Everett (aka Bob the Builder...)

Everett Michael is my oldest childhood friend Tina's energizer bunny toddler. He's two, a new big brother, obsessed with tools and doing whatever his dad does. While visiting the Central Coast I spent a night at Everett's house.

I took the cutest photos of him Friday afternoon. Adorable. And... my camera was on the "demo mode" and missing the memory card. So... sigh... the precious moments I thought on film are gone. And can't be retrieved. Lesson learned! Thankfully I caught some cute shots while Everett and his dad worked on the planters in the front yard.

Ev's all ready to get down to business. He's got his work boots on and just returned from getting the necessary soil for the planters.



First, he stomps on the D.G. (which I learned stands for decomposed granite) for the walkway.

And he's off... with his shovel in tow!

He's ready for dad to show him how to hammer in the stakes.

Careful observation

And now some mallet action!

And now we're ready for the soil...

Lastly, add water (On "Evie pressure") Now the planters are all ready for passion fruit. (Everett's request.)

Taking a re hydration break...

...and ready to get back to work!

Baby Blake

This is Everett's baby brother, Blake Grey. He is the spitting image of his father and can't get enough of his mama's love!

I love this photo! Do you see the slightest grin?


Beautiful blue-eyed baby boy Blake! 3 months.

Tina-tina-bo-beena...fee-fi-foe-feena...TINA!

24 hours with my sweet Tina Charlotte. Friends since we were toddlers. She's all grown up now. A wife and full-time mama of two ~ Everett, 2 and Blake, 3 months.

Friday afternoon was spent with Costco wraps, Bible song cd's, convincing her that I really could hold the baby (who is "mommy-centric!), taking photos and...sigh...a big fat NAP!

We caught up on life while swapping holding and playing with an itty bitty cutie patootie and a boisterous, intelligent, active toddler. Phew! My how times have changed over the past 27 years!!!

Last week I dug out the dvd's from my childhood. There is so much footage of Tina and I singing, dancing and being our theatrical self. My favorite is a solo that we sang in Church, circa age 8. Here are the lyrics:

M: "I don't ever want to grow up!"
T: "Why?"
M: "'Cause you can't play, you've got to work all day."
T: "I don't want to grow up either!"
M: "Why?"
T: "'Cause grown ups get too busy to pray..."

It keeps going and going. The hand motions and expressions on our face are so funny. We took learning our parts very seriously!

Good to see, Teener! You are an a-ma-zing mama and friend! Keep on keeping on and creating good endings!

Visiting Tina

Last month I had work visits throughout the Central Coast of California. I visited Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo, Atascadero and Los Osos. A busy few days and lots of driving. But it was all worth it to spend a few hours with my oldest and dearest friend, Tina.

Tina and I met as toddlers in the nursery at St. John's Lutheran Church in Orange, Calfornia. We were the best of friends and created many memories through elementary school at St. John's and singing together in Church Mouse and Kantate Choirs. We danced together at Christine's Dance School, but had the most fun when we danced in my backyard day after day creating our own choreographed routines. (Hey Teen, Good ending!)

My family moved to a tiny Central Oregon town the summer after sixth grade. Tina and I have kept in touch and continue to be involved in each others lives. College, marriage and motherhood for Tina and Single life, "finding myself" and just living for Melinda.

Meet Everett Michael. He's 21 months and the pride and joy of Randy and Tina. Tina is a Stay-at-home Domestic Godess and Everett clearly benefits from his individual attention and multitude of activities with Mom.

We played in the back yard

And he opened some books that I brought him

I hear he likes The Fish book the best

He wasn't thrilled with his push toy... because

He wanted to help Daddy mow the lawn!

Thank Tina, for a fun night. And I'll catch ya' the next time we're in each others neck of the woods. Proverbs 17:17.