At the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center, where the Scripps National Spelling Bee is held, parents are waiting.
Since 8 a.m., spellers have been filing into the testing room to complete the preliminary test of the national competition. Inside, they will spell 24 words and answer 26 multiple-choice vocabulary questions.
Outside, their parents sit and read. They play on phones. They try not to act nervous.
"I didn't really come prepared for what I was going to do," said Amy Miller. Her daughter, Katrina Miller (Speller 3) is competing from Fairbanks, Alaska.
It's Katrina's first time at the Bee, and her mom said the pair plan to go to the National Gallery of Art this afternoon to dispel some nerves -- Katrina and Amy's, both.
"This morning, I spent some time sitting on the deck, looking at the calm water," Amy said. "Yesterday, I went for a run around the Potomac. I've been laughing at myself in front of Katrina."
Amy was "a wreck" during Katrina's last competition.
"When she won at regionals, I was jumping up and screaming," she said. "It's worth it."
The test lasts for 45 minutes. The last group begins at 11:45 a.m.
