Sunset Station co-workers balance their work relationship and marriage

For Javier and Grace Aguirre, it was love at first sight.

Grace had started working at Sunset Station just six months after Javier when their paths began to cross in the hallways.

Random encounters at work turned to conversations that soon led to dating.

Grace enjoyed Javier's personality, while Javier couldn't turn his eyes from Grace because he thought she was beautiful.

"I told my cousin, 'I'm going to marry that girl,' " Javier said.

And on June 30, 2000, that's what he did.

To propose to Grace, Javier followed a Mexican tradition in which he sends one of his good friends to ask her parents, who then ask her. Both sets of parents then get together, and he finds out whether she accepted the proposal.

"I played a little trick on him," Grace said.

Javier's mother told him Grace wasn't ready to get married yet.

"My whole body just collapsed," Javier said.

Before the full weight of devastation set in, Grace appeared from the other room, telling him she would marry him.

Since then, both have experienced what they call the magic of love.

The couple admit there are keys to making their relationship work.

"It takes communication, patience, honesty and lots of talking," Grace said.

Most of all, Grace said there is a lot of compromise.

"I am a planner," Grace said. "He usually likes to wake up and shower and just see where the day leads."

While Grace has learned to go with the flow at times, Javier has learned to plan trips and surprises.

Grace's favorite surprise was when Javier planned a romantic getaway to Cancun, Mexico.

Grace has planned a few surprises of her own.

Once, for Javier's birthday, Grace hired a mariachi band.

"His cousin came into town and took him to the Strip," Grace said .

While they were out , Grace organized the band and set up a cake for Javier.

"So when he walked in, they started singing," Grace said. "I can still picture your face."

Seven years ago, the couple had twins, a boy and a girl.

"It changed our (relationship's) dynamic a little but for the better," Javier said.

Grace said the main change is how their lives now revolve around their children.

"Kids are full of surprises," Grace said. "You could (start) the day with a routine, but then it turns into something different."

The couple really enjoy family time where the four of them can travel anywhere from different zoos in California to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.

They still try to have dates. They drop the children off at their parents' house and go out, just the two of them.

"We will go out on lunch dates or go to the gym together," Grace said.

During the 12 years they have been married, they have worked for the same company and learned to balance being married and being co-workers.

"People say they have had problems trying to separate their work relationship and their marriage," Grace said. "Not us. We make it work. We see each other at work, but we always keep it professional."

Looking to the future, Grace and Javier hope they continue with Sunset Station, which they said is like a second family, while they continue their adventures with the children.

"I hope we could be like this the rest of our lives," Javier said. "I like it."

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.