Family | laborofwonder

Wheelin’ And Dealin’

by motherofwonder

So I’m trying to make a deal with Littlest E about wearing his diapers, and if he’s not wearing them, where he should be going potty. Right now it seems like we’re at floor 12 – potty 4. He really is young for potty training, but he hates diapers. He takes them off as soon as a droplet of anything hits the diaper, if he leaves it on long enough for any droplets to hit. He frequently can be found stripping off his diaper and then taking aim at the floor. Thankfully it’s just the pee version that hits the floor. The other form of potty is saved for the actual potty. Which is awesome! I should mention, he is 15 months old, so the fact that he uses and wants to use, and requests to use, the potty at all is pretty freakin’ amazing/exciting. So how exactly do you make a deal with a 15 month old? I’m not sure. If you have any ideas, feel free to send them my way! I’m thinking I’ll test out duct tape and super tight pants. Skinny jeans would be hard to peel off (especially over cloth diapers!), right?? Maybe I could make pants with the duct tape? Lets see him shimmy outta that!

As soon as I’d typed these words in, I turned around to see Littlest Man sans diaper and hunched over….

Me: Ah!! *Littlest E*!!

MissE: Mom, he doesn’t like diapers. But don’t let him go potty on the floor. That’s gross.

Me: I know.

MissE: Then don’t let him do that.

Me: I didn’t let him do that.

MissE: Then why didn’t you put him on the potty?

Me: I thought he was wearing a diaper, and he’s still kinda little to understand when to use the potty. And Ididn’t think he could get his diaper off while it was under his pants.

MissE: You were wrong.

Me: Obviously. Let’s get his diaper with the snaps, and go find some duct tape.

In other news, we may be getting some snow tonight and tomorrow… any chance anyone knows a good deal I can make to have two summers in a row, instead?

Happy Monday folks! May your day be filled with clean clothes, fresh food, and dry floors.

Family Life According To Me Things Kids Say

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Funny Bunny, Silly Goose (Or Dragon)

by motherofwonder

Did everyone have a terrific Halloween? I enjoyed our weekend soooo much!! Friday we spent it with good friends!! (I’m pretty sure the kids thoroughly worse them out as the big 2 had him being their personal horsey all evening and Littlest E has declared her his favorite person!) We are so blessed to have friends that are so much like family to us and our children. Saturday I don’t know why, but I just woke up kind of cranky. (Probably the limited number of hours I actually slept!) It didn’t help that Littlest E refused to nap until a most inconvenient time. But it worked out fine in the end, hubbyman sent me out without baby, and i got to enjoy some errand running and margaritas with some very lovely ladies. I was in a good mood again by the time I returned home! (Sometimes I just need a brief reprieve!) Followed by an evening of a bonfire, roasting marshmallows and hotdogs with one of my favorite cousins! Ok, so actually, I watched from the window and he and Erik did this with the “big kids.” I did so, because Littlest E is not afraid of fire. In fact, he looooves it. And it is impossible to keep him up on the bench or in your arms because he’s kind of a strongwilled boy. I quickly became tired of fighting him and just went inside. I was a little cranky about this fact, but he and I really had a nice, quiet time. And I played Mario while he yelled “It’s a go!” Sunday Funday was a lot of fun. Miss E, Littlest E, and I went out to run some errands and pick up some last minute candy while Hubbyman and Big E designed and carved pumpkins.

hubbyman's pumpkin (Big E gave detail suggestions- like the scar)

What he looked like all lit up!

Monday was an action packed day! I had high hopes of accomplishing more than was humanly possible. It didn’t go so well. But by noon I did have dinner made (well, cooking in the crockpot) and the kids and I made Black Velvet Cupcakes (the same as red velvet, just without the food coloring). We had one brief moment of panic as I found the sweatshirt part of Big E’s costume was missing…. after tearing apart lots of rooms, closets, and tearing through our vehicle in a frantic search, I remembered I’d put it in my room so he wouldn’t play with it/misplace it before Halloween. Thankfully, crisis averted and the rest of the evening went off without a hitch! They even had family and friends come to see them all dressed up. Here are some highlights that made walking in the chill of the evening worthwhile:

Littlest E waving at everyone who’d come to the door and shouting bumble, bumble, bumble! Bee!

