Summer On the Doorstep

I have put down the tools and paintbrushes for the time being. The house is now hosting, rather than remodeling.

My sister and my two nephews are visiting for two weeks. We've added the extra leaves to the kitchen table and fired up the grill:

We've pestered unwilling offspring for the obligatory family snapshots (I am adoring all the saggy white gym socks in this one): 

We've gone on long walks and rediscovered what we love about our own hometown, like this little bit of rehabilitated prairie:

And I tried something new. I ran my first 5K on the 4th of July, together with my sister (not her first, but she's a novice runner as well).

I finished the race (32:50) and didn't fall down or die. I'm as surprised as anyone who knows me. 

I'm also loving long talks with my sister, lemonade with ice, blueberries, lilies in the garden, and my nephews' freckles. 

How's your summer vacation?