Martinez Family Journal

We often forget a round here that Maty is noticing every single thing going around him, and why shouldn't he? He is only human.

so he has noticed everyt ime I tell Drew all the teasing things I tell him. Often he will use his made up language or silly words and I respond playfully indignantly "Is that a new word they tught you at Hope Christian School???" when he uses his made up words. it is pretty funny and he always looks so embarrassed or maybe, it is amused, when I respond that way.

This past week I was astounded to hear Matty respondto Drew' smade up word with "Drew, is taht a word they teach you at Hope Christian School???!" for he knew it was one of Drew's made up words. wow, that is funny when I catch them mimicing me. Sometimes the children perform the tone, body motions, intonation and emphasis not at all badly! John said this evening that Drew "does a better mary than Mary"!

Daniel kennedy and Drew and matty and I all went swimming today. It was the perfect summer day - grogeous sunshine but plenty of clouds - the big white puffy ones. Just prfect, and not even very hot. I think it hit 89 degrees. the boys played so nicely; Daniel is a terrific boy and a super friend to Drew. The boys played with Matty and me, coming over seeking our attention constantly, splashing us terribly. an awesome day, we ahd no errands or no "have to's". Just summer time fun. We are so thankful for Daniel. The whole family - Keith, Luz and Daniel - will come for dinner, our first guests in our "new back yard" this Sundy night for dinner. AFter meeting such wonderful people, it seems tragic they are moving away next summer.

Reading has begun! We hve entered a whole new world here, now that Matthew is reading. i have been "working" with him on phonics and word recognition and read to him a lot over the yeasrs,b ut still it has amazed us lately to discover out of the blue, that Matty can read. I have had him try out some beginning readers a ew times but he is resistant to tryng it much. so I try not to push it. but this morning we wer ereding Dr. Seuss's Hop on Pop, (What an awesome book for beginning readers!!! This brilliant book is worth gold.) He started saying waht was on each and every page. it is like the Leo the Late Bloomer bok we hvae, our little Matty seemingly bloomed almsot overnight. Very cool to see. He was jsut raking in all the compliments and enjlying ll the attention. I hope it is for real and that this "reading" is not a case of having memorized the words to the book. I suppose time will tell.

This evening just before John came home, I noticed Matthew in his usual posture indicating he needs to do #2 on the toilet. I asked him "Matty, do you need to go use the toilet?" trusting I would get the honest answer and right answer. "No, it's OK." Well, he continued to maintain this posture - holding his butt pretty fiercely with his dominant hand. When he continued, of course, I TOLD him to go use the toilet,not knowing why he was refusing to go, when he needed to go. he told me so matter-of-factly "Mom, it's OK. It's all right now, I pushed it back in."

I was in shock - he pushed it back in?!?! Sounded like he cannot be bothered with having to go take care of nature's calling! So we got to the bathroom and he noticed a small amount of stool on his undies and said "Oh, great (looking all disgusted)!" and I asked what was the matter for accidents were commonplace here, he usually does not get so worked up. He replied "I thought I pushed it all back in, but here is this stain!"

Mary

I had just gotten to the rear of a store with Matt, when he said, "You do a lot of fast-walking." I said, "Fast-walking? What's fast-walking?" He said,
"It's when you walk fast. You do too much. It's time to take a break from fast-walking." Matt said all this very matter-of-factly, and it was all I could do to not burst out laughing!

John