Saturday, December 15, 2012

Thick hair, yet fine

40 minutes with a curling iron, and A's hair looks much nicer than mine did. Her hair is thick like mine, but her texture is different. It makes all the difference in the world!





Yes, my hair is thick.

All my life, when I go to get my hair cut, as the stylist first runs her fingers through my hair, she says, "Your hair is really thick." You think? And this is the reason I don't curl my hair. My one experience with a perm was a disaster.

But today I decided to test out a curling technique that I found on Pinterest. I thought it would be a great style for A's hair. She wouldn't let me try it out on her because it would take took long. And she doesn't have hair spray. With my results, I don't think a lack of hair spray will be a problem.

So, friends who didn't believe me, I offer proof that my hair is indeed thick.


Curled,



flipped, separated, and fluffed

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

My Ninja

When I first became pregnant years ago, Super D (like many men) wanted a boy. A strapping (what does that word mean anyway?) young lad whom Super D could teach to round kick, pass gas, and play shoot-em-up video games. But when our sweet girl was born, Super D was hooked. Most of the dad pics in her baby book are of him asleep with her on his chest. She had him wrapped around her little finger from Day One.

After that, he couldn't imagine having a boy. Girls are easy. She was normal, healthy, and happy. She hit all of the developmental milestones on track. So when I got pregnant for a second time, he was openly hoping for another girl.



And out popped my little ninja. He's a sneaky little thing - born 3 weeks early. Here I was, expected a 2-and-a-half-hour delivery, and he snuck out with just 2 pushes. Upon arrival, he broke the mold. There isn't another like him anywhere. He has a little toe that is turned sideways. We lovingly refer to it as his "crazy toe". Makes for a really cute little baby footprint.



By age 2, we noticed that one of his feet turns in when he walks. According to the doc, that's normal and usually works itself out. Unlike when I was little, they don't recommend the special shoes for kids anymore. Apparently, they don't really help. My mom wishes she had known that when I was a toddler. It was a dark secret that I had to wear those shoes.
 
By age 3, C had been diagnosed with diabetes. Not a surprise, since Super D is diabetic, as was his dad. Family and friends rallied around me, as if expecting me to fall apart. (Super D's mom actually told me to run out and buy a CD from the local religious nut and play it 24/7 by the kid's crib. She was convinced that would heal him.) But I was prepared for this one. Not a big deal. People live with Type 1 diabetes every day and function normally. C could learn how to survive, too. After all, it's better that he learn to live with diabetes from an early age than have to change his life habits at the age of 17, like Super D.



By age 4, the turned-in foot hadn't corrected itself. X-rays revealed that there was no unusual bone growth. A sports doctor told us that there is a surgery to correct it, but that he doesn't recommend it. All kinds of athletes experence intoeing. Even Michael Jordan. If Michael Jordan can overcome it, so can my son. The doc sent us to a single session of physical therapy, where they showed us some exercises he could do to possibly increase his flexibility, but I gave up on those. They were painful and didn't seem to help. I'm not cut out to be a PT. So, oddly enough, he stands with both feet next to each other, but pointing in opposite directions. And he can't really sit cross-legged; he sits with his feet beneath his bottom and his toes pointing in.

By age 5, we were convinced that C has ADD. We haven't taken him to a doctor about it because we want to try to correct poor behavior with good parenting. We have to stay on him a little more than most parents do with their kids and be very specific with our instructions to him, but we kept saying we won't get a diagnosis until it begins to affect his schoolwork. Well, here we are, in 4th grade, and I wonder every day if it may be time for a trip to another doc. (I'll leave that story for another post.)




By age 7, the dentist revealed that C is missing his two bottom front permanent teeth. I have to admit that I freaked about this more than anything else. But, again, the professional didn't show great concern. C's teeth will probably shift to the front, and no one will notice. If he ends up with a gap, we slap braces on him. There was even a mention of implants. But I was told not to worry. Right. I didn't tell C for a long time. By the time I did tell him, he had already begun to ask for braces, so it was no big deal.



By age 7, the optometrist told me that C has an eye that drifts. Corrective lenses are supposed to help, but they haven't fixed it yet. In fact, his vision has worsened. We'll see.
 
