The Dog Days of Summer.

It's been so gosh-darned hot for the past month or so. Basically the only time it's safe and comfortable to be outside is from around 3 AM - 7 AM. It really makes it challenging to entertain an active almost-one-year-old. But, here is what we've been up to recently:

Making sno-cones!!! (I ALWAYS wanted one of these Snoopy Sno-Cone makers growing up and Chris bought me one a couple Christmases ago. I FINALLY broke it out and made my very first Snoopy Sno-Cone. Fun times!)

Trying to prove to Chris that I CAN cook. This will be a life-long attempt. He'll never believe it.

Trying out the big-boy carseat. I had to figure out how to install this bad boy one day when Chris drove off to work with the other car seat in his car. Max went ahead and gave it a test-sit in the house. I was awfully proud of myself for installing it semi-correctly in the Kia. Only problem is that it takes up so much space in there that whoever sits in front of the carseat must be 4'10" or shorter.

Hanging out in air conditioned places like the mall playground! (It's all fun and games until you catch a cold after licking every possible surface at the playground)

"Swimming", which in Max's world would be more appropriately called "trying to be anywhere BUT in the pool" Sadly, even swimming has lost it's appeal, considering that Mimi and PopPop's pool water was 92 degrees at last check.

Other water activities - this would not be sanctioned by DHEC. Pretty sure that water is not what they would call clean.

And we're thinking of using this one for his modeling portfolio. Look how he rests the belly on the ledge. Sexy!

Sitting around the house, in the A/C, watching Sesame Street while scantily clad.

Doing ab workouts by doing this modified "arm"y crawl.



Exploring potential new hobbies/talents

Hanging out with the cousins, learning to pop wheelies and things of that nature. (including getting some modeling pointers)

Practicing wrestling moves. The seahorse is tough. Olympics 2028!


Learning to go incognito when the need arises. (Where's Max? You can't even see him, can you?)

Grocery shopping! and then cooking up some new dishes.

Doing home repairs (this frequently requires a trip to Home Depot)

Exploring other cultures

Paying attention at church

Getting a little bit of work done when necessary.
"Do you really want me to check on your stocks? OK..."

"Uh oh...bad news...looks like the stock market TANKED today. (Thanks Obama)"

"Oh, you took all of your money out of the stock market and put it under your mattress?"

"Good move! Joke's on you, Obama!"

And, from time to time we like to go for family hikes outside when it's 98 degrees out. Lake Conestee Nature Park is beautiful. But I think it's best enjoyed when there are NOT active heat advisories. Let's put it this way: it was so hot that Bailey decided to do a suicide-jump off of a pier into water of indeterminate depth. Chris earned his lifeguard patch that day for a quick-thinking doggy rescue.

Come on fall!!