Well, the kids took their first test for Karate and they were both promoted! They are now 'yellow-tips' - on their way to a yellow belt if they work hard enough.
So cute!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas Program at Preschool/Age 4
Cute photo of the kids at their Christmas Program for the Potters House...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Miranda's Cheer Day 2
Here are photos from Miranda's 2nd day of competition...
They came in 3rd place but the most important thing is that she has FUN!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Miranda's Cheer Competition Nov. 17/Day 1
Photos from the first day of Miranda's cheer competition for this month...more to come for day 2!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Mike's Visit Trip Comments:
SEE PHOTOS OF TRIP TWO BLOGS DOWN....BUT HERE IS THE TEXT FROM MIKE:
This was a great trip because I was able to stay with the kids for almost five days and spend some quality time in Guatemala with them. They are staring to open up and ask questions about our family and the USA . Sounds like the only thing they are afraid of is the plane ride. I assured them that planes are very fun. They all said they want to do Karate which would be very cool to do as a family. We just need to get Michelle in the class. I also love the fact that they now give hugs (when I ask for them), kisses (when I insist) and are responding very affectionately. The rules in an orphanage are much different. All the kids are taught that they are one big family of brothers and sisters. You can definitely see this as they look out for each other and as they share their affection like brothers and sisters do...a lot rougher than we are accustom. It is a great feeling to know we’ll be bringing them home soon. I look forward to introducing them to their new family, home and environment where they can let down their guards. I really look forward to seeing how much they grow in their new environment. They are great kids and I think they will flourish. I know there will be challenges and we are preparing for the unknown. I am getting less and less afraid of what might happen and more excited that we are doing Gods work and by default there is going to be much more love in our house. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we bring these kids home soon.
This was a great trip because I was able to stay with the kids for almost five days and spend some quality time in Guatemala with them. They are staring to open up and ask questions about our family and the USA . Sounds like the only thing they are afraid of is the plane ride. I assured them that planes are very fun. They all said they want to do Karate which would be very cool to do as a family. We just need to get Michelle in the class. I also love the fact that they now give hugs (when I ask for them), kisses (when I insist) and are responding very affectionately. The rules in an orphanage are much different. All the kids are taught that they are one big family of brothers and sisters. You can definitely see this as they look out for each other and as they share their affection like brothers and sisters do...a lot rougher than we are accustom. It is a great feeling to know we’ll be bringing them home soon. I look forward to introducing them to their new family, home and environment where they can let down their guards. I really look forward to seeing how much they grow in their new environment. They are great kids and I think they will flourish. I know there will be challenges and we are preparing for the unknown. I am getting less and less afraid of what might happen and more excited that we are doing Gods work and by default there is going to be much more love in our house. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we bring these kids home soon.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Halloween 2007
Halloween 2007...
Our Halloween party...
Baking Halloween cookies...yummy!
Mike and Michelle - too funny!
"Trick or Treat!"
A few good memories from this year's Halloween festivities!
Mike's Visit Trip November 8-12, 2007
Mike has returned from his visit trip! Here are a few photos of the trip...
And, to see the "best of the best" (narrowed to 70 down from 400 he took while there), so to the following link to see the slideshow...
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZtWzNizbtGZu
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Well, we're moving right along with our adoption. Sue, the director of our agency, emailed us last Thursday and had a request for an update to one document from our lawyer. Althought she was not sure if we were, it sounds to US like we're in PGN. I've never heard of a 'kick out' of a document for anyone while they were in Family Court. Also, we learned that our Social Worker Interview was on 9/17 - long enough ago for us to indeed be in PGN and to have a kick out.
Needless to say, we got that document redone ASAP, the next day, and it has gone though all of the certification and authentification - and will arrive at CCI's office tomorrow morning (10/24) and hopefully be in Guatemala on Friday 10/25 or Monday 10/29. So, keep your fingers crossed that we ARE indeed in PGN and we're hoping to hear that we're out of PGN no later than Noveber 19th - in order to have time enough to get a pink slip (appointment at the US Embassy for Visa's) which is when we will know our travel dates. As far as we know, we still HAVE to have them home by 12/31 or else thing will be in limbo...so we don't even want to think about that.
