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Reed Comes Over



Toby had his first play date yesterday when a friend from pre-school, Reed, a dark-haired little boy from "Staint John's Lutheran School" came over for a while after school.

Reed is also 4.5 years old, and a pretty enthusiastic kid. He laughed almost the entire time he was at the house. At one point I wondered if Reed was perhaps going to need oxygen.

Reed has an older sister at home, but no brothers.

After he left, Toby was so happy struck happy by Reed coming over that he had to draw three portraits of him.

The first portrait is just Reed being Reed. Smiling, happy.




The second one is Reed upon seeing the garage. Toby's garage, thanks to his dad's friends and two older brothers and their hand me down toys, balls and etc, is nirvana for a four year old. Reed was again stunned into a state of unstoppable giggling when he discovered that Toby has ...



A scooter

A pedal car

A coaster bike without pedals (thanks Jenn)

A coaster bike with pedals and training wheels (thanks Jenn)

Assorted footballs, basketballs, golf clubs, all Kipp's hand me down stuff.

An electric car.

Reed giggled almost uncontrollably while bouncing from one vehicle to the next. Electric car/Scooter/bike/pedal car. It was a lot like a man seeing Jay Leno's garage for the first time, I'll bet, overwhelming.

Later they went to the back yard to play.

Toby grew up with Kipp as his older brother 24/7. With Kipp it's all spur of the moment. The usual procedure is that he asks Toby if he wants to catch the football while he is actually throwing the football at him. So Toby has grown up with this as normal.

Toby did that with Reed. He picked up a golf ball and said 'Hey, Reed, catch!' and threw the ball to him.

Reed is not accustomed to this and the ball hit him in the shoulder.

Civil War soldiers shot with a musketball didn't react as dramatically as Reed did. He started crying and wailing and was genuinely frightened.

Toby was unprepared for Reed's reaction and almost went fetal himself. He kept saying he was so sorry and finally just began almost speaking in tongues. He muttered something to L about "I think I made a wrong turn".

Reed was soon fixed up and back on one of Toby's machines and all was well.

Toby's portrait of Reed crying was the best one, I think.





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