cynic, as an aside to the roaster discussion, I use a big green unbreakable Stanley Thermos. It's not pretty, but I got mine because all th farmers and construction workers I know used them. Mine will keep a pot of hot chocolate steaming hot for several hours while the kids go tobogganing, so we're talking outside in a Michigan winter and usually stuck right into the snow. I used them a lot for camping, I could make coffee at breakfast, put it into the Stanley and it would still be drinkable at supper. Oh, and I've put ice water in it or iced tea when spending a few hours out in the hay field and it keeps ice in the liquid for a couple of hours too. I can definitely recommend them, although my oldest one is over 20 years old, so I'm hoping they haven't "improved" them. Annie

So many 'we used too's on this thread... When my kids were little, we used to go to my in-laws for Christmas Eve. That was the day my ex-husband's family had always celebrated Christmas. We had a big family dinner (traditional with all the trimmings), opened gifs, and then went to midnight services. Most years, we also went to my ex's grandmas house for a short visit. There was always a big family celebration (with all the aunts/uncles/cousins) going on there too. Christmas Day morning was our own little family celebration... we'd get the kids up, exchange gifts, eat breakfast. Christmas Day (after breakfast) was with my family. Another big family gathering. Dinner (mid-day), clean up, gift opening. And our own special Christmas tradition was the night of the 23rd of December - the day before Christmas Eve. Scheduled then because I didn't want my kids to confuse the real meaning of Christmas with all of the commercialism that was to follow. We baked a birthday cake for baby Jesus. We'd set up a nativity on the kitchen table and would have a birthday party and sing happy birthday to Jesus. Sometimes we'd invite special friends to share the occasion with us, but usually it was special family time. We started this when the kids were tiny and continued well into adulthood (until we were scattered and no longer within easy driving distance). Now we go with the flow. Sometimes someone in one of our (Gary's or my) families have dinner Christmas Eve. One year, my oldest step-daughter did, but I was at work so couldn't attend. She cooked Chinese dinner and Gary and Emi brought a plate home to me. Other times, we're on the road, traveling. Still others, it's just us at home. I love Christmas, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.. but I do miss those big family celebrations when the kids were little. My parents and the kids' dad's parents are all gone now, for several years. The big family gatherings in my family are a thing of the past, except for our 'sister's summer campout'. And, of course, I'm not part of the kid's dad's family get togethers any more. Gary's family doesn't get together as a big group (there are 10 kids in his family). So, it's just our immediate families (us and our kids). We do love Christmas and take turns celebrating Christmas Day one year with Gary's kids, the next year with mine. We celebrate with the opposite family usually somewhere between Christmas day and New Year's day (because there's travel of several hours involvedf).

I haven't had smelly rooms, but my youngest went through a particularly potent phase. He had had that last big growth spurt a year earlier than his older brother -- and it hit hard. He grew 12 inches in that year and it was painful in a number of ways. I think it is a time of changing and more hormones of something. I didn't notice anything as bad with the older one. Both were in marching band. DIdn't help, but the marching stuff stopped at the laundry room and never went upstairs. D you use a mattress protector? I put a waterproof/allergy type on the mattress in their rooms and then put a padded one over that for comfort. You can remove the padded one and wash it periodically and wash the sheets regularly -- if you wash once a week, try twice a week. Another thing you might do is try different deodorant/anti-persperant -- maybe a scented body wash. I think this issue must explaine a lot of the Axxe popularity inmy boy's time. Old Spice's Fuji and other updated fragrance line, the Dove men's line seem to be more popular now. If he thinks that's not cool or his kind of thing, hang in there. A girl will come into the picture (or he will want her to) and things change. My experience was that you have this for a year -- maybe two, then nature, female influences and changes in habits will all work together to improve things. YMMV

Thank you Joe and Chris. I can’t wait to see how it will look when it is more mature. Thank you Paul. That means a lot coming from you. I feel blessed with this one. It still looks great 5 days after it opened. Helen