::i can't think of a title::

Well, you might've thought I quit blogging completely, but I haven't!
We're back from our long complicated UT trip. It was really fun. I was ready to come home, but once we got here I was ready to go right back. It's really hot and humid here right now, and our house is really uncomfortable. We don't have central air--just a little window unit that doesn't do much. We're using it in the kitchen so we don't all die of heat exhaustion when we cook.
It's been too hot and uncomfortable for me to even use the computer much. I have a lot of fun photos to post from the trip, so hopefully it'll cool down a little here and I can do some work!

I officially quit my loan processing job last week. I haven't been doing much of anything the last few months anyway, so really it wasn't any loss to quit. It feels good though, to not have it hanging over my head all the time like it has been for the last 5 or 6 years. The welcome end of an era!

We went to the beach this weekend for the first time all summer. This has been such a weird summer for weather--cold for months, super rainy, really foggy and muggy. Anyway, finally it's hot enough for the beach, but we went down there saturday morning and the beach was totally foggy and cold, while our house was so hot we couldn't even move. So crazy!

The best news of all since we got back is this. Sultan got groomed. At the end of his stay at the kennel (which he seems to realy like, by the way) we had them wash and groom him--grooming for him was long overdue. It's really expensive because of how big and hairy he is.
He looked so awesome when Kris picked him up--all sleek and slim and clean. Like a different dog almost!



I love the silly little kerchief they put on him.

Getting back into real life after a long trip is tough--for Max as well as for me--we've had a lot of melt downs. But we're almost all unpacked, almost all the laundry is done (though not quite put away) and I've almost remembered how to cook. We're getting there.
Now it's off to the gym. Later.

::interminable::

The other day Max's room was messy. Really messy. And for about the last 6 months I've been trying to teach and encourage him to clean his own room. Sometimes it works out great, and sometimes it's a failure. I usually have to help him by coming in and giving instructions no matter what. I try to avoid coming in and cleaning though, because then he sits down and watches and I clean everything up before I realize what happened.

Anyway, after breakfast I sent him in to clean up. And truthfully it wasn't really that messy. There were toys and clothes all over the floor, but we have a very nice organization system for things like that. Lots of drawers where all and toys may go, places for stuffed animals and then a dirty laundry basket for clothes.

By lunchtime he was still in his room. He'd come out to bring me a laundry basket full of clothes. I let him take a break for lunch and then sent him back in.

Look at him! Working hard, right? What's he doing here, maybe making his bed? Or folding something?

OK, maybe not. Looks like he got out toys that haven't seen the light of day for quite a while.
He never plays like this by himself. Never. Unless I tell him to go get dressed or clean his room.

He was so focused he didn't even notice me taking pictures.

Until then.
See how messy his room is? But see all the drawers? They're just calling to have toys dumped in.
The funny thing is that most of the toys out there on the floor actually weren't there when I sent him in to clean. He spent way way more time getting stuff out than putting it away.

He had his dance class in the afternoon at 3, so I gave him a little break for that. Then when he was back I sent him back into his room. He didn't even complain. It probably didn't hurt he was listening to Scripture Scouts. They kept him very entertained.

Anyway, Kris came home from work and Max was still "cleaning." He went in and gave him some nice verbal instructions and got it all taken care of by dinner time somehow.

It was just amazing how long it took. And actually it was a very nice peaceful day for me. I got some work done, I got to read a little in peace and basically it was just nice and low key, and he wasn't trouble for me all day. Weird, huh? I'm thinking I should do this more often. Maybe I'll start messing up his room myself.
Naw, he does a good enough job on his own, the little stinker.