The Princesses Plant Flowers

Since both girls have speech issues we've been slowly working our way through the Signing Time video series.  We are on dvd #4 now, and they've learned really quite a few words.  We use a combination of sign language and English, and they seem to understand most of what we are attempting to tell them.

One of their favorite signs is the one for "flower" so they totally got it today when I asked them if they wanted to go SHOPPING (another favorite thing) with me for flowers. (using the sign) 

Jennifer's fear of doctors continues, and we get the series of questions before we leave the house - every time.  Each time we visit a different doctor, that specialty gets a sign that she makes up and is added to the quizzing.  They visit the dentist on Monday and I can hardly wait for another doctor to make his way onto the repertoire.  But I digress.... today's conversation went something like this:

Jen: "DOC?" 
Me:  "No doctors.  We are going shopping for flowers."
Jen:  Uses her sign to ask if she is going to get a shot.
Me: "No doctor, no shot.  We are going shopping for flowers."
Jen:  Uses her sign to ask if she has to go get glasses.
Me: "No doctor, going shopping for flowers."
Jen: Uses her sign to ask if we are going to go to therapy to get her a walker.
Me: "Quit it with the doctors, already.  We are going shopping for flowers!  Do you want to go or stay at home with Ruth?"
Ok, now we are getting somewhere.  She indicates she wants to go. 

So Abigail, Jennifer and I all piled in the van (not a quick process) and headed to the store.  We found impatiens on sale at Meijer, so we purchased a flat of pretty pink ones.  Then we headed across the lot to Home Depot where we bought two bags of mulch.

There was an area below the windows off our back patio that was just begging for some sprucing up.  Rocks to go around the flower beds had been just piled there last summer, then leaves piled up in the fall and it was a mess!  So the first thing we had to do was to move the rocks then bag up the leaves.  Let me tell you these girls are hard workers! 

After planting our flowers and putting mulch around each one the Little Princesses were DIRTY!  (Dirty happens to be another of their favorite signs.)  But we weren't quite done yet.  We still needed to line up the rocks to define the area.  After signing wildly about being dirty they posed for a photo with their completed work.

I was super impressed. They were actually a LOT of help and stayed on task until it was completed.  They were also just plain FUN to work with!  We had a rough time at bedtime last night, so I was very, very thankful for an enjoyable time together today.

What does one do with dirty (water loving) princesses?  Help them clean up, of course!  They squealed with delight when I set the hose loose on them!

 A chilly (but clean and happy) Princess warming in the sun.

 

I'm pretty sure they love gardening!