Istanbul

Istanbul is so great!

There is Baklava and Bidets as far as the eye can see! I literally had dreams of assorted candies, and delights floating about the air.

Kitty and I strolled around the city yesterday, eating various delicacies and seeing the sights. We walked across the bridge into Asia, drank various fresh juices, and walked through random alleys. (We stumbled across a carnival game where you shot balloons for cigarettes, How much manlier can something get!).

Then I hopped into the Bosphorus and swan with a couple of guys both named Sinan.

Later we ate fancy pistachio pudding at a dessert restaurant, and the president drove by (after first deploying several guys with sub machine guns)

Honeymoon Pics

Here are some shots from our fun honeymoon to Johnson's Shut-ins in the middle of the Mark Twain National Forest: 

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=johnson's+shut-ins&ie=UTF8&ei=HhqcTPqFI8LflgfD0NCZDg&ved=0CBAQ_AU&hq=johnson's+shut-ins&hnear=&radius=15000&ll=37.612056,-90.414734&spn=1.803628,4.22699&z=9&iwloc=A

http://picasaweb.google.com/kathleen.myra.kelly/HoneymoonPics

It was a blast!

After-Party Clothes

More info on the After-party. 

There will be a HUMONGOUS bonfire and TONS OF FIREWORKS, so i might be a good idea to bring a second pair of crappy party clothes to change into after the wedding (You can leave your clothes in the car before you hop on the drunk bus). 

There is also a fun pool! So you can bring a swimsuit if you want (or just hop in in your clothes).

Good News!

Good News! We will definitely be on the boat (despite the flooding). The boat just might not go anywhere unless the water drops another 4 feet. So everyone hope for dry weather up north or a crazy captain who will take us out no matter what.

What to do on the big day!

So the wedding starts at 4 PM. The Boat will leave the dock at 4:30. 

Your goal is to make it onto the boat. Here are some ways:

Option 1.

We have a drunk bus that can hold around 35 people leaving from my Aunt June's at 2:30 pm. You can drive and park your car at Aunt June's (address:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=114+Illinois+160,+Trenton,+Clinton,+Illinois+62293&sll=38.656239,-89.687892&sspn=0.008965,0.013797&ie=UTF8&cd=2&geocode=Fe7YTQIdw3in-g&split=0&hq=&hnear=114+Illinois+160,+Trenton,+Clinton,+Illinois+62293&ll=38.656239,-89.687892&spn=0.004022,0.013797&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=38.656239,-89.687892&panoid=__pMeINyolzSWlzu2Mmxmg&cbp=11,66.85,,0,11.58

)

Park your car at their house, and then hop in the bus at 2:30 and it will drop you off at the boat! Then when the part is over on the boat, this wonderful bus will be back to bring you to Aunt June's for the fireworks after-party! There you can have fun and party all night and they have a super big fun barn that you can pass out in if you feel. (it's a nice barn with couches and stuff).

Option 2.

Make your way to the river directly in front of the Arch. There is a riverboat there. Instructions for parking around there are found on the invites. Get there at 4:00 pm. If you get super drunk find a sober person to drive you to the afterparty (if you are going).

Bridal Shower!

It was super great! Thanks so much to everyone who was able to make it out! It was so fun to get to see everyone!

Lots of fun pics- http://picasaweb.google.com/momar1961/KittyBridalShower

Wedding Hotel

Here is the hotel we are recommending for staying at the wedding. It's got a pool (i think) but no free drinks like at the Drury Inn, but it is the cheapest place we could find. (and I think my sister and I have stayed there before with our dad, so we know it's a real hotel and not just some sort of weird front). It is also close to the interstate and quick access to all the things that are gonna be happening!

http://www.baymontinns.com/Baymont/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=17867&brandInfo=BU