I'm going to try this again!

Okay -- so I didn't do so well keeping up with this previously . . . however, I think this is the best way to keep everyone updated on the chaos that is our lives right now! I think most of you know me well enough to know how much I just LOVE to chat on the phone (not!!!) so this way I can do a better job passing along information without forgetting with whom I've spoken or not, etc!

Tomorrow I will share what happened at the boys' visitation with their birth-mother yesterday. Suffice it to say, it did NOT go well! The professionals who supervise the visits are as fired up as we are now, I think, and are moving forward more aggressively to terminate these insane visits. The effects the visits have on the boys escalate with each one and finally the "supervisors" are ready to move on ending the torture!

On a more positive note, we had a nice, though VERY LOUD, Christmas at Kam's parents' home yesterday after the visit. We actually even had photos taken of ALL of us!! THAT was an adventure! If not for the photographer's rapid shutter speed, I'm certain we would NEVER have gotten a decent photo! (Of course I say this without seeing the final results, but surely out of more than 100 frames there has to be ONE decent one, right?!)

Anyway, today all of Kam's family gathered in the loft at our farm for a continuation of our Christmas celebration. Dad and Mom Sandstrom had planned this and it was a very neat experience! Dad started out by showing all of the kids what a manger looks like. Then we all climbed up to the loft and Dad read the part of the Christmas story from the scriptures about Jesus being born in a stable and placed in a manger. He talked about how where we were was similar to what Jesus's first glimpse of His earthly life would have been like. We sang Christmas carols then had refreshments. Mom brought food similar to what would have been eaten during the time of Christ's birth -- figs, dates, cheese and unleavened bread.

Our boys all had dental exams today before the farm, and had told the entire staff about what we were going to do. The hygenist told me, "Someone better sneak in some cookies!" I think she would have been surprised by just how much the kids all liked the refreshments!! Charlie ate the figs, but wasn't particularly impressed -- not enough for seconds, anyway! But he would have eaten the dates all night long! Joe liked the figs a bit more than Charlie, but still favored the dates! Sidney, however, hovered around Grandma waiting to see if there would be enough for thirds, or fourths.... Grandma ended up giving him the last 4 figs to bring home just for him!

It was a nice diversion from yesterday morning!

So... tomorrow I'll fill in the details of the visit. For now, dirty clothes are rapidly overtaking my home and I must attack!!