"Around the World at Christmastime"

Mary Conlee and the first graders at Parkway performed "Around the World at Christmastime." We just love Bridgett Hawkins, the music teacher. She does a fabulous job teaching and loving each child everyday! Each of the 11 first grade classes had a different country or culture or custom to portray in the play. I was so excited to hear that Mrs. Marlin's class was doing the Nativity! Mary Conlee was chosen to be Mary--she said because they share the same name! Her favorite part was taking her Bitty Baby to school and wrapping her in swaddling clothes. Bitty Baby was Baby Jesus! They sang the song "The Friendly Beasts" and MC had a little spoken part about the Italian tradition of La Befana, the little old witch. In any language, we wish you a Merry Christmas!

 
"Around the World at Christmastime" performed by the 1st graders at Parkway

 
Mrs. Marlin's class

 
Meg, Mary Conlee, and Abigail


"Pat-a-Pat-a-Pan"

 
The story of La Befana


"La Befana"

 
The Nativity


"The Friendly Beasts"- part 1


"The Friendly Beasts"- part 2

 
Sweet, little Mary


MC loved singing and dancing to "Oh, Kwanzaa!"


"We Wish You a Swinging Holiday!"

 
The sweetest class!

An Evening in the Park

One Friday night in December, we went to see the lights at Ballard Park with the Simmons family. When Cole and Mary Conlee get together with Causey and Bounds...they have so much fun--almost as much fun as the parents have! They are much like our extended family in town. I cherish these sweet moments!


Bounds and Mary Conlee were none too happy about posing for a picture so close to the water!


Is that you, Santa Claus?


Performing on stage at the "outdoor amphitheater"


What a crew!

Come Home For Christmas

As if December weren't an already busy month at our house, the Christmas pageant at church was the same weekend as the Nutcracker. Two Saturday performances of the Nutcracker were followed by the pageant on Sunday and Monday nights. Not to mention that Judd had the lead role in the drama portion of the program...and Cole and Mary Conlee sang with the kids' choir in one of the songs. They loved sharing the stage with their dad...the first time ever for our family. And because I helped to direct the kids' music and movement on stage, we all were involved in the performance. All this to say...now I know why I don't have single picture from the program. I had to borrow, (ok...steal) a few pics from someone else's blog (thanks a bunch, Heather!) She took some cute pics of the girls warming up before singing Caribbean Christmas. Sorry...no pics of Judd or Cole this time. There's always next year!


The girls before singing: Abby, Maury, Merritt, Sara Frances, and Mary Conlee


Maury, Abby, Sara Frances, and Mary Conlee are heading to the Caribbean!

The Nutcracker

Mary Conlee absolutely LOVED being in the Nutcracker. She performed her role as an angel just as she should have...no more copying the Sugar Plum Fairy! For the matinee performance, Cole and Judd, as well as Bubbe and Pop were in attendance. It was almost as much fun watching MC as she watched the Nutcracker as it was watching her dance. She was enthralled with the music and the dancers. She kept telling me different things she wanted to be when she got bigger! Mary Conlee was in the 2nd act, so she stayed with us until intermission when I took her backstage and she was transformed into an angel! We got dressed, fluffed hair, pinned our halo, reapplied lipgloss and blush--all before the end of intermission. By the time I ran back to my seat, I was worn out and nervous! Although the angels were not on stage longer than a minute or so, it was so much fun to watch them gracefully walk on their tiptoes and dance with the Sugar Plum Fairy! By the time the matinee performance was over and we got home to rest a little, it was time to go back for the next performance. This time, Judd and Cole were at the dress rehearsal for our church's Christmas pageant. So, Mama Charlie and Bob Bob, as well as Miss Betty Gayle, cheered her on for the nighttime performance. Mary Conlee got many sweet angel ornaments and Nutcracker momentos from family and friends. We already are looking forward to next year!

 
Tupelo Ballet's "The Nutcracker"

 
Posing with Mom and Dad at Friday night dress rehearsal

 
"The Calvary Crew"- Mary Conlee, Maury Johnston, Sara Frances Wolfe, Olivia Dickey, and Mia Katherine Todd

 
Getting her angel ornament before the performances

 
Bubbe and MC backstage

 
We were so proud of our angel...and the fact it was over!

Tupelo's Christmas Parade

In many years past, we have braved the cold and windy weather to watch the bands, floats, and parade participants march down Main Street. This year, the kids got to participate IN the parade instead of watching it. Our friends, the Rankins, invited Cole and Mary Conlee to ride with them in Darrell's Lee County Supervisor truck. Cole wore his cub scout uniform and MC was decked out in Christmas attire! Uncle Darrell and Aunt Cacky picked them up early so they could be in line for the parade. They enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate with them in the board room at the Lee County courthouse. Judd and I stood with friends in front of Calvary so we could see them as they came down the street. Lucky for us, they were close to the front! Judd and I ran along side them so we could grab the kids at the end of the parade. It was a great way to start off the Christmas season...and a busy beginning to Nutcracker Saturday!

 
Aunt Cacky, Uncle Darrell, and kids

 
Glad to find some hot chocolate on the corner in front of Calvary


While the rest of us stayed outside and froze, the kids were having a blast in the board room at the Lee County Courthouse

 
Let's have a parade!

 
We spotted them coming up the street...decked out with a big wreath!

 
Waving at friends and bystanders was a lot of fun

A Prelude

This is the fourth year Mary Conlee has taken ballet at Tupelo Academy of Dance Arts. Although she has been in the Spring recital each year, this is the first year she has been able to dance in the production of the Nutcracker. First grade ballerinas play the part of angels and dance with the Sugar Plum Fairy. The angels rehearsed once before the first dress rehearsal. So last night as the little angels lined up to do their part, Mary Conlee decided to dance the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy. She was watching her instead of doing the angel's part! It was so cute to watch and a little preview of things to come this weekend!

 
The Nutcracker, 2009

 
Maury, the bunny, and Mary Conlee

 
Mrs. Sharon is instructing the angels

 
Mary Conlee's Nutcracker debut

 
Watching the Sugar Plum Fairy


After a few times on her toes and back down, Mary Conlee decides to dance along with the Sugar Plum Fairy instead!