I love the questions throughout various stages of life. When are you getting married? So, when are you having kids? Are you going to have another one? Do you think you want one more? When all those are answered, there's "What do the girls want for their birthdays/Christmas?" Yup, it's the summer season so that means the birthday questions!
Rebecca got mostly clothes or craft stuff for her birthday - perfect for her. There were days before her birthday where I almost told her she would have to give every present back. She's very possessive and just likes to open things. And she's not at all grateful for all the things she has and it drives me bananas when she thinks its ok just to beg people for gifts. It's not. So if I send out a note before Christmas begging everyone to give Rebecca's gifts to charity, please know I only want what's best for my spoiled little brat. That said, her daddy got her a Nintendo DS and mommy did stock a bit of her wardrobe - but it was all basics and swimsuits!
Then there's Meredith. Chunky monkey has tons of clothes (no joke, I have 2 full wash baskets, 2 rows in the closet and another pile of summer stuff for her in 12-18Mo and I had to clear out most of the 6-12 month stuff). She's well stocked but for reference some of her 12-18Mo stuff is already just at fitting perfectly. Her winter wardrobe actually frightens me and I am contemplating a few days off from work to handle it. She does enjoy solving problems more than Beca did at this age and we have some things Beca enjoyed but not as many blocks, shape sorters, etc. And she LOVES books, especially board books with pictures. But what I really want for Meredith is to be able to get the bedding for her room so when the monkey figures out how to climb out of her crib this winter I have it ready. I picked out some adorable Pottery Barn Kids stuff (twin sizes in purples and greens - Brianna quilting and sheeting, or Katie quilting and sheeting which is the exact purple where I got the paint color for her room). She is already figuring out how to use her arms to lift herself up on the edge of the pack and play. Yes, monkey describes her well and I know I'll need her bedding a bit sooner than we did for Beca. Her biggest joy in life seems to be food and we like Harris Teeter, Target, and Fresh Market the best. I already know in life that I should just ask for what I want instead of letting folks guess.
I promise I have more and better things to post, many already started. I have lost one of the cables AND a card I need to download from one of the cameras. I also work and try to keep up with 500 different things. My grandmother told me getting used to the second one was the hardest and after that each additional one just fit in. I'm not willing to find out so the answer to "are you having another?" is "that is not in my plans at all". Loving the 2 little girls and their very amusing poodle right now so writing just hasn't been tops on the list, especially if we would like to wear clean clothes.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
quickly now, quickly
Instead of actually writing my own blog postings, I have taken to starting one and then getting side-tracked reading other blogs. Whatever. The days blow by so fast that I can't seem to catch my reflective breath and recall what I had to say that might have struck me as interesting. Today, I managed to get my hair cut (drastic difference), get the battery in my watch replaced finally so I do not feel like my wrist is naked, return some things I bought for Beca before Christmas that I found something I liked better but then never got back to the store to return it, and realize that I never sent a stack of thank you cards for the girls from Christmas that I forced Beca to write hers and never finished Meredith's portion plus the addressing and the stamping. Luckily, I have some 6 month pictures of Meredith as a reward for patience. And then looking at it, I am feeling completely overwhelmed at this being the 4th blog posting I've started and the other three are not finished, one of which cleans up from 2010, one for Meredith's 6 month stuff and one from our amazing ski vacation. Post this one, I will (I say this with the most wonderful Yoda voice in my head). Continue to feel inadequate to the standards I have set for myself, I will as well. But I won't actually work on any other blog postings tonight because, well, there's ice cream and bananas and other lovely toppings. And I can eat whatever I want. So I will take comfort that I did what I could do today and the rest is just crap that will get done when it has to. I think I might use the word "crap" on a regular basis as I used to use the word "Seriously". The thing that made me so beyond happy in the past week (besides spending time with my girls on vacation) was that I got a new faceplate for my pump so it actually works without me having to hold the plug in for it to work. Sad, really. And since you hung in on this random choo-choo thought train, I figured I'd reward with some pictures of the darling Meredith from Tonya Mae Photography.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Taco Tuesday
Tuesdays usually means tacos in our house. Some weeks Beca will change her mind and say "no". But then it only gets moved to Wednesdays. I've tried Thursdays but I usually get yelled at.
