Max's sunflowers

Early in the summer Max got some sunflower seeds in a party favor bag from Lucas' birthday. I decided it would be a good exercise for him to learn about how things grow so we carefully set about planting them. Max at first wanted to eat the seeds, or "teeds", like daddy does but eventually accepted the fact that we were burying them in durt. He overwatered them and then set them aside. Much to my disappointment he showed very little interest as they began to sprout. Eventually they got much too big for the pots they were in and we took them and planted them in the ground. They started to grow much faster and Max became much more concerned with their well-being. We would always call them Max's sunflowers and tell him that they were going to grow into big flowers and then give us lots of seeds like the ones he and daddy eats. Here they are in their full glory - not quite the 7 foot towering beauties I had seen in my mind but pretty nevertheless. And Max was very proud. Sam took the photo-op as just another opportunity to show off his tummy.

We eventually harvested and roasted the seeds, which were very good. All that was left were the tall stalks which started to go brown. One afternoon while we were all outside Matt decided to mow them down while he was cutting the grass. All of a sudden we hear this death scream and frantic running. Max comes flying over to the mower crying and shouting "NOOOOOOOOO, MY SUNFLOWERS". It was so heartbreaking. Daddy had to apologize and replant the stalks in the ground. He eventually calmed down and now apparently remembers the incident with some fondness. The other day we were pulling out of the garage in the car and Max giggling said "Daddy mow sunflowers.............. Cheeky Daddy".