Pink eye and Pinetop

The night before we left for Pinetop, I noticed that Oliver's left eye was red. Took him to the doctor before we left town, and sure enough, the poor guy had pink eye. It has cleared up well - we caught it early - and it never seemed to bother him. *knock wood* Apparently there is a non-contagious strain, and as none of us have caught it as yet, I'm hoping we all dodged a bullet! He's teething hard though, and just isn't his usual happy, mellow self. I think he still has a ways to go too - Natalie teethed at about three months, but didn't pop those first two teeth until sometime in her fifth month.

So, Pinetop! What a lovely town! I'd been there years ago, but can't remember exactly when or why - I think I just drove through it. It's hard to believe you are still in Arizona up there - it's pine country, in the White Mountains, no cactus or dirt to be seen anywhere! The high was 84, which was perfect, and the nights were cool. We had a fantastic storm on Friday night, and then Saturday night it rained most of the evening - just a nice, cool rain with a breeze. We had the windows open, and just enjoyed it. Well, all of us except Mitz enjoyed it. She came down with a triple whammy on Friday - thought it was a cold - but turned out to be bronchitis, pharyngitis and sinusitis. Ouch. So she was a little feverish, and just a little more chilly than the rest of us!

Thursday night we went to dinner at a little Mexican place called La Casita that Mitz kept talking about the whole time leading up to the trip. Supposed to be really fantastic food. Supposed being the operative word. They've gone downhill since the last time Mitz and Pops ate there. We've now christened it "La CaSHITa". Mitz had some kind of mystery meat paste on her plate - you couldn't pay me to try it. :-)

On Friday, we split up. Jon, Pops and Natalie went fishing at Rainbow Lake - Herself's first time! Pops bought her her first fishing rod, which I think is really cool, because he gave me my first one as well. Coincidentally, both rods are Shakespeare's, except Natalie's is a Disney Princess one, and mine wasn't. I got robbed. :-P Just kidding, Pops! Apparently Natalie knocked all the bait in the water pretty early on, so she didn't get to catch anything, but she sure had fun trying! And who knew that ducks like Cheetos? Mitz, Oliver and I went antique shopping in town. Mitz and I enjoyed ourselves, and Oliver slept through it. We all met up again for lunch, then headed back for naps for the kids, Mitz, and who am I kidding? The adults napped too! After naps, Natalie and I checked out the woods on the property - "We going on a 'venture Mommy!" Dinner was at a great place called Charlie Clarks - really great food - great menu. Back to the condo to get the kids in bed, and break out the cards and poker chips. Poor Jon lost his shirt and had to keep getting loans from me and Mitz, hit up Pops once. Mom and I aren't loan sharks at all. Nah. Word to the wise - if you need a chip loan, go to Pops - he's not nearly as ruthless as the chicks. Must be the shared "S" gene.

Saturday was spent in the town of Greer - about 30ish miles from Pinetop. Mitz and Pops honeymooned there, and Pops' family would go there when he was a boy. Mitz told me that Pops used to take his fishing rod as a kid, and just disappear for the day - neat to find out more about his childhood! Anyway, it's a lovely, small town. We went to the stream there - beautiful clear, running water. Natalie attempted to "fish" with a stick. And of course had a blast throwing rocks in the water. Had lunch in town, shopped a bit, then headed back. Everyone crashed out, then we had a quiet dinner at the condo, kids went to bed, we watched Phelps take his 8th gold, then headed to the table for more poker. Jon and Pops held their own, Mitz cleaned up, and I lost my shirt.

Oh, Natalie got her first set of marbles. Jon and Pops tried to teach her the proper way to play, but she still plays by Natalie Rules. Which are basically, you shoot at point blank range, and if her marble so much as touches one of yours, she takes three. And God help you if you knock one of hers and get to take it.

Headed home Sunday morning, then just crashed the rest of the day.

Back to the routine now! Natalie had school/Mother's Day Out today, and pre-school officially starts next week. She'll be going three mornings a week. Oliver has his four month checkup on Thursday, and Natalie will be seen too. She's had four nosebleeds in the last nine days - one was over the weekend, which was probably due to the elevation, but the other three have been at random times at home. The nurse at her Ped's office thinks it could be the heat, but they want to check her out just in case.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last bits of their summer! I'm working on getting pictures up after I post this! I wish we were back in Pinetop - this intense heat and humidity is for the birds.