Sahuaro Ranch Park . . . where the ball got rolling

It was July 13th, 2011. I'm almost positive that was the date. Gavin and I met up at Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale, Arizona. It's where we held hands for the first time. It's when Gavin told me he loved me. I remember we walked in the lanes and over to the playground and sat on a bench. To me, the last two weeks leading up to this moment were very dramatic. It was like a monsoon storm, with lightning, thunder and torrential rain beating down so hard that the streets flooded and winds blew down trees onto power lines and neighborhoods were without power. . . I told you it was dramatic . . . or maybe I'm dramatic. Anyways, jumping back to that July evening last year, the storm was finally abating and the sky was much more calm. (By the way the storm is just a simile or a metaphor. The weather was perfectly hot and humid and the sky was clear blue). That day was the day Gavin and I finally became more than just casual friends. That's where the ball got rolling. In just three short, but seemingly endless months later, Gavin and I got married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple, on October 8th, 2011.

We took our engagements photos at Sahuaro Ranch Park and used one of the photos for our wedding announcement. Here are some of the photos, including our wedding announcement, that Gavin's sister, Jessi created. Much thanks goes to Franki, Gavin's mom, and Jessi for the great engagement photos.

Jump forward a year and three months into the future, October 13th 2012, Gavin and I took Peter, our wonderful little boy, to Sahuaro Ranch Park. It was so fun walking around the historic buildings, rose gardens, orchards, grape vines, and corn field. Saguaro Ranch Park has old farm equipment and some of the buildings are furnished with antique furniture from the time it was established in the 1880's. Thank you Dandi for letting us borrow the baby carrier!

My two favorite guys!

They are so cute.

Baby's first peacock....

He is totally fascinated ..... with something that's not the peacock. 

Smelling the roses ....

Grapes!!!!

Peter playing in the corn fields.

Rooster,

Pheasants.

Me on the tractor.

Gavin cranking the engine with Peter.

Peter wiped out.

Mama peacock with baby peacock.

Daddy Gavin with Baby Peter.

Monkeying around on the playground.

Above: This contraption was so fun. If you speak into the ball you hear it at the other end. It was so fun to hear Peter grunt and coo on the other end.

Here is the bench Gavin and I sat at that fateful July evening a year and three months ago. Gavin  was so sweet  and told me how much I meant to him there.

We had so much fun Saturday. It was a perfect way to celebrate our first anniversary of being married. I love my wonderful husband and my beautiful son. I am so grateful to have them both in my life. I couldn't be happier.