Northern California Babies

Christmas POLL

I need some inspiration.  I feel like my kids have so many toys, etc and especially for Simon, what can I get him that would be special.  Plus I have a slow day at work today so I want to read these answers later.  So here goes:

1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each.

2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA!

3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  

4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past?

5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? 

6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?

 

The Boy Wonder 8/23/06 & The Famous Baby 6/1/10
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Re: Christmas POLL

  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each. This year it is a trip to Disneyland in February. Last he had a bunch (spoiled) kitchen, balance bike and scooter. Plus he had gotten lots of other toys right at the end of summer.

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA! NA

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  Yes, he wants a new jacket this year, otherwise I am lost.

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? We do this for DH's family and it has worked fine. Kind of sucks when people don't get you something you want but most years people do a good job. That sounds snobby but I hate having to buy others a 40-60 dollar gift (yep that is the range) only to get something I can't use, and can't return.

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? All of them!

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? I don't have one for Chirstmas, but for Thanksgiving it would be the whole spread of a turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing, salad, and green beans. Maybe this is why I cook Thanksgiving in my family, because I am so particular about it.

     

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  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each. I have no clue. Her bday is only 4 weeks later too! (but we're going to Dland for her bday so that may be her gift)

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA! n/a

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  sometimes. last year we kept it to $10 which was actually kind of fun. and i stuff his stocking.

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? love it. we do it with John's extended family (its a group of about 40 adults!) we keep the $$ range at $100 and I have mostly received great stuff.

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? all of them :)

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? Crab and cannolis.

     

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  • I need some inspiration.  I feel like my kids have so many toys, etc and especially for Simon, what can I get him that would be special.  Plus I have a slow day at work today so I want to read these answers later.  So here goes:

    1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each. He's getting a kitchen this year from Santa. DH & I are getting him a bunch of kitchen accesories, a ton of books, some Elmo slippers, pajamas and whatever else I end up buying between now and then. I keep hinting to Grandma that a plasma car would be a big hit.

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA! N/A

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  Depends on the year...usually we talk about it as the season approaches and decide if we want to do gifts, what our budget limit it or if we want to forego the year or do something together for the house/trip. This year we decided a $50 limit, just to buy each other something little and then in January we are going to get a new tv for the family room. ;)

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? I'm not a fan. That's because I love buying for everyone, lol. My list is short anyways (since it is only my side for Christmas). For Hannukah, we only buy for my ILs and the niece and nephews...and buying for the kids is fun and not too pricey.

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? Old school....Carol of the bells. Pop tune...All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah.

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? Sometimes I get it for Christmas, but usually for Thanksgiving....Cardoni. Mmmm...my favorite! Takes Mom two days to make it, but it is so worth it for a special treat.

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    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? Crab and cannolis.

    Mmmmm....cannolis!!! My Aunt makes them from scratch, but we never get them at Christmas because she says she's too busy doing everything else. =( She makes about 6 trays of lasagna and an endless amount of spidinis for Christmas Eve. Oh, and all the sauce for rigatoni. Plus, everything else that feeds about 40 that night. ;)

    You are welcome to stop by for lasagna, if I can drop over for cannolis!

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  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each.  I have no idea.  He has nothing on his list and I have no ideas since he doesn't really need anything right now.2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA!  NA3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  We usually keep it small for each other and will likely do a gift to share this year.4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past?  Before kids (between the two sides we now have 9 nieces and nephews), we did adults and we long ago started draw names situations.  Some years it was draw two names, other's one.  It was tricky -- leave the grandparents in or out?  how much money per gift?  We had a lot of success with Elfster (it will allow you to make sure no one draws their spouse for example), but we haven't done an adult gift exchange on either side in years.5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? Silent Night or something similar by Josh Groban.  Makes me teary every time.6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?  My late G'ma's raspberry punch.  It was Hawaiian punch, 7-up and a huge ring of frozen raspberries.  Yumm.  Oh and anise cookies decorated with royal icing.  
  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each. N/A yet. I'm anticipating getting a few things for the baby from other people though.

