December 2025

Before Christmas arrives, here is a quick look back at our December: Advent, Once Upon a Mattress musical with Shelby playing the piano--so much fun!!, Science Night at Marvelously Made, and winter concerts. 

We continued our Advent tradition this year of reading through the book of Luke together, unwrapping a Christmas picture book each day, and the kids got fun Advent calendars from Grandma & Granddad--a survival set for Brady & makeup/craft set for the girls!

{first craft project in Advent calendar}

{first gift in survival Advent calendar--a compass caribiner}

{Once Upon a Mattress...Shelby is in the middle of the pit!}

 

{Derek can't sit down during Georgia games...and neither can Brady!}

For Science Night at Marvelously Made, the Collective students (4th-8th grade) researched a significant historical invention from 5000BC-1000AD. After researching, each child created a tri-fold board with key information, prepared a hands-on activity for people to participate in when they visited their table, and prepared a spiel to share with everyone about their topic. Brady & Hadley worked so hard on this & knocked it out of the park! They both picked topics that were perfect for them--Brady researched bows & arrows, and Hadley researched Egyptian eye makeup.

{Shelby was able to come to the first portion of Science Night before heading to her band concert}

Grandma & Granddad have a special Christmas tradition with our kids. Each year, our crew picks children from Clark's Kids to gift Christmas presents to that are then purchased by Grandma & Granddad. The picture below is of them researching their gift recipients.

A few years ago, Shelby's class at Marvelously Made read the book The Christmas Jar, which inspired our kids to start a Christmas jar--collecting small amounts of money over time to donate/contribute to a good cause when it is filled. Our kids chose to spend their Christmas Jar money on more gifts for Clark's Kids this year!

We spent a good chunk of December organizing & purging in Hadley's room. We also got new wall art hanging in her room & did a little DIY project to display/organize her earrings!

Shelby volunteered to bring donuts to a school event the week before Christmas break, so we made a morning out of it! 

{Christmas movie watching after Shelby's last final!}

After Shelby's last day of school, we headed to Sonic for lunch to celebrate & went to the library. They read for hours once we got home! Nothing says winter break like a good library haul!

{BooBoo's annual Christmas craft project--this year they decorated cinnamon sticks!}

Our first full official day of Winter Break included a trip to Duck Donuts & a game of Monopoly! 

It's the most wonderful time of the year!