel (much deserved on her part!), but I can't help but miss my sweet boy already. It's an exciting and new beginning that I'm grateful for for him to learn and meet people, and to digest what it is to be a part of a group, listen to a teacher, and learn to play with his peers. It's also an ending to our smaller world filled with just his family and close friends. It is a wonderful thing to learn from others, to learn to trust his neighbors, and to learn more about the world around him near and far...and we're blessed to give him this opportunity.
I'm told that a group of three-year-olds begin their preschool year as a pack of wild animals, and that when they leave for the summer they're a completely different group...more like a pack of tamed animals perhaps. A friend of mine's mom has lived by the philosophy that "every stage gets better," when it comes to kids and that's something I've been trying to stay rooted in, instead of focusing too much on what has been or what is "lost." Going off to preschool is a big first step though, among many steps to come, so it's hard to not be nostalgic for this ending. An ending of his baby-hood; the beginning of the ending of his "wild animal," unschooled-ness. Look at those name-tags, it's killing me!


I look forward to the confidence he'll gain in is own self, in meeting people, in listening to directions, in accomplishing tasks that may seem simple to us but are fundamental in cultivating a little person's identity in life. And so begins this year of discovery, socialization, and wonder.

Go get 'em, Soy Boy...you're a stud and a stand-up guy!

Muddy Puddles!

One of Sawyer's favorite show is Peppa Pig. She's a British pig who lives with her "mummy, daddy, and little brother George," and if there's one thing Peppa loves to do it's jump in muddy puddles! This, in turn, has turned Sawyer on to the idea and - to be honest - I couldn't be happier! It's a delight to watch him get dirty and have a marvelous time of it.


After it rains, he practically knows the puddles are out there, ready and waiting for him. Along with a few choice phrases he now pronounces with a British accent (including "hAHppy Christmas, gARage, bubble mixtEAH, and fAHthah Christmas), he's also memorized Peppa's favorite line, "If you jump in muddy puddles, you MUST wear your boots." At least the girl is practical!


It's rained a lot lately, so we've had ample time to get out in the mud...and we've also palled-around with Grandma who's been finishing up some last minute gardening prep before winter. Sweet kid!!!

Pumpkins!

No excuses...I've just been a blogging slacker for the last FIVE months. Seriously, I'd be surprised if anyone is still reading this old rag.

Fall in Chicago has been glorious. Sunny days free of rain, temperatures in the high 60s, and beautiful orange and yellow leaves. I'm not one to think the city is all that beautiful, but our block is in full fall bloom.

We got the chance to go to a pumpkin patch last weekend with TK's parents out in Princeton, IL, and Sawyer had a blast. Haybales, slides, petting zoo, bounce house...what else could a city boy want?!

We have yet to carve the pumpkins we bought, but Halloween is ages away, right? CRAP, I've got to make a costume for Soy-boy and I've got four days. I better get sewing.

Viking Boy

In the past, I've droned on about the Swedish heritage I've inherited through marriage, friends, and associates. It's a love/love relationship, really, even if it might not sound like it. I've also talked about my hate/hate relationship with Halloween. It's a holiday I've always avoided, but with a kiddo in the mix, you just can't be a Halloween scrooge, as much as you'd like to be.

Last year, I committed to making kids' costumes so that I would be prepared and enjoy the holiday. Sawyer as a mummy was a success last year...and a cheap one at that. This year, we upgraded to something actually sewn and preconceived.

My little half-Swede was a VIKING!

As the base layer, I used a white undershirt, brown shoes, and brown leggings. I bought a plastic viking helmet for $3 on Amazon which I figure will grace a dress-up box for years to come. At JoAnn Fabrics, I bought some faux fur for his tunic and boots (sewn onto the base layers), some canvas ribbon to "wrap up" the boots, some black suede for a belt, and some Nordic buttons to add to the belt.

Keeping the helmet on was obviously some pie-in-the-sky, rookie mom idea, but he kept it on for about ten seconds at a time, so we got a few pictures in his full-on gear.

He and his bunny friend "trunk-or-treated" and had a grand old time. He had to get used to the action first, so looks a little unsure of things/miserable.

After a round of bags, he warmed up to the idea.

Once he realized candy was involved, he was intrigued.

Worn out after an evening of pillaging!

Urban Farmer

Our church started a vegetable garden a few years ago, and it's raised hundreds of dollars for our Warming Center and other community efforts. It's also allowed many of us to get our hands dirty and learn a thing or two about growing food, city-slickers that we are.

I signed my city-mouse up to be on the garden team. I figure no one's too young to contribute once they're able and it would get us out in the sunshine!

So far, he's been a good farmer who loves to water the plants, eat the veggies, and play in the dirt. Sawyer's a huge fan of tomatoes, so he seems to find these mini ones particularly wonderful. Beans are a close second.

An interesting development in this year's garden has been the flourishing of seeds that we never planted, but that have risen out of soil that was from the church's compost bin. Peppers and gourds spring up all over the place that weren't planted. I mean, what the heck is this thing, a mellon? A cantaloupe? Whatever it is, it's massive and it's growing in our temperate garden unbeknownst to us.

I long for the day we have our own garden where we can sow and reap to our hearts content, but until then, this city plot will have to do!

An Invisible Grace

We celebrated Sawyer's baptism a couple weekends ago and were blessed to have all of our family there to witness this visible sign of an invisible grace.


