family vacation

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St. George for Spring Break Part II

3.26.2022

The sun came out to play after our rainy exploration of the ghost town. So we went out to play too! We rounded out our second evening at the pickleball courts. I'd never played before. But we had a lot of fun! I can totally see us playing all summer long together.

On the morning of our third day, we headed out to the Warner Valley Dinosaur Track site to see some real life dinosaur prints. It really does blow my mind that these are REAL tracks. It was a windy day, but we were protected from the gusts down below where we were, so we took our time hiking around and killing some time in the sunshine. Afterwards, we explored the 19th century Fort Pearce.

Ezra was so thrilled with himself for making it to the top (with help, of course)!

That afternoon, we struck out at three different restaurants for lunch; they were all closed! It was the strangest thing. Then we went swimming at the Washington City Community Center pool. Conrad's favorite part was the slide that went outside the walls! It felt extra fast this trip too. It took Ezra a solid 90 minutes to warm up to the waterpark, but once he did, he was a belly flopping laughing fish!

When we were all dried off, the kids climbed the rock wall and played some air hockey. Suddenly, Levi's face went white and he said he didn't feel good. Then he threw up in the gutter right outside the front door of the community center. If I had to choose one kid to get sick on a vacation, it would definitely be Levi. He's a tough kid who doesn't want any attention and will push on regardless of how he's feeling! Levi threw up once more out of the truck window. But he was game for some sodas and a trip to Pioneer Park. So that's what we did. Pioneer Park is one of my favorite places to hike around! There are so many nooks and crannies hidden amid the red rock.

That night, I didn't feel good either! I went to bed early and tried my hardest not to throw up. Lol. It was a legit bug that stayed with me for a few days. So Tuesday morning, Bron and I decided to call it a trip and head home a day early.

But first, Bron took Jed and Levi on one final bike ride down Deadringer, Goosebumps, and Kryptonic. It was a super windy ride!

Then it was off to the park to make one final dream come true for three boys: renting an electric scooter! Jed, Levi, and Conrad took turns riding laps around the park while I tried to feel better by soaking up the sunshine.

Finally, we ended the trip on a high note with Nielsen's Frozen Custard. Delicious!

Until next time, St. George! You're always good to us.

3.25.2022

When Bron and I arrived home from our trip to Mexico, it become obvious that Jed and Levi were a bit jealous and ready for their own fun and adventure. So we booked a last minute place to stay in St. George, Utah for a long weekend getaway full of hiking, biking, and swimming. Honestly, we could have stayed home and done many of the same things and had just as good a time. Perhaps we will do that some day, but this year, it meant a lot to the big boys to do a little traveling.

Are you ready to read all about our family's vacation ups and downs? Read on because the hills were high and the valleys low. Balance, I guess. I prefer to remember the highlights through pictures though.

We packed up the truck to begin our spring break adventure late Friday afternoon and arrived in Nephi, Utah a little after midnight. The six of us squeezed into one budget hotel room for the night. Jed, Levi, and Conrad slept in one queen sized bed while Bron and I attempted to sleep with Ezra in the other. I didn't bring the pack 'n play because I did not think there would be enough room in the camper trailer we rented. That was a mistake. Ezra had napped a few hours in the truck and would not go to sleep! Sitting up between us, he would gently touch my back and my face. Then he'd touch Bron. And then back to me again. We hardly slept that night. But I was awoken by five firm long kisses to my lips from Ezra, so that was nice!

8.18.2019

By Wednesday evening, after Grandma and Grandpa Nelson had gone home, Bron and I weren't ready to be done vacationing! We were having too much fun exploring with our boys. Then we had this idea. Since we were so close to Glacier National Park, we should drive up there for a night and show the boys one of our favorite places. After all, it had been on our wish list to take them there since Bron and I visited five years ago! So that's how we spontaneously extended our family vacation. Worth it!

We miraculously pulled straight into a parking spot late Thursday afternoon in Glacier National Park and took the boys on the short hike to Avalanche Lake. But first, to see the Cedars Trail.

8.16.2019

Tuesday was a bit more low key as we set out to explore a few of Coeur d'Alene's downtown highlights at the kids' pace.