I've had a couple people ask for the seasoning we use because I'm always saying how good it is. Steve found a recipe and after several weeks of experimenting, came up with the following recipe.
Combine the following in a bowl, mixing well:
1 Tablespoon chilli powdere
3/4 teaspon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (which I go a little less on but Beca usually tells us that it isn't good)
Brown ground meat - we use the lean ground beef. Drain the meat and rinse with warm water - this step makes the meat so good! Return meat to the pan and sprinkle on the seasoning mix. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water and stir well. Cook on Medium-Low until water is absorbed. Enjoy with whatever taco necessities - ours are hard-shell, soft tortillas, cheese, lettuce, and salsa. I'm guessing it would be good on shredded chicken but we have yet to try it because arguing with the little princess over one more meal in a week. I'd rather just eat in peace.
I've had a couple people ask for the seasoning we use because I'm always saying how good it is. Steve found a recipe and after several weeks of experimenting, came up with the following recipe.
Combine the following in a bowl, mixing well:
1 Tablespoon chilli powdere
3/4 teaspon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (which I go a little less on but Beca usually tells us that it isn't good)
Brown ground meat - we use the lean ground beef. Drain the meat and rinse with warm water - this step makes the meat so good! Return meat to the pan and sprinkle on the seasoning mix. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water and stir well. Cook on Medium-Low until water is absorbed. Enjoy with whatever taco necessities - ours are hard-shell, soft tortillas, cheese, lettuce, and salsa. I'm guessing it would be good on shredded chicken but we have yet to try it because arguing with the little princess over one more meal in a week. I'd rather just eat in peace.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
200th post: a picture-palooza
I just realized this is post #200. A TV show gets weeks of commercials and some special guest cameos. I've got photos that are pretty darn amazing from December but that's all I can offer up. though some are extremely special. Like all my father's mother's grandchildren. Or my 5 generations with my mother, my mother's mother and my mother's mother's mother plus two sweet girls. Or this adorable happy face in this cute outfit just as she was outgrowing it:
After lunch, we packed up and drove the less than a mile from Lynn's house to Troy and Denise's house (my dad's youngest brother).
There are plenty more pictures for me to sort through. But there's also baskets of laundry, thank you cards, curtains, and other events for me to get ready for. I'll be back though.
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| Rebecca loves to hold Meredith - it actually gets to be the source of arguments because her request is often denied in lieu of the fact that she almost always asks when there is something else going on. |
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| Happy on Christmas Eve - Meredith loves to "fly" and Pop-pop is great for helping that. One of the best ways to get her laughing is to fly her and "drop" then fly again fast. Early on, she did not like it but now it fascinates her. |
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| Another grin from Happy - I think its because she had learned to complete the back to front roll over. She was soooo proud of herself all day. |
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| posing for pictures in front of Grandma's beautiful Christmas tree! (Grandma is my mother's mother). |
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| It's like Home Alone but joyful... |
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| with Santa's delivery all unwrapped - the princesses and princes had started arriving. |
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| Sisters, sisters - there were never such devoted sisters (at least until Meredith figures out this crawling thing)! |
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| LOVE IT WHEN THEY GIGGLE! |
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| Beca's present from Meredith was a Rapunzel Barbie with 17 inches of hair (that quickly got braided by Oma) and her "prince" Flynn Rider |
