Quite cool - 30 second video clip, such as this, is free.

Lauren was very excited to build a snowman last weekend. She has been waiting for the snow so she could try out her new shovel and sled. Jessalyn seems to be more comfortable in her snowsuit. However, walking without falling is still a bit of a challenge.

The Muny! - a photoset on Flickr

Lauren went to the Muny for the first time last night. She saw the Wizard of Oz with Karri. She even took a nap in the afternoon so she could go. Shows at the Muny start at 8:15, which is after her bedtime. They got back to the house around midnight. Lauren was excited that the fireflies came to watch the show as well.

Quick Flickr Tips

Comments and notes, mouse over the picture, can be added to any picture. You can also lable a picture as 'A Fave'. Look for the buttons above the pictures.
 
You will have to be logged in to Flickr to do these tricks. See the links for examples.

Flickr Sets

Karri has been uploading quite a few pictures lately to Flickr. She is trying to add new pictures daily.

The best way to browse the pictures is by clicking on the labeled 'Sets'. They are the smaller thumbnails going down the right side of our Flickr page. The main 'photostream' are the larger pictures on our Flickr page arranged in two columns on the left. The main photostream includes all of the pictures we have put on Flickr. They are arranged, by default, with the most recent pictures uploaded always showing on the front page. The Sets, include pictures from our photostream, but they are arranged by topic. Clicking on a set will show small thumbnails of all the pictures in that set. There is a link to View as Slideshow' or you can click on the individual pictures to view them.

Lauren and I went to Michael's Swiss Inn last weekend for hot chocolate and coffee. Michael's has a full coffee bar that serves Starbucks. A picture of a Caramel Macchiato on the wall caught my eye right away. I caved in and ordered one for the first time. Other than the occasional Mocha at Borders, I drink my coffee black and strong. Before we left, Lauren's hot chocolate was spilled all over the floor and I decided to find a recipe that would match Michael's Caramel Macchiato. I'm going to try making this one tonight.

Caramel Macchiato

The average coffee mug is probably equivalent to a Tall (12-oz/355 mL).
I am not following precise Starbucks standards, though if you must know
it's properly one shot of espresso, about .75 oz syrup (.25 oz per 4 oz
liquid capacity).

• milk
  
• espresso
  
• vanilla syrup
  
• your favorite caramel sauce
  

In a regular-sized coffee mug, add vanilla syrup and steamed milk. Top
with milk foam and add freshly brewed espresso through the foam.
Drizzle with caramel sauce.

Iced Caramel Macchiato

Same ingredients, plus some small ice cubes and (optional) whipped cream

In a pint glass or iced tea glass (we're assuming 16 oz), add vanilla
syrup and fill about 3/5 of the way with cold milk. Add ice almost to
the top and pour espresso (2 shots would be typical) over the top. If
you've done it right, the espresso will mix in only about halfway down
without stirring. If adding whipped cream, add it here. Drizzle the top
with caramel and enjoy.

or

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/getrecipe.zsp?id=59458

Jessalyn just decided she was ready to walk. Yesterday she started trying on her own without our encouragement. Just now, she got up and walked across the living room. She did it multiple times and thinks she is pretty cool.

If you check in frequently at our Flickr site, you may have noticed a few changes. Flickr is constantly evolving as more features are added, deleted, or made easier to use. Most recently, the layout of pages have seen some improvements. Everything feels a little more 'logical' and easier to navigate.

Sets with thumbnail previews go down the right side of the page. The most recent photos uploaded to Flickr are on the left. Links to sets, tags, archives, favorites, popular, etc. are at the top.

Security conscious Karri has started to restrict who can view photos. I tried to tell her that the psycho next door is more of a concern than than wierdo on a computer somewhere. Nevertheless, she is changing permissions on photos of the girls to Friends and Family only. That means that you must have an account with Flickr (Free and I have never recieved any spam as a result of signing up) and be logged in to view photos. I will send invitations to everyone who has not already joined Flickr. They will come via email.

I found a link on the Flickr blog about a new group called 'The Blink of an Eye'. In July, Flickr is hosting a juried exhibition of photos from this group in New York. Any member of Flickr can submit one photo to this group to be considered for inclusion in the exhibition. The blog makes it sound like only five photos will be selected. Anyway, there are some really good photos to be viewed. Browsing through photos on Flickr is truly addictive. It reminds me of the 'Day in the Life' photo books from Time, etc. Flickr is a day in the life of the world.