The Ball Pit

Cousins in the balls.

some HHH cards

I made this first card this week with my new stamps I got in my grab bag.

This card I made for my hubby for V-day.

Progress?

Here's an intersting article I found awhile back.

Making less than dad did

Report reveals that American men in their 30s earn less than their fathers did, as family income growth decelerates.

By David Ellis, CNNMoney.com staff writer
May 25 2007: 6:52 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- American men in their 30s are earning less than their father's generation did, challenging a long-held belief that each generation will be better off than the one that preceded it, according to a new study published Friday.

The report, the first in an ongoing 18-month study on economic mobility in the United States, also revealed that the income growth of the median American household is declining.

The study was produced by a handful of politically diverse think tanks including the Pew Charitable Trusts, the American Enterprise Institute, the Brookings Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Urban Institute. It looked at income levels of American men in their 30s, which can be a good indicator of lifetime income.

Relying on Census Bureau figures, the study's authors found that after adjusting for inflation, men in their 30s in 2004 had a median income of about $35,000 per year, for a 12 percent drop compared with $40,000 per year for men in the same age group in 1974.

That stood in stark contrast to men in their 30s in 1994, who earned 5 percent more than their fathers did.

Similarly, American families, which experienced a 32 percent increase in income levels between 1964 and 1994, saw household income growth slow to 9 percent between 1974 and 2004, according to the report.

"There is clearly some story here that [U.S.] productivity gains are not trickling down to the median family," said John Morton, a co-author of the study and the managing director of economic policy initiatives at the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Even as male incomes have declined and household income growth has slowed, the nation's productivity has remained robust. While the two once kept pace with each other, U.S. productivity has quickly outpaced income growth since the mid-1970s, according to the report.

The study's authors, who plan to examine relative mobility, or the ability of Americans to move up or or down in social strata, said their report shows the canonical belief in an American meritocracy may be unraveling.

"The expectation that each generation will do better than their parents has become a fundamental part of what we call 'The American Dream,'" said Morton. "But this new analysis suggests this bedrock belief may be shifting under our feet."

March Wedding

This is one of my favorite pages from Bebe's Book. My brother got married last March and this picture was taken at the reception. That is my leg peeking out on the right, I love how heels make your legs look.

Cookies and Ducks

I made shortbread cookies. I burned the first batch and the second batch was cooked on a jellyroll pan that was not washed thoroughly enough from the previous use or making a brisket (they had a faint bbq taste to them). So we fed the cookies to the ducks.

Rebecca ate some too. She has talked about it for days (we did it about 3 times over a week).

Oh yeah and the rocking shirt was given to RJ by her aunt Holly. Its a pony shirt. RJ loves it (I do too)!

February

from Bebe's book.

A Holly

Most in my family, will think of this girl to the left when you hear the word Holly. And RJ will see this picture and say Holly and monkey.

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But this up above is what really excites a Holly out of RJ! It is a Hot Tamale or a Holly for short.

We have a big screen now.

I should bring our smaller tv in so you can see a comparison of our new big screen. We are moving up in the world. Thanks Grandpa!

Bebe's book

I made a book for my mom with a picture from every month from 2008. I have finished the book, but have not shipped it yet. I'm a slacker. So here is January's page.

I just thought this was funny. Let's balance cereal on my water and milk cup opening.

Also, for any papercraft lovers out there, I love this project, but I find it a little intense:

http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/02/stationary-box-with-cuttlebug-fab.html

More Music

#13 This picture is the singer of Fisher, a band. The first time I heard this group was my senior year of highschool. If you click on the picture it will bring up a player of their songs. The first song that I heard was I Will Love You (which you may have heard). Ialso really liked Had To. You may have heard Beautiful Life. I just listened to recently and love You.



Also I added a bunch of different music to my player on the side of my blog. I would love for you to listen to at least a couple of songs. Happy Friday!!!!

Journals are my fav #12

I love journals. I have had a journal from before being 8. I used to write very frequently in my journal, but ever since I started dating Steve it has gone downhill really quick. Which is kinda sad, because it would be nice to have written down some of the wonderful things we did while dating.

There have always been requirements for my journals. Spiral bound does not constitute a journal for me, that would make it a notebook. When I was younger it had to have a lock so my siblings wouldn't read it because there was important stuff in there. Like who I liked.