It had little wings in the back. He was not thrilled with it. He did however appreciate when he found out the arms had gloves attached.

Miss E is probably our shiest child. (Until you get to know her, at that point we have no quiet children.) The first few houses were our neighbors, that she knows, and when it would come time to say “Thank you!” for the candy she’s just been given, she’d look at them and say (to them), I’m too shy to say thank you! and then run away… thankfully they know her and just laughed and by the time we got to houses where she didn’t actually know them she’d loosened up… by the 4th house (that was answered by a woman in an 80s outit, complete with hair) she chimed in with her brother to shout Trick or treat! And then when the lady answered the door she (very loudly) exclaimed, You have weird hair! So much for being shy…

Share Bear the CareBear

And when asked what she was, Big E exclaimed, She’s a carebear! Don’t you see her belly badge?! The lady at the door commented on Big E’s cool tail. At which point My sweet little girl turned around, bent over, stuck her butt in the air, wiggled it around and said, Yeah and I have a little tail! (this was all at the same house, the lady laughed a lot during our brief interaction.) We’ve watched Gnomeo and Juliet a few times this last month and so when Big E saw his Papa had put on a hat that stood up of his head, he was so excited! He told his Papa, I didn’t know you were going to be a Gnome for Halloween!

Dragon Boy (With his black velvet cupcake!)

And then these are just two more of my favorite photos of the night, and they seemed too good not to share!

Hubbyman and the boys

my little trick or treators!

What was your favorite part of Halloween? Mine was listening to all the funny things they said! Do you do store-bought or homemade costumes? Littlest E’s is storebought (MissE worse it 2 years ago!), but Big E and Miss E’s were made with love! And lots of man hours (literally- hubbyman made them! I knew what I wanted them to look like, and he has the patience and perfectionism to get them there!)

Family Life According To Me Marriage Things Kids Say

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Busy Hallowday!

by motherofwonder

This is going to be a great day (*fingers crossed, prayers prayed!*)!! I am so looking forward to all the fun things we have going on today! First I have to do some general after-the-weekend-cleaning, but then we’re going to make delicious black velvet Halloween cupcakes. And then we’re going to do some decorating with the big box of Halloween decorations that included lots of cute pumpkins. And a skeleton who is so old that only one of his eyes work anymore (he glows in the dark and thanks to batteries, his eyes flash), so it just looks like he’s winking. Which Big E totally loves, because that is his specialty.

I may have mentioned this before, but my hubby does not like soup. If I make soup he’ll look all over the kitchen and ask, What else did you make? Unfortunately, I looove soup, as do the kids. So while I don’t make it very often, I do still make it. I just tell him to (as my 12 yr old brother loves to say:) Grab a straw and suck it up! Anyways, because of his non-love of soup, I have turned an old favorite, into a casserole dish. Ham and potato. It’s sooo yummy. And I’m thinking it will be perfect before heading out into the cold tonight! And today, since I love finding ways to simplify things, especially recipes, I am attempting it in the crockpot! And I am anticipating a huge success!!

I am so excited to get the little ones all dressed in their costumes and take millions of pictures of their sweet little faces! So excited!! And we didn’t even wait until the night before to finish any costumes! Pumpkins are all carved, painted, glow-lighted and ready to be carried outside!! Which reminds me- I have some pumpkin seeds to toast! Which brings me back to all I have to do today…. oooh and find my camera!! I better get right on that… as soon as I finish this sooooo yummmy pumpkin pie latte! Hope you all have a happy, safe, and well (photo) documented day!!! Be sure to post pictures on the page (http://www.facebook.com/laborofwonder) of you and yours!! And be sure to tell me what your Halloween meal looks like!! Growing up we always had chili and pumpkin pie. As an adult I normally make my hubby a pumpkin cheesecake… hmm, I really better get moving.

