No Place Like Home

The summer season is in full swing, and it's weekends like these that make me wish we could extend it year-round.  We really only use our pool for 6-8 weeks a year, beginning around July 4th.  I'll admit that there are times during the rest of the year when I rue having a pool with its associated expenses.  But bring me water temps that border 80 degrees, not to mention air temps to match, and I'm a happy, happy girl.

Of course nothing makes me happier than being with people I love.

Such as Vivian, with whom I am celebrating 20 years of friendship this year.

Her family joined us yesterday for an afternoon of swimming and fun.  Hard to believe it's been an entire year since they visited.

Before they arrived, Joe had to cool off after a particularly grueling bike ride.  Naturally, Lauren joined him.







We prepped for the bbq ahead of time in order to be able to fully enjoy their visit.  Lauren was the corn husker extraordinaire.



Then there was nothing left to do but wait.

And test out poses.





Cameron and Lauren wasted no time in getting reacquainted and buddying up.



Needless to say, most of our time was spent in the pool, where catching air was mandatory.









And acting like kids was a prerequisite.









Budding entrepreneur that she is, Lauren rocked a lemonade stand.



Which may have been a tad too tart for someone's taste.



The girls gave speeches to us during dinner, then played wedding dress-up and practiced marrying each other.









After that, it was all about the soon-to-be patented game of popsicle hide and seek.





All in all, an incredibly fun afternoon that Viv and I have vowed to repeat more than annually.  Time with family and friends is so soul-charging and life affirming.  And entertaining at home?  Simply can't be beat.