I used to write a quote at the beginning of every journal I had:

"Get a notebook my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity." Spencer W. Kimball.

Here is a quote from the oldest journal I have with me (I have olders ones in TX): "Josh W. still ahsn't borken up with Beth, but still got some friday night. Also, Jackie frenched Mark after going out with him for less than a week! some girls' standards are way low!" Also both exclamations points are dotted with a heart.

I also used to put times on my entries. So for instance the exceprt above comes from the second entry of this journal and I started at 10:03 and ended at 10:09 (it was a short entry). Most are about 15 minutes, in case you wanted to know.

Favorite #11

I have been wanting a way to organize my stamp pads. They are a little pricey to buy online a wood box to store them. But then I found that a cassette tape was about the same size. So I was on a quest to find a cassette tape holder, but then are almost extinct. Who would have a cassette tape or a holder? Well my Father-in-law was awesome and made me one:

And he put a little spool on top to hold ribbon.

My scrap room is getting so organized! It is wonderful!

#10 Swap it Up

I like doing swaps, but I have found my favorite swap. Its called LOTW or Letter of the Word. I did my first one with Christmas words. I signed up for Family, Joy, Lights, and Peace. I make one letter (for instance 'm' in family) for every letter in the word (6). Then I send it to the hostess and she swaps the other letters to form the whole word and sends it back to everyone. Then I use it on my Christmas scrapbook (the one Jared got me for Christmas!). Here are pictures of the words:

This one has a little light string on the 'L' it is super cool!

Homemade is always better #9

In general homemade is always better than store bought. I had never though of making my own ketchup though. Last night Steve was making hashbrowns and I have not bought any ketchup yet (its only been 2 months in our house and no ketchup needs have arrived until last night). So I thought I would look up a recipe online. This is the recipe I used. These are not the best pictures.

It was really good. I was super suprised at how wonderful homemade ketchup is. Its a little sweeter than store bought, but I could easily cut more sugar out of it and it has no preservatives or high fructose corn syrup in it. I am a fan. I think I will always keep some tomato paste on hand to whip this up when I need it.

Fav Papercrafting Blogs

I love this lady's blog. She is one of my favorites. She does scripture cards, and scrapbook pages and she is a mother to triplets and she is so organized that she gives tips. She just seems awesome to me.

I also love this lady's blog. The only thing I dislike about her, is that she only does cards, amazing cards, but only cards. I just love scrapbooking, too.

Kell Bell Kraft

My mom made this little book to hold the cards and tags and cd holders and what not that I have made for her and my dad for different holidays. I love it! Favorite #7

Music #6

This band is Highwater Rising. I found them when I was in college about 6 years ago. My CDs were stolen 2 1/2 years ago, including their CD. So it has been like I just found new all over again recently. Here is a link to their myspace page where they have four songs you can listen to for free:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=10586781

The other cool thing is that they are from San Francisco. I'm hoping maybe I could go see them. That would be fun.

DIY project

One of my new friends in my ward had this super cute baby wipes container. Here is a picture of the idea, not hers. Hers was WAY more awesome than this one. Anyways, she had a link to how to make them: click here. I think I'm going to need to invest in a hot glue gun.

Day 4 - Nature

I love being outside. I love seeing all that God created for me. Even things people may not think of as being beautiful, I think it is. For instance, below is a picture of me holding RJ in the middle of Nevada. I think it is so lovely and peaceful (maybe not my favorite, but lovely still).

Or the opposite being Lake Tahoe and a gorgeous sunset. Any and all of it is super!

#3 Flowers

I love fresh flowers, but it is expensive to have all the time. I bought this bunch last week at the Farmer's Market for only $3. I have thoroughly enjoyed them!

Favorite #2

I love cereal. I could eat it for breakfast every morning with no problems. Steve makes fun of me when I got to the grocery store with my list and come out with 5 more boxes of cereal. But they were on sale! 17 boxes of cereal in my garage, is what this is a picture of.

14 Days Again!

To celebrate Ashley's birthday, I'm posting 14 favorite things over the next 14 days until her birthday. Today is day one!

I bought this desktop carousel from Making Memories about a week ago, to help organize my scrapbooking stuff. I love it! and it has the perfect little spot for my paint dabbers:

I love these things too! I don't know always what to do with them, but I think they are so cool.