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2? N/A

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  Yes. DH is getting hockey tickets.

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? We do that for my friends' gifts. It works pretty well. We have a $20 limit on that. As for family, I guess eventually it may come down to that. It hasn't yet.

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? Bing Crosby Christmas in Killarney

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? Pumpkin Pie. My mom and I used to make it and we'd eat it on Christmas morning.
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  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each.

    No idea.  She doesn't need anything and w/ her b-day at the end of Oct we probably won't do a big gift this year.

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA!

    N/A

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  

    Yes, DH and I exchange gifts.  Not sure this year.  I was thinking new dirt bike boots but I'm on the fence about that. 

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past?

    We have a very small family so we've never done this. 

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? Elvis "Blue Christmas" 

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?  Pumpkin Pie!!  

     

    I wasn't much help in this poll. 

     

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    107 Read/listened to in 2011: 91 Books/16 Audiobooks
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  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each. A train set & dress up trunk with clothes. Last year she got a chair and a kitchen.

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If s o, what's your big gift for him?  Yes, and at first I was planning on getting us iPhones, but I dont think we can afford them right now. The Easter Bunny may bring them. Otherwise, he is getting a flat griddle.

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? I love it! My ILs do it, and we each pick one name, up to $100. I always feel pressured to spend that $100, so I am thinking we might want to limit it to $50 this year now there are 2 children.

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? I have lots! I love Little Drummer Boy, Mary Did you know?, I'll be home for Christmas, and Tender Tennessee Christmas. There are more but I won't list them all.

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? Honeybaked ham

  •  1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each. Some ideas that we have tossed around: telescope (mostly for A but it would be a joint gift), piano lessons (for A), trip to DL (joint gift). 

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2? My boys definitely have particular likes and dislikes. So I just cater to those things, for example before I could tell if they were all into a particular item like cars, music, etc--I would pick out things that were their favorite color: red slippers, blue jacket, new hats, shoes, etc. Now I know that one loves video games and anything Super Mario and the other is all about the planets and the solar system. 

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him? We haven't in a few years but I would love to surprise him with some new and fun gadget. He deserves a little something.

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? I'm all for it--in my family there are 5 kids (not including the spouses and now children). We had started the drawing names probably about 10 years ago when money was getting tighter and more family was spending Xmas with us. It was awesome! We also tweaked it over the years to be couple or everyone draw 2 names. We no longer do it as I just want the kids to have something for Xmas but I would not be opposed to going back to drawing names. It was and is still a great idea!! 

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? Too many to list but if I had to pick one today, it would White Christmas. 

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? Fresh and homemade dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls and TONS of Xmas cookies. 

  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each.

    Madison - A balance bike

    Hailey - I have no idea, but I don't think she'll notice either way ;)

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2? 

    I'm struggling with this too

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?

    We don't exchange presents

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past?

    We've always done this in my family - There are 30 of us and it would be insane to try to buy presents for everyone.  

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? 

    I love Christmas music way too much to pick just one.

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?

    Pumpkin Pie!

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  • 1)  Ryan:  Not sure.  He's into star wars and transformers so probably something from one of those lines.  Natalie:  Cozy Coupe

    2)  Natalie has a lot of hand me downs since baby toys tend to be gender neutral.  She got some girl toys for her birthday that she's grown into so that helps.  I just try to remember that even if it's not new...it's new to her.  Packing away some of the old toys helped.

    3) We used to - not sure what we'll do this year.  Keep it small I'm sure.

    4)  We started doing this in our family.  Since we only buy for one person, our limit is higher ($50) than it was when we bought for everyone.

    5) Oh Holy Night

    6) Sugar cookies.

     

    Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
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  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each.

    DS1 - a guitar

    DS2 - a gnome family and toadstool house

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA!

