Stalkyards with the Starks

We had the best time meeting up with Brad’s aunt and uncle from Alabama at the Fort Worth Stockyards while they were in town visiting Melissa, who just recently moved there after her husband started a new job as a PA at a local hospital.

We made it just in time for the Christmas tree lighting, which was such a fun surprise and made everything feel extra festive. We grabbed some ice cream, but of course, Texas weather kept things interesting and we ended up getting caught in the rain! Thankfully, we found cover under a patio where we could sit, stay dry, and actually enjoy some quality time catching up with the Stark family.

Also very grateful to Sasha for loaning me some cowboy gear so I could fully fit in with the Stockyards vibe 🤠 It was such a great visit, and I’m so glad we were able to see everyone while they were in town!

 

Thanksgiving 2025

We headed to Dallas for Thanksgiving to spend time with Ryan and Sasha’s family, and it was such a fun, full weekend! 

On Thanksgiving day the boys were beyond excited to take Ryan and the kids motorcycles out to their property where they’re just starting to break ground on their new home. It was really special to see it all come to life.

Not only did the boys love riding around the property on their motorcycles, but we also spent some time playing on the playground and playing basketball before heading back to their house, where Sasha had put together the most beautiful spread. The decorations were stunning, the food was just as amazing, and we felt so spoiled.  She truly outdid herself. After dinner, the kids piled into the hot tub and soaked up every last bit of fun.

The next day we jumped into some Black Friday shopping and managed to find some great clothes for the boys. We tried to catch a movie, but waited a little too long and the show we wanted was sold out, classic! We did make it to the gym to work off some of that Thanksgiving food, though.  That night we also met up with the Stark's, but that will be its own post.

By the time we headed home, all the kids were fast asleep in the car. It was one of those weekends that leaves you feeling full in every way, and it’s always a little sad to say goodbye. So grateful for time with the family like this 🤍

 

Paintball

    While Brad was off in Tucson, I figured it was the perfect chance to do something fun (and a little out of the ordinary) with the boys so we went paintballing.

    Our first game was capture the flag, and it was me and the boys versus another family. The second the game started, I took off running and grabbed the flag right away. Totally caught the other team off guard they were still getting into positions and didn’t expect it to happen that fast. After that, though, they were ready. I got hit a few times, and they came back to win the second round. But we weren’t done—we rallied and took the third game, winning best out of three.

    As we were walking off the field, the referee laughed and told me I had “no fear” because I just kept going for the flag no matter how many times I got hit. Honestly… not wrong.

    After a quick break, we headed to another field with a bigger group. This time we split up Carson and Logan on one team, Tanner and me on the other. The objective was to get inside this abandoned structure and tap a PVC pipe to switch it to your team’s color. Sounds simple, except no one really wanted to go inside it was tight, chaotic, and basically made you an easy target.

    Naturally, I kept going in anyway. Every time I tried, Carson seemed to be right there waiting to take me out one shot in particular (to my hand!) I definitely remember came from him. At one point, though, Carson must’ve gotten hit and had to head back to reset, and that was my chance. I made it in and switched the pipe to our team.

    I honestly don’t even remember who won that round, but it didn’t matter it was so much fun. The next day, though? A different story. I was covered in bruises, and a couple of them were pretty gnarly. Totally worth it.

    It ended up being such a fun, different way to spend time with the boys—and one I don’t think any of us will forget anytime soon.

Target shooting to get rid of the last few paintballs

 

El Tour de Tucson

Brad headed back to our old hometown of Tuscon, Arizona! He went out with his Texas riding buddies, Corey and James, for a guys trip centered around one incredible event: the Tour de Tucson. Sponsored by Corey’s company.  This isn’t just any bike ride, it’s one of the biggest in the country, with over 10,000 riders taking on a 100-mile route around Tucson. The energy, the crowd, the high level of competition, made for an unforgettable experience.

But what made it even more meaningful was the familiarity. Along the ride, Brad passed through Sahuarita and even rode by our old home. There’s something surreal about revisiting those old routes, seeing the same desert landscapes, and feeling like no time has passed while also being surrounded by some of the strongest cyclists in the U.S.

And Brad didn’t just ride, he crushed it! Finishing the 100 miles in under 4.5 hours, he qualified for Platinum status, an incredible accomplishment that speaks to how hard he’s trained and how much he loves the sport.

After the race, the experience only got better. Through Corey's connections through work the guys enjoyed lunch in the VIP section and even had the chance to meet Sir Bradley Wiggins (a tour de France winner) a pretty amazing moment to cap off such a huge ride.

The next day, they drove up Mount Lemmon to scout out the climb for what was coming next. They soaked in the views and made sure to hit some of our old favorite local spots—including grabbing a classic Sonoran dog (a bacon-wrapped hot dog that’s every bit as good as it sounds).

Then came the ride up Mount Lemmon.

If you know Tucson you know this is no easy climb. Riders from all over come to Mt. Lemmon to ride. As a bike rider it is one of the longest climbs in North America, about 26 miles.  And Brad? He powered his way to the top in under two hours. Honestly I don't know how he does it.  I'm in awe.

At the summit, they were greeted with snow and, of course, a stop at the famous cookie cabin. Brad went with a peanut butter cookie that is the size of a plate and well-earned after a climb like that.

now for the fun (for Brad, scary for his wife) part, the downhill.  I don't even want to know how fast he was going...

Needless to say, it was an unforgettable trip and one he’ll be talking about for a long time.