Why didn't your son go to court and fight because his ex was preventing him from seeing them? He should have done something other than just give up custody totally! That's like saying he really didn't care and just left the kids. It will leave a mark that may never ever be able to be fixed on these children. The mother had no right to keep her kids from his father and if he still was able to see them, then so would you. I had an ex-SIL who was keeping her kids from their father. She claimed that his new wife harrassed her and sent nasty letters and things but there was really no proof that the letters came from the other couple. She also made sure not to EVER pick up the phone if the Caller ID said out of area and he lived out of the state. She ended up leaving my BIL and finding a new guy but at the time she was talking about abandonment and having my BIL adopt the kids. She told the kids their father didn't care and yet stopped any form of communication between them. You have no idea what this woman may be saying or doing with these kids. Look into Grandparents rights and maybe also you need to talk to your son about getting back in his kids life. You don't stop seeing them because the mother makes your life hard. My step father has been bad mouthed and blackmailed and everything else by his ex-wife but it hasn't stopped him from trying to be with his children. It's going to probably be a long, bumpy ride but you have to decide if the children are worth it and do it.

I got my father an early Father's Day gift, a limousine that took him and Mom from their Florida (winter) home to the Tampa airport recently. My dad is very frugal and they usually take the airport shuttle . . . making about 6 other stops along the way there, with Dad fretting the entire time ;^D They're getting up in years now and it was good to know that the driver got them and their luggage easily and safely to the airport on time. At this stage in their lives, they tell us that they don't want "more things to dust and clutter up the place". Dad's birthday gift will be a limo back to their winter place this Fall. DH's father is no longer with us. He was an awesome guy and I miss him a lot :~ ( For DH, I'm making Huevos Rancheros for breakfast and shish kebobs on the grill for dinner, with Mari's fantastic couscous, a Greek salad and my molten lava cakes. This morning while DD & I were in town, we got him a hole-in-one ball and score card display case (this is a HUGE thing for a golfer), and a Tracy Chapman CD. I still need to get him a golf range finder and am sitting here by the phone waiting for one of his long-time golf cronies to call me back with the one he recommends . . . as I don't play golf and don't have a clue! Lynn

that is cute. I think we did one in class years ago. I have a card around somewhere I made for Father's day. a lot less complicated (size wise) I'll have to see if I can dig it up. I'm trying to scan all cards I find or that my kids have saved for me. I haven't found that exploding one yet but I will!!

Hilary: Thanks for the great idea! I plan to use it, poem and all. To whom do I give credit for the poem? Did you compose it? I'd like to put a name to the poem. p.s. My 4 year old is really into "measuring." He always wants to measure his height, feet, hands, etc. against ours. Last evening he wanted to compare his hand-size to his dad's hand. Needless to say, I took the opportunity to record it on paper. My husband even suggested I place a cut-out of our son's hand in his and make it into a scapbook page! Now when he sees it, he's going to want to take credit for your idea! HA! Thanks again for all the great ideas!!!! karen