It all started at a housewarming party—although if you ask Ryan, it was a pool party (jury’s still out). It was April 30th, a classic hot Arizona Saturday. Elizabeth had kicked off the day with brunch and mimosas alongside her longtime friend and then-roommate, Sydney. Somewhere between the second and third beverage, Sydney convinced Elizabeth to tag along to a coworker’s housewarming party. Expecting a backyard full of married couples and polite small talk, Elizabeth wasn’t exactly thrilled. But then they pulled up… and saw a handsome guy hauling a Slip ’N Slide like it was a trophy. Enter: Ryan. He was a little shy at first, but once he had his Slip ’N Slide set up and asked Elizabeth to be his partner for Slip Flip and Slip Cup (yes, it’s as chaotic as it sounds), sparks flew. They spent the rest of the night chatting, laughing, and eventually headed to Little Woody to play a very competitive round of skee ball. Ryan asked her out before the night was over, and their first official date was at Dough Bird the following Tuesday. Fast forward: they now own a home together, have successfully blended their two only-child dogs into reluctant stepbrothers, and even share a Costco membership—a true modern commitment.