Family Life According To Me

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I Really Am

by motherofwonder

We’ve had so much going on, for what feels like forever. While I always have things to be thankful for, sometimes by the time Friday night rolls around, I’m not all that thankful it’s the weekend. Because it means projects or running, or both, or me going places with the kids so that hubbyman can complete the projects! Last weekend was a wonderful weekend with the pumpkin patch and a somewhat decent football game. This weekend should be terrific as well! I actually don’t know our plans beyond tonight, but I love that!! After a much needed girls’ night in to watch some of our favorite shows, tonight we are having one of our favorite couples over! The hubbies were military men together, so we’ve been friends for a while! It’s so nice to have friends like them! We have our anniversary coming up, so instead of wearing our babysitters thin, (and because our friends don’t mind- they like our kids, and our kids like them) we are having another night in. I’m very excited about the food! They’re bringing burgers, and I’m making those delicious onion rings, trying out the mozzarella sticks, and hubbyman requested some form of potato. He said we could do them on the grill, which is relieving to me! (Because it means they won’t be my responsibility!) I’m in a great mood today… especially when you consider the fact that Littlest E woke up continuously from around 4 and didn’t go back to sleep until 6ish, just in time for daddy’s alarm to wake him up. Thankfully, he did go back to sleep after all three rounds of the snooze button. Miss E was up in the night too, but since I was occupied with a little person already (and really hubbyman usually assists in “the big 2” during the night, which thankfully- isn’t very often), hubby went to get her. I don’t know what the deal was, but I know he came back to our bed with her. As long as it means we get sleep, I am ok with whatever sleeping arrangement is necessary! And she’s actually still sleeping and it’s almost 10:30. This never happens with her. Like ever. I’m hoping that she just was up for a while in the night. She’s easy to put down the first time, but hard to get back to sleep if she’s woken up. Anyways… I’m chatty this morning, I guess. So back to being in a good mood in spite of it… oooh, did I mention the reason Littlest E was up? He’d taken his diaper off. And peed… all over me. That was fun. Anyhow, I washed us off, changed us (was very thankful that it didn’t get all over the bed) and there you go…. I think my adrenaline is just now starting to wear off, or maybe it’s just that this is the first I’ve sat down. The boys were playing quietly together and so I did the dishes, polished the sink, scrubbed the high chair, did a quick re-pick-up of the upstairs, made the boys breakfast, and then had my coffee. That’s right, even after that night, I did all of those household chores before having my coffee… maybe I’m sick? Speaking of whining, I hear my little girl… I’d better wrap this up.

So today, on this ever so thankful Friday, I am thankful:

for good friends! To go out with, to stay in with, to share our lives with!
For good food! (I’m hungry for the mozzarella sticks already!)
For good coffee (I bought hubbyman some French Roast because I could have sworn that he liked it. Turns out he likes it but its not his favorite, and I hate it. Can hardly swallow it, hate it. Can’t drown it with enough creamer hate it. Thankfully, I remembered to buy some coffee of my own since hubs is the weekend coffee maker.)
for a Saturday and Sunday of no plans (well, I have been working on a “honey do list” so there are some things I plan to get done!)

Honey Dew

for the wonderful weather we’ve had this week! And that we’ve gotten to enjoy it!
for how funny Littlest is. I know I’ve said this before, but seriously, he’s hilarious!
for how honest MissE is. I asked who wanted to share their snack with Littlest E, to which she replied, Um, not me very much.
for the way Biggest E will share and play with Littlest E.
for the way Littlest adores Biggest, it’s so sweet

OK, and now the tiredness is setting in, which means I’ve been sitting too long, so I’d better get up, pour another cup of coffee, and get movin’! Enjoy your weekend and remember to think about all the things you have to be thankful for!