Also by age 8, it became apparent that C also has eczema, a trait he got from me. This terribly itchy skin disease is of the devil. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I guess I had eczema from the time I was in the hospital nursery. They put little mittens on my hands to keep me from scratching myself. But, again, this illness is liveable.


Just today, at age 10, the doc diagnosed him with keratosis pilaris. We were at the allergist for testing when the doctor mentioned it. No one has ever said anything before, but C has small bumps on his cheeks which are harmless and will probably clear up each summer. An over-the-counter cream should keep it in check in the meantime.

And now we get to carry an EpiPen with us wherever we go because C is allergic to shellfish, among other things. Here is the complete list, in order of severity: house dust mite, cockroach, shrimp, crab, oak, cat, Kentucky blue grass, Red River birch, short ragweed, Russian thistle, European house dust mite, oyster, lobster, Timothy grass, Meadow Fesque, Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Bahia grass, maple, sycamore, American elm, Lambsquarter (whatever that is), Dock mix, and a fungus called Alternaria Tenuis. For those who forgot to count, that's 24 allergens. So, he pretty much can't live in the house, can't go outside during any season but winter, and can't eat at Red Lobster.

So in addition to the Novolog, Lantis, blood glucose test strips, Ketostix, lancets, two Glucagon pens, insulin cartridges, infusion sets, and Phenegran, he has added to his list of prescriptions a nasal spray, an allergy med, two inhalers, and four EpiPens.

Despite each and every "abnormality", my son is a normal 10YO boy. None of these things get to him at all. I have only heard him complain about being diabetic twice. (Nearly broke my heart!) He doesn't let anything slow him down. And I love him more than anything in the whole world! He's my kicking, farting, zombie-killing, ninja!

 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Vote for C!

My son's fourth grade class held an election for class president. When the flyer came home, he mentioned that he wanted to do it, but I didn't think he was serious. I told him I could help him work on campaign issues, but he didn't mention it again. The next thing I know, a fourth grade boy told me that C had won his class election! Wow! He had written a campaign speech, delivered it, and won the votes!
 
So, today, all of the fourth grade classes gathered for a debate between their class presidents. C wrote a new speech. In it, he promised to fight bullying and to propose fundraising efforts to bring new computers into the fourth grade area. He was so proud of the work he had done! His only complaint about the process was that the other candidates brought candy and tokens to "bribe" the voters. He claimed he would never do that because it wasn't right. He hopes the voters won't be so easily swayed by campaign promises of less homework and free candy, but that they will vote for him because he promises to make fourth grade a better place!
 
I'm so proud of my grown-up politician!
 



Monday, November 5, 2012

Democrat and Republican

I teach second grade. In preparation for our mock Presidential election, I asked my students to go home and talk to their parents about the candidates. I wanted them to not just to find out who their parents are voting for, but to ask them why. One of my students went above and beyond what I had asked. After speaking with her mother about our government and the 2-party system, the girl insisted on writing down what she had learned. She brought it to me, and I nearly cried.
Here it is, in her own words:
 

 
This is the same little girl who, just last week, told me that what she hates more than anything in the world is arguing. I think she might be one who will have great impact on our world and make it a better place to live!

Friday, November 2, 2012

A Lemur on my Head

Second grade had some special visitors today. Yes, that is a lemur on my head. His name is Romeo, and he likes to give kisses. In your nose. An endangered animal kissed my nostril.

We also met a rather large yellow snake named Banana, a fennec fox named Scrappy, a baby croc named Chomper, a big lizard named Socrates, a chinchilla named Jasmine, and a baby kangaroo. Oh, and I got to hold a kinkajou. I've never even heard of a kinkajou. I guess my students haven't either since they were calling it a pikachu. It was quite a traveling zoo!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Occupation

C: You know what I want to be when I grow up? A lumberjack.
Super D: Well, that's okay. You work all night and you sleep all day.
C: Why I want to be a lumberjack is because you usually get a buffet for breakfast. A buffet of pancakes or steak.

