I suppose "deal with them" is open to individual interpretation, but you could trap them (Havahart makes a 2-door trap their size and a one-door "Chipmunk trap". I find sunflower seeds make a good bait) and release them elsewhere (note- probably illegal). I built a separate cage- make sure your "transfer glove" doesn't have a hole in one finger, 'cause the little buggers'll find THAT finger- and would bring them to work with me. (Oh, did I mention that at the time I worked where there was an 11 acre preserve?). Other folks might mention that the same trap fits into a large plastic bin filled with water, and, apparently, the 'munks don't swim too well... nor do they survive the cheapo Victor-style "rat traps" (the dumb ones, don't, anyway). Here is a link that might be useful: Havahart

It does not matter if it were a stick of gum tucked in the night stand...stealing is still stealing. Stealing is exactly what these two are doing. Do they go into stores and help themselves? I'd hope not. Go into their friends house/apartments and help themselves? Of course not because their friends would simply kick the friendship to the curb. The kids are doing this behavior not only because of their father, but their mother too. The parents here have failed these young adults. And they will not stay young for long. Another 10 yrs and if nothing changes these ladies will be in their 30s and still acting like entitled brats going on 13. You DH has said he sees no reason for them to change--"My husband told me that he knows they are spoiled rotten but he isn't going to change anything in the way he treats them and they aren't going to change because their is no call for it".-- While he may think it's 'ok' now, their young blah blah, he will certainly not think it is acceptable in 10, 15, 20 yrs. But nothing will have changed because their mother/father did not bother to do their parenting duties while there was still time to intervene. Think about it. These two brats have it pretty good right now. They don't have to work, don't need to earn money and need for anything because they just steal from others. They get spending money, clothing money, cars, gas, make-up, money to 'enhance' their youthful whims (tats, hair, piercings)...there is no incentive here to be any different. Nothing that says they must behave any different, worry about continued education and productive futures. Who needs all that, they have Mom and Dad. Is this really the future you husband wants for his daughters? Realistically I'm sure not...but now that he is surrounded by full grown brats that he has trained to be this way he does not have a clue as to what to do about it and fears anything he tries will push the brats away and they'll despise him. Talk to your husband about counseling for himself. He must deal with his own issues of his past, his actions, and his future before he can begin to take a productive stand with his adult offspring. He needs to learn the way he is allowing his marriage and home to be affected by his actions/lack of actions is going to end up looking like those 10, 15, 20 yrs from now and whether or not this is the track he really wants to continue down and/or how to get off it and on to a different path... for himself, you, his daughters. In the short timeframe, you could always go into one of those specialty shops and purchase a tee with a big arrow that reads 'their with him' and wear it when going out in public with these brats. LOL. You can also not fret over having to go out to eat. Do you really want to cook for them? Don't want to go out, cook yourself a meal and let the other three (DH, daughters) fend for themselves. Get yourself a nice pair of fashion earplugs to block out the daughters little hissy fits. Set yourself up with a mini apartment in your home like 'Kalunas private den'...one with locks on it...and tuck yourself away in peace and quiet along with a hot bath and a good book for the evenings the brats intrude with their ill behavior. Better yet, join a female group of exercise, reading clubs, charity volunteers...whatever your interest is. Why sit home and be miserable along with your DH and his daughters? You're not just Mrs.______, you're a working woman with friends and interest of your own...don't forget to lock the door to your private den on your way out the door. While you can't force your husband to change or to take a stand with the daughters, you can control how and when you deal with it. Time to liberate yourself from their drama

illy, It is easy to overlook some things when we want to be with someone. Your boyfriend was not ready and is still not ready to make a promise to you. Life is too precious to make a serious decision and then "hope" life will turn out good. You are already unhappy. No, No, No Walk away and don't look back. Best to you.

Pugrolls, thank you. We did notice that there are A LOT of places in the neighborhood. We didn't have time yesterday to check them all out. It is exciting that there are so many. Do you have a fabricator suggestion? We thought we'd start getting acquainted with the various places early on in hopes of eliminated stress when the time comes. A gal here, "tatter", used Venetian Stone Works in Woodinville to fabricate her gorgeous soapstone countertops and was pleased. We'll be paying a visit to them before long. Tatter said, "I went with Venetian Stoneworks out of Woodinville. I chose them because they have state-of-the-art equipment for templating and cutting stone (laser templating so every odd angle and corner would be EXACT, and a computer-guided water-jet cutting machine that cut the stone to the exact dimensions of the template)." Here is a link that might be useful: tatter's GORGEOUS soap stone