Sunday, Dec. 25, 1938

Christmas. Went to 6 o clock mass, stayed for 2nd mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary, Henry & family & Leo & family & Bill were here for Turkey dinner & supper, took pictures in afternoon, beautiful warm day. Went out to Henrys this evening, seen what Santa Claus brought, tree etc. so many things.

Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1935

Christmas Day. Went to 5 o clock mass at Red Bud. Uncle & Aunt called in then went home after church. We went out to Henry’s had dinner, Geodell’s were out to; Boys got all kind of things from Santa, wagon, coloring sets, lotto game, pocket knife, fountain pens from Grandma at Waterloo. Boy! did it get gold, snowing terrible this morning at 4 o clock it was warm at 6 & after it started in freezing & zero all day. The Evangical [sic] children have there Christmas program at the church tonite. In Red Bud they have a big lighted tree on Public Sq; drive around it.

Sunday, Nov. 3, 1935

Went to Red Bud; Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary had dinner here, chicken. Henry & Leona left the kids here & they went to Red Bud hospital to see Mrs. Emil Bestmann, she is pretty good, going home this week; had supper here when they came back. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came & we all went to Pautler’s to Bertille birthday dance, & my what a crowd, we danced the first piece Rose & Bertille. Josie Keller & Miss Kuhn came out also, [Josie] gave Bert pair beads, & flower hankerchief [sic]. Cowboys played; & swell time. There was no other dances, except Donahue’s & one in Paderborn, but it was nothing, Paderborn people all at Pautler’s & lot of Hecker; all the neighbors.

Monday, Dec. 24, 1934

Baked bread, put up the tree. We went to Waterloo this afternoon. Henry & family came this evening, Santa brought lot of presents; but he didn’t appear in person, he was at Wagner’s; Rosalia got prayer book, Berti bedroom slippers, pap also; from Henry & Leona.