Hannah Montana and the Angel of Art

Hadley told me today, "Momma, I've changed my mind allot about what I want to be for Halloween (Belle, Cowgirl, Spider Girl, Doctor), but today I've changed it again. I want to be Hannah Montana."

Now let me get straight with ya'll. I have tried with all of my power to shelter my sweet girl from the evils of hoochie mamas, and the other evils of TV, radio and the modern world. Hadley only watches a little TV, and that is Nick Jr, and PBS...occasionally Playhouse Disney. So I was shocked to hear that she even knew that name.

I said, "Hadley, where did you hear about her?" She said, "I saw her on a commercial." Alex isn't allowed to watch his shows when Hadley is around, but obviously, she caught a peek of a commercial somewhere. So I told her she was NOT being Hannah Montana for Halloween, because she wasn't a good person to imitate. She said, "OK, I'll be a dinosaur then." To be continued what she finally decides (trust me, it will be something we have a costume for).

Second story: Thanks to our inspiration, we have been learning the prayer to St. Michael as a family. I've been wanting to do this for awhile, and our sweet friends gave us the boost we needed. The kids are doing great with it, and we practice it and add a line every night. So as I was tucking Hadley into bed, she said "Momma, I'm scared." I told her she had nothing to be afraid of, as St. Michael the Arc Angel, Jesus and Mary were protecting her. She said, "Momma, where does Michael the Angel do his art? Is that the cutest thing ever? She thought we were saying "St. Michael the Art Angel." And she was picturing him in heaven with his easel!!!!

Persecuted for our Faith

I picked Alex up from school on Friday. To fill you in, he is at a new school this year. Since pre-school, he has always attended a "non-denominational" classical Christian school. I put that in quotation marks, because every non-denominational school/church, has had some pretty strong beliefs, or core values, and pretty quick to set you straight if you don't agree with them. Why don't they just name themselves something? Sorry for going off on a tangent on that...and all my non-denominational brothers and sisters, you know I love you. Anyway, we moved him to another "non-denominational" classical Christian school (but much more of the teachings of reformation at this one).

Anyway, on with my story. Alex entered the car very distraught when I picked him up. He said that he and some kids in Bible class got into the discussion of Mary. He said they didn't believe that she was sinless, and only Jesus was sinless. Alex explained to them that if Jesus, who was without sin, was carried in her womb, and physically connected to her, how could she NOT be sinless! How could a woman who had sin in her, carry a baby who was and would be forever sinless? He got very upset about this and asked his Bible teacher, "Isn't Mary sinless?" To which he responded that the kids should stop the discussion and continue it with their parents when they got home.

Well, the conversation did not stop, but continued without the teachers knowledge. One little boy told Alex that he was going to hell because he was Catholic, and what Catholics believe is not true!

Really? Ten year olds? I mean, I have been told the same thing (by a teacher when I was in high school...nice), but ten year olds? And 4 short weeks into school mind you.

Alex was devastated, and asked if he could go to a Catholic school. Being the mama bear, I wanted to scoop him up in my lap, and say "yes baby, whatever you want!" But I didn't. I told him why we believe, what we believe about Mary (which he obviously knew, and held his own!), and why he ISN'T going to hell.

I started thinking back about being 1 of 2 families that were Catholic in my high school, and what I had to put up with. Honestly, I think it made me stronger in my faith. It led me to study more, and really be able to defend what I believe. I'm glad I went to a Christian school, and really glad I didn't go to a Catholic school. I know there are arguments for all kinds of schools, and they are all good arguments. I think that the decision has to be made for the individual family. Our decision was more educational, but feel strongly about Christian education as well.

For us, we were no doubt, led to this school by our Lord. So much prayer went into our decision, and we are very glad to be there. I know that this won't be the last time that Alex is challenged. We can only pray that it makes him even more proud to be Catholic, and that much stronger in his faith.

P.S. I spoke with the parent of the boy, and she was very upset. She said that they have talked to him and he is going to work on controlling his mouth (we have that problem in our family too). He apologized to Alex at school the next day, and all is well. Of course we forgive them. I just pray that Alex can move past the hurt really soon.

Life Just Ain't Fair

Every time a Red Robin commercial comes on TV, Alex says, "It's not fair! Those burgers on that

commercial look so good, and we don't get to taste them. They shouldn't be able to show Red

Robin commercials here since we don't have one near us!"

Buddy, I feel your pain. The have started showing H&M commercials here...pure torture.

