Fresh Basil. New Experience.

Winding down from the week in England. The weekend was low-key, a must for our hurried schedules. I was able to catch up on organizing a few unkept areas of the house, including a start in Katy's room and closet. I also harvested my first basil and made a batch of pesto. And while looking for the ice cube trays to freeze into cubes, I ended up cleaning the tupperware cupboard and had Elie and Katy go through the water bottle cupboard. They filled 2 Target bags full of unwanted bottles. And I finally found the cube trays.

We enjoyed watching more Olympics as we prepared to feed the homeless last night at the Catholic worker house. Aunt Barbie and Ben came over and we sat outside for what seems to be one of three times this summer, both because of time and hot weather, watching Andy pull three butts off the smoker. It was a beautiful evening. The kids were busy playing Gymnastics, down to the pre-wrap and duct tape, just like Gabby!

Four families have pulled together to prepare a meal twice a year on the 1st Sunday of the month. Last time we did it, it fell on Super Bowl Sunday...not the perfect date, but still very rewarding. So rewarding in fact, we added another day to the year. Our summer meal was Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Baked Beans, Corn, Pasta Salad, Watermelon, Grapes, Bananas, Brownies and Milk. We also brought a 5 gallon tub of chocolate ice cream that they will use on another night. The bonus was the two bags of water bottles we donated which they loved.

Our plan was to drop Elie and Katy off at Grandma Jane's on our way down to the Catholic Worker House. However, our plans slightly changed when Elie arrived home from the Mall a little late. We had no time to make the drop so she and Katy were forced to go with us. It was a silent, whimpering ride. Elie has a small fear of "bums" and Katy is only 8 and really didn't need something else to have scary dreams about. But scary soon ended with another rewarding night. All the kids served the meal and it was ok. They realized that the homeless are real people. Katy didn't think some were homeless because one woman was wearing a dress and eye shadow...

The night ended with a meal with Grandma Jane. We went to the Drake Diner and caught up on life. Funny thing, life. We get so caught up in going going going, doing doing doing, that we sometimes forget the simple things that make you happy. I hope our kids enjoyed their new experience. Helping people.  What a crazy concept.

Happy is.