Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Christopher and I decided that our first posts should be our versions of our engagement day. They are obviously very different since he knew what was going on and I did not. We didn't read each other's stories before we posted so I guess we'll see how well they match up. Here's mine...
Saturday morning was a typical weekend morning for me in that I had set my alarm to get me up with plenty of time to get ready but had hit snooze several times and was now pushing it to be on time. Also typical, I had received texts from both Mom and Chris. Mom to ask me something about a library book and Chris to let me know he and Michael and Joshua were on their way out to get me. Time to get in the shower! I hurried up and got ready. When we got to the Magic Kingdom, Chris asked Michael and Joshua what they wanted to do and Joshua immediately exclaimed, “I want to go fishing!” Now I have met Joshua before so thankfully, this did not seem strange to me at all. Michael responded by asking what they hadn’t done before in the Magic Kingdom. We had talked a little about Space Mountain earlier, but Chris suggested we go to the river boat in Liberty Square. Joshua seemed excited about this since it was the closest thing to fishing he was going to get. We talked a little about Splash Mountain on the way there and I asked Chris if he thought we should head to one of the more popular rides before the park got busy. With the appropriate level of brotherly annoyance Chris replied, “No, they want to go on the river boat so we are going on the river boat.” Ok.
The river boat was coming around the bend as we approached. While we waited Joshua proceeded to dismember a tree in Liberty Square to provide himself with a fishing pole. Michael promptly grabbed it out of his hand and threw it back into the brush. We got on the Liberty Belle, I followed Chris down the stairs and stopped suddenly when I had dust in my eye. I was standing on the lower deck with tears spilling out of my eyes. I was pretty certain I was going to have to take my contact out. Wouldn’t that have been fantastic.
Once my eye stopped tearing Chris led me to the front of the boat. All of a sudden he was very concerned that Michael and Joshua weren’t with us. Suddenly I spotted Joshua two decks above us, leaning over the railing and shouting “Titanic!” I haven’t watched it in a while but I’m pretty sure Leonardo DiCaprio did not yell out the name of the movie he was making in that scene.
Chris went to go find them both and I stayed where I was. We had a good spot; I wasn’t leaving it. Chris returned shortly with Michael and Joshua who, each with a camera, hung out on the little platform right above us. We all chatted while we waited for the boat to take off. Chris commented on how it was weird that they were both standing up there taking pictures of random things. I didn’t really think anything of it.
Shortly the boat began to move and this is where it gets a little fuzzy for me. It seems like the next few moments happened all at once. I suppose they sort of did… I had turned to Chris and mentioned how there had been two whole days this week that I didn’t see him and I hadn’t even cried about it. (I’m emotional, ok, which is why this next part still baffles me a little.) Chris then told me that he never wanted to spend days apart from me again. (This is when I started to have an inkling of what was happening so I’m really sorry baby, but I don’t entirely remember the rest of what you said. I know it included “I love you.”) As he was talking to me he pulled out a box and started to get down on one knee. In the same motion he opened the box. I heard a cling on the deck of the river boat and a terrified “ohmygod!” and Chris was on all fours reaching out under the railing. It all happened so fast; I’m not really sure what my reaction was at this point. I’m pretty sure I was laughing because I didn’t know what else to do. (That's the part that baffles me. I always imagined I'd cry, but I think the distraction of the ring almost going overboard kept me from being overly weepy.) He ended up on his knee, with the ring, and asked me to marry him. I immediately said yes.
I don’t know the actual biology behind it but you know how you normally hear what someone says, your brain processes it and then sends a signal to your mouth and voice to respond? I don’t think that happened. “Yes” just fell out of my mouth. It was like the first time I told him I loved him. I wasn’t thinking about it. The words “I love you” just fell out of my mouth. That’s how I knew it was right. Anyway, I hugged him for what probably seemed like an hour to everyone else. I think he had to pry me off of him to get the ring on my finger. (By the way, it’s beautiful. He picked it out himself and it’s perfect!) As we got off the boat a Cast Member gave us a magical moment certificate and some Just Engaged buttons. They really say Just Married and they crossed out the Married and wrote Engaged with a marker. Classy Disney, real classy.