    They have very different interests, so that hasn't been a problem

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  

    So far that only thing I know I'm getting him is a subscription to the NYT.  How boring am I? :)

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past?

    We've never done that in my family.  We generally do gifts of a donation in a person's name.

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? 

    Bing Crosby and David Bowie's "Little Drummer Boy".  It's not Christmas until I've heard it.

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?

    My Great-great Aunt Mae's jello salad

  • Oh - Ryan's big gift this year will be a bike - his is WAY too small.  Anyone want a really cute dirtbike style 12" bike?  It's red and in GREAT condition.

    I also wanted to add that it's not Christmas for me without the trip to CUT DOWN a tree - despite what my grinchy husband says.   I also need to listen to Elvis Christmas. 

    Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
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  • 1. What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas? If you have more than 1 please tell for each. Bikes for both boys - big boy bike for DS1 and balance bike for DS2.

    2. If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2? I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs. Maybe a new potty seat. HA! We didn't get a balance bike for DS1 so it was easy this time, though I know we will struggle going forward.

    3. Do you exchange with DH? If so, what's your big gift for him? Yes we exchange gifts. Not sure what his big gift will be this year, but there was a groupon today for a custom bobble head and I bought it :-)

    4. How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing? We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea. Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? I think it's a great idea if you have a lot of people to buy for. We only have our parents and two siblings to buy for so we don't draw names.

    5. What's your favorite Christmas song? Drawing a blank

    6. What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? "Heart Attack Casserole" a super unhealthy super yummy strata with bread, eggs, cheese, sausage, bacon, butter....

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  • 1. Disneyland!  They will each get one gift from Santa and Stockings Christmas morning but this year is going to be a very different Christmas for us.  We are spending the night at the IL's.  I have NO CLUE what I am going to get them.  They both don't need anything and have their birthday's so close. 

    2.  That was much harder when Gavin was younger.  Now that he is a little older he has likes and wants of his own.  

    3. Nope we usually get something we want together or we pick what we want and get deals on black friday.  We make it easy on each other.  This year the trip is it for us.

    4.  I'm all about the name draw and really wish our family would get on board with that.

    5. Oh Holy Night

    6. Prime Rib and Garlic Mash potatoes.  YUM!

  • 1. What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas? If you have more than 1 please tell for each.

    Waldorf Playstand for both, silks for it. Bike for Cam and a ride thing for Jasp ( he has tons but this will be new to him ).  Autoblox trailer things for Cam.  Still brainstorming on gift ideas.

    2. If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?

    Don't worry about keeping it fresh during the year. But at Xmas really focus on getting him new stuff, even if he has something similar.  I have been just searching my typical websites etc too looking for fun new toys for the younger one. How about a plasma car ?

     3. Do you exchange with DH? If so, what's your big gift for him?

    The last year or two we have done a $ 100 limit on eachother and then stockings. So there will not be a major gift. Just a few things that he likes and usually we do eachothers stockings pretty good :)

     4. How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing? 

    Never done this but wish we would and i think i would love it !

    5. What's your favorite Christmas song?

     I'm old school, like bing crosby

    6. What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?

    granola. Just kidding !! honestly i don't have any, that makes me feel sad.

  • 1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each. Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair with his name on it. I just bought it a few weeks ago and he's getting it early because he loves sitting on everything like a chair while he plays and relaxes, but hates sitting up on the couch. Probably a few other things and that's going to be it. We are going to Disneyland a few weeks before.

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA! N/A

    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  Not that it is going to apply this year, but lat year yes. And we didn't do BIG gifts just a few smallish ones that are meaningful.

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? We did this and it worked out fine. This year we are changing it up. We have 2 generations that used to draw names, this year we split them up. My mom and her sisters and my cousins and I. My mom and Aunts decided not to exchange presents this year (except with their kids/parents), and my cousins and I decided we would among ourselves with a $25 limit per person. Its a much smaller group so it seems to be working out fine for all budgets

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? White Christmas (its my fave Christmas movie too) Bing Crosby makes me feel like Christmas.

