pixie921
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2008
I have to humour him and pretend to be scared!!! Oh the little things which please boys!!!
Joanne, that one is my absolute FAVORITE from the pool!! You two are so cute!!
I have to humour him and pretend to be scared!!! Oh the little things which please boys!!!
So on to the long-awaited pool pictures!! Oh, I really hope you guys will not be disappointed!!
We decided not to shoot in the Volcano pool as a) it was very crowded that morning as it was such a hot day, and b) I had made it clear that I was NOT going to have anything to do with pool slides etc. I can swim, but I am not over confident in the water, and pool slides and me aren't the best of friends!!! I am the one at TL and BB who spends all day on the Lazy River and the family raft rides!!! That is about as daring as it gets for me. Strange, because I will go on any ride in the parks (Mission Space, spinning version - bring it on!!), but I will not do watery things!!
Okay I have been a lurker/poster on these boards for some time now, but today I finally had my deposit processed, my ceremony confirmed and we are official, so I guess it's time to start a PJ!!!
About us
I am Joanne, aged 47, a paramedic and Disney fanatic
My husband is Paul aged 41, a postman (mailman). He is a golf freak and plays whenever he can!!
Our children are:-
Mark 24 (see below).
Emily 22 just graduated from Surrey university with a Bsc in business management. Emily is a part-time cast member at her local Disney Store and completed the International student programme in WDW two summers ago.
Henry 20 in his final year at Aberystwyth university studying drama (sees himself as the next Johnny Depp!!)
Alfie 10 still in primary school and an absolute gaming fanatic!!
Our History
About 12 years ago, I walked out on an abusive, adulterous husband with three children and the clothes we stood up in. My children (Mark who was 12 and severely disabled, Emily who was 10 and Henry who was 8) and I went to live with my parents for a while, before finding a house to rent near my parents in the beautiful English Lake District.
We settled in to our new life, but after a while Mark's disabilities became too much for me to handle alone. He has Down's Syndrome and severe autism. After much fighting with different authorities, I managed to find him a wonderful house very nearby where he is one of five residents and has one-to-one care 24 hours a day. Mark settled easily and to this day I know I made the right decision for him to move into his new home. However, at the time, the guilt associated with this decision was overwhelming. As a side note, I would like to add that Mark remains in his house today and we see him most days. He is happy and secure. Unfortuately, both health and practicalities will prevent him from joining us in Florida for the VR. He will, of course be with us in our hearts as he always is.
This story is really just to illustrate what a low point I was at when I met my wonderful husband Paul.
One evening, when I was feeling particularly down, my brother persuaded me to go and watch him play cricket (a strange English game). I decided to go, if only to give Emily and Henry the chance to run around in the late summer sunshine.
At the end of the match, I was helping my brother pack up the cricket equipment, when a tall man came across to help. My brother said 'Oh Joanne, this is Paul' and I looked up into the most amazing blue eyes and immediately felt my heart jump!!! We chatted for a while and got on so well!! Needless to say, I was very keen to go and watch my brother's cricket matches from then on!!
To cut a long story short, after a few times socializing at the cricket matches, Paul asked me to the cinema and we have been inseperable ever since!!
Paul helped me to come to terms with all the things in my past and became a father to my three children.
Soon we moved in together and the day I discovered I was pregnant with our son Alfie (now 10), Paul proposed. We married when Alfie was 5 months old and we celebrated our 10th anniversary in April.
Although we had a lovely wedding, it was done quickly and cheaply (church hall reception, hired dress etc) and I always dreamed we would one day have a dream vow renewal.
We have just come through a tough time both emotionally and health wise and since we now feel our marriage is stronger than ever, it seems the perfect time to put our dream VR plans into action!!!
Ideally it would have been wonderful to have done our VR on our 10th anniversary last April, but with two children at university (my daughter just graduated last week ), the time just wasn't right.
So now it is booked for next May.
When planning our VR, it was always going to be in WDW!! I am a lifelong Disney fanatic and my one luxury in life is my DVC membership (AKV and BLT). The children have been brought up to be Disney fanatics too. Paul (bless him) enjoys the parks, but struggles to understand the passion the children and I share!!
I hope that some of you will follow along with my PJ and not becoome too bored with the whole thing. It will be lovely to chat along with new Disfriends!!
I love those pictures and I hear you about the slides. I am not overly keen on those either and there would be no way I would get on a slide in a wedding dress.
Corinna
I LOVE the one of you looking afraid of him--- it's SO cute. This should definitely be blown up to life size and put onto a canvas! (But it really is adorable!)
You guys just keep getting cuter and cuter. Can't you go do this again so I can look at more pictures?!
Joanne, that one is my absolute FAVORITE from the pool!! You two are so cute!!
Oh I love the pool pics! Looks like you guys had such fun. Thanks for sharing!
Love seeing your mum pretending not to know you in the background of the picture - too funny! And I agree, the one of you pretending to be scared is the best! These pics definitely did not disappoint and your posts always help bring Disney magic to my day!
Love the pool photos Joanne, they definately do not disappoint!
Haha your mum in the background!!!
Love the ones of you both with the life rings. xxx
Those were such fun pictures! And I agree--I love the one where you're looking scared!
I laughed out load at this as I am exactly the same on pool slides that are not group ones and oh boy do I spend a lot of time on the lazy river!
I love the photos and cannot wait to read more
I love your pool pics Joanne.Thank you so much for sharing them.
I am the same with water slides. I can swim but I get the fear at the very thought of one. Chris on the other hand, can't swim and he loves water slides! He had to encourage me onto the inner tube slide with him at Aquatica, even then I screamed like a big girl all the way down
Oh Joanne - these were too cute for words Love the one with Mum in the background - what a grumpy pants You two have such a great time together - wound't it be fun if you two and John and I could coordinate a trip to the world - I think we could do some serious damage!
The ones inside the life ring are precious - and I love the "Jaws humming" in the pool - boys will be boys..
Love the photo with you looking scared, thats such a cool photo!
Your pics are wondeful and you can really tell that you were having a great time.
I agree with Jackie! Do it again so we can see more pics xx
Oh my goodness, I don't think I could ever go through with a trash the dress session, but your photos are so cute and fun! You two look like you had a fabulous time!
Oh Joanne, I throughly enjoyed every moment of your VR. You have given me lots of idea's for ours next year. Although lots are already in place.
You looked absolutely stunning, what memories. Your planning was to perfection.
We too have Randy booked for our photography, and must say that after seeing yours I am really excited about ours.
Take care my dear xx
I have sat over the last 2 days and read all through your trip report :good vibes
Love it, love it.
Looks like you had a wonderful time and have a wonderful and very loving family.
Many hugs and best wishes for your ongoing life together
Kerry
Quick question! Where did you get your daughter's dress from, whats the designer and style? It looks great on her.
Only read this much and already i am hooked..............................
What a story
Off to read more...........
Loved reading about your VR! Everything was so beautiful!!!
WOW...Just read this whole report!!...AMAZING!!...What a beautiful beautiful day you had....just perfect, from the Swan to Citricos to ending at the TOWL with WISHES!!!!...Took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes..
And what a lovely couple and kids!....You are all so photogenic..i just LOVE your dress and all your pics!
Congrats Joanne from a fellow Brit and Dvc member...
Amy sweetie - Aww thank you!! I hate to nag, but are we going to see some new plans from you anytime soon?