New Year’s Eve day

Andy took Cindy to the train Tuesday morning and Allison and I went to Naperville to check out the new Wayfair Outlet store. I walked in and saw these fireplaces half off. Andy and I have been talking about replacing the chiminea because you can't sit "around" the fire. It ended up being less than $30 so you can't beat that. We looked at some desks for B but he didn't like any of them. We went to a couple more stores and found some after-Christmas items.

A sure-fire sign E is visiting is a Dunkin' cup sitting around ...

and a craft on the table.

Andy and I wanted to go out and watch the Illini in the Citrus Bowl but when we walked into the bar it was packed and we had nowhere to sit. We drove around to see where else we could go but a lot of places were closed. We came home and watched the game and the Illini won!

I looked over my blog to see what happened in 2024. It was a fun, jam-packed year. We traveled to Disney (saw Modern English perform and flew back in first class), Colorado, Michigan, Key West/Miami and Jamaica. We went to lots of events with friends and family - concerts, theater shows, bingo, comedy shows, scrapbooking crop, holiday dinners and birthday gatherings. We lost Schubert and Muffles but August is still here! L got into Disney's College Program, got a new car, moved to Florida and finished college. E got engaged and found a wedding dress. B turned 25, went to Iowa to finally meet his co-workers and found an apartment in the city that he'll be moving to soon. I survived the church's 150th anniversary by helping to plan and execute many events, finishing with a successful soiree. Andy and I celebrated our 34 anniversary and had fun visiting local breweries on the weekends.

And more shopping

My Monday started with August chewing on the Christmas tree and then throwing up on the tree skirt. I had to wash the tree skirt and forgot to close the velcro tags. It came out ok but it's definitely in "used" condition. We plan to take the tree down soon.

E came shopping with me and Cindy. We went to a lot of after-Christmas sales.

We found this little guy at Hobby Lobby. It was 70 percent off of $47.99 so she didn't buy it but after we had dinner at home, she and E went back and got it. Cindy said it will provide years of enjoyment.

I'm lending her this extra large Vera bag to get all of her stuff home on the train today. The horse gets to stay here ... for now. No room left in her bags.

Decisions, decisions

E and D had a full day of decision-making on Sunday. First, they went to church and met afterward with our pastor to discuss wedding plans.

Then they drove out to Cantigny for a food and wine tasting for the reception. It was a tasting with other couples and E said she was surprised that each couple's table had linens in their own wedding colors. Fancy.

This looks delicious. They tried several appetizers and entrees. I won't say what all they chose.

E said they tasted a lot of wine.

E brought home leftovers that B said he'll try for lunch.

More dress shopping

Cindy and I went to Oakbrook Center yesterday to return the Christmas sweater Andy got me for Christmas. I wanted to exchange it for a smaller size (that's why we took this picture of it while standing in the exchange line) but couldn't find it in the store.

So we started shopping for dresses for Cindy to wear to E's wedding. This was nice but the chest darts were a problem.

Sent this pic to L and she said it's nice but Cindy would have to wear a different bra with it. Duh.

I liked this one. She could wear this anywhere but glam it up with some jewelry.

This was another nice one at Macy's but not in the size and color she wanted.

Then we walked all the way across the mall, in the rain, to Nordstrom. This was a nice dress. Nordstrom didn't have as many dress choices as Macy's did.

We got home and saw a Christmas miracle - our snowman was all lit up!

Weekend project

While I was shopping with E for her wedding dress on Saturday Andy surprised me by fixing the back porch handrail. The very bottom of it had rotted away and had nails sticking out so it wasn't really safe any more.

Yes to the dress

Yesterday was our day for wedding dress shopping. This was our first stop, Bri'Zan Couture, in Naperville. Cindy, E and I drove out and met her maid of honor, T, and bridesmaid, A, at the shop.

Cindy playing with a mannequin.

I've been told by the bride-to-be not to post pictures of "the" dress so here's one not chosen.

These were contenders. Cindy and I really liked the one in front. Our second appointment was at Bella Bianca in Oakbrook Terrace and we were running a bit behind so we skipped lunch.

My artsy shot of the shop.

This consultant was fabulous. Every dress she pulled was pretty much what E was looking for.

A beautiful dress but not "the one."

Cindy, E's godmother, tried some veils on her, found "the one" and bought it for her.

Had to cut E out of the picture but she found the dress and we got a champagne toast when she decided on her dress!

Warmth for August

Before E drove me to work on Friday (so she could have my car for the day) she pulled out the heating pad because she read that senior kitties sometimes like to sit on them. August wasn't so sure about it. Later, she said, he was sitting in her lap. He loves sitting with us.

Today was my last day at work until mid-January. We'll be going to see L soon!

Back to work

Andy was up early Thursday and washed the china. After he left for work I washed the glasses, tossed the linens into the wash and started getting the house back to normal. E wanted to use my car for the day so she drove me to work. Even with very little traffic I was almost late because the girl needed her Dunkin' run.

She even bought me a coffee and a breakfast sandwich!

Christmas dinner

The kids gave us a citrus squeezer for Christmas so we had to continue our pre-party margarita tradition.

The beef looks bloody but it was cooked very nicely.

The adults who ate at the kids table in the living room get their food first.

The "kids." We were expecting seven at the living room but two didn't show at the last minute.

Interesting picture. I took a picture of everyone at the table but Julie said there's a way to take it and be in the picture too. I'm not sure how she did it, but there we are! Per L's suggestion, I wore a buffalo check shirt to match the theme. You have to go all in sometimes.

We left the kids' tabke up for bingo which made it a little easier.

Andy was the caller.

One casualty of the night - a broken napkin ring.

Late Christmas morning

We were up early and had a breakfast casserole and mimosas with cranberry and orange juice. Andy was a little freaked out to come downstairs and see the Christmas tree turned on. We thought it was a Christmas miracle until B admitted to coming downstairs in the middle of the night and turning it on.

We were waiting for E and D to arrive to open present but Andy and I opened ours to each other at 11:15 a.m. B said he'd wait for E to arrive before opening his. I got Andy this book about REM. That was our first real date - an REM concert at U of I.

And this fancy Tommy Bahama shirt (from the actual Tommy Bahama store at Oak Brook) he can wear when we go to Disney soon. I guess he can take the book along too. About five minutes after we opened the presents E and D arrived.

Here's everyone opening their stockings ...

and my lonely, empty stocking. Boo. This is my reminder to fill my own stocking next year. The kids got me a Kitchen Aid shredding attachment which I wanted and Andy got me a nice sweater but we think it needs to be returned for a smaller size.

B got lots of nice gifts to be used in his new apartment. E made him four shopping bags because in the city he'll have to pay for plastic shopping bags.

We got him a blender. silverware set, plates set and food storage conatiners. He also got a sweater that we bought before we knew he was moving out.

We gave D whiskey rocks and glasses and E got cashbe ause she didn't want a lot of things to haul to Disney and then back to Seattle.

By this time next year these two will be married.