Several weeks ago, Bill Madden, a WWII vet and survivor of the Iwo Jima invasion who now lives in South Bend, was speaking and reciting a poem he had written about the front lines on Iwo Jima. We decided to take the girls and listen to what he has to say.
Here is a link to an article by Ray Elliott from Memorial Day 2005 that discusses Mr. Madden and includes the full text of his poem, "Iwo Jima."
Men and women like Mr. Madden are a piece of living history and their generation will soon be gone. I'm glad we went and took this photo with him. Maybe one day the girls will think this picture is pretty neat. I hope they at least appreciate the historical significance of those who risked their lives to ensure our safety and freedom!
I take that back, Boothe wasn't thrilled about sitting in that cold water either, so she decided to start standing up on her own for the very first time.
Then she found this table that she pushed all over the pool. She is ready to walk soon.
Jump....
and Splash!
I don't know what this look is all about. Daddy's probably eating her snack or something. She's planning her payback...she's thinking 'hmmm, maybe I'll stay up.....all. night. long.' 
I didn't tell her to pose like this at all! HA!
They are both obsessed with the big pool. I'm so glad both the girls love water as much as I do.
Why this was ever stopped being made is beyond me. It is a bouncy chair for a baby from 19??. Very vintage, but in excellent shape. Boothe loves to bounce in it and the tray is perfect for her snacks. I paid $2 for it!!! I have only found one other online that was exactly the same, but with ripped fabric and completely rusted out frame and tray. That one was listed on ebay for $50. Perhaps this chair from 60 years ago has become the 
1960 or 2010?
We always find the BEST kids books at garage sales. Lots of them for only 10-25 cents. The most I have ever paid for one is $2 and it was for a couple of these large hard back ones.
So far we have bought 5 games and spent a total of $5. Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, The Cat in the Hat, Pizza Party and Elefun.
Oh how we love Little People at our house. We couldn't pass this set up for $5.
More books and Little People. Playground was $3, tractor 10 cents and the books were .25 each.
We have had the same bedspread since we have been married. 5 years really isn't that long, but I have been dreaming of updating our bedroom and finding a white duvet. Got this one and both shams for $3. I'm not done with the bed. I would like to find a quilt, another set of shams and some throw pillow to add some color. I'm not going to count on finding all that at a yard sale. Oh and the lighting in this picture makes our walls look a horrible gold color. They really aren't that yucky color, just a khaki color.
I can't ever pass up unused yarn. I can always find something to make with 10 cent yarn.
I love these. Handmade slips for little girls sizes 1 and 3. They were in a .25 bin at a church rummage sale. I think someone thought they were just old hankies. The material is so fine. I searched for the tag description online and the found some that are vintage and were being sold for $40-$60. I didn't come up with anything new. So I'm guessing they are old.
And this size 3 dress. Also for a quarter.
Hand stiched embroidery.
Tag reads: HAND MADE cherubs philippine
These I fell in love with. They were only 30 cents each. Sears undershirts. Size 2. And so familiar to me. Like I had some as a child.
Extra swimsuits for little kids are hard to pass up. They are always wanting to change into and out of wet suits. Back ups are always a good idea. These should fit Magnolia either this summer or next, maybe both. $1 each.