First on the list was to hike Tubbs' Hill! We didn't finish the hike. Instead, we pulled off at a beachy spot and the boys enjoyed playing in the water! I didn't think to wear swimsuits or bring our towels. (Actually, I wasn't thinking at all. I was just surviving with my sore throat!) But we all had a blast anyway. I didn't talk much, but I sure did enjoy myself. Hanging out at the water's edge in the sunshine and watching my boys happily play is a day in heaven in my book!

8.11.2019

We just arrived home from an epic family vacation to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho -- and a last minute extension to Glacier National Park! Something about vacations makes me want to simplify my life so that my real life can feel more like this: time together. We saw so many incredibly beautiful places and went on some adventures that I know the boys (and me too!) will be talking about for a long time. These family vacations feel so special to me. And this one went so smoothly with the kids.

We arrived in Coeur d'Alene the evening of Saturday August 3rd. It just happened to be Levi's actual birthday! (We celebrated with chocolate cupcakes from the store.) We checked in to our cute three bedroom Airbnb located in an older neighborhood among some tall trees. That little home made our stay so much more comfortable! I mean, I was doing a load of laundry after our first day. The boys are always getting their clothes so filthy. I love that we had a separate bedroom from the kids and that there was a full kitchen. Plus, the boys' room had toys and the front room was loaded with family friendly movies. It was great!

But it gets better. The rental was just a short bike ride from Ross' Point, a little park on the river! That was our first stop Sunday morning as we ventured out to explore for the day.

4.11.2019

Can playing in the sunshine all day with my boys be my real life, please? I know! I'll just hire a maid and make sure I {mostly} keep up on the laundry and dishes. Also, forget things like piano lessons and baseball and the kids' education. Okay. So it really wouldn't work out as well as I'd like, but it's a good idea! Maybe that's why vacations feel so amazing.

We did so much during our time in St. George that it's all becoming a big blur. I carted my camera around to most of our adventures but wound up leaving it at the townhouse the last couple of days. I suppose camera burn out set in and living right smack in the middle of the moment won out!

Memories Not Pictured:

:: The morning we fed ducks half a loaf of bread at the park. Conrad thought it was the coolest thing! He was lucky though; there was one lone goose there who snipped a piece of bread right from his fingers, without scraping said little fingers!

:: The afternoon spent at the Washington City Rec Center pool! Jed floated his way around the lazy river until he turned into a raisin. Levi was determined to stop all three water geisers at once on the playground. (Lol!) And Conrad wouldn't stop raving about the dump bucket. "Bucket!" he exclaimed over and over in his excited little voice. He rode on my lap down the fast three story hydro tube at least a dozen times and begged for more. I think Conrad might have had a died and went to heaven afternoon there in that pool. Our water baby was so happy!

:: The afternoon the boys and I struggled and then finally succeeded in finding a battery powered scooter belonging to the city to ride! I paid to rent time on it through an app and they took turns riding around the city block while Conrad ran through the splash pad in his pull-up. He had goosebumps but didn't care a bit!

:: Nielson's Custard! It was overpriced and delicious. Worth it.

:: A couple of pit-stops at the gas station for a refreshing ICEE. I love seeing all three boys in the back seat with those big plastic cups and even bigger smiles... stained blue, of course. Haha.

:: Visiting Uncle Dustin and Aunt Cami for a couple hours at their home one evening. It was so good to see them! Those Nelsons are really good and fun people.

:: Other visits to parks and the neighborhood swimming pool. We were enjoying the hot tub one evening with our friends, the Raigers. It was about 9pm and Conrad had only caught a 20 minute nap that day in the car. He was tired! He actually begged to go to bed. "Naaap. Bed," he requested. It was the most pathetic thing I have ever heard. And so I wrapped him up and walked him home. He was sleeping peacefully in bed within ten minutes.

4.08.2019

We spent an entire day of our trip touring Snow Canyon. I thought the state park would feel more remote, but instead it looked and felt more like a national park with a main road and a map highlighting all its unique treasures. I'm pretty sure that if Zion's wasn't so close in proximity, Snow Canyon would be a national park because the scenery was just incredible. The park is certainly deserving of that status.

We began our day's adventures by exploring the Petrified Sand Dunes. There wasn't really a trail. Instead, rolling mounds of petrified Navajo Sandstone allowed us to hike all over. The (leading) lines and curves of the stone made it a photographer's dream. We even found some puddles that Conrad was dying to jump into. Levi, however, excitedly found some small living creatures swimming around in the water.

