Dear Mary Kate,

Your daddy and I insisted on everyone napping Sunday afternoon.  Then, we promised, then we could all plant flowers outside.

We left the front door open (yay for screen door weather!) and knew you’d wander out whenever you woke up.  We were working right by your bedroom window, not too quietly, at that, but you must have had nearly a three hour nap.  You were a tired punkin’ (I know, you’re not orange).

When you finally showed up, bleary-eyed and late for the planting party, you were still wearing the pantaloons you’d worn under your dress to church.  Then there was the excitement of getting out the flip-flops for the year and discovering that your ones with the purple flowers still fit.  Your favorite color is purple, so of course, purple flip-flops were the highlight of the day.  You’d wear purple every day if your wardrobe made it possible.  (You also tell us all the time about the purple car you’re going to buy!)

By the time you were dressed in outside clothes and had actually gotten your flip-flops on, Mommy was working in another flower bed.  You came up next to me and said, “You can use that in your garden if you want to, Mommy.”  I realized you were referring to the pinwheel you’d apparently claimed as your own, which your big sister Ruth and I had stuck in the garden earlier while you were sleeping. 

I smiled and thanked you for your permission.

“Mommy, your dandelions are blooming! Your dandelions are blooming!”  Your excitement was contagious to everyone except your daddy.  He is not very excited about dandelions.  Except, we corrected you, these were daffodils.

A few moments later, “Look at your sunflowers, Mommy!”  Yes, I had planted sunflower seeds earlier, and yes, daffodils were yellow like sunflowers, but these were still daffodils, Mary, still daffodils.

But your crowning comment of the day was as you quietly stood observing us plant.  “I watching my garden grow, Mommy.”

Apparently, we’ve recited that “Mary, Mary quite contrary…” rhyme to you one too many times.  But I s’pose that watching your garden grow is training for being a good helper as a farmer’s daughter.

We love you, Mary Kate.  Your serious commentary brings much laughter to our days.  And just a glance at your wayward spiral curls is enough to make us smile!

Love always,
your mommy