Jenn79

Do your boys like to read/look at books at all? I've become known as the "aunt who gives boooks", and am always ready to reccommend if given the chance. You mentioned they like superheroes. There is a series of books (reccommended for 6-8, but I've seen younger boys read them depending on their comprehension leel) called Captain Underpants. Not all parents are fond of them, but I think they're hilarious, and in my opinion, if they're getting kids to read, they can't be all bad. Amazon.com: The New Captain Underpants Collection: Box Set (Books 1-5): Dav Pilkey: Books If those aren't quite your cup of tea, there are also two other series that I would reccommend, Geronimo Stilton ( Amazon.com: Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye (Geronimo Stilton, No. 1): Geronimo Stilton: Books ), which are kind of comedy adventure stories, and The Magic Tree House ( Amazon.com: Magic Tree House Boxed Set, Books 1-4: Dinosaurs Before Dark, The Knight at Dawn, Mummies in the Morning, and Pirates Past Noon: Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca: Books ), which I actually found myself reading out of pure curiosity during my shifts at the bookstore I used to work at. Then there would be my personal favourite, anything Star Wars related. There are a lot of story books and informative books available in the children's sections of the book stores right now, full of great pictures (I know, I have a bunch of them in my personal collection ) Oh, and going back to the Lego that someone mentioned in an earlier post, there are Lego video games available (Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, and Lego Star Wars), and let me tell you, they are FABULOUS. I love the Lego Batman, my husband and I are still playing through it. Happy Shopping!

I love "All I Want For Christmas". It's probably one of the cutest Christmas movies I've seen. As for animated/television specials, The Muppets Family Christmas. It's one of the few times you get ALL the muppets together (Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, classic muppets), and it's just so fun. Every Christmas Eve though the hubby and I sit and watch It's A Wonderful Life. I just love how that movie makes me feel, really gets me in the mood for Christmas.

In the past, we did a rotation thing...his parents one year, mine the next. This year I took it upon myself to invite everyone to our place for Christmas dinner, both his family and mine. We all live in the same city, so it's easy enough. While it looks like it should work this year, once more of us start having kids it's going to get tricky. I've already heard through the grapevine that a few of the siblings and significant others aren't impressed, but this is what happens when families grow and expand, it just starts to get too difficult to work around everyone. Keeping my fingers crossed that everyone finds a good solution, and that I haven't cursed myself by taking on the responsibility myself!

Another vote for the PS3. We're getting one from "Santa" for Christmas (already wrapped and waiting for the tree), but it has been opened once or twice (by the hubby) to make sure everything worked properly. His words in regards to it, "it's just so sexy!". It is a pretty nice looking machine, plus it will double as a Blu-Ray player (big plus!!!), negating the extra cost of a separate player down the line. It will also play DVDs, allowing us to free up space under the tv. All we'll have there is the PS3 and the hubby's sound system that I only now kinda know how to work. We have a PS2 currently, but since the PS3 is backwards compatible (the one we have is...check and see if the newer ones are still going to do that, I know there was talk that they weren't. I may be challenged in the technology department, but Timm keeps me up on the important info...it's amazing it sticks!), we can still play old games. The biggest reason Timm wanted one is because of the game God of War 3...it isn't released yet, but it will be in the next year or so, and he LOVED the first two in the series. Two other men in my friendship circle have the PS3 already, and absolutely love it. I guess what it comes down to in the end is personal preference. Good luck with your choice!!

Add another "man room" to the list, only in my case it's the basement. We just moved in October, and Timm has the basement to do up however he pleases. So Christmas is very Ottawa Senators oriented this year, since that's the theme for his basement. So far I have a 3x5 foot flag for one wall, a book that he wanted (In Odd We Trust by Dean Koontz), and a few small things for the stocking. I still have one more item to pick out for him, and it will likely be Senators related as well, I just can't narrow it down enough.

Quote: Originally Posted by ErinB I kinda do to! LOL I haven't seen the movie yet, but I read the first 3 books in 3 days. I left the 4th at the IL's house and had to wait for DH to bring it back when he came home. I almost went out and bought another copy. I'm sad because I have to work almost non-stop for the rest of the month so I'll only get to read a few chapters a night. I have a tendancy to stay up until I finish reading a book, so I don't read as often as I like. Must...go...to...sleep! LOL Do you know if she is working on another book? The fourth book was actually my favourite from the series, although there are a lot of fans who don't agree. In a few of the interviews I've seen, Meyer has said she's taking a break from the Cullens, and has a few other ideas rolling around in her head. But she's also said she may return to them someday. Right now I'm guessing she's caught up with promotion for the movie. She was working on Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's point of view), but as another poster mentioned, the twelve chapters she had finished got leaked on the internet, and she's been having a hard time going back to it. You should check out her website, StephenieMeyer.com -- The Official Website of Stephenie Meyer , she posted the chapters there herself for people to read. Now I'm guilty of hijacking...oops!

