Our Aleksa is a smartie, but oh, is she a blondie sometimes.
A blondie with no bangs.
The other day she was talking to a friend, and told her friend that when she was little, she cut her bangs (remember that!?), and that's why she doesn't have any. (!!??)
I didn't have the heart to correct her in front of her friend. But later, when we finally did try to set her straight, she said, "Then where'd they go?"
(Um. Leks? They grew out. It took months and years. 'Member?)
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Mama talks to her mirror...
The kids and I love to tease and joke and play tricks on each other. There's constantly a mischievous glimmer in someone's eye around here.
Liana has been on a kick lately where she'll notice I'm on the way to our bathroom and she'll RUN ahead of me and slam the bathroom door and lock it and then take her sweet time in there if you know what I mean. I wind up having to go down to the kids' bathroom if she does beat me, but otherwise we wind up with a tackle, some squealing, some screaming, lots of laughing, and some MAJOR tickling to get her Out of my way. She thinks this is just the most hilarious joke... The other day there was almost an accident in the hallway because of this little stunt. She laughed so hard she almost had one herself! ;O)
The other night amid our usual volley of teases, I started doing my wicked witch impersonation for the kids. (That usually freaks Leksa out. I have a *really* good Witch of the West impression... You know the whole "I'll get you, My Pretty!" routine.)
Adam got me good though... He announced, "Mama talks to her mirror!" Evidently he likened me to Snow White's stepmother... lol! I thought it was pretty clever; kind of along the same line as "Your mama dresses you funny!" It took several minutes for my stomach to quit hurting from laughing so hard...
Liana has been on a kick lately where she'll notice I'm on the way to our bathroom and she'll RUN ahead of me and slam the bathroom door and lock it and then take her sweet time in there if you know what I mean. I wind up having to go down to the kids' bathroom if she does beat me, but otherwise we wind up with a tackle, some squealing, some screaming, lots of laughing, and some MAJOR tickling to get her Out of my way. She thinks this is just the most hilarious joke... The other day there was almost an accident in the hallway because of this little stunt. She laughed so hard she almost had one herself! ;O)
The other night amid our usual volley of teases, I started doing my wicked witch impersonation for the kids. (That usually freaks Leksa out. I have a *really* good Witch of the West impression... You know the whole "I'll get you, My Pretty!" routine.)
Adam got me good though... He announced, "Mama talks to her mirror!" Evidently he likened me to Snow White's stepmother... lol! I thought it was pretty clever; kind of along the same line as "Your mama dresses you funny!" It took several minutes for my stomach to quit hurting from laughing so hard...
Sunday, October 22, 2006
26 Months Home
Between my laziness and my flaky internet connection, I completely blew our "month-a-versary" post this month. I'm like five days late or something, and I've cringed every night going to bed not having updated, though I did go one entire day last week without any internet connection at all... Satellite connections are rather frustrating sometimes!
Ok, lemme get to the update before I rabbit trail and forget why I'm here. ;O)
I'll start with Aleksa since she's the one hot on the brain right now. She's been a little Stinker this month! She has been trying to boss around her older brother every chance she can get. She finds things about him that he's doing wrong and pounces. Frankly, it's driving me crazy. I keep telling her that Adam already has a Mama, and she isn't her. Not only does she nag him, but she'll yell at him, kick him, etc. Not sure where this kicking business is coming from. Evidently Little Zina is making a comeback! She's had to draw more pictures and "I'm sorry" notes to her brother this month than all the other months we've had her combined. Actually, it isn't just pictures, it is doing "something nice" for her brother to show him she loves him. All these months of flying under the radar and she's finally onscreen. That's good, I guess, because if we don't realize an attitude is there, we can't do anything to help fix it.
Aleksa has been really flying with her reading. She's not afraid to tackle reading signs, papers laying around, other stories besides her readers for school, etc. It took Adam and Liana a long, long time before they got to that point, and actually, in a lot of ways, they aren't even quite there yet. There still seems to be a hesitation to believe they CAN read signs, newspapers, other "nonschool" books, etc. Perhaps it's just laziness? Not sure, but Leksa thinks she can, is optimistic about it, so she does. She's also at a point in her readers that she won't put them down if she's interested in the story. She'll finish a weeks' worth of reading in one sitting. Liana is only finally at that point right now.
