Thanks for the additional comments everyone! While there's no doubt that the Maris is a great looking toilet, it's really important to me that it functions well too! It sounds like the clogging issue might have beeen isolated to the floor-mounted Maris, but the streaking issue might affect both the floor-mounted and wall-mounted versions. Another issue I've read about the Maris is that "men don't fit it", meaning that a man's special member can touch the inside of the bowl while sitting (which would be plain gross). Is the bowl really shallow at the front? I'm going to get a second quote using the Aquia instead of the Maris since I don't read of the same problems related to the Aquia. numbersjunkie, when will your reno be complete? It would be great to hear your first-hand experience that can directly compare the Maris and the Aquia. My biggest fear is that the Aquia will suffer the same issues as the Maris :S Thanks!

My own DD is almost 21. We celebrated that birthday while she was home on break from school, and we did it at home. All but 1 of DD's childhood parties were held in our home. Yep, I did try to be creative, and did alot of planning with regard to the parties that ran the gamut from American Doll tea party to the teen sleepover. Tried my best to keep it age appropriate taking into consideration that many times one of DD's guests would bring along a sibling or two when the girls were really young. Also, I always planned a "craft" for the guests in attendance. Really needed to include something for the girls to do and some type of take home to avoid the dreaded party bags. Only once did I plan a party out of the home. We took 8 girls to a ceramics studio to do a small piece which was then fired and delivered by me to the girls' homes a week or so later. That party was more of a PIA than any party I planned and hosted in our home. That said, I was a SAHM, so I think I had alot more time to be creative with an at home birthday party. roarah - I think your party is going to be great! Love the Madeline/caplet idea and your planning brings back memories of the many fun home parties I organized for my own DD. auntjen - I think maybe your nephew and his friends may have enjoyed a minor league game more. The local teams and stadiums that host those games really focus every single game on the kids in attendance. Between innings the kids are brought down onto the field for games, there are also other types of entertainment during the game directed at the kids. I get the "how much longer?" feelings of the kids that age. Heck, I sometimes feel that way, especially at an extra innings game! I will say that most of the birthday parties DD attended as a child were held off site. Those parties were fun, but I think came about out of one call planning, and no cleanup for the parents. Most times both parents worked, so planning a child's birthday party may not be something they want to add to their long weekend to-do list. I always enjoyed the planning of the parties, but I think I am probably in the minority given the number of parties DD attended in "places". You think it is bad now, roarah, wait until you get to the "Sweet 16" fiasco. Boy, that was a tough year... There was no way I was getting into throwing the equivilent of a small wedding party for a 16th birthday. Seemed that each parent tried to out-do the party of the girl whose party their DD attended prior. Hope the girls have a great time!

I guess I feel pretty lucky--my DD has a small class, only 14 students. I would agree that inviting 40 kids is excessive. I'm assuming there are two classes for SD's grade? Could you do something where she only invites her particular class? Or what about just the girls? My DD's school seems to be low-key. Last year, only a handful of kids had bday parties; a few invited the whole class, but two girls just invited the girls, and I think 2 boys had boys-only parties, as well. We just had an issue with BM about this. SS's bday is coming up and she wanted him to have it at this very expensive indoor trampoline place----the party room (that you HAVE to rent) is $175. Then it is an additional $14.75 PER jumper and there is a 10 person minimum. So that's $322 already. This does not include cake or drinks or goodie bags or anything. There are 23 kids in SS's class and SS's mom felt he should be able to invite the entire class. DH just told her that it is ridiculous to spend $500-600 on a 7 year old's birthday party and that she (or we) would have to find something more reasonable. Well, then they got in a big argument b/c she was saying they would split the cost this year (normally, DH pays) and DH said that wasn't the point----that even if they did cut the cost down the middle, it was just too extravagant of a party. We normally spend $150-$200 for a party. DD's birthday is 6 weeks after SS's, so we have to be financially mindful of planning for two parties relatively close together, as well.

I hadn't been back to this post, and wanted to thank you for your kind thoughts with my GD#1. I am the luckiest grandma ever and get to spend as much time as I possibly can with my other grandkids. I adore them and now realize that my life would not have been complete without them. For those that asked, My sons girlfriend, is the one that was killed in the auto accident. They never married. She lived for a while after the accident, but died in November 2002. She had just turned 20. My GD turned 1 the following Christmas Day 2002. She is 6 months older than GD#2 and 3 years older than GS#1. We have asked for pictures and was sent some 4 years ago. She looks just like the girl version of my son. I continue to email and ask for pictures, but non have come. My youngest has sent letters. There will be a day when we are all united, and I am planning well for the day. She will know that she was loved and thought of often. My house is laden with the pictures I do have of her. Her gifts and ornaments wait paiently for her, and so do we. Trin