Hey Kevin, We have a few resorts here in Va. Wintergreen is about 3 hrs away in the mountains near Crozet Va..(Charlottesville) The skiig/snowboarding is fun for Va...My son like to go to Snoeshoe WV..it's about a 2hour drive from his College (Va Tech) But my favorite on the east coast is Seven Springs PA...great place for all snow lovers...great for families... and has alot to offer...My favorite place out west is Whistler/Blackcomb!!! Talk about heaven!!! LOL !!! We usually see temps during the winter down to the low 20's and average temps around 40-50...We always say wait until tomorrow around here because the temps change and we can have snow flurries one day then 60 degress the next!!! Have a great day!!! Laura in VB

Ok I am back..... Wow, I just read thro' all the responses and you guys rock !!! I love this forum :))) So far the consensus seems to be to open it up. To answer some of your questions.... oakleyok: The rooms are small. LR is 13 x 18 and FR is 11 x 18. So if we open it up, it will prob. be around 24 x 18 which I think is a nice size....Not too big nor small... bumbledoodle & jan in wisconsin: Thanks for sharing :) I am glad you love the openess....Its very affirming. We currently have a full set of furniture in the LR(Sofa, loveseat, 2 chairs, coffee & end tables). In the FR, we have a loveseat, 3 accent chairs and the TV which is currently on a console. One wall in the FR is dominated by a brick fireplace, similar to the inspiration photo that I linked. So I guess we will have two separate seating areas, even if we open up the rooms. Prob. one will be near the fireplace and another TV watching area.... lynninnewmex, nanny2a & bronwynsmom: Yes, I def. plan to check with an architect if its a load bearing wall or not. I've read (in cote de texas's blog) that if you put in a doorway, it wouldn't cause an issue to the structure as opposed to removing the entire wall. Is this right?? palimpset & pps7: Thanks for letting me know that traditional homes have open architecture...I never knew that. I didn't grow up in this country, so a lot of it is new to me......Now I feel better that I won't be really messing up with the integrity of the house :) Scanmike: Thanks for sharing your pics. You have a beautiful home. I really love your sunroom..I wish I had one and also some new kittens :) susanilz: I think we'll be here for atleast the next 5 yrs...Maybe 10 yrs...I don't have the energy to move anytime soon...So I guess, it makes sense to make it into something functional for us.... vampiressrn: We don't entertain a lot...But def. a few times a year, we have large gatherings for 30+ ppl....Maybe we'll be more prone to entertaining with an open area...I am feeling really pressurized cos we're having a formal gathering of nearly 50 ppl...Its a prayer meeting, so everyone will be sitting together in the same space unlike a party where ppl can move around... Initially, I was considering putting in only a regular doorway (with a french door or pocket door). But after committing to hosting such a large gathering, I am really at a loss on how we're going to accomodate everyone. This was the trigger to everything..... jamaraz: Thanks for sharing your experience...I am scared about the unknowns...Sometimes I think I am opening up a can of worms :) monablair: I am not sure it would work for us. Like I said, the FR has a fireplace and has a very cozy vibe..Maybe I could place some seating around it and have some bookshelves against the adjacent wall to create like a reading/library room (similar to the little reading nook in Somethings gotta give)....I love my books :))) awm: Thats exactly the look I wanted initially. But somehow DH is against the idea of french doors or pocket doors. He wants a more open feel I don't know if I should really listen to him. He doesn't hang out obsessively in design forums like I do, KWIM :)) He's pretty clueless when it comes to design..... How wide do you think that opening is in the pic?? I initially did want doors. But I am not sure how wide the opening would be if we put in doors(like I said, we're trying to accomodate nearly 50 in one space) Also, with french doors, I am thinking if it will hamper the space/furniture placement when we open the door. tomorrowisanotherday: Yes, I really don't want to lose real estate value...I will have to somehow figure this out and make it work.... dlm: Thanks for sharing your pics :) Your french doors are so gorgeous...I don't have any in my home and I really love the look of one :( teaforwendy: We do have a door connecting the FR to the breakfast nook & kitchen. Its not as open as I would like it to be but I don't mind it too much for now...Maybe it could be a project for the future...... kjmama: Yes, we did talk before :) Infact, I searched and pulled up your thread yday to get more ideas. How's the doorway working for you?? Are you done with decorating? Any pics to share :) Please keep the ideas coming...Right now, I am def. leaning twds putting in a doorway...Our "handyman" is coming to take a look tomorrow...But I need to check with an architect about the load bearing aspect of it before we start on anything....Will keep you all updated and will also, try to figure out how to post pics meanwhile..... Thanks once again :)

