Good luck, Liz. My kids are out of town still this week and I've slowly been pushing back the mess, though they aren't bad like last year at this time. I did a thorough cleaning last year before school started and I haven't allowed him let it get so bad. My daughter's room is actually looking pretty good since she's not in it any more, just her stuff (I had to put the cats in there while the dogs spend the nights in the house, and I put away everything a cat might think about peeing on, in case they get bored in there).
The kitchen needs work, even if I don't plan on picking up that old stove.