The right word

C: The bottoms of your feet are as soft as a baby's bottom.
Super D: What if a baby's bottom is really rough?
C: Dad, it's an exasperation!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Lessons learned as a Freshman Marching Band Mom

1. Marching season temperatures can range from "charred" to "Popsicle".
2. Contest scores don't necessarily reflect how much the band has improved since the beginning of the season.
3. Pink and blue make purple, and purple isn't allowed on the bus ride.
4. Hot Hands are the coolest product ever!
5. A Bulldog CAN cheer for the Huskies.
6. You can never have too many pair of black socks.
7. I've been counting incorrectly for years. I should say, "...eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, third, fourth, fifth, sixth..."
8. Band kids often go to school in the dark . . . and even return home after dark.
9. Third quarter touchdowns aren't as much fun without the band playing the fight song.
10. Marching Band Moms are lovingly called "Mommy" by more than their own children.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Project Runway

Project Runway is one of my DVR faves. I think my mom introduced me to the show. I got SuperD hooked. He does a pretty mean Tim Gunn imitation. All the time. It's hilarious!
 
The fashion is weird.




The designers are often freaks.


Kooan Kosuke
 
The drama is . . . well, I just shake my head.
 
 
With all that said, I can't help but watch week after week. Maybe I watch too much. This week, one of my students brought me a picture he was drawing and showed me how he had made a mistake. Ever aware of being wasteful with our paper, I told him that he could surely change that mistake into something really cool. And I sent him on his way by saying, "Make it work!"
 
 


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

NOT Madame Tussauds

I feel REALLY bad about laughing at this news story, but these pictures have to be the creepiest things I have seen in a long time. A forensic artist reconstructed the skull of a man who died a decade ago. They are hoping to identify the man based on these images. Our family had the sound on the TV turned down, and we burst out laughing when the news station aired these renderings. After hearing the story, I am embarrassed that we laughed. But they are like really bad wax figures!
 




If you do happen to recognize this man, you can find contact information on this website:
http://www.newson6.com/story/19397427/osbi-tries-to-identify-man-who-died-under-mysterious-circumstances

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Hamburger, anyone?

And you can't see the third family member in the picture, wearing the same shirt. SuperD had to ask them why they were dressed this way. We thought it might be a statement about fast food or the obesity epidemic in America. But they said they were wearing these shirts "just for fun".

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Coincidence?

What does it mean when the toaster we received as a wedding gift dies the day after our 19th wedding anniversary?

RIP, faithful toaster.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Take Two

This is C's first day of fourth grade. He's such a big boy!

And then he goes and says something ridiculous like, "I wonder what it would feel like to be a pencil."

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Meet Robo


I started school on Monday of this week, but my children didn't start until Friday. (Technically, my son hasn't started yet, since he attended VomitFest on Friday.) As I left each morning, I gave my daughter the standard sister-babysitter instruction. "Don't boss your brother. Treat him like you would any other child you would care for. Play with him." And I gave my son the standard mother-to-slothful-son instructions. "Don't watch more than 2 hours of TV. Don't spend the entire day playing on the Wii by yourself. Play with your sister. Play in your room. Work a puzzle. Read a book." I was hopeful, but I knew my instructions were probably falling on deaf ears.



That's why I was so surprised when I arrived home on Wednesday. Meet Robo. Robo is my son's creation which greeted me in our living room. I am astounded by C's creativity. He didn't just build himself a friend. He built an armed guard. Robo carries a badge and a gun. He has gloves for hands and wheels for legs. But Robo's most interesting feature is his mouth. It opens wide to hold a small stash of LEGOs, and when C is finished playing with the LEGOs, he gives them back to Robo via a convenient slot in his head.



Robo is just one example of why, when Super D and I received a letter from the school district telling us that C had qualified for the Gifted and Talented program, we decided to enroll him in it. C may have many attention problems in class. He may be one of the most disorganized, distracted kids I've ever met. He may not have the best study habits. He may not earn the best grades. But I'm proud to say that he is incredibly creative. He asks the most interesting questions. He says the funniest things. He looks at the world differently than mosst 10-year-olds. He poses an interesting viewpoint. Once he's taught to harness his creativity and energy, I think he'll do great things for our world. Good luck with that, Mrs. H!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

I'd rather have donuts

It's Saturday. It's Sleep-In Day. Its 7 a.m. So why is the entire justjenniferd family up so early? It's probably because we were all so exhausted from the First Day of School that we all went to bed early.

