Anniversary photos

Since early October my anniversary committee co-chair and I took pictures of church members for an anniversary photo board. We even set up a background and a light (hers). I took the pictures while she chased people down. It's a good partnership. We were available to take photos after church for weeks before deciding to take them by appointment since we (I) had to get this board together.

I printed and attached everyone's names. My scrapbooking skills came in handy. The pictures turned out better than I had expected.

Doing this at home was a bit challenging.

I have a better picture of this family for the board but I love this one.

A preview of the boards I sent my co-chair and eventually posted on Facebook.

Our minister (ok, his wife probably) even used the picture I took for his family's Christmas card. That's a nice endorsement.

Yesterday they were on display for the congregation to see. The anniversary year has begun!

And the anniversary logo was printed on the bulletin, and will be for the year. I had forgotten we asked for that until I saw it.

Back to Seattle

E and D flew back to Seattle yesterday. Andy and I were at church working on the parlor banners with E so D drove there and picked her up. She wanted to show him the sanctuary so it all worked out. They drove to the house to get her luggage and a B let them in so he got to say goodbye too.

Andy used packing tape to pull the banners up a little higher. Then we (and E) stitched the bottom grommets to the mesh so the banners would lie flatter. We're probably going to get in trouble but as one boss told me, it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

My hands were gross after sewing down the banners. E saw a tag that said they were custom made in 1988 so Andy thinks it's 30-plus years of donut grease on them. Eww. It definitely wasn't dirt as I couldn't wash it off.

Also brought in a historic picture of the church and a binder of anniversary memories to have on display.

Meanwhile, L and Cindy got wet in Epcot. They sent a couple more character pics but I'm tired of keeping count. It's up to them now.

We got our first decent snow this morning. Maybe an inch and a half. A pretty snow.

There it is

My Aunt Lorene, my godmother, has never once, since I got married and moved away, missed sending me a Christmas card. And she used to give me a birthday card at my family party and, regardless of when that was, always sent (and still does send) a card that arrived, more times than not, on my actual birthday - not as easy as it may seem with a holiday just before my birthday. This year, I didn't get a Christmas card. She'll be 94 in January so, of course, I'm always worried about how she's doing. And my cousin, her daughter, died days before Christmas so it would be reasonable that she didn't send out cards. Then today, her Christmas card came! The stamp isn't postmarked and the only date I could find marked on it was Dec. 21.

E’s last full day

E leaves today so I had to get her to try to teach me to knit. She makes it look easy. I'm not sure I can do it without her.

She also showed me how to make Facebook graphics on a new app. I'm better at that than knitting.

And she's cleaned up after August, who here is snuggled in beside her as she warms herself on the heater. She's kept herself busy. I drove L's car to work so she could use my car and go to Dunkin' every day for tea. Then she'd do some shopping and she's been making dragon eyeballs for the intern games at work.

These are the dragon eyes. (Proof I'm not crazy.) There's another batch on the floor that she needs to keep separate for some reason.

At Disney, L and Cindy were in Hollywood Studios yesterday. They had drinks and a charcuterie tray at our favorite people-watching spot.

and a big donut?

Cindy is still winning the character count. She saw Daisy Duck then later sent a picture near Woody and Jesse. I don't think L is trying to beat her.

L even found time to hang out with a friend from the College Program who's still in the area.

Thursday stuff

L startedut the day with Mickey waffles, thanks to a $50 gift card E gave her for Christmas. Of course, she forgot to take the gift card with her and I had to send pics of the card so she could add it to her Magic Band.

Cindy found Snow White so she's leading in the character count.

When D came for dinner Wednesday he brought leftover beer from his family's New Year's Eve party. This should last awhile.

And I got my annual sorority email on the anniversary of my initiation date.

New Yorker magazine puzzle

I think I started this on New Year's Eve and had a decent amount done Monday when this picture was taken of August in the box. E and B did a lot of work on it and D helped out Wednesday when he was here. By dinnertime today B had finished it.

E was doubting whether it had all the pieces. Here she is pointing out what she called "stupid pieces," like two almost flat edges pieces that were actually inside pieces. I think we've done New York Puzzle Co. puzzles in the oast and they're good quality but not my favorite.

It is a pretty picture though.

To Disney

Andy was up early yesterday to get Cindy and L to Midway for their 5:35 a.m. flight. He got them there by 4 a.m.

They made it.

I told them to amuse me and see who could take the most photos during their stay with characters. Cindy sent this one first of Pluto in the background ... way in the background. Notice her finger in the picture. Maybe L will give her some selfie lessons.

L followed up with a pic of Chip and Dale ... and no finger.

Cheers to being 21. And while we were left at home, Andy and I went out to eat with E and D to Margarita's.

Busy day

L, with Cindy's help, went through her dressers yesterday and bagged up the clothes she no longer wanted. She dropped them off at Goodwill. Sad thing is there is still a closet to sort through but I'm sure it's better than it was.

Meanwhile, E went to church with me where we set up the anniversary photo boards (and got them out of the house)!

E also helped hang the balcony banners. It was her idea to put the logo banner over the middle bar so the other banners would even out. They're a surprise for the congregation with bits of our history and values on them.

My job was to make sure they are centered. (They might not be perfect but definitely good enough).

They look good.

Nice panoramic shot my co-chair L sent me.

We also put up the first of many event posters we have had printed for free at the library.

We went home, picked up L and Cindy and had lunch at Mr. Submarine. Even better that Cindy paid lol.

We did some shopping at Oak Brook mall, picked up my two-for-one Bundtlette offer, shopped a good 75 percent off Christmas sale at At Home then hit the Elmhurst Goodwill. I found these interesting, vintage candles for 99 cents each. At least I won't feel bad burning them.

New Year’s Day

L and I did a little shopping uesterday morning. We went to Target then Ross a d when we for out of the car I found this needlepoint cross on the ground. I said it was a sign she needs to go to church. She disagreed.

Andy and L picked up Cindy from Union Station a little after 1 p.m. We went to a couple Goodwill stores with L and Cindy found (OK, I found it) this cute unicorn with tags on for $6.99. That was the find of the day.

I made pizza for dinner then we played some games while ...

E and D worked on our latest puzzle.

New Year’s Eve

E and I went out and did a little shopping on New Year's Eve. She bought me a peppermint mocha, my only one of the season.

Yesterday, while the kids were bowling, Andy and I went to O'Sullivan's for jalapeno poppers and a beer.

Nicely decorated for Christmas.

Andy and I had an early night toasting with champagne and watching the "Barbie" movie. E spent New Year's Eve at D's house after their family party.

And who drove home ... woth two cats in tow.