White after Labor Day

I had on my white skinny jeans at a birthday party, and a dad (funny that a dad was the one saying this) came up to me and said "Only one more week of being able to wear those!" I said, no way! That is an old rule. Now I think it is totally fine to wear very white (not just 'winter white')pants through the winter. I know my grandmother would roll her eyes at that (just like she rolls her eyes when I decide to cut my hair short).

I'm not a fan of white shoes (not even in the summer), unless they are like flip flops or white gladiators. I even hate white sneakers. So the white shoes after Labor Day is a moot point for me.

But what do you think? Is it a big deal to you, or not? White after Labor Day that is. Do you still see people in white pants and think it is a faux pax? Would love to hear what my fellow fashionistas think.

To eat or not to eat...

At a playdate last week, I was stressing over the woes of having a 3 year old girl who thinks she rules the world. Who acts like life is over if she doesn't get her way. Who 1 minute is an angel, and the next an irrational mess, throwing a temper tantrum. One of the mamas there said it sounds like a gluten issue. I totally blew off the comment (probably for selfish reasons...like not wanting to deal with the hassle of changing a diet).

But then I got to thinking about it. Hadley has been complaining ALOT lately about her tummy hurting. So Friday, I made pancakes for breakfast. After she ate, she was holding her belly and said "Mama, every time we eat pancakes, my tummy hurts." I don't use junk on my pancakes...we eat agave nectar as opposed to syrup, and we topped that with berries. So it definitely wasn't Aunt Jemima hurting her belly.

So I decided at that point we were going to spend the weekend on a "gluten-free" experiment. Now we didn't go hard-core. Just no bread, pasta, crackers, etc. I didn't go so far as to read labels on things. Ya'll, I'm not kidding...she's a different kid. Completely compliant, obedient and pleasant.

So then Monday I made some muffins, and Tuesday morning she wanted one for breakfast. I decided to let her have it to see if her behavior changed. Halfway through the muffin, she said her tummy hurt. And 2 hours later in the CVS parking lot...meltdown of epic proportions.

Part of me feels bad that all this time, I just had to tweak her diet, and she is so much better. Then the other part of me is glad we caught it while she's still young. So I guess we are going gluten-free (for her at least). I know dinner time will need to be mostly gluten free for all of us. So any suggestions on INEXPENSIVE (anyone who knows me, knows I'm a big saver, and couponer) meals to feed my family in the gluten-free arena, I'll listen!

Words on my hubby

Just a few thoughts:

1) I don't like when my hubby has a stressful day, but my tummy does. He relieves stress by cooking gourmet meals. OK by me! So night before last we had gulf shrimp (in freezer from before oil spill), over pasta with some amazing white wine cream sauce...yum!

2) Whey can I go to a cell phone store and get nowhere (except to be told I have to spend a ton of money for a new phone or to get out of my contract), and he goes in for 5 minutes and comes out with a free new phone for me? Not complaining...it's great, but sometimes I wonder if my sales and negotiating skills got lost somewhere between my stretch marks and c-section.

3) Locked my keys in my car today. If you are close to me, you know this happens WAY too often. Once again, Super Tadd to the rescue. Not mad at me, no yelling...just shakes his head and laughs as he once again shows up to save me. I always tell him to be glad I have all the kids, and didn't lock them in the car! Glad he finds my air-headedness endearing.

I think these things are God teaching me that I don't have to be so independent, and to learn to depend on my husband, and that it's ok to do that! Love my man!

How Hair Makes Me Happy

I love to braid hair. When I was preggers with Hadley, I was so excited to be having a girl so I could play with her hair. Well, she's 3 1/2 now, and still not much hair to work with. However, this is what the Lord blessed me with as a niece!

Seriously? Who could keep their hands out of that hair? Not me! While we were in Mobile with the whole family, I did Gianna's hair in double french braids and it was so cute! She finally sits still for me to fix it!

I also visited my sweet Maw-Maw in Mobile. She is aging quickly, and we can barely communicate with her anymore. She has lost her sight as well. Very hard. Anyway, this visit, I only had Eli with me, and he was very clingy. But I did play with Maw-Maw's ponytail and told her I hope my hair will be beautiful like hers one day. One of the nurses agreed, and said she loves to have her hair braided, and that anytime someone tells her that her hair is pretty, she asks if it is in a french braid. She also said that one of her granddaughters always french braids it. That is me I told her! Since I had Eli, and nobody to hold him, I couldn't braid her hair. But it made me feel so good, that no matter how far gone I think her mind is, she knows she loves to have her hair braided when I visit. I told her that it brings me as much joy to braid her hair as it does her. Now every time I do a french braid (hopefully on my own daughter eventually), I'll always think of my Maw-Maw.