While helpless like a baby, it is my deepest belief that our creator loves us all beyond understanding, knows our need, and claims us as his own. It is our prayer that our boy will find his hope in Christ alone.

In Christ Alone | Owl City | www.owlcityblog.com

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

It's fall my friends and high time to break out those crock pots. I know, I know... slow cookers can be used in every season, summer included. But let's be honest: the wafting smell of your crock-pot simmering on low is best accompanied by a crisp fall day.

I have a decent library of crock pot recipes that are near and dear to my heart and someday I'd like to share them all with you, if the fates allow. Today, we're going to make some BBQ pulled pork. Sure, pulled pork sandwiches are a bit summery, but it's 70 degrees in Chicago today! Plus, I'd eat pulled pork any season, wouldn't you? Ain't no shame!

In addition to a five to six pound pork shoulder (bone in), here are your ingredients. They are very basic and most likely items you already have lying around in your cupboards or fridge, and they're asking to be used.

After setting the pork on top of the chopped onions placed in your crock pot, combine all of the other ingredients and pour the saucy concoction over the pork, covering it from top to bottom.

Cover and set your slow cooker on low for 7-8 hours, sit back, relax, take a walk, do whatever it is you do when you having a delectable meal cook itself.

Look how it just slides off the bone once it's been cooking for a good several hours. Oh doesn't it look like a treat? Once it's ready, shred it and remove the bone and any extra fat. You can let it sit and get comfortable on warm for a bit too. Now serve on the bread of your choice and eat up the BBQ goodness!


Ingredients
5 to 6 lbs pork shoulder (bone in)
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
1 2/3 cup BBQ sauce
2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
2 TBSP mustard
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 pinches sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/3 cup water
10 to 12 kaiser rolls

Preparation
1. Place onion on the bottom of your slow cooker. Place pork, trimmed of any obvious excess fat, into slow cooker on top of onions.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all remaining ingredients to form the barbecue sauce. Pour half of the sauce over the pork and cover. Set remaining sauce aside.
3. Cook over low heat for about 7 to 8 hours.
4. Shred with two forks and cook for a few more minutes, until meat has soaked up the sauce. Pulled pork can be held on the warm setting in the slow cooker for serving. Serve on soft sandwich rolls, topped with extra barbecue sauce.

Boo!

Halloween is a day that I've always despised. Since I was a little girl I hated being scared and, to be honest, still can't event watch previews for a scary movie. I can never find the costume I want and then I'm guaranteed to be scrambling at the last minute to attempt to throw together something that isn't completely lame. Last year, a friend and I gave up on the whole thing, reconnected with my bundt pan, and called it a day.

I don't want to be the worst, most boring mom in the history of holidays though, so now that junior has graced us with his presence, it's inevitable that Halloween will experience a revival. I might as well suck it up and join in on the "fun."

After visiting a few party stores, I decided on the spot that homemade costumes will be the way this family rolls from here on out. After racking my brain for a costume I could make for an eight-month-old with little to no supplies, I settled on a mummy.

White muslin...check! White sweat pants and onesie...check! His outfit may have looked a little haphazard at points, but the total cost for this year's costume was zero dollars and zero cents... Sarah=1, Halloween=0.

Reconnect with Your Bundt Pan

I'll admit it. I think I've hated Halloween for quite some time. It's just not my thing. To be honest, any other holiday excites me more. In rebellion against it, my friend Celina and I opted out and stayed in to bake pumpkin goodies. Call me a prude, but it was such a better alternative in my mind.

Inspired by The Food Librarian's "I Like Big Bundts" month of recipes, we made a Pumpkin Spiced Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Icing (recipe here). Bundt cakes are delicious and just plain pretty on so many levels. I think baking batter in a bundt pan makes any fall day brighter. How many times do you think I can say "bundt" in one paragraph?

We brought our cake into the office and it's since been referred to as "perfection." Not our words, theirs! Thanks to the buttermilk and the pumpkin purée (have you stocked up despite the shortage?), this cake is moist and delish. For the icing, we used a little more buttermilk than the recipe called for so that it wasn't too stiff. Try it. You'll like it.

If you're not the homemade-pumpkin-baking-type but have a Trader Joe's nearby, their Bread & Pumpkin Muffin Mix is also to die for and is only a whopping $2.99.

Now go. Reconnect with your bundt pan!

Bring on the Bliss

You know what yesterday was in my book...time to break out the Christmas music! I've got some Mariah Carey playing and am sipping on a peppermint mocha. Now that wretched Halloween is done it's time to bring on the holidays!

The Swap

Over the weekend, I led a little sewing session at my church for a monthly event we have called "The Swap." Each month, someone leads those who show up in a session/workshop on something they are interested in or have a passion for. I obviously wanted to spread my love of sewing to any willing participants.

Besides teaching my new proteges and sewing together, one of my favorite parts of this weekend was buying loads of fat quarters I could have never justified just buying for myself! Look at how luscious it all is! I felt like Scrooge McDuck swimming around in his vault of gold coins, basking in the glow of all this yummy fabric before my eyes.

We made custom pillow covers and it was grand old time! Here are some pictures from Saturday. I wasn't able to get everyone's, but below are a few. In a world where many of our jobs require sitting at desks all day with results and work that is often un-quantifiable, it just feels good to make something with your own two hands and actually see and feel the fruits of your labor.