Jed is afraid of heights; always has been. He said he felt tricked when we ascended the first big hill without him -- promising to come back around to pick him up, of course. So Bron put Jed in charge of our hike. It was Jed's job to lead us around the dunes. And lead us he did... right to the very top of the biggest dune with the most incredible view of the park! We were so proud of Jed. Not many people there that day had the tenacity to scale that giant hill. Plus, Jed didn't bat an eye at the height. The five of us sat atop to eat a snack and take in the stunning landscape.

Then, of course, we had to march down with a very tired toddler. I carried Conrad on my hip because all he wanted was me. But three quarters of the way down, my arm became sore. So Conrad got to hold onto both Bron and my hands and swing his way to the bottom between us. Lucky duck!

4.05.2019

We had so much fun with the kids in St. George over Spring break last year that we decided to do it again. (Pssst. I think we did it even better this year! No one threw up and I didn't have to change a gazillion bed sheets, so that's definitely a win.) The warm sunshine of southern Utah did not disappoint. In fact, please notice how often my sun-starved boys laid on the rocks like lizards to soak it up! We couldn't have asked for better weather for playing and exploring. There is so much to do in the St. George area. I feel like we could visit every year for a decade or more and never get to it all. We had so much fun. We did a variation of hiking, biking, swimming, and eating of ice cream every single day; AKA Nelson Heaven. It was hard to come home! It was wonderful to be able to leave all of the chores, responsibilities, and gray gusty skies behind for a carefree week of quality time with my loves. I am honestly one lucky and spoiled girl. I'm feeling so much gratitude for this special week.

Also, just to be clear, there were times during this trip when Bron and I would look and each other and ask, "Why did we bring them along, again?" Vacationing with kids still requires parenting. Kids can be such turds. They whined and fought and didn't listen at times. So in turn, Bron and I would get frustrated, stressed, and sometimes yell. Yup. You name the emotion and it probably happened somewhere along the line. So yeah, I'm pretty sure that makes us a normal family.

Now on to the pictures, details, and stories!

8.20.2018

This epic road trip to So Cal to visit my dad and family had been in the making for months. It was going to be a family reunion between my brother Joe and sister Lauren (who wound up not making it after all. Sad!) and me and our families to celebrate our dad turning the big 6-0. I was so excited to go, but very apprehensive about the long drive down and back with a one and a half year old. Not to mention all the other inconveniences a young toddler makes on a family. It was a real source of stress... until I finally asked my sister-in-law, DeAnn, if she'd be willing to let Conrad tag along with her crew for a week. Thankfully, she said yes, and I will always be so grateful for her help. She took great tender care of our little man. It allowed for Bron and I to make some meaningful memories with our big boys. I suspect they will be talking about this trip for years!

After spending a day at the happiest place on earth, we spent the rest of the weekend simply just hanging out with my dad and his family, my brother Joe, and the dogs. It was perfect and exactly what I was hoping for.

We spent a day playing in the bay. Jed and Levi even got to go on a long dinghy ride exclusively with Commander. We pitched a shade, ate lunch, stuck our toes in the sand, and swam in the ocean water.

4.03.2018

Click to see Spring Break in St. George: Part I.

Continuing on with our Spring Break highlight reel...

Zion's National Park will forever hold a special place in my heart. The sights are just unreal in their unique gorgeousness, the hikes are adventurous and fun, and it's the location of some great memories made with Bron and during some extended family reunions. Unfortunately, we waited in line to enter Zion's National Park for 90 minutes with a 16 month old. In one word, it was torture. I have never in my life seen that place so packed with people! I guess Spring Break is not the time to visit. It was actually disappointing because, for me, the crowds took away from the sheer grandeur of the place. Jed and Levi weren't impressed either. Oh well. Just another one of those parenting flops. You know, the ones where you are so excited to show your child this awesome thing but the experience falls flat on its face. Yeah, that's pretty much what happened in Zion's on Sunday. (See Spring Break Un-Adventure #14.) But we made the best of our day there anyhow, tackling the Emerald Pools hike with the boys and enjoying a long picnic lunch.

