More to come soon...

Not for sure that we still have readers out there but if we do, just wanted to drop a line and say that we are sorry we haven't posted in so long.  To be honest, we've just been so busy but not only that, we've been on the fence about our 2 adoption.  For awhile there seemed to be a little uncertainty in the program and we weren't sure if this was our true calling or not.  Well after a lot of soul searching it turns out...IT IS!  We are getting ready to bear down and start the paper chase all over again!  Until I get back with a more detailed update, I've given the old blog a minor facelift and added a few new photos.  Promise to update real soon this time!

Yet another long, overdue update...

Long time no blog huh? It's been a really busy Spring so far and blogging time has really been at a premium if you know what I mean. Not a whole lot to report on our new adoption journey. We're still in the early, early stages of the process. We've just been so busy dealing with the wonderful IRS and the new tax credit. As if the government doesn't make the adoption process difficult enough, we have to go back and have copies made of every single adoption-related check we've written since 2007. Fun, Fun! Anyway, that's where we now stand.  So without further adieu, here's a little glimpse of what the Hansel's have been up to the last few months.

We decided there was room for one more!

There have been lots of birthday parties...

...and lot's of opportunities to learn that not all b-day gifts are ours :)

We've started experimenting with puffs more....

...and more

We've also been introduced to Bubba and 'Nunna's Gator!

We've discovered the wonderful world of s'mores...

...and discoverd our "cool" side as well :)

Had the best Easter ever...

...and hunted Easter eggs...

...till we dropped.

We got our first Toms...

...and went to the zoo...

...even rode our first choo-choo!

It's been an awesome Spring.  Life is definitely good and we are very blessed to share it with Marley!  Will try to post some updates a little more often from now on. 

The Big Announcement (TAKE 1)

This was too good not to share.  Our first attempt at capturing Marley's Big Sister Announcement.  Not quiiiiiiiite what we were looking for :)



Marley's Big Announcement

Check out our newest video.  Marley's got a big, big, BIIIIIIIIIIIIG announcement for everyone.  Look out Ethiopia, here we come.........AGAIN!!!

One year ago today (Pt. 3) HAPPY GOTCHA DAY!!!

One year ago today we FINALLY landed in Addis and had our sweet baby girl in our arms a few hours later.  Our lives have never been the same since.  Happy Gotcha Day Mar-Mar.  Mommy and Daddy love you more than you will ever know!  We threw this little montage of our first year together yesterday.  Enjoy!

One year ago today (Pt. 2)

Oh where to start?  Alot of colorful words could be used to describe this day but for the sake of our readers will just call it "Bittersweet".  We arrived at Frankfurt, Germany around 8 A.M. as scheduled and everything was going smooth...that is, until we managed to miss our flight to Addis.  What a nightmare!  For some reason, Frankfurt doesn't declare a set gate until about an hour before takeoff so the only thing we had to go by was the gate # printed on our tickets.  BIG MISTAKE!  We set there for a few hours until our scheduled departure drew closer and closer.  We asked several airline and airport staff if we were at the correct gate, to which they all said, "yes".  Yada, yada, yada....long story short, we missed the flight, was told that the next flight out wasn't for 2 more days (which meant we would likely miss our Visa appt), cried, cursed, finally found another flight out at midnight with another airline (Ethiopian Airlines), cried some more, forked out another $1600 and at 10:30 PM finally departed the hell hole that is Frankfurt Airport en route to Addis Ababa and our baby girl!  Now if that's not bittersweet, I don't know what is!

Our inspiration through 2 days of layovers, missed flights

One year ago today (Pt. 1)

One year ago today we boarded the plane from Kansas City to Frankfurt, Germany enroute to Addis Ababa.  Had to be the most exciting day of our lives!  We posted this to our blog just before our departure:

"It's hard to believe that after 3 long years, the time has finally come. We're off to get our beautiful baby girl!!! Don't know if the opportunity to upload photos or update our blog will present itself during our stay as we've been told the internet is slow...I mean, reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally slooooooooooooooow. Not to mention the frequent power outages but rest assured there will be plenty of pics and videos to go around when we get back and we can't wait to share these experiences with all of you! Sorry to rush off but we're sort of in a hurry... we're off to meet that certain little someone ;) Ciao!"

The Great iPad/iPod Giveaway!!!

One of our adoption buddies is trying to raise the necessary funds to go on a mission trip to Uganda in a few short months and came up with a really great idea for a fundraiser.  By visiting their blog you can donate and enter to win and iPad, an iPod, or Both!  An iPad entry is $20 and iPod entry is $10.  As if that's not a great deal already, she's also giving additional entries for posting a link back to their site on facebook, blogs, and twitter.  To donate and enter for your shot to win these awesome prizes, click HERE!!! 

Congrats on your upcoming trip to Uganda, Elisa.  Hope all is well with you guys!



And just because, here's a shot of Marley getting ready to party it up at MiMi's (grandma's) b-day party tonight

one year photos....FINALLY!

In keeping with our "better late than never" theme, here are some pics from Mar's 1 year photo shoot.  Nothing like ordering them 4 months later :)  Enjoy!



Two Firsts...

Her first salon appointment

 & her first overnight hospital stay :(

Marley can count to 10!!!

This is the best video we've been able to get so far.  She can do it by herself but it seems every time we pull out the camera, she gets a little shy and needs a prompt here and there.  Pretty darn good for a 16 month old!



First Christmas!

I guess better late than never seems to be our theme lately, but we did have a great first Christmas with Marley. Kris and I put a lot of thought into each gift we got her and really wanted to get toys that she would really like and would grow with her. Obviously Kris and I were far more excited about our first Christmas together than Marley since she had no clue what was happening anyway. We spent Christmas Eve with my family, which included my 4 year old niece and 1 year old nephew so you can imagine how crazy it became when it was time to open gifts. We all had a great time and Marley got several great gifts. Once we got home Kris and I made sure all her gifts were under the tree and that Santa had come. Christmas morning, again us more excited than her were up early waiting on Marley to get up. It was a wonderful Christmas morning, we took our time opening each gift and playing with it then moving to the next one. Her big gift this year was a kitchen that she does love, she also got her own little rocking chair, she got blocks, crayons, crayons for the tub and a little music player that she can pack around with her. We had also gotten her some Christmas pajamas but she got those the night before. Later that day we went and had Christmas with Kris' side and again she received several great gifts. Christmas with Marley will always be special but I don't think anything can beat that first one. Since everyone loves pics I will leave you with some. Hope you all enjoyed your holiday as much as we did.

                             Christmas Eve: Marley 1, Jarret 1 1/2, Jenna 4                           

Santa made it!

Trying out her new rocking chair

Oh boy!  New blocks!

new "cd" player

Mar rockin' her new hat w/ Mommy

Patience!  Dinner will be ready in a minute.

 Hugs for Cousin Miles

 Christmas photo @ Ronnie & Jenny's

 Mar's newest thing, her "mean look"  lol

 Party at my crib, New Years Eve!