I don't keep mine full time but as you can see, we are very close. They spend Friday or Saturday nights with us alot and live in the same town so it's very handy. My husband goes to their house every morning to wait with the 2 younger ones (girl 9 and boy 7) for the schoolbus as Mom and Dad and big brother have to leave earlier. It is their special time together and he better not ever forget that Friday is donut day! He was sick today so I got to do bus duty. What a joy.