Bear had a chew when I needed to get ice today...

Bear had a chew when I needed to get ice today. I thought I'd see what happens when he's occupied by something other than a licky mat.

Y'all, he took his chew, ran a weird path towards me in the kitchen, then went outside and got under his favorite bush. 😂 His eyebrows were up so high. I don't think he knew what to do with himself, so he excused himself from the situation. 😂😂😂

Oh, how I missed this face.

Oh, how I missed this face.

I also missed his gross, cheesy kisses. 😂

Every day to avoid drama when I get ice, I "cheese the dogs" - meaning that I put spray cheese on a licky mat so that Bear's distracted when I use the ice dispenser. He still notices, but licks the mat more furiously rather than roaring around the kitchen and biting me.

But the thing about sweet Bear is that after you give him a treat, he gives you kisses. And because he's just a whole mess, they are messy kisses. Whatever he ate is smeared on your skin or clothes. He so reminds me of a toddler with a dirty face that just HAS to give you the love right then.

Gosh, I love him so. He's my baby-kid. ❤️❤️❤️

I'm pretty confident...

I went out of town for a few days...

I went out of town for a few days to see some friends and pick up my snephew. He'll be staying with us indefinitely. We can't wait to introduce you all to him.

Shadow made the trip with me and it was fun to have him to myself for a bit. I love our family, but the days of just me and my Shadow will always be special. We talked so much during the first day on the road that my throat hurt by the time we got to the hotel. He's an excellent travel partner.

When we made it to Jajuan and Janet's house, we were greeted with hugs and tears from Janet and the super adorable 5-year-old Momo inviting us in. I haven't seen Janet (or Jajuan) in probably at least 10 years and she's one of my very best friends. She and I sat up until 4 in the morning just talking, even though we've phone and video chatted over the years. It's just never the same as being together in person.

I had a great time being with them and my heart feels happy. I'm so proud of what they've accomplished and I adore their daughter. It's funny because she's about the same age Shadow was when he first met Janet.

The drive there and back was pretty uneventful, except for the one car who decided to "thread the needle" between me and another car at a stoplight. They hit my driver's side mirror and knocked it out (and kept driving), but thankfully it didn't break. It was dangling by it's electric wires and I clipped it back in. We got them on camera, but there's not even a scratch, so probably nothing to be done. I'm choosing to believe that was their way of avoiding a rear-end collision and not them just being douchebags, but you never know.

Not relevant to anything at all; I just thought it was neat:  At 1:58 pm we had 1 hour and 58 minutes left of our trip home.

I'm all settled in and it's time to go to bed and sleep with a cat on my head. I've missed my bad little Scar. I missed everyone. Cub made it known that he missed me, too. He's a sweetheart. Shaun sent video of Bear seeming to look for me and spending time in my chair while I was gone, but he wasn't excited when I got back. I got kisses and deeply sniffed and that was it. 😂 My weird child.

Anyway, goodnight. 😊❤️

So, I've learned...

I only thought I was wet earlier.

I only thought I was wet earlier. Bear jumped into the pool and then came out to use me as a towel. 😂😂😂

After he got out, he looked like he had to think on it for a moment - JUST a moment, and then more zoomies began. He DEFINITELY got his exercise in today.

He would make a lap and then stop to rub himself on me (or push between my legs, which, I guess, is more efficient). 😂😂😂 And then run some more and then do another drive-by drying off.

I finally had to rub him down with Shaun's towel. He liked that - especially on his ears.

Why are babies so messy and adorable? 😂😂😂

He's always so hype by the time I get off work.

He's always so hype by the time I get off work. We came out and Shaun opened the pool. I sat on the edge and stuck my feet in. He stuck his feet in, too. 😂

Then he was in and out and zooming and in and back out and zooming. I love that he loves running so much. It's a good outlet for his energy.

He really didn't have to wet me up like that, though. 😂😂😂