Commencing - RJC

Friday Photo: Coloring

Anna Burkhalter

Elisabeth Burkhalter Rosson

"Marian learned to roll over and over and over"

June 29, 1979 (from postmark)

Tuesday

Hi Dad -

Just talked to Mark yesterday. This Monday, the man sez. Today I will order the lumber. Could you send up 2 thousand? (We'd like to borrow 4T total). I'm not sure if the lumber man wants cash or if he'll send a bill - and if it's cash he's gonna take all of Stan's paycheck - and then some! Also the cabinets should be done by the end of the week, too, and I know he wants cash.

This weekend we got the store room emptied (and Marian's room filled) and spent Saturday at the swap meet. We cleared over $80 - not bad for a bunch of junk! Came home with a fantastic sunburn - my face was swollen 'til today - especially my forehead - I looked kinda freaky.

Stan's putting an Amity kit on the kitchen cupboards today and yesterday. Crazy man - he just woke up yesterday and said he had decided to do it - I didn't even nag or even ask.* Weird. Usually he sneaks out to the garden every chance he gets. Anyways, they look gorgeous. *As a matter of fact, I had a box of cherries ready to can that morning - of course, they're still sitting in the frig.

The varnish finally dried on the picnic table - I'm not about to put another coat on it - it'd be August before we could have a picnic. So far, we've eaten outside every day- even breakfast! (It's usually warmer outside than inside. You know me - I pick the warmest possible spot.)

Marian learned to roll over and over and over - 'til she bangs her head on something and cries. Cute kid. She also eats 3 meals a day now. She's pretty cheap to feed though - lots of applesauce!

Anna and Elisabeth have learned to pick everything! The only good strawberries are in the middle of the bed anymore. And they eat all the snowpeas before I ever get there. And every day Anna pulls a carrot up - "Still just a top with no bottom" she says. She'll have them all pulled up before there are any ready to eat! Dumb me - I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't eat much lunch or diner - I thought they should be real hungry since they're outside all day!

Every day the kids ask when Uncle Mark and Grandpa are coming. They're really looking forward to your visit. Anna keeps checking on when Aunt Marie and Grandma are coming too - I don't think she remembers Marie - but I told her that Marie was bringing new clothes and she can hardly wait! If I don't muzzle her she'll probably greet her at the door with "Where's my new stuff?" No, on second thought, that's something Elisabeth might do - but never Anna.

Well, my test is about over. It's so warm in my testroom today I'm about to fall asleep.

Take care - see you next week - love, Jacque

Two Owls

I think I should be right too. And good to know my list-making tendancies started at a young age.

DEAR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA I LOVE YOU THANK YOU FOR THE COATS I CAN RITE ELISABETH ICAN RIT LOTS OF LOTS OF WORDS OF

Anna

Friday

Hi Mom

The girls coats are beautiful and practical - gauranteed to last at least 2 years - fold up sleeves and long-ish body. Thank you!

I wrapped them up and gave them to the girls right away. Minne was here on Monday and I gave Benson Anna's "straight-jacket" - it looked great on him! (Don't worry it isn't pink) (One from my friend Annie Hill) So anyway - we just couldn't wait another week.

Hope you call soon about Thanksgiving - I should let Jen know. They are coming for Anna's birthday Friday.

Marian has started walking. Woe is me. She refuses to walk from Stan to me or vice versa but she freely walks away from furniture - its like she just forgets that she can't walk yet. Anyway, she goes 2 or 3 steps then falls on her face - a million times a day (at least).

Everybody here is suffering from "greensleeves". We all have colds and I'm the only one in the house that seems to believe in blowing one's nose in a tissue. Gross.

The carpeting was finaly installed in our "attic" today. Whoopee. Now we have a 3-day weekend to hopefully finish things up. I decided on cheap, boring, brown. It looks fine.

Anna is busy deciding one which toys will go in which playroom. I promised I would help her make a list in the morning. Yesterday she wrote out all the invitations to her birthday party by herself. Elisabeth figures her birthday should be with Anna's. Today Anna got a card in the mail, and Elisabeth cried all the way back to the house - real tears, too!

Yesterday and today I made "bulldog" outfits for them - plaid blouses. (I bought green cords.)

Almost forgot - the coats were $23. You don't need to pay all of it if you don't want to - Honest.

How are you guys? Hi Dad! Oh yawn, I'm sleepy. Nice talkin' to you. Looking forward to Thanksgiving. Let me know what to bring. Pies or relishes or whatever.

Monday nite...

Well, our 3-day weekend is almost over and we almost got everything done upstairs. You know how it goes. Stan really wants it finished for when his family is here Friday so at least we have a good goal!

Anna did most of the enclosed letter herself - just needed help spelling about 1/2 the words. She absolutely refusd to believe that "write" begins with a "w". She threw a fit! So who cares, anyway? I think she should be right.

Elisabeth sent her letter separately. I don't know whats inside - it was a secret!

Love,

Jacque