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| Wagner family at Lynn's for lunch on Christmas day |
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| 5 generations on Christmas Day - Mammy Anna Weller is 98, Grandma Sara Wagner is 76, Oma Dawn Leister is 52, Mommy Angela Cottle is 33, Rebecca Cottle is 5.5 years and Meredith Cottle is 5 months |
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| My cousins on my dad's mom's side. I'm the oldest, then Kristi (behind me), Kyle (Animal shirt), Ryan (next to Kyle), Brett (other side of Kristi), Sara (next to me), Jordan (back row red shirt), Blake (back row burgundy shirt), Dayna (opposite end of couch from me), Andrew (sitting on my lap), and Rachel (in the red shirt - she's 25 years younger than I am) - the last time we were able to have a picture like this, Andrew and Rachel weren't even born because it was at their parents' wedding. |
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| I think my Dad's mother (Mammy/Marie Hartman) would have loved this. It's all her kids, grand kids and great grand daughters (just my girls have that distinction), plus all the spouses, Denise's parents, and Marie's brother Carl (Maus) and his wife Arlene. |
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| Meredith and Utley were fascinated with each other - she couldn't grab fast enough because little dogs can MOVE! |
Friday, January 7, 2011
she's a reader
Back in December, I wrote this and never posted it:
The other night, Beca was working on homework and was getting a little silly. Instead of reading "put", she says "butt" and then giggled and says "I said butt - huhuhuh". It was a complete 5 year old Beavis and Butthead moment and Steve kept going "Uh-huh, uh-huh" off and on so I kept giggling about it, which made Beca laugh more. At least she was laughing reading Biscuit's Day at the Farm. Off and on, she'll point out more and more words in places other than her books and she keeps excitedly saying "I can read now!" That means I have to stop leaving my lists laying around.
The other night, Beca was working on homework and was getting a little silly. Instead of reading "put", she says "butt" and then giggled and says "I said butt - huhuhuh". It was a complete 5 year old Beavis and Butthead moment and Steve kept going "Uh-huh, uh-huh" off and on so I kept giggling about it, which made Beca laugh more. At least she was laughing reading Biscuit's Day at the Farm. Off and on, she'll point out more and more words in places other than her books and she keeps excitedly saying "I can read now!" That means I have to stop leaving my lists laying around.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Beca
Random stories that I've remembered to write down.
11/21/2010 - doing homework one night , she had to write 3 H words. She wanted to write 6. The first ones were horse, here and have so we were talking about silent "e" on the end. head and hair and then hat but she wanted to put an "e" on the end and I told her that would spell "hate". she said "I don't want to do that, it's mean. we should just leave it 'hat'".
11/30/2010 - Beca was getting ready for bed and suddenly said "Mom, if Meredith liked chocolate ice cream while she was in your tummy, do you think she'll like chocolate ice cream when she gets bigger?"
12/1/2010 - when Beca got completely bent out of shape about not being allowed to go outside, her Daddy asked her why she was so upset. Her response "that's just the way my life is".
11/21/2010 - doing homework one night , she had to write 3 H words. She wanted to write 6. The first ones were horse, here and have so we were talking about silent "e" on the end. head and hair and then hat but she wanted to put an "e" on the end and I told her that would spell "hate". she said "I don't want to do that, it's mean. we should just leave it 'hat'".
11/30/2010 - Beca was getting ready for bed and suddenly said "Mom, if Meredith liked chocolate ice cream while she was in your tummy, do you think she'll like chocolate ice cream when she gets bigger?"
12/1/2010 - when Beca got completely bent out of shape about not being allowed to go outside, her Daddy asked her why she was so upset. Her response "that's just the way my life is".
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sweets Bubbles
I think I was waiting for a picture to put this up but as the camera still sits by, I might as well just post it and then go back later for the picture.