Liana... she's growing up, what can I say? *waaah* Yesterday we went to visit some friends who have also adopted from Ukraine, though a few years before us. It was nice to finally have met these folks in real life after having exchanged many emails, etc. Anyway, their daughter is Adam's age, and is rather a tomboy. Likes basketball, etc. Most of Liana's neighborhood friends are a year younger than she is, or a little less, so getting to play with a "big girl" was a treat for her. They were out shooting hoops, gathering sticks in the back yard to make a pretend bonfire, etc. Liana was in 7th Heaven. When we got home she told me we needed a basketball hoop so she could start doing "big girl things." Aleksa wasn't so interested in the "big girl" things when there were baby dolls to play with. She was walking around with a doll on her shoulder all afternoon.
Well, anyway, Liana is getting to the point where she's not a little girl, but she's not a big girl yet either, and it's making her feel rather out of place. Christmas is going to be tough for me this year. I have absolutely no ideas for her - other than the basketball hoop! lol! Whaddaya get girls that age?
Funny language story to tell on Liana. This is a hoot. Tonight Adam's stomach wasn't feeling the greatest, and so instead of dealing with Adam's very graphic descriptions of what was going on, we suggested that he just said, "I have diarrhea." Liana piped up and said that she thought diarrhea meant that two people were going to get married. ... Um, no. That would be "engaged." Who knows where that came from! lol!
Since Adam's funny language story is on this same vein, I'll add his here too... We also suggested that Adam announce that "Nature was calling" instead of telling us *exactly* what he needed to do. (What is it about 11yo boys loving to describe this stuff!?) Well, the next time nature called, he said, "Nature is Coming!"
The other day we heard him referring to our computer as the "Liptop" computer. John sure laughed at that visual.
I really need to post another video of Adam really talking. (Not just answering questions, but actually talking.) He's getting to the point in his language that people are starting to say that they like his accent. The second person has told me that in just the last few weeks. No one has ever said that before concerning him. He's the "hard-to-understand" one, and for the first year, he was tough to understand, let alone thing he had a "nice accent." It's been sorta shocking to me to hear people say they like his accent... I guess it's a nice spot to finally be in... he has struggled so hard to get here. We were all watching videos the other day of some that I took at just 5-7 months home. Uff, they were excruciating to listen to him talk, though I remember at the time being so proud that he'd come so far. Even Adam was surprised to hear himself stutter, stammer and struggle for words, etc. He didn't want to finish listening to himself; he asked us to shut it off. He's doing so much better now. Long way to go yet, but so much better, and it is so comforting to look back and see such progress.
He's been doing really well with his reading time too. Neither he nor Liana can read silently yet, which I think is rather odd, but they get lost in their thoughts if they don't read out loud. They just can't do it. Aleksa can read "in a whisper" but still not silently either. Adam has made good progress with his reading, but I know it isn't coming as quickly as with Liana because of Liana's grasp of the language. Adam will sound things out in a nonsense way, and assume it is a word. We have to really listen to him as he reads so he doesn't skip over those and to remind him that he's reading real live words that he probably knows, so to try again. Liana's mind can fill in the blanks with context, guessing word order, etc because of knowing how to SPEAK it so well. She'll often get away with only "really" having to read the first letter of the word to know that it must say since she's already familiar with an expression, phrase, etc. Adam still is learning all that, really, and so when he reads, he doesn't have the luxury of having the fluency to help him. Not sure if that makes sense. Still, his overall comprehension of a story is usually right on, so I'm not terribly worried yet. I ask him questions about everything he reads to make sure he "gets it." He might blow certain words here and there, but overall, he's got the picture. Still, Liana has blown past him in reading levels a while ago. Liana has read up through at least Week 32 (of 36 weeks) of her readers already here in little Week 8. We bought the next level of readers for her to work on when she's done. She loves books and good stories, and MUST know what happens next. She's got the reading bug, in other words. Yay!
Can't imagine life without our three. They've not been home very long, but they are just plain part of us. Some days are harder than others, but I sure wouldn't trade 'em for anything! I love hanging out with my kiddos and my hubby. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world than exactly where and what I'm doing right now! Life is good!