I also contacted Fairfield City Schools to chat about getting our kids into school After a terrific conversation, I feel confident that all will be well with them in school! ESL (Enlish as a Second Language) is great in our district due to a growing number of hispanic students.
Mike is going to Guatemala to visit the kids for 5 days - he'll be there November 8th - 12th. He will also take the kids to the doctors while there. I'm so jeolous that he gets to hug and kiss on them but he hasn't seen them since April so I guess it's his turn! (but I miss them so much - can't wait until they are HOME!)
So, we're not out of the woods yet, still need lots of prayers and please pray/send positive thoughts that:
-We ARE in PGN already or get in ASAP
-That we get OUT of PGN before November 19th - NEED LOTS OF PRAYERS FOR THIS!
-That they get a PINK SLIP / EMBASSY APPMT before Christmas!
Here at home, we're just chugging right along. Miranda and Mark LOVE their preschool and both are having fun in their sports. Mark is Gymnastics and Karate and Miranda is Cheer and SOME Karate. Miranda has a big cheer competition up in Columbus this weekend - I'll post photos once it's over. Should be adorable. We also had a great Halloween party here (I'll post photos in a separate blog) and lots of other things going on but that's for another day!
Thanks everyone.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hilton Head Island Vacation...
Here are a few photos from our recent vacation to Hilton Head, SC July 13-22, 2007. It was the first time we've been back to the beach since Miranda and Mark were about 16 months old so it was a new adventure for them! They love the sand, the surf, and of course, all of the family time. We were lucky enough to meet the Vecchio's & the Ossege's down there too which made our vacation even more exciting.
We spent hours and hours each day on the beach...make sand castles, swimming, snacking and having fun.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Visit Trip
Dear family & friends,
Okay, I arrived home very late on Sunday 8/5 from my 10 day trip to Guatemala to visit my kiddies. Although I didn't like being away from Mike, Miranda, Mark & the puppies for so long, it was an amazing trip and I'm so glad I visited for such a long time. I am exhausted and still not yet fully unpacked, but I wanted to send this out as soon as I could...
I was able to stay at the orphanage (Fundaninos) for the entire visit. They have a small 'cabin' on site that was currently not being used so they let me stay there and of course the kids wanted to stay with me too! And as I'm sure you can imagine, 10 days of being together pretty much all the time really helps you get to know each other!!!
The kids are wonderful, smart, loving, cuddly and funny! We bonded so well and I just could go on for days on all the things I like about each child, but I'll save that for another day...but they are terrific kids. They are also quite shy around new people (we had quite a lot of visitors during my stay from work teams and visiting mission teams and my three always 'hid' from the people instead of playing with them like many of the kids do!) But, I'm sure once they are home for a while and get to know everyone, you'll get to know their personalities as Mike & I do and grow to love them as much as we do! They are so great....(did I say that already?!)
Some of you may have gotten my email while I was in Guatemala saying that I had a conversation w/ the kids (through a translator of course!) letting them know that they were all old enough to decide what names that want once the adoption is final and they come home. We hadn't even considered changing their names since they were older but after having discussions with other families who adopted older children, we realized that the might WANT new names - so we offered them the option to pick any names they wanted and they ALL were very very quick to choose new names...and very sure of them once chosen. I made them think about it for almost a week, checking each day, and they were still very sure...and here they are!
(It's going to take me a while to get used to them as I'm sure it will be for them...but we'll probably use their first TWO names for a while to make the transition easier)
Gerson Noe: Max Harrison Noe Hanavan
(Maximilian, but will most likely go by just 'Max' and "Harrison" sounds very much like his current first name however he really wanted to 'Americanize' it)
Vanessa Lisbeth: Maria Vanessa Lisbeth Hanavan
Belsy Antonio: Matthew Antonio Belsy Hanavan
And, in case you didn't notice, yes...they are all "M" names....so we'll be the M, M, M, M, M, M & M family...or "The 7 'M' family" for short! Ha ha! We have Michael, Michelle, Max, Maria, Matthew, Miranda and Mark - phew!
As for when they'll be home, we still don't know. We are still holding out hope that somehow they'll be home by Christmas (this will take a lot of prayers...so please start/continue praying!!) but if not, we're hoping for early 2008. Please keep them and our case in your thoughts....
