I always wanted a fireplace when I was growing up. Unfortunately, that never happened. Luckily, all three of our homes over the past 20 years have had fireplaces, including the house we live in now. Fireplaces make me happy. But even if you're not a huge fan of fireplaces, you gotta admit that they do come in pretty handy around this time of year. Not only is it great to make a fire in them on those cold winter nights, but it's just as great to be able to use their mantels for the family's…