Family Life According To Me Thankful Fridays Things Kids Say

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It Gets Me Through

by motherofwonder

I had a very strange dream last night. It started off as me driving, in the rain, with all three of my children in the back in their car seats. One started fussing or crying or something and I adjusted my mirror to look at them. All the sudden I see the SUV behind me is actually police, with their lights on. So I pull over and roll down the window. He immediately looks in the back at all three children and then turns to me and suddenly I’m in another dream! I’m no longer the driver- hubbyman is, and I’m the passenger. About 6ish months pregnant. And I don’t really remember what the policeman said to the hubs, but I do remember talking to him about how I no longer fit in any of my clothes and we’d just found out the sex of the baby and so we were on our way to go shopping! And then I woke up. The funny thing is, the 2nd dream was actually more of a reenactment because that scene really happened. Thankfully he was a sweet man, who recognized that there was no posted speed limit and warned my hubby to drive slower with his extra special cargo. I hadn’t thought of that day in.. I don’t know when I’ve thought back on it, actually. As my mind continued to wander through that day, I remembered the sweetness of being pregnant with our very first baby, the excitement over just finding out he was in fact a boy (I knew it!), and the lasting impression of seeing my husband changing into a father as he wandered around a baby store thoughtfully picking out clothes for our baby (he was particularly fond of things with duckies on them).

I have had the honor of seeing my husband go through many things and make many changes in his life, as I’ve known him for half of it. I have seen him go from adolescent to man, from friend to spouse, from wild child to military man, from military man to civilian (in a job he actually loves!), but my favorite conversion was watching him grow into a father. (I may pay for sharing this!) My favorite picture -that always moves me to tears- is one from just seconds after Big E was born, baby on my chest, hubby at my side, wiping a tear from his cheek. So sweet, so tender… not usually the first words one would use to describe my husband, which is perhaps what makes this moment so invaluable. He went from a man who had his own list of wants and needs to a man who was on diaper duty so much that I didn’t change a diaper for almost 2 full weeks after Big E arrived! A man who used to enjoy happy hour with co-workers was now rushing home from work, insisting that he immediately get his boy. A man who was so full of pride over being a father that he would talk to strangers about how beautiful his baby was- the most beautiful baby there ever was. He’d rave over how perfect he was (the baby, that is)! The first few times of Big E being babysat, he’d even race me to the baby!

Or in watching him react to the news that he was having a girl! And watching her wrap him around her finger! He tells me at least weekly, we’re in so much trouble- she just keeps getting cuter and cuter! (And he’s right, but don’t tell her that! We try and focus on how important it is for her to be a nice girl!) Or watching him with Littlest E just hours after his birth, trying to be strong for me, but being so scared as I was losing so much blood. (The thought of being a single parent to 3 kids is pretty frightening!) We have had lots of sweet and tender moments in our years together, but none so sweet as the ones that surround our children.

There are days he has not evolved into the best parent, as there are days I have not either… but we both try mightily and love deeply. And that’s what gets us through, along with the occasional remembrance (or dream) of tender, quiet moments where we were blessed beyond our wildest dreams and the reasons that we chose this wonderful, wonderfilled, crazy life.

Big E

Miss E

Littlest E

Family Life According To Me Marriage

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The Earth Is Round

by motherofwonder

So this weekend hubbyman and I had a bit of a heart-to-heart. I’d been feeling one way, he’d been feeling another, and neither of us had been very communicative. It came on suddenly and really was a fairly short conversation. Was it our first discussion of this kind? Hardly. Will it be our last? I’d be shocked. We each just needed to feel heard. It reminds me of the way the kids ask a million questions, all in a row. Some things they really do want answers for, but others, I’m fairly certain, are asked just because they want to know that it’s ok, or safe, to ask any questions they may have. And sometimes I feel that way too. I talk and talk, but really I just want to know, and feel, that my words are worth listening to. Am I alone in this?

My mom sent me an e-mail (that my grandma had sent to her) the other day and after our talk, I shared it with my husband, and we both had a good laugh:

While creating women, God promised men that submissive and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the world.

And then He made the earth round.

Family Life According To Me Marriage

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Happy Fall-o-ween!

by motherofwonder

So I talked on Friday of needing a reprieve from time spent on the internet, and so I took it. Was it a relief? No, not really… but it was needed and there was a sigh of relief in seeing my home looking livable again! I would say we had a pretty good weekend in all. The first weekend we had zero plans in a long time! We’d all just gotten over allergies or something… and so the things we were invited to I cancelled or politely declined. Not because we didn’t want to go/do, but just decided that what was best for our family was to take a break! So Friday we watched a movie as a family and then after hubbyman fell asleep putting the kids to sleep, I took advantage of the quiet and enjoyed a glass of wine paired nicely with a long hot bath. And did I mention the quiet?

