to volcanos, but they re not snowstorms, they re not rain storms. nobody knows what could happen next. it could get stronger. but there s a sense of relief here in iceland that sunday was a bit better day than saturday. cnn s gary tuchman in iceland. gary, thank you very much. now to the personal side of this story, a virginia couple stranded in the netherland s by europe s air travel shutdown is using every means possible to stay in touch with their kids who are back home. four children, all under the age of 9. tonight, cnn s sarah lee has our report. reporter: what was supposed to be a few days in europe to visit family is now going on two weeks. sadness, separation, and a lot of internet skyping. i can t see! reporter: for the patersons of midlothian, virginia. parents jen and steve are among the millions stranded overseas because of the icelandic volcano eruption. our flight tomorrow is canceled, because the stuff in the air is just too dangerous. i m just dying to see
parents jen and steve are among millions stranded. our flight tomorrow is canceled because the stuff in the air is too dangerous. i m dying to see you guys. this is the hardest thing mommy has ever done. you are the bravest kids in the world. i love you so much. i know that you re being so loved and taken care of there. reporter: a grandmother had been watching the children. mommy is making a funny face. can you make a funny face to mommy? reporter: now friends are pitching in. the kids run out today after your mom gets here and john will moe the grass. how is it looking? a little rough. reporter: even rougher for them, the anxiety of being apart. the family spends a lot of time online sharing laughs. little comedian.
reporter: scientists are telling us that the eruptions are weakening. and that would be amazing knew if there was any rhyme or reason to volcanos, but it could get stronger. but there s a sense of relief here in iceland that sunday was a bit better day than saturday. cnn s gary tuchman in iceland. thank you very much. now to the personal side of this story, a virginia couple stranded in the netherland s by europe s air travel shutdown is using every means possible to stay in touch with their kids that are back home. four children, all under the age of 9. tonight, cnn s sarah lee has our report. reporter: what was supposed to be a few days in europe to visit family is now going on two weeks. sadness, separation, and a lot of internet skyping. i can t see! reporter: for the patersons of midlothian, virginia. parents jen and steve are among the millions stranded overseas because of the iceland volcanic
weeks. sadness, separation, and a lot of internet skyping. for the pattersons of midlothian, virginia. parents jen and strooef among the millions stranded overseas because of the icelandic volcano eruption. our flight tomorrow is canceled. oh. so because the stuff in the air is just too dangerous. but i m just dying to see you guys. this is the hardest thing mommy s ever done so, you guys are the bravest kids in the world. i love you so much. love you too. i know you re being so loved and taken care of there. reporter: a grandmother had been watching the children. look, mommy s making a funny face. can you see? can you make a funny face to mommy? reporter: but now friends are pitching in. we re good on milk. the kids run out today maybe until your mom gets here and john s going to mow the grass this afternoon. it s getting a little long. how is it looking? a little rough, steve.
we can t check in online. 80 bucks down, and we can t go anywhere. they re talking about that volcanic ash that s causing misery around the world. it s been quite a challenge to thousands of people s patience and ingenuity. sarah lee reports about an american couple stranded in the netherlands. they re using the internet to stay in touch with their family. their kids, in particular, back home in virginia. reporter: what was supposed to be a few days in europe to visit family is now going ton to weeks. sadness, separation and a lot of internet skyping. for the pattersons of virginia. parents jen and scott are among the millions stranded overseas because of the icelandic vol can know eruption. our flight tomorrow was canceled. because the stuff in the air is too dangerous.