But when I asked the family that question, C's answer was, "It's probably because the early bird gets the worm."

Thanks, C, but I'd rather have donuts.

Friday, August 17, 2012

The Great Adventure

I had no idea when I left for the first day of school today, that the word "adventure" in my Facebook status would be so appropriate!

Low points - slipping in the kitchen on some water and landing on my hip, going back home so that my son could attend VomitFest at our house, getting stuck in the car drop-off line because VomitFest made me late, sitting down to lunch only to discover I had accidentally grabbed my son's baloney instead of my peanut butter and honey, and getting stuck at a railroad crossing on the way home.

High points - getting to know my 22 new students, hugging last year's students in the lunchroom, drinking Jitter Juice with my class, having Frito Chili Pie for dinner, eating homemade funnel cakes from Chef Super D, and starting the ninth season of Smallville with my family.



C and me, minutes after the Kitchen Slip-N-Slide and minutes before VomitFest




A, on her first day of high school, and I didn't even have to ask her to smile!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Yuck!

What looks like snot and tastes like banana pudding?

Why, slime, of course! C loved being slimed tonight at church!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Marriage

C: Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to marry a cheerleader.
Me: A cheerleader? Why a cheerleader? What makes cheerleaders different from the other girls?
C [with a grin]: They wear cheerleading outfits.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Guess who?


Does this face look familiar?

This is my dad in 1953, at the age of 9.




This is my son, at the age of 9.

Freaky familiar, huh?

Monday, August 6, 2012

Big Man

As we're riding in the car, my little man said to me,

"I have a really little chest hair."

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

THE Most Popular Name

The year I was born, the most popular girls' name was Jennifer. My mom swears that she and Dad had my name picked out long before 1971. But there are now throngs of us out here in our 40's. There were dozens of us in my graduating class. I was one of 4 Jennifers on my girls softball team. We made up one-fourth to one-third of the team! My name was so popular that I could rarely find a personalized license plate for my bike or notepad with my name on it because the store was almost always sold out of Jennifer. It's disappointing to a child who finds an empty hook by their name. At least everyone knows how to spell it.



As my name has waned in popularity, I have finally come to the point where I am not tripping over other Jennifers everywhere I go. I can finally smile when one introduces herself, and say, "That's my name, too!" I work in a school with not a single other Jennifer. No more Jennifer D, Jennifer M, and Jennifer P. I am unique.
Well, until this year. As always there is some turnover in an elementary school. I know of at least 8 new teachers to our school. I found out today that 5 of them have some form of my name: 3 Jennifers, 1 Jenny, and a Jenna. It seems I can't escape them. It is my lot in life. I'm surrounded by Jennifers.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Mac and cheese

Upon hearing the news of my great-uncle's death:
C: I hope he's eating mac and cheese in heaven.
Me: Did he like mac and cheese?
C: I don't know.
Me: What makes you think he's eating mac and cheese?
C: I think it's probably God's favorite meal.

Uncle Kent would have laughed at that!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Barber Shop

I called our salon today to schedule an appointment for my son. The girl who cuts his hair was trained as a barber and is faster than anyone else has ever been. She is extremely consistent with the cut, which is a fade. As I understand it, fades can be difficult, if you don't know how to do it.

Unfortunately, our favorite lady barber no longer works there. That's when I made the decision to take C to a real barber shop. We have one in town. It's been there for as long as I can remember. In fact, I think my grandfather or dad may have been there once or twice.

From the moment I walked in the door, I felt like I was intruding on a boys' club. The first thing I saw was the hair all over the floor. I guess they are so popular that they don't have time to sweep up. The second thing I saw was the long line of light brown vinyl chairs from the 60's along the wall. Then, I noticed the tools and dead animals on the wall. It was exactly what I expected!

Tom, our new barber, has been cutting hair for 35 years. He was SO fast! I think C was in the chair for about 15 minutes. No more salons for my boy!


Look! They even have a barber pole!


The cut is so good that Super D is planning to visit them soon, too!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

3 Point Commitment

No complaining.
No gossiping.
No lying.