Saturday we got up and went to a pumpkin patch! Woohoo! One of my favorite things to do! Normally, I have taken the kids (by myself) during the week, but this year hubbyman was willing and able to go! Yay for family days! We don’t get enough of them! So off we went a punkin’ing…

We picked 4 really nice big ones (hubbyman has some really cool ideas for the pumpkins), one pie pumpkin (mmm…pumpkin cheesecake!), and lots of little pumpkins and gourds! I love fall and fall decorating/decorations!

What is your favorite way to decorate/carve/paint pumpkins? Or your favorite fall-themed decorations?

I can’t wait until our pumpkin-carving night! It’s sure to be a mess, but hopefully a fun, memory-making kind of a time! Plus, wait until you see Miss E’s costume! She’s a carebear! I will definitely do a post on Big E and Miss E’s homemade costumes! They are super cute, only took an evening (each) to make, and last a really long time (in fact, Big E’s is from last year, I just bought him pants in a size bigger this year!). Plus, they wear them year-round! It’s a win for everyone! And I have pictures ready and waiting for my newest onion ring and breaded chicken strips recipe! Mmmm…. they were soooo good! (Hubbyman declared the onion rings to be the best he’d ever had!!!) So there’s lots of things (ie. posts) to look forward to this week! Happy Fall!! (I know, it’s been “fall” for a while, but finally I am happy it’s fall!)

Family Life According To Me Marriage

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Tech-NO-Friday

by motherofwonder

When I get overwhelmed or am facing feelings of depressing, I kind of shut down. I don’t follow my routine and I have a hard time convincing myself that it is worthwhile to do the things I normally do. I have been in one of those funks the last few months. The house is in constant remodel, my mother is suffering from some scary health issues (aren’t any health issues of someone you want to be around forever scary?), and we have 3, young, crazy children. It takes me forever to get things done, because I just don’t feel like doing them, And when I pull my late nights to get things done, it’s only out of necessity vs. an actual desire to get things done. Which I’m pretty sure has lead to the spiral effect on my computer time.

It’s come to my attention that I’m having a hard time finding a good balance between time I spend on the computer and time I spend off. So much of the time it’s just on and you look up and see, ooh a new notification, a new e-mail, another blog-able thought… so I want to spend more time with it off. It’s hard to find a balance between everything in your life, right? I know I can’t possibly be the only one. So, I’m self-imposing a No Tech day (or Tech-NO-Friday), at least during the day time. (Don’t worry it’s a half hour before midnight and therefore this is not being written on Friday- God bless timed postings!) Usually I turn the computer off when Erik comes home (I have it on with music a lot of the time and am guilty of thinking, well, it can’t hurt to just leave facebook up while I’m busy and listening to music…) and don’t go back on until kids are in bed, if at all. And I don’t spend much time, if any, on it over the weekend. It’s the daytime during the week. And really, I want the focus of my day to be on my children and our life. Soo… one day to hopefully really get some things done around here, and hopefully the days that will follow will be more balanced. More time off, and the time on being focused on why I’m being on-line (like to write a hilarious blog post, or post a yummy new recipe) and less time of just being on-line for the sake of being on-line with no focus or intent. My kids deserve 100% of my focus, and let’s face it, they’re probably not getting it if one eye is on the computer.

Anyone else have any good ideas for how they delegate their time? Anyone who has to spend time on the computer for their job, for their blog, for necessity- how do you make sure you make the most of the time you’re on the computer, so that you can make the most of your time off? What things have helped you to relegate some anti-device time?

And, since it is Thankful Friday, and I am thankful it’s Friday, here are the things I’m thankful for today:

Big E (and how helpful he is!)
Miss E (and the way her imagination is growing and developing!)
Little E (and the humor he brings to this household! He’s only 15 months old, but he WANTS and TRIES to make you laugh!)
That guy I married
my wonderful friends (both old and new)
that I have a place to put some of my thoughts (and people who listen to them- or read them!!)
that I’m going to be an Auntie (for the 2nd time, but the first time on my side) in about 6ish months!