Ok, lemme get to the update before I rabbit trail and forget why I'm here. ;O)
I'll start with Aleksa since she's the one hot on the brain right now. She's been a little Stinker this month! She has been trying to boss around her older brother every chance she can get. She finds things about him that he's doing wrong and pounces. Frankly, it's driving me crazy. I keep telling her that Adam already has a Mama, and she isn't her. Not only does she nag him, but she'll yell at him, kick him, etc. Not sure where this kicking business is coming from. Evidently Little Zina is making a comeback! She's had to draw more pictures and "I'm sorry" notes to her brother this month than all the other months we've had her combined. Actually, it isn't just pictures, it is doing "something nice" for her brother to show him she loves him. All these months of flying under the radar and she's finally onscreen. That's good, I guess, because if we don't realize an attitude is there, we can't do anything to help fix it.
Aleksa has been really flying with her reading. She's not afraid to tackle reading signs, papers laying around, other stories besides her readers for school, etc. It took Adam and Liana a long, long time before they got to that point, and actually, in a lot of ways, they aren't even quite there yet. There still seems to be a hesitation to believe they CAN read signs, newspapers, other "nonschool" books, etc. Perhaps it's just laziness? Not sure, but Leksa thinks she can, is optimistic about it, so she does. She's also at a point in her readers that she won't put them down if she's interested in the story. She'll finish a weeks' worth of reading in one sitting. Liana is only finally at that point right now.
Liana... she's growing up, what can I say? *waaah* Yesterday we went to visit some friends who have also adopted from Ukraine, though a few years before us. It was nice to finally have met these folks in real life after having exchanged many emails, etc. Anyway, their daughter is Adam's age, and is rather a tomboy. Likes basketball, etc. Most of Liana's neighborhood friends are a year younger than she is, or a little less, so getting to play with a "big girl" was a treat for her. They were out shooting hoops, gathering sticks in the back yard to make a pretend bonfire, etc. Liana was in 7th Heaven. When we got home she told me we needed a basketball hoop so she could start doing "big girl things." Aleksa wasn't so interested in the "big girl" things when there were baby dolls to play with. She was walking around with a doll on her shoulder all afternoon.
Well, anyway, Liana is getting to the point where she's not a little girl, but she's not a big girl yet either, and it's making her feel rather out of place. Christmas is going to be tough for me this year. I have absolutely no ideas for her - other than the basketball hoop! lol! Whaddaya get girls that age?
Funny language story to tell on Liana. This is a hoot. Tonight Adam's stomach wasn't feeling the greatest, and so instead of dealing with Adam's very graphic descriptions of what was going on, we suggested that he just said, "I have diarrhea." Liana piped up and said that she thought diarrhea meant that two people were going to get married. ... Um, no. That would be "engaged." Who knows where that came from! lol!
Since Adam's funny language story is on this same vein, I'll add his here too... We also suggested that Adam announce that "Nature was calling" instead of telling us *exactly* what he needed to do. (What is it about 11yo boys loving to describe this stuff!?) Well, the next time nature called, he said, "Nature is Coming!"
The other day we heard him referring to our computer as the "Liptop" computer. John sure laughed at that visual.
I really need to post another video of Adam really talking. (Not just answering questions, but actually talking.) He's getting to the point in his language that people are starting to say that they like his accent. The second person has told me that in just the last few weeks. No one has ever said that before concerning him. He's the "hard-to-understand" one, and for the first year, he was tough to understand, let alone thing he had a "nice accent." It's been sorta shocking to me to hear people say they like his accent... I guess it's a nice spot to finally be in... he has struggled so hard to get here. We were all watching videos the other day of some that I took at just 5-7 months home. Uff, they were excruciating to listen to him talk, though I remember at the time being so proud that he'd come so far. Even Adam was surprised to hear himself stutter, stammer and struggle for words, etc. He didn't want to finish listening to himself; he asked us to shut it off. He's doing so much better now. Long way to go yet, but so much better, and it is so comforting to look back and see such progress.