4.02.2018

Spring Break!!! I'd only been counting down the days for weeks. A trip to the sunshine with only play and exploration with my boys on the agenda just could not come soon enough! And it was such a blast.

Last year, on our couples trip to St. George, Utah, Bron and I determined that we wanted to take our boys down there during Spring Break 2018. We knew they'd enjoy swimming and exploring and possibly even biking around the unique red rock. The idea sounded so fun! Reality, however, proved to be a mixed bag. If I'm being honest, our week long family vacation in St. George had its fair share of stress and crazy and a few heated words, but ultimately, I think fun and good memories won out. I mean, I'd totally do it again! Above all, the sunshine just felt good.

So to keep things real and make sure I didn't forget what traveling with three little boys was really like, I kept an ongoing list on my phone of our daily "un-adventrues" in St. George, Utah.

Daily Un-Adventures to Remember While Vacationing with Kids:

1. Conrad screamed for an entire hour straight on our drive just because he was angry about being strapped into his car seat. He would not be deterred by any amount of food or toys. He was simply just plain pissed. So we turned up the radio.

2. I swore Conrad was going to fall to his death because his little head and body could fit through the railing outside our second story condo we rented. Bummer. It meant that when we were outside on the patio, I couldn't relax. It also meant that the doors had to remain closed at all times when we were inside the condo = no fresh Spring breeze!

3. I insisted on bringing a baby gate to keep Conrad out of the kitchen. I also brought his booster seat for eating, or to basically keep him from toppling off the chair and onto the tile. Third time mom instincts are da bomb! Bringing those extra items really made our lives in the condo ten times easier.

4. Tyke didn't come on vacation with us. It meant I was the one who had to clean up all the leftover food droppings around Conrad's seat. I really missed the dog!

5. Levi threw up three times our first night there. He soiled three beds. The good news is that there were two sets of bunk beds in the bedroom he and Jed were sharing, so Levi just moved from one bed to the next throughout the night. The other sweet silver lining is that there was a washer and dryer inside the condo with a Costco sized container of laundry soap.

6. Another night, Jed threw up twice and took out two beds! You guys, one of my least favorite jobs is putting sheets on bunk beds and I did it so many times while on vacation. Ugh.

7. While I left the boys alone to change into my swimming suit, Jed and Levi began wrestling. Jed split the skin on his forehead clean open just above his eye. Bron "fixed" it with super glue and a butterfly bandage.

8. We kept wondering why the air conditioning wouldn't stay on. Oh, it's because every time Levi ran down the hallway, he twisted the Nest thermometer! Little stink.

9. One of our older sons had a poop accident at the park.

10. Conrad was cutting not one, not two, but THREE teeth! No wonder he was cranky.

11. The chant heard on repeat by Jed and Levi: "I farted. It tickled. So I did it again." Honestly, it made me giggle.

12. Poor Conrad was nearly eaten alive by red ants! Okay, that's an exaggeration. He was playing in some red dirt before one of our hikes and when I placed him in the backpack carrier, he began to scream and cry. That's when I noticed a red ant underneath his chin. I quickly swiped off the offending ant and assumed that was it. But a minute into our hike, Conrad was still acting uncomfortable. I immediately knew he had ants in his pants! So my friends Shelly and Amy helped me strip Conrad down completely naked to get rid of probably a dozen of those pesky little bugs. Poor baby was in tears.

13. The boys took off on their bikes and had so much fun riding around the condominium complex that we lost them!

14. We waited in line to enter Zion's National Park for 90 minutes with a 16 month old. It one word, it was torture. I have never in my life seen that place so packed with people! It was actually disappointing because, for me, the crowds took away from the sheer grandeur of the place. Jed and Levi weren't impressed either. Oh well. Just another one of those parenting flops. You know, the ones where you are so excited to show your child this awesome thing but the experience falls flat on its face. Yeah, that's pretty much what happened in Zion's on Sunday.

15. Jed whined and cried all through his very first mountain bike ride. He could physically do it, the problem was all in his head. So we turned around and went back to the truck. Fortunately, Jed turned his attitude around and made his second trail ride a true success! It was a proud moment for both Bron and me and a confidence booster for Jed that he really can do whatever hard things he puts his mind to!

16. Jed had an allergic reaction to something! To this day I still have no idea what it was. All I remember is looking over and noticing that his entire face seemed swollen! Luckily, (and probably not luck at all) I felt impressed to pack some children's Benadryl.