We met up with Andrea and Mel who had, unbeknownst to me, been running along the Frontierland boardwalk taking more pictures. We took some more pictures and made the first of MANY phone calls. I called my mom (who already knew and is thrilled), left a voicemail for my dad (who, of course, also already knew), Emily, Shelley, and Stacey. I left messages for Kristi, Olivia, and Aunt Georgia who all called me back. I texted Jay, Trey, and Charlie. And I talked to Chris’ mom when he called her. I wish his parents had been able to be here too. Hopefully, we’ll see them soon.
While this was all happening a very nice cast member brought over one of the Liberty Belle life preservers for us to take pictures with. I thought it was really nice. I was pretty sure Michael, Joshua, Andrea and Mel were going to disown us both if they had to sit there and listen to us make any more phone calls or take any more pictures so we all headed over to Tomorrowland to ride Buzz Lightyear. (I did very poorly, by the way. I think I was distracted.) Mel and Andrea both had to leave so we walked them back to Main Street and thanked them for being there. It meant a lot to us that they were there.
Since we were basically standing in front of Casey’s, the boys and I headed there for lunch. The park had gotten busy so we took our food over to Adventureland and found a spot to eat there in the shade. After lunch, we made the “official” facebook announcement with a picture of us holding hands and the ring. I then proceeded to drain my phone battery from checking all of the congratulations and well wishes. I am still truly touched.
After a bumpy ride on Space Mountain, we went to Epcot and sat through an Herb presentation for Joshua. It was moderately interesting. I wish there had been a better topic while we were there. We’ll have to have Joshua come back down during Flower and Garden another time. We saw my dad while we were at Epcot which was awesome. He hugged us and then pointed out Chris to the ladies behind us in the bag check line and proudly told them that he had asked to marry his daughter. I love my dad. We rode Maelstrom and posed for a billion pictures in front of Spaceship Earth.
We went back to the Magic Kingdom to meet my parents and Andrea for dinner. We met up at the wishing well near the castle to take some more pictures. Chris took us all to dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern. (He is so gracious and thoughtful and amazing.) We had a really great time. The food was great and the company was better. Our server claimed his name was Mo but wore a nametag that said “Tyler.” We referred to him as Motyler. Also, every 30 seconds, the entire wait staff came out to bring another table a cupcake for somebody’s birthday. The best (worst?) part was that they come out with a pretty shrill sounding bell. As our meal was ending we heard the bell coming towards us and we were brought our very own cupcake AND a fairly tacky Christmas ornament. (It was a very nice gesture, and we appreciated it, but the ornament is kind of goofy. The Cast Member who gave it to us also said something like this, “The Liberty Tree is very historic and it has a story that I really like and we got you this ornament. Congratulations.” It was weird.)
After dinner my parents and Andrea headed out and the rest of us went to the Haunted Mansion. Michael had a friend he wanted to visit while he was in town so we let him off the hook after the Haunted Mansion. Chris, Joshua and I wandered around for a while. We went on Pirates and took a billion more pictures in front of the castle and at the train station. It was a perfect day.
I am still finding out all of Christopher’s little secrets and lies from the last few weeks. He really had me fooled. He planned it so well. I am so lucky to be spending the rest of my life with someone who takes so much care in the things he does.
I told Christopher this but I also want to comment on how impressed I was with his brothers. I always knew they were nice young men, but their attitudes and patience really impressed me on Saturday. I’m sure there are a billion other things that would have been more fun than following their brother and me around a theme park and taking our picture all day, but they never complained. They never acted like they didn’t want to be there. I hope they had a good time with us. I’m so glad they were there.
And finally, Christopher, thank you for giving me a perfect day. I love you with all my heart and am so excited to begin this journey with you.