Meredith figured out how to roll from her front to back already. Last weekend, she did it during tummy time. She has tried several times in her crib but gets too close to the side. Then Monday morning, she woke up early and was making her "just come get me" whine. And when I came in and turned on the light and looked over the edge of the crib, she looked up at me and gave me her big open mouth grin (which is nearly impossible to get in a picture!). She was sooo proud of her self. She's not even 4 months so how did she do it? Probably because we are bad parents and don't listen to the "put your baby on their back". And guess what? Meredith actually sleeps. She's found her fingers and thumbs. The fingers are the same two on her left hand that Beca sucks. But then she changes it up and gets her left thumb in her mouth and then wants to flip her head to the other side and need to suck on her right thumb. Maybe she'll settle on one of those things. Maybe not. But with her fingers and thumbs, we were able to stop swaddling, put her on her belly and just let her sleep. Steve gets her home and i usually have about 15 minutes to play with her or let Beca chat with her. Sometimes it isn't even 15 minutes because she's starting to fall apart. Then its all-smiles for bath time, while she kicks the water and splashes and giggles. She loves it! Then as soon as she's wrapped up in her towel, she starts this "ACK" noise off and on which just gets more pitched as she gets dressed. As soon as her arms are in her pj's, she's ready to eat and gets mad. Then she eats and goes to sleep. Generally before 6pm. And she gets fed while sleeping about 10:30pm and then doesn't really wake up until 6am, except when she's having a growth spurt or practicing her rolling over. UPDATE - This week has been 3-4 am waking up. I'm going to miss this schedule once she decides it doesn't work. But I'm going to enjoy seeing her a little more too.
I keep forgetting to talk about her adorable chubby legs. Beca had these skinny limbs with almost no rolls to them but Meredith has these fantastic chubby, rolly-polly legs. so cute!
All of us call her "Bubbles" because she always has bubbles around her mouth and is very happy with that. I call her "sweets" sometimes because she's soooo darn sweet and I could just eat her up like a bowl of sugar! We are so very lucky that she is such a good baby!
Meredith figured out how to roll from her front to back already. Last weekend, she did it during tummy time. She has tried several times in her crib but gets too close to the side. Then Monday morning, she woke up early and was making her "just come get me" whine. And when I came in and turned on the light and looked over the edge of the crib, she looked up at me and gave me her big open mouth grin (which is nearly impossible to get in a picture!). She was sooo proud of her self. She's not even 4 months so how did she do it? Probably because we are bad parents and don't listen to the "put your baby on their back". And guess what? Meredith actually sleeps. She's found her fingers and thumbs. The fingers are the same two on her left hand that Beca sucks. But then she changes it up and gets her left thumb in her mouth and then wants to flip her head to the other side and need to suck on her right thumb. Maybe she'll settle on one of those things. Maybe not. But with her fingers and thumbs, we were able to stop swaddling, put her on her belly and just let her sleep. Steve gets her home and i usually have about 15 minutes to play with her or let Beca chat with her. Sometimes it isn't even 15 minutes because she's starting to fall apart. Then its all-smiles for bath time, while she kicks the water and splashes and giggles. She loves it! Then as soon as she's wrapped up in her towel, she starts this "ACK" noise off and on which just gets more pitched as she gets dressed. As soon as her arms are in her pj's, she's ready to eat and gets mad. Then she eats and goes to sleep. Generally before 6pm. And she gets fed while sleeping about 10:30pm and then doesn't really wake up until 6am, except when she's having a growth spurt or practicing her rolling over. UPDATE - This week has been 3-4 am waking up. I'm going to miss this schedule once she decides it doesn't work. But I'm going to enjoy seeing her a little more too.
I keep forgetting to talk about her adorable chubby legs. Beca had these skinny limbs with almost no rolls to them but Meredith has these fantastic chubby, rolly-polly legs. so cute!
All of us call her "Bubbles" because she always has bubbles around her mouth and is very happy with that. I call her "sweets" sometimes because she's soooo darn sweet and I could just eat her up like a bowl of sugar! We are so very lucky that she is such a good baby!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The adults have wishes too...
Yeah, so we need nothing. Our wants aren't cheap any more. Our daily loves are fulfilled with the grins and giggles of two little girls.
Steve would most like World of Warcraft financial assistance to support his habit (which apparently could also support Make A Wish for purchasing particular pets). Also more Starbucks, Best Buy or iTunes, all to further support other habits. Maybe REI as well. We will need some additional winter gear for a ski trip and I'm sure he wants more toe socks for his five finger shoes (like a glove for your foot).