He's been doing really well with his reading time too. Neither he nor Liana can read silently yet, which I think is rather odd, but they get lost in their thoughts if they don't read out loud. They just can't do it. Aleksa can read "in a whisper" but still not silently either. Adam has made good progress with his reading, but I know it isn't coming as quickly as with Liana because of Liana's grasp of the language. Adam will sound things out in a nonsense way, and assume it is a word. We have to really listen to him as he reads so he doesn't skip over those and to remind him that he's reading real live words that he probably knows, so to try again. Liana's mind can fill in the blanks with context, guessing word order, etc because of knowing how to SPEAK it so well. She'll often get away with only "really" having to read the first letter of the word to know that it must say since she's already familiar with an expression, phrase, etc. Adam still is learning all that, really, and so when he reads, he doesn't have the luxury of having the fluency to help him. Not sure if that makes sense. Still, his overall comprehension of a story is usually right on, so I'm not terribly worried yet. I ask him questions about everything he reads to make sure he "gets it." He might blow certain words here and there, but overall, he's got the picture. Still, Liana has blown past him in reading levels a while ago. Liana has read up through at least Week 32 (of 36 weeks) of her readers already here in little Week 8. We bought the next level of readers for her to work on when she's done. She loves books and good stories, and MUST know what happens next. She's got the reading bug, in other words. Yay!
Can't imagine life without our three. They've not been home very long, but they are just plain part of us. Some days are harder than others, but I sure wouldn't trade 'em for anything! I love hanging out with my kiddos and my hubby. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world than exactly where and what I'm doing right now! Life is good!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
True American Boy
Adam is officially an American boy.
Today, he asked us for a GameBoy.
Groan.
The word "Gameboy" has *never* passed our lips since he came home from UA, but he found one in a catalog. He sat and stared at that dumb "Gameboy" for the longest time, and at bedtime tonight, he asked for it again.
Ya know, I don't think I'd know a Gameboy if it was sitting right in front of me. I have absolutely no idea what they are. I know they are all the rage with boys his age, but I really have no clue. I barely know what a Nintendo is. We have one, so I *should* know what it is, but I have no idea how to turn it on, let alone play it. John's department, bigtime. I had an Atari 2600 as a girl... That's more my speed...
I told him he'll hafta wait til Papa's ship comes in. He had no clue what that meant. It's so funny hearing him try *so* hard to use Americanisms... they sorta flop on him. His favorite new phrase is "Howdy!" (Think "Woody" from "Toy Story,") The "Howdy!" is fine, but then he sometimes adds, "Howdy, Pardon!" Sorta gives himself away as being "not from these parts..."
Still, he wins the award as "True American Boy" today. Don't think they had "Gameboys" in Ukraine.
Today, he asked us for a GameBoy.
Groan.
The word "Gameboy" has *never* passed our lips since he came home from UA, but he found one in a catalog. He sat and stared at that dumb "Gameboy" for the longest time, and at bedtime tonight, he asked for it again.
Ya know, I don't think I'd know a Gameboy if it was sitting right in front of me. I have absolutely no idea what they are. I know they are all the rage with boys his age, but I really have no clue. I barely know what a Nintendo is. We have one, so I *should* know what it is, but I have no idea how to turn it on, let alone play it. John's department, bigtime. I had an Atari 2600 as a girl... That's more my speed...
I told him he'll hafta wait til Papa's ship comes in. He had no clue what that meant. It's so funny hearing him try *so* hard to use Americanisms... they sorta flop on him. His favorite new phrase is "Howdy!" (Think "Woody" from "Toy Story,") The "Howdy!" is fine, but then he sometimes adds, "Howdy, Pardon!" Sorta gives himself away as being "not from these parts..."
Still, he wins the award as "True American Boy" today. Don't think they had "Gameboys" in Ukraine.
Aleksa's Map
We've been learning about the Vikings in school (as in Scandinavians, not football). We've been reading Viking stories, learning about how they went raiding, how they lived, what they ate, beliefs, etc.
The other day I had them each color a map of the Scandinavian countries, and even had Leksa do it. She loves maps. (After my own heart, I'm tellin' ya!) After she colored in the countries we were talking about, she asked if she could label some of the other countries she knew. Like I was going to discourage that! The results were too adorable not to share...
If you can't quite read it, click on the map to enlarge it, but the labels say: Frans, Jrmne (with a backwards J; oops!), Itle, Gres, Polind, Ukran, Iyrlnd. That's France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Poland, Ukraine and Ireland. Don't think I coulda done so well at the tender age of 6!
