2024 Top Ten

1. Brad and Emily celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary!

 

2. Carson (15) is a sophomore in high school! He went to DisneyWorld with his orchestra group where he had a music clinic and performed Disney songs to a music video.

3. Tanner (13) 7th grade! Broke his arm in P.E. playing soccer at school and joined the jr high football team.

4. Logan (10)  4th grader! Joined the neighborhood swim team and got his black belt in Taekwondo.

5. Spring Break skiing at our favorite Purgatory resort in Durango, Colorado

6. White water rafting down the Snake River

7. Hiked a volcano in Costa Rica

8. Went repelling down waterfalls

9. Zip lining through the cloud forest

10. Staying in a treehouse in the rainforest

Christmas 2024

Christmas this year was full of all the cozy traditions that make the season so special. On Christmas Eve, we played games like Bingo, made no-bake cookies for Santa, and enjoyed a delicious prime rib dinner. The boys opened their Christmas Eve pajamas, we curled up for a movie, and then set out milk and cookies for Santa. The boys have their own sweet tradition, “sleeping” in the same room together, full of excitement and anticipation.

After they finally settled in, Brad and I became Santa, carefully setting everything out. Even though the boys are getting older, we could still hear them whispering and sneaking out of their room throughout the night, wondering if Santa had come yet. Our family rule is that no one wakes us before 7 a.m.—but sure enough, at 6:59 sharp, we had eager boys at our door ready for Christmas morning!

Stockings came first, followed by presents. This year, all the boys got new headphones, which were a big hit. We had a nice breakfast together and then spent the rest of the day playing with our gifts and just enjoying each other. Simple, sweet, and filled with love, just the way we like it. ❤️

 Merry Christmas!

Month of Music

What. A. Night. 🎸 Concert #5 of the season might just go down as the best one yet! Jodie and I had an absolute blast seeing MXPX with The Ataris opening—and wow, did they deliver. The Ataris crushed it and honestly left me wanting more. One of the best openers I’ve ever seen. They brought so much energy and nostalgia, setting the perfect tone for the night.

Then MXPX took the stage and it was game on. We were jamming out to all the high school anthems, screaming “Responsibility, what’s that?” at the top of our lungs like it was 2001 all over again. Total highlight? Watching the band throw their guitars across the stage to each other mid-set like it was no big deal. CRAZY. But the best part, the absolute cherry on top, was getting to meet the band afterward! I’ve never had that kind of opportunity before, and it was unforgettable. When it was our turn, I told them how awesome the guitar toss was, and the lead singer told me he liked my hair. 💁‍♀️ Major win.

And as if that wasn’t enough music magic for one week—Carson and I scored last-minute tickets from a friend to see the Houston Symphony perform Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban live alongside the movie. Hearing that score come to life gave us goosebumps. So grateful we got to go—and even more grateful for the handsome date by my side. 🪄✨

 

Riding with a Tour de France pro

Brad had an unforgettable morning riding with none other than Tour de France pro Nelson Powless! Nelson was in town visiting his wife’s family and organized a group ride—Brad and his two buddy's didn’t hesitate to jump in. They cruised through town, stopped for coffee and croissants, and even grabbed a photo together. Brad came home absolutely buzzing. It’s not every day you get to share the road (and a pastry) with one of the best cyclists in the world! 🚴‍♂️🥐📸 What an inspiring and unforgettable experience!  We'll definitely be cheering him and his EF team this July during the Tour de France!

(Powless is in the middle)

Powless bike.  Brad's dream bike. I don't think I even want to know how much it costs...

While on the subject of biking here are some other pictures of Brad and his buddy's out on their Saturday morning rides.

Holiday Work Christmas Parties

The holidays always bring a whirlwind of activity, and this year our calendar was packed with festive fun thanks to our work Christmas parties!

First up was one of our family’s favorite traditions—ConocoPhillips’ annual Houston Symphony holiday concert. After missing it last year while Brad and I were off adventuring in Europe, we were so happy to be back in Jones Hall soaking in the beautiful music again. Unfortunately, Tanner had to miss it this year since it fell on his best friend’s birthday party. Still, the rest of us loved every minute of the concert and the holiday spirit it brought.

Next was Brad’s Health and Safety department party, and it was so fun! It was the first one in years that we both were able to attend, and they really went all out. The theme? A murder mystery masquerade—complete with mandatory costumes, actors weaving a story throughout the night, and even a few brave coworkers stepping into character roles. It was super fun and theatrical, right up my alley (though not exactly Brad’s cup of tea, ha!). It was definitely one of the most unique holiday parties we’ve ever been to.

Then came my work party, I did have to miss Carson’s Christmas orchestra concert this year, which was a bummer. Thankfully Brad stepped in and recorded the songs for me, so I still got to see my musician in action, even if it was from the screen. We started the evening with a lovely dinner, but the real fun began afterward when we all headed over to a coworker’s house for our annual White Elephant gift exchange. I love this part—people bring the most ridiculous, hilarious gifts, and some have even become running jokes that reappear year after year. It’s such a great way to end the night, full of laughs and good company.

All in all, it was a joyful, memory-making kind of holiday season filled with music, laughter, and a little mystery!