My confession: I have a teenage-like obsession with the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I can't explain why, but these books just completely sucked me in and now I can't let go! I thought these obsession feelings were supposed to go away once we "grew up"

With my family there was never really much of a tradition, just a great big feast of food that rotated from year to year (one year at my mom's place, one year at my aunt's place, and round and round it went). Since I've been with my husband, it's been fun being part of his family's traditions. They're all just like a bunch of kids during the holidays, and I love every minute of it. There are the required "butt shots" of each of the kids hanging an ornament on the tree...the boys get competitive and try to get the most crack showing...I know, juvenile, but so funny to watch. On Christmas Eve we all get together to hang our stockings and eat sandwiches around the lit Christmas tree. And on Christmas morning (or sometime during Christmas day), we all have to gather on the staircase and do the "OHMIGOD SANTA CAME" face so that my mother-in-law can get a picture. It's all really silly stuff, but really fun since I never got to do any of it growing up.

any of the Star Wars ones for sure...I'm just not sure when they'll be released on Blu Ray. Iron Man would probably be pretty great in Blu Ray too... oooh, I know...Transformers. Probably pretty much anything with great special effects would be good choices. Maybe the Matrix?

I may end up revealing just how much of a geek I am with this thread, but what the hell! I LOVE my DS (as poor Abbie has found out, probably a little too much!). I love how it has something for everyone. Here are just a "few" of my favourites: Picross Crosswords Lego Star Wars Diner Dash Puzzle Quest Mario Party Mario Kart Mario vs. Donkey Kong: March of the Minis Two that I play with my husband from time to time are Meteos and Professor Layton and the Curious Village.

well, let me start with the band names, then I'll post some of the songs (that I can remember). There were sooooo many boy bands! New Kids on the Block (they may have started in the 80's, but they were still around in the early 90's, I know, I was teased for still liking them) Backstreet Boys NSYNC LFO 98 Degrees Five Take That BBMak SoulDecision Boyzone As for songs, here goes...I'll try to keep it short I Want it That Way; Everybody (Backstreet's Back); Larger Than Life (BSB) Tearing Up My Heart; I Want You Back; Bye Bye Bye (NSYNC) Summer Girls (LFO) And here we draw the blank...I'll have to try again later, it's early and I've been fighting a cold for the past five days...hope this gives you a good start!

I'm going to try not to gush, but I LOVED the movie. I'm already itching to go again with my husband's mother, or anyone who will go with me. About the only problem I had with the movie was the under-usage of the entire Cullen family. Here's hoping there are a good deal of cut out scenes waiting to be revealed when the DVD is released. The actors they chose to play Bella's human friends were just PERFECT. They couldn't have picked a better Mike if they tried. And Jacob, well, it felt like the words had just crawled off the page into the body of Taylor Lautner (the actor who played Jacob). He was just perfect. All in all, I thought it was a really good representation of the story. To try to fit everything from the five hundred page book into a two hour movie would be impossible, but they stayed true to the heart of the book and that's the important thing. There have been movies in the past that I was just angry after seeing, because they left so much out (The Cider House Rules being the top of that list). So when does New Moon come out?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Pretty wrap and ribbon 2. Real tree or Artificial? I’d love to have a real tree, but my allergies don’t allow it, so for now it’s Artificial 3. When do you put up the tree? December 1st 4. When do you take the tree down? Second week of January 5 . Do you like eggnog? Yes, so yummy 6. Favorite gift received as a child? The Oh Jenny Playhouse I got when I was 8, it was a small dollhouse with all the furniture and dolls included. I still have it somewhere 7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother. He’s not one to wait for something he wants, so it’s really difficult to come up with something he doesn’t already have. 8. Easiest person to buy for? Timm…anything related to the Ottawa Senators, and he doesn’t care if he gets duplicates 9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes I do. I’m not overly religious, but I just love what the scene evokes. 10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Snail mail all the way 11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmm, I can’t really think of a bad one. 12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a Wonderful Life 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? There isn’t really a set time. If I seem something throughout the year that I know someone will like, I pick it up. 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No 15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? These cookies my mom makes called Chocolate Mice: they’re basically peanut butter, rice krispees and coconut rolled up and dipped in chocolate…soooooooo good, but my mom only makes them at Christmas. 16. Lights on the tree? Yes, coloured ones 17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night 18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Stay in town, but go to one parent or the other’s 19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, and Olive (you know, “Olive the other reindeer? Haha) 20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I like an angel but right now we have a star. I haven’t been able to find an angel I like 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. I used to open one on Christmas Eve when I still lived with my parents, but now we go to Timm’s parents to hang stockings on Christmas Eve, and it’s more fun. 22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The crazy crowds of people. 23. What theme or color are you using? Gingerbread Men and Women 24. Favorite for Christmas dinner. Classic turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing (made by combining my mom’s and his mom’s recipes) 25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Lots of books 26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Really not sure 27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Not sure again