Had to share my proud Mama moment. :O)
The other day I had them each color a map of the Scandinavian countries, and even had Leksa do it. She loves maps. (After my own heart, I'm tellin' ya!) After she colored in the countries we were talking about, she asked if she could label some of the other countries she knew. Like I was going to discourage that! The results were too adorable not to share...
If you can't quite read it, click on the map to enlarge it, but the labels say: Frans, Jrmne (with a backwards J; oops!), Itle, Gres, Polind, Ukran, Iyrlnd. That's France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Poland, Ukraine and Ireland. Don't think I coulda done so well at the tender age of 6!
Had to share my proud Mama moment. :O)
Monday, October 09, 2006
Columbus Day/Insecurity
*edited 10/11 so if my blog/email addy is ever shared, there won't be a problem, kwim?*
I love Columbus Day. Well, I don't really get into the "Columbus" part, but I sure love makin' apple pies! We made a big ol' mess in the kitchen, so I guess it was a success! ;O) I had planned on grocery shopping tonight, but I'm zonked. T'morrow.
Had an Exhibit A example of insecurity today with Liana.
Adam had decided on his own to go through the house and empty the wastepaper baskets, and take the garbage out. When I noticed what he was doing, I made a BIG deal to him about how great it was to take initiative, etc., and that he was being a responsible young man, etc., etc., etc. Well, Liana bee-lined to the kitchen, grabbed a trash bag, and ran to the garage. In a matter of seconds she had pushed him out of the way of the garbage can, and KICKED him to keep him away from her so she could put the garbage bag in the can and not Adam.
See, I had praised Adam, and well, she wanted that praise. So, she was going to do anything it took for her to get it. We had a long talk about how I will always love her and blah, blah, blah. It took a LOT of questions to get her to come to the same conclusions I wanted her to go. I held her for a long time as we talked, and finally, she "got it." Well, she did for today anyway. She's been an angel, and completely giddy-happy since then. Can never reassure these kiddos enough that we love them and are proud of them, etc., etc.
How did this post go from pies to all that? I'm such a rambler!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, btw, to Marnie (er, Dancing Princess), to Kate and any other Canadian friends I might have out there!
I love Columbus Day. Well, I don't really get into the "Columbus" part, but I sure love makin' apple pies! We made a big ol' mess in the kitchen, so I guess it was a success! ;O) I had planned on grocery shopping tonight, but I'm zonked. T'morrow.
Had an Exhibit A example of insecurity today with Liana.
Adam had decided on his own to go through the house and empty the wastepaper baskets, and take the garbage out. When I noticed what he was doing, I made a BIG deal to him about how great it was to take initiative, etc., and that he was being a responsible young man, etc., etc., etc. Well, Liana bee-lined to the kitchen, grabbed a trash bag, and ran to the garage. In a matter of seconds she had pushed him out of the way of the garbage can, and KICKED him to keep him away from her so she could put the garbage bag in the can and not Adam.
See, I had praised Adam, and well, she wanted that praise. So, she was going to do anything it took for her to get it. We had a long talk about how I will always love her and blah, blah, blah. It took a LOT of questions to get her to come to the same conclusions I wanted her to go. I held her for a long time as we talked, and finally, she "got it." Well, she did for today anyway. She's been an angel, and completely giddy-happy since then. Can never reassure these kiddos enough that we love them and are proud of them, etc., etc.
How did this post go from pies to all that? I'm such a rambler!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, btw, to Marnie (er, Dancing Princess), to Kate and any other Canadian friends I might have out there!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Apples!
Yesterday we took a day trip "back home." (Hard to call it "home" up here quite yet. I was raised back there, plus our parents live there. Plus our old church, old friends, old familiar everythings...) Little homesick rabbit trail there. Sorry. *sniff*
Anyway, after "Cookin' Day" at my dad's house, we headed to a local orchard/apple stand and got some Fabulous apples for my yearly Columbus Day tradition of making apple pies. We also got some raw honey. I love these trips... Fall in southwest Wisconsin is stunning. We've got bluffs all around us, the Missisippi River, and gorgeous fall colors. Combine that with nice crisp air and sunshine, and it makes for the perfect kind of a day. And the apples! You just can't beat the crispness of an apple fresh-off-the-tree! I love a crunchy, tart apple.