Saturday morning was a typical weekend morning for me in that I had set my alarm to get me up with plenty of time to get ready but had hit snooze several times and was now pushing it to be on time. Also typical, I had received texts from both Mom and Chris. Mom to ask me something about a library book and Chris to let me know he and Michael and Joshua were on their way out to get me. Time to get in the shower! I hurried up and got ready. When we got to the Magic Kingdom, Chris asked Michael and Joshua what they wanted to do and Joshua immediately exclaimed, “I want to go fishing!” Now I have met Joshua before so thankfully, this did not seem strange to me at all. Michael responded by asking what they hadn’t done before in the Magic Kingdom. We had talked a little about Space Mountain earlier, but Chris suggested we go to the river boat in Liberty Square. Joshua seemed excited about this since it was the closest thing to fishing he was going to get. We talked a little about Splash Mountain on the way there and I asked Chris if he thought we should head to one of the more popular rides before the park got busy. With the appropriate level of brotherly annoyance Chris replied, “No, they want to go on the river boat so we are going on the river boat.” Ok.
The river boat was coming around the bend as we approached. While we waited Joshua proceeded to dismember a tree in Liberty Square to provide himself with a fishing pole. Michael promptly grabbed it out of his hand and threw it back into the brush. We got on the Liberty Belle, I followed Chris down the stairs and stopped suddenly when I had dust in my eye. I was standing on the lower deck with tears spilling out of my eyes. I was pretty certain I was going to have to take my contact out. Wouldn’t that have been fantastic.
Once my eye stopped tearing Chris led me to the front of the boat. All of a sudden he was very concerned that Michael and Joshua weren’t with us. Suddenly I spotted Joshua two decks above us, leaning over the railing and shouting “Titanic!” I haven’t watched it in a while but I’m pretty sure Leonardo DiCaprio did not yell out the name of the movie he was making in that scene.
Chris went to go find them both and I stayed where I was. We had a good spot; I wasn’t leaving it. Chris returned shortly with Michael and Joshua who, each with a camera, hung out on the little platform right above us. We all chatted while we waited for the boat to take off. Chris commented on how it was weird that they were both standing up there taking pictures of random things. I didn’t really think anything of it.
Shortly the boat began to move and this is where it gets a little fuzzy for me. It seems like the next few moments happened all at once. I suppose they sort of did… I had turned to Chris and mentioned how there had been two whole days this week that I didn’t see him and I hadn’t even cried about it. (I’m emotional, ok, which is why this next part still baffles me a little.) Chris then told me that he never wanted to spend days apart from me again. (This is when I started to have an inkling of what was happening so I’m really sorry baby, but I don’t entirely remember the rest of what you said. I know it included “I love you.”) As he was talking to me he pulled out a box and started to get down on one knee. In the same motion he opened the box. I heard a cling on the deck of the river boat and a terrified “ohmygod!” and Chris was on all fours reaching out under the railing. It all happened so fast; I’m not really sure what my reaction was at this point. I’m pretty sure I was laughing because I didn’t know what else to do. (That's the part that baffles me. I always imagined I'd cry, but I think the distraction of the ring almost going overboard kept me from being overly weepy.) He ended up on his knee, with the ring, and asked me to marry him. I immediately said yes.
I don’t know the actual biology behind it but you know how you normally hear what someone says, your brain processes it and then sends a signal to your mouth and voice to respond? I don’t think that happened. “Yes” just fell out of my mouth. It was like the first time I told him I loved him. I wasn’t thinking about it. The words “I love you” just fell out of my mouth. That’s how I knew it was right. Anyway, I hugged him for what probably seemed like an hour to everyone else. I think he had to pry me off of him to get the ring on my finger. (By the way, it’s beautiful. He picked it out himself and it’s perfect!) As we got off the boat a Cast Member gave us a magical moment certificate and some Just Engaged buttons. They really say Just Married and they crossed out the Married and wrote Engaged with a marker. Classy Disney, real classy.
We met up with Andrea and Mel who had, unbeknownst to me, been running along the Frontierland boardwalk taking more pictures. We took some more pictures and made the first of MANY phone calls. I called my mom (who already knew and is thrilled), left a voicemail for my dad (who, of course, also already knew), Emily, Shelley, and Stacey. I left messages for Kristi, Olivia, and Aunt Georgia who all called me back. I texted Jay, Trey, and Charlie. And I talked to Chris’ mom when he called her. I wish his parents had been able to be here too. Hopefully, we’ll see them soon.
