a study in contradictions

Matthew seems to be a study in contradictions. While he loves to put on his yellow rain boots and splash and stomp in any mud and water he find, he loves to clean. He sweeps the dirt off the back deck, swiffers our floors, cleans the toilet (no, he does not touch any cleaner; we use the wand and the flushable brushes ), washes dishes and is always straightening things. He checks under the couch and TV cabinet for dust bunnies with a flashlight.
He also finds it necessary to "read" the directions on the Fresh brush flushable package every morning before he cleans the toilet. (Only contradiction I find there is most males never want to read the directions)

He really surprised me this morning. He was drawing on the chalkboard and I wrote his name at the top of the board. He spelled out the letters: M A T T; "that is my name, Gramma". Then I wrote: PAPA, MOMMY, GRAMMA, DADDY and ROSIE on the board. I did not say anything, just wrote the words. He spelled out each word and told me what it said. I knew he could say the alphabet and that he could recognize all the letters but I had no idea he knew what the letters spelled. He can count to 20 as well as recognize the numbers from 1-20. We try to work our letters and numbers every day but this really showed me how much he is absorbing. Makes this old fat gramma very proud!

On another note, yesterday we went with Wm's brothers and sister and their spouses to the Apple Vali country club to celebrate his Mom's 85th birthday. It was a gorgeous ride through the hills to LaFayette. We all had the all you can eat Prime Rib buffet. The buffet was excellent and there were a quite a few choices; not a lot that were gluten free though!