Say It With Flowers

Reiley and I went flower-shopping today. He really enjoys seeing all the different colors and types, and helping me plan where to plant what. We'll plant them another day, but he insisted on arranging them for me on the deck. As I drove him home, he gave me clear instructions on how to take care of them: enough water and sunlight, and not too much wind. I assured him I'd be careful to look after them.

He's excited about getting their little garden tilled and talked about planting tomatoes and sunflowers. He said he planted an apple seed in the garden a "long time ago", but the "orchard tree" never grew. I could tell he was disappointed. We had a conversation about how trees take a long time to grow, and that his neighbor has TWO apple trees but they don't eat the apples; they just let them fall and get "yucky". He says if they don't eat them this year, he's going to ask for some.

It was quite windy today, and as we made one of our stops I reached into my purse for a comb. Reiley asked if he could comb my hair, so I said, "OK, but it might take a while to make me beautiful." He made couple of passes with the comb and said, "There. That's good enough. You're always beautiful."

Four years old. He already loves gardening and he's already a diplomat.