Yes Ma'am, We're in Texas!

We spent our afternoon watching a green lizard just like this one outside our window. Spencer and Sarah were so curious and loved watching this "Green Anole" and his pink "dewlap" flare under it's neck. We only know this because then we spent quite some time looking up pictures and learning about them on the internet. I just couldn't answer their "what's that?" So, to the computer we turned.

Well, our learning about ways of Texas continued. Sarah saw the United States flag that sits up on Spencer's dresser and stood with her hand over her heart. Bless this sweet girl--she started to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Her words were a little slurred and not pronounced exactly right, but I knew from the tone of her little voice exactly what word and what phrase she was saying. Then she went on to say something I didn't recognize. I now know it was the Pledge to the Texas flag. I know. I know. My Texas friends out there will totally understand, but others are wondering (like me) how that is allowed. This is one state of it's own; my only answer.

So, it doesn't stop there. I have Sarah in the bathtub and I'm trying to convince her to get out and help me to put the bath toys away.

I said, "Sarah, put it away right now."
She said, "Yes Ma'am!"

It came out so clear, there was no mistake here. I just started to laugh. She was surprised at my reaction (I think) and she went on to tell me "my Teachy tells me that." I believe it. I hear it all around me here. Mom's say it to their kids, they expect them to say it back, teacher's expect the kids to say it too, etc.

Another one I hear is "No Ma'am!" I just never thought it'd be an expected phrase in our home. It sounds so formal and commando. Well, I'm raising my kiddos in Texas. That's for sure!