McNeil Elementary Christmas Program

This Thursday night the school kids put on their musical adaptation from Jan Brett's story "Christmas Trolls." Jordan has been in drama club after school for the past couple months to be "Tuffi" dog in the show - he didn't ever have the nerve to utter a "ruff," but he was pretty dog-gone cute! He was on hands and knees for the whole show, just to the right of the sleigh below.

This was Clayton's debut kindergarten performance, and his class dressed as the trees in the forest in "costumes" they made themselves. His tongue rolled in his cheek and his eyes nervously scanned the crowd and the floor tiles; he reported later, "Mom, I was moving my lips, but I was only singing the songs in my head." (Back row, center :) Brandon was a big kid in outdoor gear who was very pleased with their song and dance his class had worked on extra hard to coordinate... he's got a great sense of rhythm and takes it very seriously!
Claire Swanson was the star character "Treva" of this Swedish tale in which her family's Christmas treats keep disappearing. The forest trolls and hedgehogs learned a lesson in the spirit of the season by giving and sharing instead of taking selfishly. Mrs. Swanson was the musical director, and quite lovely in her Swedish sweater, too.

A homeschool mom, my friend Ellirene brought 2nd grader Emerald out to the school for music practices so she could be in the show. I sat with their family and twin sisters Alectra and Alexis were just too cute in their new jumpers from Grandma. :) The school kids all made a gingerbread school this year instead of individual houses in honor of the 25th anniversary of McNeil Canyon Elementary. It was quite impressive, with playground and student details!