Funnily enough I'm more willing to try the no-name brands than my husband is. He's quite the brand name junkie. I however love to get a bargain where I can. I'll try anything once, but after COUNTLESS trials, we have come to agree that there are some things that need to be brand name: Kraft Dinner Macaroni and Cheese (it really is the cheesiest, who knew??) Heinz Ketchup Minute Maid Orange Juice Kraft Peanut Butter (although Jif comes in a close second) Tetley Tea Bags There are countless President's Choice products that are pretty good compared to their name brand counterparts, so where possible I buy those. And of course, there are the personal hygeine products, where generic just doesn't cut it: Pantene Shampoo (I have super thick hair that just hangs limp if I don't use a good shampoo) Pantene Conditioner (same as above) St. Ives facial cleanser Right Guard Deoderant (for the hubby) Vichy face cream (very dry, very sensitive skin, it took me FOREVER to find a cream that doesn't make me flake or break out)

Yay for you Calia!!! That's awesome news! Have fun at the movie!

Your pictures look so pretty! I love the set up, it's so elegant!

Happy Birthday Heidi!

Quote: Originally Posted by Abbie jennifer, i swear the reason i am so excited to read these books and see the movie is all due to you and your FB posts i keep looking at target and costco but i cant find all 4 of the books in paperback. i want to have a matched set like my harry potter set, but softcover. its too hard to carry around hardcover books! so as soon as i fiind them all at once i'll buy them, i dont want to buy just one and be too tempted to read it all in one night then not be able to find the next one! i've noticed that some places have the first book with the movie picture on the cover, but i want the plain apple one, so the whole set matches. i'm a book cover snob! ps jennifer, you can go as crazy as you like on the books/movies, at least your not screaming and crying like a 12 yr old at a concert, like i'll be doing on saturday! woohoo! Haha, I've done the screaming like a 12 year old, at both Backstreet Boys and NSYNC concerts, and I'm not ashamed to admit it! :-) So you've noticed the FB updates? heehee, ooops. And I thought I was being vague (insert sarcasm here) You'll unfortunately have to wait a while to get all four in paperback, Eclipse is being released in April or May 2009, and lord only knows how long it will be for Breaking Dawn. In the past it was usually about a year from publication in hardcover that they were released in paperback, but The DaVinci Code and its ability to continue selling in hardcover for more than two years that threw that out the window. Hope you do enjoy the books once you get the chance to read them! Just try to ignore the crazy hype (ha, like that's possible) and go into reading them with an open mind. They're not for everyone, but as you have noticed, I personally was completely taken over. Have fun at the concert!!! I'm so jealous! (but in the good way)

Quote: Originally Posted by CaliaA07 Btw the movie comes out Friday!! Is it bad that I am as excited about this movie as some of the teenagers I've seen screaming on tv? I haven't had a screaming fit, but I did do a happy dance when I got my tickets...