It's harder than it sounds.
The goal is 10 days.
I made it 8 hours.



http://vimeo.com/user11948495/3pointcommitment

I've taken on this challenge that I heard about on facebook. It intrigued me. There's a prize at the end for one person who does it. But more than that, I think it will make me a better person. It makes me think about every word that leaves my mouth. For 8 hours, I was kinder to my children. I was a little frustrated, not being able to air my grievances, but I discovered that no one needs to hear them anyway.

When the little old lady at McDonald's complained about how hot it was in the restaurant, my first instinct was to jump on board the complaint train. In the end, I politely agreed with her by saying, "It is." But I said it with a smile. I tried to think of something positive to say to her, but I couldn't. So I said nothing else. I hope I wasn't rude. Super D said that didn't count as complaining since I wasn't expressing feelings of dissatisfaction. (She was right though. I did wonder if their thermostat was broken.)

I did fail later, and I caught myself the moment it left my lips. Something so insignificant, and I had to be a Debbie Downer. So, I took off my wristband and switched it to the other arm. Now, I'm starting over.

10 days to go

Friday, July 13, 2012

Woof! Woof!

Outside a local hotel:

Made in China





Have you heard the controversy over the Ralph Lauren uniforms designed for the 2012 Summer Olympics?
Ralph Lauren Olympics Style - P 2012

The first complaint I heard was that our Olympians will be wearing berets, which are French. The argument is that our athletes should wear cowboy hats or ball caps. I like cowboy hats and ball caps well enough, but I don't want the whole world thinking that's all American wears. That's the reason people think Oklahoma still looks like the Wild West.

Ralph Lauren Olympic Beret ralph lauren brands  USAs London 2012 Opening Ceremony Uniforms by Ralph Lauren

Next, people have a bee in their bonnet (or beret, as the case may be) that Ralph Lauren put his logo on the blazers. Apparently it is 3 times larger than normal and bigger than the Olympic rings or the American flag on the other side of the blazer. Fair enough. But did anyone really expect Ralph Lauren to leave his polo pony off the uniform? This is the ultimate in product placement. Of course, he's going to take advantage of it.


Finally, members of Congress are mad because the clothes are manufactured in China. Okay. Good point. But don't they have better things to argue over? If they're going to be enraged over something, how about the money they are wasting that could be helping fight poverty or hunger? Our taxes money is being wasted on unnecessary things. If I want to spend my money on berets made in China, that's my prerogative. I wonder how many people spent their money on these in 2002.

By the way, these were made by Roots, in Canada.
Where were the enraged Congressmen then?

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Just a day at the zoo

Years ago, we purchased a membership to our local zoo. It was worth the money we spent because we visited the zoo numerous times during the year. Our kids were young, and it was a perfect thing to do on a weekend.  We would take snacks and purchase a $1 refill zoo cup, so we spent almost nothing for the day. Since then, my parents began renewing our membership, and my mom has continued to do it every year as a Christmas gift to SuperD. Even after we moved, she bought us a membership to the new zoo.

It's one of SuperD's favorite family things. I was worried that it would get old, seeing the same exhibits over and over and over again. Surprisingly, I discovered that each time we went, we saw something we had never seen before. One time, we watched a chipanzee make a tool from a tree branch to get a goldfish cracker out of the water when he couldn't reach it on his own. Another time, a peahen crossed the path in front of us, followed by all her little peachicks. We've been on a behind-the-scenes tour of the brown bear's habitat, passing within two feet of the giant bear.  We witnessed the chimpanzees going crazy when they heard the tornado siren being tested.

On our most recent trip to the zoo, we went to the children's area, where we petted the goats. As we followed the path to exit the children's area, we rounded the path to see this beautiful peacock with his feathers spread out in a beautiful display.



 
We stopped in our tracks to watch him for a moment. What we hadn't immediately seen was the peahen that was off to the side of the path. It quickly became clear that the male was displaying, in order to gain her attention.





We were all mesmerized by the vibrating feathers, but the peahen was unimpressed. Both she and her sister totally ignored his flirting. When it became clear he couldn't hypnotize them, he turned his back, did a little dance, and literally shook his tail feathers at them.




Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Happy FREE Slurpee Day!

