Claudia is a trooper. She spent the better part of the last two days fighting to get this Gingerbread House built and decorated with candy for Christmas.

It took me ( I bungled it), Maria and two Mansion aides working with Claudia to get the damned thing standing and when I left, Claudia was eating most of the candy decorations for the roof of the house.

She earned it, she was very pleased with herself. I asked her to pose for a victory celebration and she did, happily. She said she was grateful for the help, even mine, but also she was proud of herself for finishing the Gingerbread House.

I love the look of triumph on her face. She was happy to smile for me.