The Reveal!

Well, we paused the streak again. Similar to last year, Jennings went into the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Hemby for his annual check-up with Dr. Bolen. It snuck up on us this year…we went from not realizing it would happen to scheduling it and then attending the appointment in less than a week. So, we interrupted our regularly scheduled streak of no-cancer-related-medical-appointments for what we’ll call a technicality. All we have is February and March to go, then we’ll be back in Memphis in early April for his annual (and God-willing, final) check up with the transplant team at St. Jude.

The check-up at Hemby went great and his CBC looked perfect. Lauren sent me a video of him crushing his poke yet again. He was casually chit chatting with the nurses while they cleaned his arm and looked for a vein. He kept chatting while they filled the vials and then, as is typical, he asked them to “click it out” - his preferred way of taking the needle out. I guess the needles are retractable and make a click sound when you use that feature. He very much prefers that over any potential human error that may be induced by manually pulling the needle from his arm. 🤣

That was all January stuff, which means we skipped over the end of December and Christmas and the trip! Here are a few from that…I didn’t realize until I had already collaged the pictures together that we covered the twins’ birthday last time. 🤦‍♂️ So, they get bonus coverage…although they did get an entire 3-picture, dedicated collage last time. #downgrade

Clockwise from top left: Skipping over the 8-yea-olds…our family on Christmas Eve outside of New City…where the temperature was somewhere in the mid-to-upper 70s. Talk about being hard to get in the Christmas spirit. We had the AC on during our Christmas Eve get together and could barely convince the boys to put pants on. Next is all of the Palmer cousins at Gigi’s house for Christmas. Everyone was super excited to delay present opening for coordinated picture, but thanks to L, we now have one to remember ❤️Last, another one from Christmas day at Gigi and Slim’s. This was the first time my brother’s family and my family have been together for Christmas since all of the kids have been born. It was a sweet time, especially for my parents.

We revealed the big trip to the kids on Christmas morning. Well, us and Santa. We made him write a letter this year strongly emphasizing how Mom & Dad (it was nice of him to give me an honorable mention) were lead partners in their “main” gift this year. Lauren had a great set up and I love her creativity. This was our 3rd “big trip” reveal. Each one has been a surprise, and each surprise has been different.

Each of them had an individual backpack, which they could use as their car bag for the trip. I don’t know about you, but on a road trip, each of our kids is convinced that they may never see any of their treasured belongings again, and as a result, attempts to bring everything they own into the car with them. But I digress. Inside each backpack was a sweatshirt with a cartoon mouse on it. They knew instantly, “we’re going to Disney!!”

And we were, and we did. The day after Christmas, we pulled out of the driveway at 6a and headed south. We spent five nights down there and did three parks. It was a great trip and a good time for us to be gone…the rental is nice enough but extended, unscheduled (ie no school) time all together in it can get old pretty quick. Here are a few, well a lot, from the trip!

Left to right, top to bottom: Day 1 at Epcot where we had a real deal German lunch served by real deal Germans. Epcot at night is so fun - the kids love Spaceship Earth at night! Day 2 was Hollywood Studios, which we had not done since our very first trip to Disney back in 2019 - that's Charlotte’s favorite ride, Mickey’s Runaway Railway. The Palmer 6 at the entrance to Toy Story Land at Hollywood. We had lightning lane passes for Slinky Dog – one of the frontrunners for best ride – and it was a good thing…the standby line was over 2 hours at rope drop! Next, blasting out onto the track on Test Track, which had gotten a theming refresh since our last visit, but is still just as fast and just as fun. I could only get C to ride Tower of Terror with me this time…payback for taking the not-quite-3-year-old twins on it last trip! That’s us in the middle mid-drop…I’m always impressed at the people who can stage the photo while free falling. Last, all of us on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom, which is the re-themed version of Splash Mountain. Same ride, new look. Look closely at the boys’ faces 🤣 🤣

Left to right, top to bottom: We always do one “resort day” to rest from the marathon days at the parks and to enjoy the actual place you’re paying a ridiculous amount to stay. This year, on that day, we did a character breakfast for Char so she could meet her favorite - Stitch! As L reflected, this was probably our last character obsession. The big kids have already outgrown that phase. Next, family archery! We stayed at Fort Wilderness this time and that was a great family activity. We had a blast and no animals, or humans, or bullseyes, were harmed. We also did a fireworks cruise the night of our resort day, which was a fun way to see the show and get a private tour of the lake. To get to MK from Fort Wilderness, you ride a boat…which sounds fun, except when it’s in the low 40s before 7a! That’s Jennings and Lauren trying to look not frozen on the back of the boat. Next, all of us on Main St. with the castle in the background. Charlotte also really wanted to meet Pooh when we saw him out by his ride, so we waited about 45 minutes and did. She had done the Winnie the Pooh play last spring, so it was sweet. Last, we caught a magical sunset walking through Tomorrowland…everything is magical when you’re in the Disney bubble. Or so I’m told.

We drove back home on NYE and got home in plenty of time to be in bed asleep by 9:30p. More of a New Year’s Eve crash out for us after the trip. Our middle schooler will probably take issue at my misuse of their lingo.

Here’s a few from January as 2026 feels like it’s been rolling along for some time now. Crazy how far-removed Christmas and the holidays and the Disney trip seem at this point!

Clockwise from top left: Lauren and I were fortunate enough to get away again this year for two nights for our annual planning trip. We went back to the Treehouse near West Jefferson where we feel so quiet and isolated in the best way. It’s so good to get back in full alignment with each other as we turn the page to a new year. And yes, that is a Big A$$ Calendar taped to the window. Lauren made fun of me but it was actually super helpful. And now she can’t wait for the house to be ready so we can hang it up in just the right place. 🤣 That’s J at his annual visit to see Dr. B…coincidentally in his Disney sweatshirt. L took them to the Columbia Zoo on MLK Jr. Day…that’s become kind of a special place for them as she used to take them all there around the twins’ birthday every year. Lauren got a mountain house for the weekend right near Hawk’s Nest, so we snuck away for a quick trip. That’s us at the tubing place - so fun. The view from the hot tub was alright too!

I mentioned the house and I realized it’s been a while since I’ve updated on that front. Things slowed down at the end of the year from Thanksgiving through the New Year, which was hard. But, we got in-wall and rough-in inspections the first week of January, so our builder has been off to the races. We have drywall, prime paint inside, siding is on, the new HVAC units are now running! Here’s a few showing the progress…and one of our builder, Tom, and Jennings, who he has a soft spot for. They are most likely reviewing some change orders to install a gaming nook in the boys room complete with a mini fridge and fully stocked secret snack hideout.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and was able to slow down and spend some time with loved ones. Feels like we are well into the new year at this point and we have been staying busy dodging one “storm of the decade” after another. So grateful, that for us, in this season, the storms are literal. I read Exodus 14 today. I thought back to December of 2017 when verse 14 became our mantra. I’ve worn it on my wrist everyday since. So good to remember, and to be reminded. God is faithful and He is good and His love is steadfast.

“The Lord will fight for you, you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14

#allinforjennings