When I was running games I kept a notebook with all my story notes and stuff. When people made characters they had to copy it onto a second sheet just for me and also provide me a print copy of their background. When they would spend XP I would have them change it on my copy of their sheet as well.

What I found was that I would spend more time during the time between games reviewing their character sheets (and making sure the math was right) and got to know the characters a lot better that way.

Might work for you.

I have dice if you want some. I'm sure I can pull together a full set or two I don't use anymore from my dice bag. Open for a trade of some kind?