Family Life According To Me Thankful Fridays

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The Skinless People

by motherofwonder

So I woke up today tired…I know, it’s shocking, right?! Ok, so it’s not shocking. But, I did wake up in a good mood and am finding delight in lots of things this morning. Like the fact that I remembered to buy more good coffee, so I don’ t have to gulp down hubbyman’s super dark roast. Or the smiles I get when the kids discover that I restocked our oatmeal supply, along with our supply of bananas! Littlest E was not as impressed with his own food and therefore got his breakfast from sneaking spoonfuls (and occasionally fist fulls) of his siblings’ food. Thankfully, his siblings didn’t seem to mind. They just sat there, the three of them, in a row, blissfully eating their breakfast. Or wearing it, depending on your point of view.

Because I’m finding delight in things, I thought I’d share a few things that maybe you would find some delight in too.

Last weekend, I was driving home from my parents, with all the kiddos in tow. It’s about an hourish drive. Which is just long enough to get lots of good stories in. It started with them asking me to tell them the story about when I used to have “a work” to go to… and then they started talking. MissE is crying (yet again) because she doesn’t want to leave Earth, and she doesn’t want to die. And Big E is excitedly talking about how he wants to go to Heaven. He just wants to go and see God’s face. (At which point his sister informs him that he doesn’t have to die to do that, he could just open up and try and see his heart.) He just kind of looks at her sister, and then asks, If I open me up, will I die and go to heaven? I ask him why he wants to go heaven right now, and this conversation followed:

I really just want to see God. And to see all the people who don’t have skin anymore and are just bones.

Um, what?

You know, when you die all your skin melts off and you’re just bones.

(Insert Miss E crying and saying:) I want to keep my skin! Can we tell God to just make Earth be the Heaven and let us keep our skin, and give the already died people back their skin?

Family Life According To Me Things Kids Say

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Oh For The Love!

by motherofwonder

What is something that mom always says to you? MissE: you say I love you all the times. BigE: Pick up.
What makes mom happy? MissE: not naughty. BigE: When it’s picked up.
What makes mom sad? MissE: yelling. BigE: When I don’t pick up.
How does mom make you laugh? MissE: tickle me. BigE: tickles, you make me laugh by tickling.
What was mom like when she was a child? MissE: you liked to play. like grandma before she turned into a grandma. BigE: you liked toys.
How old is mommy? she holds up 3 fingers then asks, Are you the age just like I am? BigE: holds up five fingers and asks, this old?
How tall is mommy? MissE: reaches down and touches my toes and then tries to reach my head and says, That’s how tall you are. BigE: Puts hand on top of my head.
What is mommy’s favorite thing to do? MissE: Clean up (I think she’s confusing how I want to spend my time with how I actually spend my time!) BigE: grocery shopping.
What does mommy do when you’re not around? MissE: I don’t know, if I’m not there I can’t see you. BigE: I don’t know. what do you do when I’m not there?
What would mommy be famous for? MissE: for ducks (I have no idea what this means or where she’s going with it… I do know that she thinks this is way too many questions.) BigE: picking up.
What’s mommy good at? MissE: tickling. BigE: cooking.
What is mommy not very good at? MissE: flowers. BigE: Driving airplanes.
What is mommy’s job? MissE: play with me. BigE: picking up
How are you and mommy the same? MissE: being girls. BigE: I don’t know.
How are you and mommy different? MissE: being girls (I’m thinking she doesn’t quite understand “different”). BigE: I’m tootie.
What do you and mom like to do together? MissE: Play in the water or go to the store. BigE: grocery shop.
What is mommy’s favorite food? MissE: chicken. BigE: coffee.
If mom were a cartoon character who would she be? MissE: you. BigE: a dancer.
How do you know mom loves you? MissE: from me. BigE: the kissin’
Where is mommy’s favorite place to go? MissE: the farmer’s market, the store, and your friends’ house. BigE: the grocery shop.
What makes you proud of your mom? MissE: when you give me cereal, that is when I am proud of you. BigE: Mooom, I never get proud. (he seems to think “getting proud” is a bad thing.)

I’d asked Big E these questions when he was just under 2 and just thought it would be fun to go through and ask them again and see their responses. Overall I think they thought it was a)silly and b)too many questions. But it was fun to watch them as they thought over some of the questions, you know, the ones they actually put thought into.