7.20.2017

I admit, we took this vacation nearly a year and a half ago and I am just now getting to editing the pictures and posting about it. I'm also back-posting it because this is my blog and I can do what I want with it. Really, when I print another volume of this blog, I want these memories to show up in chronological order. And what sweet memories this family vacation encases! Going through these photos so many months later just might make the memories even sweeter. The kids have grown so much since then!

Our trip to Bear Lake was our very first vacation taken as just our little immediate family. Levi talked about it for months afterwards. In fact, he still mentions memories about it from time to time. It was so much fun. Everything we did was centered around the boys and what we thought they might enjoy. We need to go back and do it all over again.

We loaded into the truck the morning of Thursday July 13th to drive just a few hours east and south to the Idaho/Utah border. Our first stop was at the historical pioneer tabernacle in Paris, Idaho. Sorry, no pictures. We got to tour the building and admire the hundred plus year old workmanship. So incredibly cool.

Next, we spent the rest of the afternoon swimming at North Beach on Bear Lake. The water level was at a record high. So much for a mile of sandy beach to play on! It was under water. But the water level still remained shallow for meters and meters; perfect for our two little almost swimmers to practice in. The boys played in the rocks and whatever sand they could find. We had ourselves a really relaxing afternoon splashing in the water and burning energy! It was a beautiful day.

2.24.2017

^^Our view from the cabin's balcony our first evening.^^

Just a few short weekends ago (February 9-12 to be exact) we were able to enjoy a wonderful weekend tucked up in the mountains of Utah with family I only get to see once or twice a year: my dad and family and my sister and her family!

We had many un-adventures, beginning with the basement of the cabin we rented flooding! We've had a crazy snowy winter here out west and everything was frozen solid for weeks... until the week that everyone came to visit, naturally. Roads and farms and basements were flooding everywhere. It was a circumstance out of everyone's control. Thankfully, the water damage was concentrated mostly in one room, so Bron and I picked up the mattress and moved it to the basement tv room to sleep. There. A makeshift bedroom. Problem solved.

On the second night, we discovered that the oven didn't work and that the lasagnas I'd brought wouldn't bake. Bummer. So Don graciously raced to town and brought back some pizza. On the third night, the electricity went out! Liz happened to be in the shower at the time. Bron and I looked at each other and knew exactly what would happen next: because the cabin gets its water from a well, the pump wouldn't work without power and she'd run out of water. And, of course, her hair was full of suds as the last of the water dripped from the shower head. Liz asked nine year old Mia to get her some water bottles. Mia grabbed them from the refrigerator. Hahaha! All of us in the house got a good chuckle hearing her chilly screeches as Liz washed her hair in ice cold water. Finally, Monday morning, my sister texted me saying that there was a mouse in the bathroom! Poor girl is deathly afraid of rodents in the bathroom. It HAD to happen to her.

However, we didn't let those unfortunate happenstances overshadow the weekend. They're just good stories to remember now. Our Wade reunion was actually an overall success!

6.05.2015

Last vacation post! A big cyber high five to you if you actually made it through all four posts. You deserve a donut. Woohoo!

Saturday was the day we went to Medieval Times. It was a blast! Jed and Levi are still re-enacting the battle scenes. Upon arrival we were handed red and gold crowns to wear. We were to cheer for the red and gold knight! We sat around an arena and were fed a meal of bread, corn, tomato soup (aka Dragon Soup), and chicken (aka Baby Dragon). Jed was appalled; he couldn't possibly eat a baby dragon! And I don't think anyone could convince him otherwise. Levi, on the other hand, who normally turns his nose up at tomato soup, eagerly slurped it down. Haha. The catch was that there were no utensils. We had to eat with our hands! This was medieval times after all; there were no utensils historically.

During our meal, we were entertained by an entire theatrical show complete with live horses, a King and a Princess, and Knights who battled to the death! We all cheered and booed loudly. It was fun to get all wrapped up in the competition. Jed and Levi, however, thought it was real, I think!

