[MkMw]

HI Lena -

We live in Virginia, my family is in Alaska, and my husband's in Chicago.

We are ALL committed to making sure that we see each other as often as possible. Sometimes it's just for a day or 2 - sometimes longer. They come here as often as we go there (in my parent's case, they come here more often). In fact, Matt's brother and sister and their families are all coming for Easter - let the games begin!!! We'll be crowded, but we'll have fun!

We do pictures and talk about their cousins/aunt/uncles all the time. We exchange cards for every holiday (through snail mail). We have gone as long as 6 months without the boys seeing their grandparents and they have no problem recognizing them, not only as faces from a photograph - but as people who love them.

Living away from your family has it's challenges, but honestly, this one is the easiest to overcome. There have been some days when I would give just about anything to drop the boys off at Grandma's (or Aunt Beth's) just so I can clean the entire house at once - or organize a closet! Thankfully the boys' Godparents are very involved in their life - and we take advantage of their generousity on occaision, but we try not to take too much - KWIM?

michelle