Hi, everyone! We're so excited to welcome you to Bee Week 2017!
Tonight, the spellers are treated to a Spellebrity welcome. Here at the Gaylord, they're picking up their badges and swag bags, signing our autograph board and taking pictures on the mock stage - all in preparation for the spelling, which starts later this week.
But before that happens, it's time for fun. The spellers are each getting a Kindle to take home, and are trading autographs in their Bee Keeper books.
Rishubh Kaushal, speller 249, and Mary Elizabeth Vaughan, speller 132, were signing each other's Bee Keepers in the lobby.
"You can meet people from across the continent, across the world, that you might not even know existed," Mary Elizabeth said. "I know how many people don't get to come. Knowing that I got to be here this year, it's pretty cool."
Both Mary Elizabeth and Rishubh are here for the second time. They're both looking forward to making new friends.
Kasey Torres, speller 212, is at his third Bee, He said a lot has changed over the years, but "it feels good to be back here."
And then there are the first-timers.
Asha Chauhan, speller 11, was picking up her bags Sunday afternoon. The process was calm, she said.
"It's really nice of them to do this for us," Chauhan said.
Ian Shasha, speller 150, was excited about how big the hotel is - and the fact that he got to eat some oysters. Abhiram Kapaganty, speller 216, said he's glad to know his hard work paid off in getting to the Bee.
Ishreet Lehal, speller 250, said Bee Week is "amazing" so far.
"It seems like it's going to be a fun week," Lehal said. "It's such an amazing place."