It's too bad that this is what our 7-Elevens serve:


No FREE Slurpees for us!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

A Soda Replicator

Something out of Star Trek. That's what this new soda machine at Pei Wei reminds me of. It's a replicator! My son is enamored with this contraption. He wants to go back to eat there, just for the sodas.

Gone are the levers which you push your glass against. At eye level, there's a screen with the wide variety of sodas which are available, nearly 20. Touch the screen to choose one, and the screen offers you a number of add-ins for your choice. So, instead of simply having a Coca-Cola, you can have a Lime Coke, a Lemon Coke, a Raspberry Coke, or an Orange Coke. The machine dispenses the ice and then your soda. I think C must have gone back 3 times to try different sodas!

(Click on the photo for a YouTube demo of Coca-Cola's new machine.)


Monday, July 9, 2012

Herbed Chicken and Tomatoes

I bought a crock pot recipe book at the check-out line of the grocery store. (Yes, they suckered me in with an impulse buy.) I had already decided that I want to add more slow cooker recipes to our menu so that when I get home from work, I don't have to do much to put dinner on the table. Super D loves to cook. I hate it. The problem is that he doesn't make it home until 6:30, which is about the time my two diabetics should be eating dinner. That means that I really should be cooking more. Yuck.

My latest purchase is a Taste of Home cookbook with recipe cards that you simply cut out and put in your recipe holder. After trimming every recipe card, I sorted through them to find entrees that my children might eat. I put the ingredients on my grocery list and made the first one last night.

Herbed Chicken and Tomatoes Recipe

This is Herbed Chicken and Tomatoes. Obviously, mine didn't look this beautiful, but it came close. And it smelled delicious! Prep time was literally 5 minutes! I had to substitute an herb and garlic marinade mix for the soup mix because I couldn't find one, but seemed to work fine. Super D cooked up some bowtie pasta, and the kids both agreed that it was tolerable. Hey, if they'll eat it again, it's a winner in my book!

Brand new state!

I'm a little late posting about this one. It's the Oklahoma Land Run! As my brother said, It's that "day to celebrate the government's systematic stealing of Native American land, parceling it up, and giving it to white settlers. Hooray!" (We can joke about it because we're Seminole.) Every 4th grader in our town, and possibly in our state, learns about and recreates the Land Run.

It's an event which occurred on April 22, 1889. Fifty thousand people lined up to claim their piece of two million acres in the Unassigned Lands. Although settlers weren't allowed onto the land until noon of that day, some people snuck in early and were known as "Sooners". Those who campaigned for the opening of the lands are known as "Boomers". Hence, Boomer Sooner as the University of Oklahoma fight song and our state nickname, The Sooner State. By the end of the day, Oklahoma City and Guthrie had both been established with about 10,000 people.

Land Run Day is greatly anticipated at local elementary schools. Younger students line up to watch the event, and the fourth graders dress in period costumes and create prairie schooners to haul their belongings. Children are divided into "families" and are required to stake their claim and immediately make improvements to their land. They enjoy a picnic and begin trading wares with their neighbors.


I had to convince C to take his lunch in a basket and a tin, to be more authentic. He was going to use a Ziploc baggie.


Some parents go to great lengths to make it a fun day. See that really cute covered wagon? We didn't do that. I asked my son several times if they were bringing a wagon and decorating it. He told me that one of the other boys in his "family" volunteered to be in charge of that. I probably should have followed through with that one.


Maybe it's not such a good idea to create a "family" made up entirely of boys. See the kids in the middle carrying the box? We did that. It's a barn. I guess.


Still carrying the box.


Still carrying the box.


They sure can run fast with that box.


Their "dad" ran ahead to stake the claim.


But they're still running with that box!


The boys were required to use a rope to mark the boundary of their land. Most "families" had a nice square piece of land. Or a rectangle. Leave it to the boys to mark off a triangle. Improving the land consisted of setting down the barn box. Then, of course, it's time to eat.


All in all, it was a great day. I had to try really hard not to suck the fun out of it by pointing out the cute little general store on their neighbor's property, or the bank down the road. Maybe a triangular parcel of land is okay. Although I did interrupt the face-stuffing to remind them to go to the claim office. And I did force C to take a pic with his teacher.