I'm all for more iTunes and McDonalds. Yeah, the sweet tea is a requirement for Meredith and I to each have a good day. Land's End, REI, Ann Taylor are all good too. I know it's vague but I am honestly so exhausted lately that I can never think of what I want except when I'm in the car and hear a song that i want from iTunes. (aside - I know I have said that Meredith sleeps but that doesn't necessarily mean that I do, especially since I'm the one that wakes up for every little fuss that she has).
And Target for the whole family. We're a Target house.
Steve would most like World of Warcraft financial assistance to support his habit (which apparently could also support Make A Wish for purchasing particular pets). Also more Starbucks, Best Buy or iTunes, all to further support other habits. Maybe REI as well. We will need some additional winter gear for a ski trip and I'm sure he wants more toe socks for his five finger shoes (like a glove for your foot).
I'm all for more iTunes and McDonalds. Yeah, the sweet tea is a requirement for Meredith and I to each have a good day. Land's End, REI, Ann Taylor are all good too. I know it's vague but I am honestly so exhausted lately that I can never think of what I want except when I'm in the car and hear a song that i want from iTunes. (aside - I know I have said that Meredith sleeps but that doesn't necessarily mean that I do, especially since I'm the one that wakes up for every little fuss that she has).
And Target for the whole family. We're a Target house.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Baby Meredith's wishes
Her existing stack of toys is large, as is her extensive wardrobe. She is now in 3-6 months and they fit her well after the latest round or growing. So 6-9 winter stuff will be in order sooner than later. We have a lot of great hand-me-downs of both the clothes and toys. Our only big thing that we will need next summer is a big car seat. I want the cow print Britax one.
What we really need are diapers and wipes. I know that sounds so basic but she's already in size 2 diapers (Pampers Swaddlers fit really well) and that's honestly what we actually need/want for her. She'll smile greatly about those too as she does not really like to be wet or dirty.
What we would also love to have is contributions for her college fund. Those would be good gifts right now or donations to charities focusing on children.
I still haven't hung anything in her room except her name. She doesn't seem worried about it so I won't either.
Meredith is greatly amused by people and things moving at this point. Things that crinkle in her hand and things that she can get to her mouth, although she doesn't quite know what to do with it once it is in her mouth. She'll just grin at you and be happy that someone is talking to her so don't worry about things for her!
So while her current goal of world peace isn't actually attainable, just a little snuggle with her may bring you some holiday peace. So please just visit! (Call/email first, of course)
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat... (Beca's wish list)
Please to put the penny in the old man's hat...
Beca went through a lot this summer - presents pretty much the end of May through August - for weddings, birthdays, starting school, becoming/being a big sister. She said recently "when am I going to get more presents?" Steve and I talked with her about being greedy. It did not sink in. But we also reminded her that Christmas was coming up. So, for all those wondering and those who have already asked, here's the list of things Beca would enjoy. I know I did not say things she asked for. Most of the actual list is specific Barbies that don't exist, like Batman and Spider-man Barbies for when the boys come over, even though the boys just sniff out Steve's Nerf gun collection and drool. "but Mommy, Santa's elves will just make it." or the Disney princesses and princes that are hanging out in the elves crawlspace already. just saying. so, here it is...
1) Books - miss thing is getting so close to reading. She loves chapter books that I can read to her (we're working on The Secret Garden right now). But she very much enjoys books she can work on herself so more of the early readers are good. She especially wants more of the Sleeping Bear Press Books (the Alphabet books like "P is for Princess") and anything in the Pinkalicious series, except "Pinkalicious" and "Goldilicious" which she has. She's all about collecting more. I'm listing what we have at the bottom of the blog page (not this posting but the actual blog).
2) puzzles - 100 piece puzzles are starting to be easy for her.