While this was all happening a very nice cast member brought over one of the Liberty Belle life preservers for us to take pictures with. I thought it was really nice. I was pretty sure Michael, Joshua, Andrea and Mel were going to disown us both if they had to sit there and listen to us make any more phone calls or take any more pictures so we all headed over to Tomorrowland to ride Buzz Lightyear. (I did very poorly, by the way. I think I was distracted.) Mel and Andrea both had to leave so we walked them back to Main Street and thanked them for being there. It meant a lot to us that they were there.
Since we were basically standing in front of Casey’s, the boys and I headed there for lunch. The park had gotten busy so we took our food over to Adventureland and found a spot to eat there in the shade. After lunch, we made the “official” facebook announcement with a picture of us holding hands and the ring. I then proceeded to drain my phone battery from checking all of the congratulations and well wishes. I am still truly touched.
After a bumpy ride on Space Mountain, we went to Epcot and sat through an Herb presentation for Joshua. It was moderately interesting. I wish there had been a better topic while we were there. We’ll have to have Joshua come back down during Flower and Garden another time. We saw my dad while we were at Epcot which was awesome. He hugged us and then pointed out Chris to the ladies behind us in the bag check line and proudly told them that he had asked to marry his daughter. I love my dad. We rode Maelstrom and posed for a billion pictures in front of Spaceship Earth.
We went back to the Magic Kingdom to meet my parents and Andrea for dinner. We met up at the wishing well near the castle to take some more pictures. Chris took us all to dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern. (He is so gracious and thoughtful and amazing.) We had a really great time. The food was great and the company was better. Our server claimed his name was Mo but wore a nametag that said “Tyler.” We referred to him as Motyler. Also, every 30 seconds, the entire wait staff came out to bring another table a cupcake for somebody’s birthday. The best (worst?) part was that they come out with a pretty shrill sounding bell. As our meal was ending we heard the bell coming towards us and we were brought our very own cupcake AND a fairly tacky Christmas ornament. (It was a very nice gesture, and we appreciated it, but the ornament is kind of goofy. The Cast Member who gave it to us also said something like this, “The Liberty Tree is very historic and it has a story that I really like and we got you this ornament. Congratulations.” It was weird.)
After dinner my parents and Andrea headed out and the rest of us went to the Haunted Mansion. Michael had a friend he wanted to visit while he was in town so we let him off the hook after the Haunted Mansion. Chris, Joshua and I wandered around for a while. We went on Pirates and took a billion more pictures in front of the castle and at the train station. It was a perfect day.
I am still finding out all of Christopher’s little secrets and lies from the last few weeks. He really had me fooled. He planned it so well. I am so lucky to be spending the rest of my life with someone who takes so much care in the things he does.
I told Christopher this but I also want to comment on how impressed I was with his brothers. I always knew they were nice young men, but their attitudes and patience really impressed me on Saturday. I’m sure there are a billion other things that would have been more fun than following their brother and me around a theme park and taking our picture all day, but they never complained. They never acted like they didn’t want to be there. I hope they had a good time with us. I’m so glad they were there.
And finally, Christopher, thank you for giving me a perfect day. I love you with all my heart and am so excited to begin this journey with you.
"Sometimes it's the boring stuff I remember the most." -Russell, Up
Every so often you have a perfect day and you think you'll remember it forever. While the memory may always be there, the details get fuzzy as time goes by. We wanted to start a blog primarily so that we'd have a record of our journey together, including some of those perfect days - and since we're posting it online, we'd love to be be able share these thoughts with our friends and family. So, if you're not too sick of hearing from us already... welcome aboard!
Remember... Adventure is Out There!
Every so often you have a perfect day and you think you'll remember it forever. While the memory may always be there, the details get fuzzy as time goes by. We wanted to start a blog primarily so that we'd have a record of our journey together, including some of those perfect days - and since we're posting it online, we'd love to be be able share these thoughts with our friends and family. So, if you're not too sick of hearing from us already... welcome aboard!
Remember... Adventure is Out There!
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