IMEA Honors Chorus

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We were proud to have the opportunity to see Drew perform with the IMEA Honors Chorus today ... a high honor for high school vocalists around the State. The event was held at the Peoria Civic Center, and Drew spent 3 days there at the conference. It was such a great experience for him, and he ran into a few people who were in his choral camp at Eureka College last summer. The photo show above shows a distant shot of the Honors Chorus and a blurry, closer shot ... but not great lighting for a mediocre camera to get good pics ... and then a shot of Drew and his grandparents, who were able to be there to share this special day. Congrats, Drew!

Abby is 4 Today!!

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Today is Abby's birthday! She has really grown and changed, as you can see from the slideshow! Last night we worked on her princess birthday cake, which you can see in the pictures. She had fun putting on her princess dress to have her picture taken with it. Happy birthday, sweet girl!

It's (Almost) My Birthday!

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Last night we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant to eat ... and since Abby's birthday is only a few days away, we couldn't resist telling them she was celebrating so she could get the full "song and sombrero" treatment! She thought it was pretty funny ... and then everytime they sang at another table she would say "Mommy! They are singing for my birthday AGAIN!"

Only a few more days until her big day on Wednesday. She has ordered a pink cake with pink frosting from mommy ... and she's ready for the big day!

We Met Abby Three Years Ago Today ...

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January 6, 2004 ... the day the Chinese government placed a precious child in our arms to become our daughter, forever. A day held as special in our hearts as the days our boys were first placed in our arms.

It was a whirlwind day ... meeting our travel group (4 other families) to fly from Hong Kong to Changsha, Hunan. We were only at the hotel about three hours or so before the girls arrived. We had just enough time to check into the hotel, unpack a few things, walk to a nearby grocery store to buy some supplies ... and wait.

Our facilitator called and said she had received a call from the orphanage workers ... they were about 5 minutes away from the hotel in a van. We went down to the lobby and here they came. We watched them enter ... Abby first through the door ... and then we went up to the lobby of the 18th floor of the Grand Sun City Hotel to become a family. We were so happy. Abby was not so happy, at the time. All very surreal, yet all so very real.

I put together a Photo Show of some wonderful China trip memories, as well as some more recent pics ...

http://www.photoshow.net/tremontscotts/family
(from that site, click "Abby Then & Now" for the Photo Show)

And some interesting stats ... what's in a number?
36 - the number of months Abby has been with her family
19 - the number of inches her hair has grown since meeting her
16 - the number of pounds she has gained since coming home
12 - the number of inches her height has increased since coming home
10 - the number of months she lived in Zhuzhou City, Hunan
5 - the number of cousins she gained when she joined our family
4 - the birthday she will celebrate in a few weeks
2 - the number of brothers who treat her like a princess
1 - the birthday she first celebrated with family

Happy Family Day, Abby ... Happy "Gotcha" Day, Abby ... I can't even remember what life was like without our little girl!

Happy 2007!

Well, it is back to work around here ... and tomorrow back to school ... another year underway at the Scott house!

The kids and I had a nice week off between Christmas and New Years ... love the photo, above, of TJ & Abby relaxing on the new "Dora couch" that Santa brought to Abby! We went to a wedding on the 30th and then had family Christmas in Canton on Dec 31-Jan 1, so the last few days off were busy ones!

While in Canton, the kids had a special treat from a friend of ours and got a tour of the fire station, and the 4 younger grandkids even got a ride in the fire truck! Quite the treat for 8-9 year old boys! Short photo show, below!

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Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful couple of days ... yesterday we had Grandma & Grandpa Scott here to share the afternoon and then dinner ... and then we went to Christmas Eve services to hear Drew sing "Immanuel." The candlelight service was beautiful, and it is always special to hear Drew sing on Christmas Eve.

Today we were up (not too early, 7:30 am!) opening Christmas gifts. Now the kids are having fun enjoying their new things and we are relaxing and enjoying a holiday home from work!

Here's a short Photo Show of the kiddos on Christmas Day ...

http://www.photoshow.net/tremontscotts

Merry Christmas!

Madrigal Singers/Christmas Concert

A couple pics of the Madrigal Singers from the THS Christmas Concert ... Drew is on the far left, at the top of the risers!


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The Christmas Tree Angels Have Smiled Upon Us!

This is the story of "The Year We Almost Didn't Have a Christmas Tree" :-)

First, some background. We have a 24 year tradition (before kids!) of tromping around the Christmas Tree farm to find THE perfect Christmas Tree to grace our home during the holiday season. And over the last 17 years of the kids being part of the tradition ... it is just one we would never give up. No trees selected from parking lots for us, no artificial pines gracing this house. Must be real, must find it and cut it down, must drag it back to the tractor and then tie it to the top of our vehicle and drive it home!

That being said ... this year was a bit difficult. We have found our tree in previous years through sleet and rain and blinding snow, through cold and frigid temps, but this year the problem was a busy schedule! We always wait until the 2nd weekend in December so as not to have a "withered pine" in the house by the holiday. On December 1st, a snowstorm dumped about a foot of snow on the area ... and of course, on the trees at the tree farms. The second weekend they were still covered in snow and ice ... and we had to travel to Canton Fri-Sat-Sun for TJ's basketball tourney, plus be in Tremont Sat night for Drew's Madrigal Dinner and on Sun for Drew's Christmas Cantata. The weekend was shot.

But the Christmas Tree Angels heard of our plight and smiled upon us! First, they granted us a rearranged family Christmas gathering from this weekend to Dec 31-Jan 1. Our family holiday was supposed to happen today ... but just try and get 3 busy young families together, it is conflicts to the extreme! So thankfully we were rescheduled, and this weekend opened up for the big tree adventure!

But of course, Mitch worked this morning and TJ had a basketball game this afternoon ... which is where the Christmas Tree Angels smiled upon us again when the game was cancelled! A free afternoon. But what about that foot of snow from two weeks ago?

Oh the Christmas Tree Angels would not let a "little" snow get in the way! Over the past few days, the temps have been in the mid-50's and the snow is completely GONE! And today was a balmy (for Dec in IL!) 58 DEGREES! So we ventured out in light jackets and boots to handle the mud from the melting snow, and the Christmas Tree adventure was a big success! Found the perfect tree, Mitch got the cutting underway ... and then TJ got the honor of cutting it down the rest of the way! It is in the house, and since Drew had a Christmas party to go to tonight, we will decorate it on Sunday. But it's here! Enjoy our Photo Show of the big adventure ...

http://www.photoshow.net/tremontscotts/family

THS Madrigal Dinner

The THS Madrigal Dinner was a great success, and tonight was the final performance for this group of hard working kids! Enjoy the photo show ... Drew is pictured with Sara, and then again with Taylor and Cori.


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A Snowy Friday!

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The kids are getting a rare snow day from school today ... but found some time to enjoy a little play time outside! I stayed home but Mitch braved the roads ... lots of drifts around the house, as you can see in the pics!