3) games - so far, we have Trouble, Boggle Jr, Scrabble Jr., Memory games (Princess, Dora & Toy Story 3) Pardon My Pixie Dust, Silly Switch (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), Cootie, Tinkerbell card games, UNO (Princess and the Original Toy Story), Toy Story 3 Yahtzee Jr, Toy Story 3 Buckaroo, Chutes & Ladders
4) Legos - she has one small house set but wants to be able to build so much more.
5) Barbies - although I mentioned it in the beginning as being something that doesn't exits, I meant that the specific ones she asks for are non-existent, except the ones already in the available queue. She loves her Barbie stuff. But she's full up on the Disney princesses Barbies.
6) Strawberry Shortcake - anything.
7) Coloring books, Activity books, workbooks, etc. Also, she would love to have the Brain Quest packs for anything above 4-5. She was able to finish that pack entirely on a bus ride between Orlando and Port Canaveral.
8) Craft/Art projects
9) Tinkerbell and the fairies - she loves the movies (which we have).
10) Larger dress up things - most of Beca's costumes are size 6 or smaller. She's much closer to a 7 now.
11) Contributions for the college fund. she's going to need it.
12) I forgot a biggie in my original posting - she asked for a 2 wheeled Razor scooter in either pink or purple. A used one (not too beat up) would be fine because I'm pretty sure she'll try it once and be apprehensive for a while before actually using it.
13) Rapunzel from Tangled is now being requested.
Beca went through a lot this summer - presents pretty much the end of May through August - for weddings, birthdays, starting school, becoming/being a big sister. She said recently "when am I going to get more presents?" Steve and I talked with her about being greedy. It did not sink in. But we also reminded her that Christmas was coming up. So, for all those wondering and those who have already asked, here's the list of things Beca would enjoy. I know I did not say things she asked for. Most of the actual list is specific Barbies that don't exist, like Batman and Spider-man Barbies for when the boys come over, even though the boys just sniff out Steve's Nerf gun collection and drool. "but Mommy, Santa's elves will just make it." or the Disney princesses and princes that are hanging out in the elves crawlspace already. just saying. so, here it is...
1) Books - miss thing is getting so close to reading. She loves chapter books that I can read to her (we're working on The Secret Garden right now). But she very much enjoys books she can work on herself so more of the early readers are good. She especially wants more of the Sleeping Bear Press Books (the Alphabet books like "P is for Princess") and anything in the Pinkalicious series, except "Pinkalicious" and "Goldilicious" which she has. She's all about collecting more. I'm listing what we have at the bottom of the blog page (not this posting but the actual blog).
2) puzzles - 100 piece puzzles are starting to be easy for her.
3) games - so far, we have Trouble, Boggle Jr, Scrabble Jr., Memory games (Princess, Dora & Toy Story 3) Pardon My Pixie Dust, Silly Switch (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), Cootie, Tinkerbell card games, UNO (Princess and the Original Toy Story), Toy Story 3 Yahtzee Jr, Toy Story 3 Buckaroo, Chutes & Ladders
4) Legos - she has one small house set but wants to be able to build so much more.
5) Barbies - although I mentioned it in the beginning as being something that doesn't exits, I meant that the specific ones she asks for are non-existent, except the ones already in the available queue. She loves her Barbie stuff. But she's full up on the Disney princesses Barbies.
6) Strawberry Shortcake - anything.
7) Coloring books, Activity books, workbooks, etc. Also, she would love to have the Brain Quest packs for anything above 4-5. She was able to finish that pack entirely on a bus ride between Orlando and Port Canaveral.
8) Craft/Art projects
9) Tinkerbell and the fairies - she loves the movies (which we have).
10) Larger dress up things - most of Beca's costumes are size 6 or smaller. She's much closer to a 7 now.
11) Contributions for the college fund. she's going to need it.
12) I forgot a biggie in my original posting - she asked for a 2 wheeled Razor scooter in either pink or purple. A used one (not too beat up) would be fine because I'm pretty sure she'll try it once and be apprehensive for a while before actually using it.
13) Rapunzel from Tangled is now being requested.
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