Sunnygarden, I too am so sorry that you are treated that way. How is it that your spouse permits that type of treatment in YOUR home? I have told both of my children from the begining that while my job is to raise them and it is one that I do happily and willingly, they will not be the "be all end all" of everything. I expect respect for both parties (I demand my children respect, as I explained it to them, anyone that is taller than them!) and appreciation. The appreciation is hard, as my husband has allowed me to stay home and take care of my daughter, but yet he doesn't put any time into it. They see clothing that was bought for them, or an extra activity as "mom bought it". He does get annoyed with it, but I do my best to explain it to them without it sounding like the salad episode of Sienfeld inwhich George has to explain to someone that he "really bought the salad, she just handed it to you. you thanked her, but not me. I'm waiting". Oh, and since your stepdaughter had the fit about having to "say hi first" - ettiquette lesson for her. According to Emily Post, whomever is entering the room is required to say hello first. This is true, unless, the person entering the room is an adult and the person in the room is their junior. At that point, it is always the responsibility of the younger party to extend greetings first - a sign of respect. BUT, on that same token, my birth son forgets my birthday every year. Whether it is some passive jab at me I will never know. He can spout off everyone elses DOB, but not have a clue about mine. The one thing I do, that I know my father never did for my stepmothers and seems to be a real issue in this forum is support my husband in any role he takes with the kids. They don't always like it, but I know my stepmothers hated that about my father. Thank you for sharing some of your pain, though I am sorry it goes on in your life. Brass tacks, First off, thank you for your reply. I guess my point is and was #1) An adult does not use childish forms to "get even" with a child (ie. "I won't talk to you!) and #2) If this has gone on more than once, and he has failed to address it with either myself or her, then I don't feel it necessarily warranted the heightened amount of pain and anger. When a situation arrises, I feel you must address it and move on. This is the funny thing. My daughter is 7, she is lucky if she sees her father three times a year. She hasn't seen him since June. She recently stayed with my former inlaws and went on and on about "her dad" to the neighbors. When the neighbors mentioned how impressed they were that their son had finally gotten his act together, they had to admit it wasn't their son, but her "step dad". She also told them she wished I had left her father sooner, that way my current husband could have been her "real" father. So, that being said, among the many acts of affection I witness daily from HER to HIM, I still don't understand how his immediate reaction wasn't about being rude, it was about her feeling she didn't want him around. I punished her for being rude, I believe in good manners and enforce them. As far as indulging her from guilt, it really isn't my thing. Having been raised without my own mother in my life at all, I think that had my father demonstrated some form of pity on me, I may have taken advantage of it. He didn't. So, keeping that in mind, I don't. Lastly, my daughter is not abused in this house. I may raise my voice, but let's be realistic - it is the words that come out, the presence of intimidation, that are verbally abusive. I believe you must point out the crime and hand out a punishment that is worthy of the act committed. In this instance, I did raise my voice at her, send her to her room, and not allow her to participate in her after school activity. Possibly a little more than necessary, but I believe she got my point. I think this was something that on most days could have been a non-issue, addressed, and noted for future reference. For some reason, it wasn't. I will not tolerate my children treating my husband as a second class citizen, nor will I allow an adult to act as a child and offer up the silent treatment to a 7 year old. Makes me feel I have just another child on my hands. It took four days, but things are starting to get better now. Thanks again.

I'm sorry for you all that it happened that way, especially the kids. What a difficult position to be in... because you know that if you say anything to them about it, you'll be accused of being ungrateful, "looking a gift horse in the mouth", etc. I mean, sure, they didn't have to censor themselves and make every little thing perfectly equal if they have a lot more money and felt like indulging themselves/their kids... maybe there was a misunderstanding about who was expected to pay for what, and maybe communication could have been clearer on the subject on either their part or yours... But it sounds like the discrepancy in provisions was excessive, and to not share at all with your kids was pretty heartless. Especially after it probably was evident that you were not going to be able to financially "keep up" with their spending at that time. They could have at least offered to temporarily *loaned* you the xtra sending money to make sure your kids enjoyed similar things to the others, even if they only really wanted to pay for the basic costs of your trip. Wonder what kind of point they were trying to prove... and to who? Gross... As for advice, I'm not sure what to tell you. Other than try to gracefully turn down any future offers they make like that, or try to come up with alternative ideas so that trips, visits are a more "level playing field". If you're the ones "hosting" them, they have to do things on your terms, and you are still doing your part to be gracious and maintain relations (without being unduly controlled). I'm afraid if you or your husband tries to be emotionally honest with them about how it hurt, they won't understand and you'll be called ingrates with too big "expectations". Which is clearly not the situation, but that's how they'll see it in order to feel okay about themselves being so self-indulgent. So the only thing I can think of to handle it is just to make sure you're not put in that position, in the same way, again.