Alex and Mauricio, her "friend" to those of you who have observed my parental neuroses through the years, got engaged! It was a surprise engagement, and Mauricio has been planning it for quite some time...and I have to say, he pulled it off perfectly. It was exciting!
Under the guise of Mauricio's stepmom's birthday, he and his brother Carlos picked up Alex at her Dallas apartment and headed to what she thought was a celebration dinner. Maurico and Carlos's dad called and said they'd be "thirty minutes late" which meant the three of them needed to kill time. So they decided to check out Nasher Sculpture Center which is temporarily closed to the public, but open for private moments like this. Mauricio had arranged all of this ahead of time.
As the three of them entered the grounds, little did Alex know that her family and Mauricio's family were hiding in this room, where we had a (very distant) view of the spot where Mauricio planned to propose.
He and Paige had schemed about the details beforehand, and she'd helped him by delivering a table, bench, rug, and some items that are special to Alex and Mauricio as a couple.
(I couldn't help but laugh remembering Ladd's proposal to me, which went something like this: "Hey, Smith—you wanna get married?" Times are sure different now!)
There they are! At this point, Carlos had broken off, saying he was going to go look at something "over there" (haha) and Alex still had absolutely no idea what was going on.
It didn't take her long to figure it out, though!
Mauricio had also arranged for Alex's close college friend, Parker Chase, to be standing by (behind a tree, mind you) so she could pop out and capture the moment.
Meanwhile, this was our view of the exact same thing. It was good for Alex and Mauricio to have their moment, but it was actually really fun for all of us to be able to see it unfold from a distance.
We felt like we had secret front row tickets. (Alex's brothers could tell she was emotional; they know her tears from a mile away.)
What a happy, happy moment! This photo really captures the two cuties.
Finally, once we got confirmation that she said yes (haha) we all got to go congratulate the newly engaged pookie heads.
It was a special and surreal moment for me, her mom, who tried to indoctrinate my daughters through the years "not to get married until they are twenty-eight." Boy, Alex really listened to me, didn't she? 😂 But actually, I'm sure glad she didn't. Ladd, the boys, Paige, and I couldn't love Mauricio more, and the timing is so perfect for them.
Love is beautiful. Congratulations, Alex and Mauricio! ❤️
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