Below you'll find a link to a 4 ½ minute slide show of my trip - it's short and to the point and will give you a sense of the 10 day visit. Enjoy!
Also, you'll find a link to some of the photos of the other children there - it's a terrific orphanage but still it's not like having a family so the sooner they are home the better....
I'll be in touch...
TO VIEW PHOTOS:
To see the slideshow of me and my kiddies, click on 'view' on the VISIT album.
To see a slideshow of kids from Fundaninos (too cute!) click on the Fundaninos album.Then - click 'loop' to PLAY the slideshow. Turn on your SOUND as there is music attached to each. Thanks! Click the following link to view the collection: http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?bm=136520
To email me - send one to: hanavanmichelle@hotmail.com
Okay, I arrived home very late on Sunday 8/5 from my 10 day trip to Guatemala to visit my kiddies. Although I didn't like being away from Mike, Miranda, Mark & the puppies for so long, it was an amazing trip and I'm so glad I visited for such a long time. I am exhausted and still not yet fully unpacked, but I wanted to send this out as soon as I could...
I was able to stay at the orphanage (Fundaninos) for the entire visit. They have a small 'cabin' on site that was currently not being used so they let me stay there and of course the kids wanted to stay with me too! And as I'm sure you can imagine, 10 days of being together pretty much all the time really helps you get to know each other!!!
The kids are wonderful, smart, loving, cuddly and funny! We bonded so well and I just could go on for days on all the things I like about each child, but I'll save that for another day...but they are terrific kids. They are also quite shy around new people (we had quite a lot of visitors during my stay from work teams and visiting mission teams and my three always 'hid' from the people instead of playing with them like many of the kids do!) But, I'm sure once they are home for a while and get to know everyone, you'll get to know their personalities as Mike & I do and grow to love them as much as we do! They are so great....(did I say that already?!)
Some of you may have gotten my email while I was in Guatemala saying that I had a conversation w/ the kids (through a translator of course!) letting them know that they were all old enough to decide what names that want once the adoption is final and they come home. We hadn't even considered changing their names since they were older but after having discussions with other families who adopted older children, we realized that the might WANT new names - so we offered them the option to pick any names they wanted and they ALL were very very quick to choose new names...and very sure of them once chosen. I made them think about it for almost a week, checking each day, and they were still very sure...and here they are!
(It's going to take me a while to get used to them as I'm sure it will be for them...but we'll probably use their first TWO names for a while to make the transition easier)
Gerson Noe: Max Harrison Noe Hanavan
(Maximilian, but will most likely go by just 'Max' and "Harrison" sounds very much like his current first name however he really wanted to 'Americanize' it)
Vanessa Lisbeth: Maria Vanessa Lisbeth Hanavan
Belsy Antonio: Matthew Antonio Belsy Hanavan
And, in case you didn't notice, yes...they are all "M" names....so we'll be the M, M, M, M, M, M & M family...or "The 7 'M' family" for short! Ha ha! We have Michael, Michelle, Max, Maria, Matthew, Miranda and Mark - phew!
As for when they'll be home, we still don't know. We are still holding out hope that somehow they'll be home by Christmas (this will take a lot of prayers...so please start/continue praying!!) but if not, we're hoping for early 2008. Please keep them and our case in your thoughts....
Below you'll find a link to a 4 ½ minute slide show of my trip - it's short and to the point and will give you a sense of the 10 day visit. Enjoy!
Also, you'll find a link to some of the photos of the other children there - it's a terrific orphanage but still it's not like having a family so the sooner they are home the better....
I'll be in touch...
TO VIEW PHOTOS:
To see the slideshow of me and my kiddies, click on 'view' on the VISIT album.
To see a slideshow of kids from Fundaninos (too cute!) click on the Fundaninos album.Then - click 'loop' to PLAY the slideshow. Turn on your SOUND as there is music attached to each. Thanks! Click the following link to view the collection: http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?bm=136520
To email me - send one to: hanavanmichelle@hotmail.com
Monday, May 14, 2007
First 'Blog'
Well, this is our first ever 'blog' on this website. I had an old website for our family (I think you can still access it at http://groups.msn.com/TheHanavanFamily but it was getting to be too difficult to keep up as the site was not so easy to use. I'm hoping that this one works better for us.
Anyway, I hope you visit often and I look foward to reading your blogs too!
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