News 6 Mashup: Dec. 13, 2021
Here is this week’s News 6 mashup of stories for the week of Dec. 13, 2021, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:
Couple Married for 77 Years Gets Long-Awaited Wedding Photos
After 77 years of marriage, Royce and Frankie King celebrated their anniversary with wedding photos they never got to take. Today reported that “There was no time to get a photographer or even a wedding gown . . . when they got married on [Royce’s] whirlwind, two-day leave in 1944 before he went overseas to fight in World War II.” Royce, 98 years old, served in the Air Force and wore his uniform for their impromptu anniversary celebration. The staff at St. Croix Hospice tracked down a 1940s vintage wedding gown for 97-year-old Frankie. The photographer, Hilary Michelson, is also a staff member at St. Croix.
“I had the honor of snapping some photos for their 77th wedding anniversary,” she said. “Absolutely no shame in the fact that I had a hard time keeping it together behind the lens.”
Office Cubicle Turned into Life-Sized Gingerbread House
Monika Orrey was a new employee when her company announced a workspace competition. She began collecting cardboard and designing her festive entry: a life-sized gingerbread house. “I consider myself very festive, or as my daughter would say, I am ‘extra!’” she told Good News Network. “I was at first concerned my new colleagues might think I was odd but soon remember[ed] that I am happiest when I am authentically me, so I pushed right past any concerns and got to planning.” Her life-sized gingerbread house featured giant lollipops, candy canes, faux snow, and colorful lights. Monika won the competition, but she also said it helped her break the ice with her coworkers.
Need Last-Minute Gift Ideas?
Do you still have some shopping to finish for those who made your “nice” list? I do. I thought I might not be alone, so I compiled a few links with gift ideas just for you. From those lists, I’ve gleaned a few of my favorite ideas, including a pretty plant or a bouquet of flowers; locally-produced items, whether that be a craft beer or a handcrafted item, like a necklace or soap; a board game or card game (of course, I have a few of our favorites linked for you!); a super cozy throw; movie theater gift cards; a gratitude journal; pretty stationery; or even a handwritten note.
Here are some last-minute gift lists compiled by other sources:
Are board games more your thing? Here are some fun ideas from my board-game-loving family:
- Wingspan: We’re obsessed with this new game! It’s beautiful, and the strategy is fantastic.
- Unstable Unicorns: This is a guaranteed laugh for most ages. We’ve had kids as young as 8 successfully play and have fun!
- Happy Little Dinosaurs: It’s adorable, but watch out for the things that come crashing into these little dino lives.
- Codenames: We’ve even gotten creative and played not just in pairs, but on teams, and over zoom
- Ultimate Werewolf: A crowd favorite, but you need a crowd to play! It’s best with at least 10 players and easy for younger kiddos to pick up on (some as young as 4 or 5 can play with a bit of help for the first couple of rounds). It also isn’t particularly scary, despite the name and creepy packaging.
- Carcassonne: This is another family favorite. We’ve played this one over and over. Easy to learn, easy to teach, and great for all ages.
This Week in History
Don’t forget to stop by NORAD’s Santa Tracker with your children. You can visit the North Pole to listen to music, watch movies, play a game, learn about NORAD’s headquarters, and countdown to Christmas! Then, tune in on Christmas Eve for NORAD’s annual Santa Tracking mission.
Oh wow– soooo many awesome Christmas feel-good stories here. (77 years!) YES! Thank you, Jolene.