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?  Cinnamon Roll ups. My grandma would take her left over pie crust cut it in strips, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and roll them up and bake them. They were always made special for me, she only baked pies at the holidays. Super easy, but I still love them.

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    6. What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?

    granola. Just kidding !! honestly i don't have any, that makes me feel sad.

    I LOVE YOU.

    And don't be sad about that- it's so much healthier that you DON'T associate food with good feelings.  I wish I didn't!  

    The Boy Wonder 8/23/06 & The Famous Baby 6/1/10
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  • These were fun to read, thanks to all those who responded.  Muah and MERRY CHRISTMAS...  66 days left!
    The Boy Wonder 8/23/06 & The Famous Baby 6/1/10
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  • I need some inspiration.? I feel like my kids have so many toys, etc and especially for Simon, what can I get him that would be special.? Plus I have a slow day at work today so I want to read these answers later.? So here goes: 1.? What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas? ? If you have more than 1 please tell for each. I'm seriously considering getting them each an iPod Touch or cheap Tablet. I'm tired of sharing mine! 2.? If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?? I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.? Maybe a new potty seat.? HA! I didn't really worry about it until this year when DS2 will be more aware at almost 3 years old. 3.? Do you exchange with DH?? If so, what's your big gift for him? ? I have no idea! He buys himself everything he wants and has no concept of delaying gratification till Christmas. Drives me crazy. I usually end up getting him several small things. 4.? How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?? We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.? Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past? My family does a theme every year, chosen at Thanksgiving, then do a Yankee Exchange at Christmas. The limit is around $20, we decide each year. I love it! It's always fun. For DH's family we buy for everyone, MIL&FIL, SIL&BIL, nephew, and DH's 2 grandmas. We do another Yankee Exchange with his large extended family (Dad's side), and nothing for his mom's side. 5.? What's your favorite Christmas song??Little Drummer Boy, Oh Holy Night, ... 6.? What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!? Christmas cookies!
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  • imagefricksgirl:

    I need some inspiration.  I feel like my kids have so many toys, etc and especially for Simon, what can I get him that would be special.  Plus I have a slow day at work today so I want to read these answers later.  So here goes:

    1.  What is your "big gift" for your DC going to be for Xmas?   If you have more than 1 please tell for each.

         I have zero idea.  What makes it even harder is A's bday is 6 weeks before Christmas and Coops' is 2 months afterwards.  For that reason my goal is to make their bdays the big deal and Christmas more little things.

       What we did last year (to address the 2 boys thing also) was 1 large joint gift (train table-Grandparents/Santa) and then other things were all about duplicates.They each got a wheelbarrow, rake and broom (DH&I/Santa) and then some little things like movies, playdough ect.  

    2.  If you have two, esp if they are the same sex, how do you keep it fresh for #2?  I feel bad but seriously, there's not much that he needs.  Maybe a new potty seat.  HA!

        My goal for Christmas is to do one large gift for as long as I can get away with itBig Smile.  Oh actually I remembered I do have an idea for this year......

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    3.  Do you exchange with DH?  If so, what's your big gift for him?  

          Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  If there are things we can think of that we need/want then yes but we definitely always go cheap.

    4.  How do you feel about the adults "draw names" kind of thing?  We are debating doing this in my family and I think it might be a good idea.  Has it yes or no worked out for you in the past?

         I think it should be mandatory in medium to large familes Big Smile.  Honestly I don't think adults "need" gifts and that it's totally a burden to most people to have to buy 10+ adults gifts.  It's wasted money, IMO, because so often it's things people don't need/want/like.

    5.  What's your favorite Christmas song? 

             I don't like Christmas music ::ducks head::::

    6.  What's your favorite all-time, reminds you of your childhood, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy holiday food?!?

      Homemade cranberry sauce.  Lots of memories of making it with my mom.  I seriously didn't even know that it came in cans until I was in collegeEmbarrassed

     

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