On the way to the check-out, we thought it would be fun to get everyone a carameled apple. We let them each choose their own, and WOW, did their eyes bug out with excitement! As we were walking to the car, Liana said to me, "Mama! I think... I think there's an apple inside this!" LOL. "Yes, Liana, there is!" It's fun that there are still "new" things every now and then.
The kids loved them, except we sorta forgot that Leksa Lu doesn't have any front teeth except for two bottom front ones. But she doesn't have either tooth beside those two bottoms, and neither of her top fronts. She had an awful time. But, she enjoyed sucking the caramel off of it though! Fun day!
Anyway, after "Cookin' Day" at my dad's house, we headed to a local orchard/apple stand and got some Fabulous apples for my yearly Columbus Day tradition of making apple pies. We also got some raw honey. I love these trips... Fall in southwest Wisconsin is stunning. We've got bluffs all around us, the Missisippi River, and gorgeous fall colors. Combine that with nice crisp air and sunshine, and it makes for the perfect kind of a day. And the apples! You just can't beat the crispness of an apple fresh-off-the-tree! I love a crunchy, tart apple.
On the way to the check-out, we thought it would be fun to get everyone a carameled apple. We let them each choose their own, and WOW, did their eyes bug out with excitement! As we were walking to the car, Liana said to me, "Mama! I think... I think there's an apple inside this!" LOL. "Yes, Liana, there is!" It's fun that there are still "new" things every now and then.
The kids loved them, except we sorta forgot that Leksa Lu doesn't have any front teeth except for two bottom front ones. But she doesn't have either tooth beside those two bottoms, and neither of her top fronts. She had an awful time. But, she enjoyed sucking the caramel off of it though! Fun day!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Fun Morning
Had a good morning over here already. This morning was the first hard frost we've had for the season (at least that we've noticed anyway!) The kids were excited about the "Snow" and since that's what they thought it was, we had an early-morning impromptu science lesson, whereby we all went outside and investigated what it was. This turned into a full-fledged playtime when they decided to haul out their sleds from the garage and try out the hill in the yard. We have a nice-sized hill out front that the kids have been itching to sled down since we got here. Today was their chance, they decided.
So! While the rest of the neighbor kids filed onto the school bus, (boy were our kids glared at! lol!), our kids had a BLAST going up and down the hill...
And, since this was the first "snow day" of the year - (well, it wasn't snow, but you know what I mean), I made some of my stashed gourmet hot chocolate. (Anyone else an Ibarra chocolate lover?) Even got out my authentic Mexican molinillo frother and had a little cultural experience with the kids explaining how to froth up the chocolate, taught them a little Spanish song to sing while using the molinillo, gave a little "history of chocolate" lesson (hey, I was a Spanish minor, plus I am a woman. How could I not know the history of chocolate off the top of my head?!) We pretty much had a ball... all we were missing were the churros!
Don't know the joys of "real" hot chocolate? You can do homeschool with us today too! Do a Google search or check:
http://messycucina.blogspot.com/2006/02/el-molinillo.html http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/mexicanchocolate.htm
Have I mentioned how much I love homeschool? :O)
So! While the rest of the neighbor kids filed onto the school bus, (boy were our kids glared at! lol!), our kids had a BLAST going up and down the hill...
And, since this was the first "snow day" of the year - (well, it wasn't snow, but you know what I mean), I made some of my stashed gourmet hot chocolate. (Anyone else an Ibarra chocolate lover?) Even got out my authentic Mexican molinillo frother and had a little cultural experience with the kids explaining how to froth up the chocolate, taught them a little Spanish song to sing while using the molinillo, gave a little "history of chocolate" lesson (hey, I was a Spanish minor, plus I am a woman. How could I not know the history of chocolate off the top of my head?!) We pretty much had a ball... all we were missing were the churros!
Don't know the joys of "real" hot chocolate? You can do homeschool with us today too! Do a Google search or check:
http://messycucina.blogspot.com/2006/02/el-molinillo.html http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/mexicanchocolate.htm
Have I mentioned how much I love homeschool? :O)
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