1: What is your current job, and if you had to switch careers, what would the other career be? I am a library technician, but my dream job is to be a stay at home mom. I know it’s not a career, but it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. 2: What is your favorite hobby? Reading 3: What is your favorite holiday, and why? Definitely Christmas, I love the smells of holiday baking, that crisp smell of fresh snow (although it can melt right after the holidays), spending time with family, and watching the reactions of everyone as they open their gifts. The season is just so full of joy, it’s hard not to get caught up in it. 4: What is your greatest achievement? My university degree 5: What is your favorite animal... and why? Tigers: they are just so beautiful and majestic looking. 6: What is your dream trip? Cruising the Mediterranean 7: What is your fav food? Poutine (French fries, gravy, and cheese) 8: Who has made the biggest impact in your life? My Mom 9: If you were a crayola crayon, what color would you be, and why? Green, simply because I try to stay neutral and listen to all sides of the story 10: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Bermuda 11: How many siblings do you have? One (brother) 12: What is your biggest fear? Not being able to have children 13: What’s your favorite holiday dish you make for your family? Grandma’s shortbread 14: Do you have a nickname? J-Hill 15: What causes do you support? CNIB, MADD, Breast Cancer 16: What is your guilty pleasure? Anything chocolate 17. If you could have one special power, what would it be & why?? Being able to wiggle my nose to clean the house, like Samantha in Bewitched 18. How old are you? Twenty-nine 19. If you won the lottery (hundreds of millions) what would you do? Share with family, pay off debt, travel the world 20. What gadget do you not need, but still want? Digital photo frame 21. What is your favorite T.V. show? Law & Order: SVU 22. When did you know that FI was "the One?" As crazy as it sounds, almost instantaneously. He’s a writer, I love to read, it was practically fate that we met in the first place (at a book store of all places)! 23. What is your favorite item of clothing? Cotton pjs 24. How many or do you want children? Definitely want children, at least two 25. Have you ever met anyone famous? If so, who? Met, no, but I did sit across a basketball court from Jason Priestley 26. If you could be someone else for a day who would it be and why? I don’t think I’d want to deal with being in someone else’s head, it can be enough being in my own most days! 27. What is your worst bad habit? Staying up later than I should. 28. What's your middle name? Does it have significance? Lynn – My mother’s best friend’s name was Lynda, so she gave me the name “Lynn†from that 29. What's the craziest thing you've ever done? Sang karaoke by myself…I’m not a good singer, and I don’t do well in front of crowds 30. What is the one thing that your significant does that drives you CRAZY? Leaves dishes around. 31. What’s your favorite movie? Footloose 32. Why did you choose a destination wedding? I’ve known I wanted to get married on the beach in Bermuda since I was six. We lived on the island and it just always felt like home. 33. How long were FI and you together when you got engaged? A Year and a half 34. What person in your life really gets under your skin, and how do you know them? I’d rather not say. 35. When and how did you and your FI meet? November 2003; We worked together at a bookstore 36. Even with all the ups and downs along the way, would you still go through with your DW knowing what you know now? Without a doubt. 37. Do you have any pets? No (I’m allergic to most animal hair…boo!) 38. If you could hook up with a celebrity for one night, who would it be? Clive Owen 39. What's your sexual fantasy and have you ever played it out? I’m too shy to say 40. What's the one thing other than FI that you would bring to a deserted tropical island? A really good book 41. Do you have any tattoos? Yes, two: a rose on my right ankle, and the Chinese symbol for “Angel†on my right shoulder, done in rainbow colours 42. Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry: Chocolate all the way 43. What season do you enjoy most and why? Autumn: I love the colours of the changing leaves and the temperature is nice enough to spend time outside without freezing or sweating to death My question: What is your favourite book?

I still have a rubbermaid full of stuffed animals I just can't bear to part with them! There are two however that have a special place in my bedroom closet, my teddy bear that I've had since I was born, and a stuffed monkey named Lucille that I was given when I broke my arm (I was six). My teddy's head is hanging on by a thread, and one of his eyes keeps popping out, but there is no way he'll be going anywhere any time soon.

any of the books on my "want to read" list that is currently on the computer desktop. I'm constantly adding to it, so even when I get a new book (or two or three) it never seems to get smaller. The ones I want most right now are The Host by Stephenie Meyer and Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Piccoult. Aside from those I'd be happiest with time to sit by the fire with a hot chocolate and the hubby.

My husband really likes wine, so for his gift I got him a wine caraffe, two wine glasses, and two wine stoppers with seashells on the top. He hasn't used the caraffe yet (maybe we'll use it as a water jug, haha), but he uses the glasses and stoppers all the time.

We went for something completely different and spent a week in Disneyworld for our honeymoon. We stayed at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, and had an AMAZING time. I had never been to Disneyworld before, and DH hadn't been since he was a kid, but I tell you, it was absolutely the most fun I have ever had (except for the wedding that is). It was great to feel like a kid for an entire week, and more than once I got teared up because it was just so magical. I know, cliche right, but really it was. Especially during the fireworks at night, just out of this world.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nassau2008 No kidding, small world! It's too bad that Bermuda tourism doesn't wake up and get some cheaper flights in there, and some more all-inclusive plans. I wanted to get married there, but with my party crew, a more budget-minded all-inclusive was a better idea for us. You just can't beat the island though as far as friendliness, cleanliness, and safety. Where did you get married? Don't I know it. We ended up cruising to the island with our guests to reduce costs, but were only able to be on the island for three days...I would have loved a week! We got married at the Coco Reef Resort (used to be called Stonington, not sure how long ago you were there), and it was absolutely beautiful.