^^The whole family with the princess!!! Mia was star struck.^^

^^Commander bought Jed and Levi light-up swords!^^

^^Yup, my dad teaching the kids funny tricks.^^

^^Thanks, Liz! I love this picture.^^

^^Our knight in shining armor... who won many tournaments but finally lost in the end due to a deep sword wound in the gut. Boo.^^

^^Our knight tossed Mia a flower!^^

^^My son, shirtless, and totally enthralled in the jousting fight.^^

So what did we do between all our exciting excursions? We hung out, ate, and relaxed. We spent one evening at the elementary school park playing PIG (I lost, of course). My dad showed Bron his awesome drone helicopter and the little boys chased a little remote control car around the asphalt. It was hilarious to watch! Another evening we simply sat around a fire in the courtyard and chatted. But what I think Jed and Levi will remember most is playing with Brandon's many cool Legos and snuggling up on Commander's bed with him and Liz to watch silly cartoon shows before bed. They absolutely loved that hour with my dad!

^^Jed zonked out on Commander's belly after our day at the beach.^^

^^Upstairs making messes and building--endlessly building and playing--with Brandon and his Legos.^^

^^Levi and my dad ready for breakfast!^^

Memorial Day was race day! I think it's officially become tradition. Liz is a half marathon running addict and she has somehow suckered us into signing up for races every time we visit--except this time we got the kids on board! Liz ran the half marathon, Bron ran the 10k, Jed ran the 1/2 mile kids' race, and Levi did the Diaper Dash. When Commander mentioned to Levi that he'd be competing in the "diaper dash" Levi was suddenly near tears. "But I don't want to wear a diaper!" he moaned. Hahaha. So to keep the tears at bay we wound up simply calling it a kids' race instead.

The Laguna Hills Half Marathon honors a different branch of the military each year. This year they honored the Navy. Commander wore his Navy hat and got quite a few "thank you's" and salutes. The boys got to climb into a real hummer, meet real soldiers, and hold real guns. I feel so much pride in my military heritage--four generations! Their jobs certainly weren't all guns and glory but it means a lot to me. I am thankful for the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this wonderful country and the freedoms that I enjoy now.

^^A perplexed Levi running the Diaper Dash with Commander. Levi didn't know what to think amid all the chaos! He was confused as to why all these folks were cheering.^^

^^Proud of his very first medal!^^

Now I need to take a minute to talk about how Jed totally crushed his very first race. I am so impressed with him and his tough little legs! A half mile is no small feat for a barely five year old. Bron ran with Jed and proudly reported that Jed never complained or gave up, even though he was tired and it felt hard. Instead, Jed pushed through with some grit and crossed the finished line all smiles. Here's a short video for proof!

^^Jed excited about his very first medal!^^

^^Standing in front of the American Flag with two Navy veterans.^^

Sadly, we had to leave for home shortly after the races finished. It's always so good to see my dad. And Liz has become a dear friend. Seeing each other a few days each year just isn't enough! I love my dad and miss him so much already!

This is how we rolled: DVD player and a big box of snacks between the boys so they couldn't fight. Their brains turned to mush in the back seat while Bron and I got to talk mostly un-interrupted! Jed and Levi proved to be excellent little travelers. In fact, this was the easiest family trip I've been on yet since becoming a mom. Everyone slept through the night, everyone is potty trained, everyone eats real people food, and the boys could entertain themselves for a long while. It was wonderful!

Til next time, California!

Nelson Notes

SLIDER

St. George for Spring Break Part II

3.26.2022

St. George for Spring Break Part I

3.25.2022

Our Coeur d'Alene Family Vacation Part III: Glacier National Park

8.18.2019

Our Coeur d'Alene Family Vacation Part II: Tubbs Hill + The Hiawatha Trail

8.16.2019

Our Coeur d'Alene Family Vacation Part I: Farragut State Park + Silverwood

8.11.2019

Spring Break Part III: Mountain Biking, the Temple, and Other Fun Memories

4.11.2019

Spring Break Part II: Snow Canyon

4.08.2019

Spring Break Part I: Biking, Swimming, and Pioneer Park

4.05.2019

California for Commander's 6oth Birthday

8.20.2018

Spring Break in St. George: Part II

4.03.2018

Spring Break in St. George: Part I

4.02.2018

Our First Family Vacation to Bear Lake

7.20.2017

A Wade Family Reunion

2.24.2017

Kickin' Off Summer in California: Medieval Times and a Race

6.05.2015

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