I now pronounce you man and wife...

You may now kiss your bride!!
So, as most know, Wes & I were planning a fall wedding.  First it was 09.10.11 and then it was 10.29.11.  Well, surprise surprise...it ended up being 07.01.11!!!!

Crazy, right?!

Thursday, June 30th after I gave my presentation in class...we hit the road!!  We took off south through Arkansas with wedding destination of Texas. 

Texarkana, to be exact.  Random, right?  Well, "we're Texans at heart" (to quote my husband). 

Want to hear about the trip?  Ok!

We went down through Arkansas and saw some beautiful landscape, though it was slow going ("crooked & steep road ahead" was a sign we saw - boy was it right). 



We got to the courthouse at about 4pm.  It closed at 4:30pm.  Yikes!!  We signed the papers and while we went into the tiny bathrooms (without air conditioning ducts - note: it was 105º) to change into our wedding attire, Jimmy (our WONDERFUL Justice of the Peace) went to get the papers filed with the Recorder's Office (...?  I think...?  I don't know - Jimmy took care of it all!!) so we could try to beat the clock!  He told us before getting dressed that if we hurried we could get married in the air conditioned court room or else it would have to be outside if it was after 4:30pm because they'd lock 'er up!  Boy did I hurry.

Notice how red my face is...?  So hot!!

My shoes...

The wonderful ladies in the Clerk of Court's that helped us...and all of the junk I had to haul into the bathroom to get ready for the wedding!!

We then drove to Rockwall (right outside of Dallas) and celebrated with a couple drinks:

Notice the name of the bottle...?  Beck's.  :)

The next night (July 2nd) we went over to Arlington to watch the Rangers play the Marlin's.

Panoramic view of the stadium.  We had pretty good seats - 18 rows up behind 1st base. 

After that we went to southern Texas, over to Louisiana, up through Mississippi, Tennessee, and Illinois.  Here are some highlights...

Ok, so Jenna isn't a huge fan of large/long bridges.  I can't swim - get over it.  We're driving in southern Texas...kind of in the boonies.  All of a sudden I see this view.  WHAT is this...?!  Oh, a bridge...steep as a roller coaster!!  With a stop light at the top of it.  Why?!?!  Oh, because it's only one lane traffic across the top of the bridge.  Wonderful.  So as we're going up the hill, I won't lie...I cried a little, jumped in my seat, screamed, and maybe even peed a little.  All the while, Wes is making the clickity (technical word) clack noise of a roller coaster.  Then we get a red light, of course.  Luckily, at that point, Wes became my loving husband, took my hand, and soothed me.  I know this all sounds ridiculous, but it wasn't about the water as much as it was the steepness of the hill and the red light at the top.  I wanted nothing more than to speed across that bridge as fast as possible...and then we get the red light.  So, later on in the trip as we passed SEVERAL more massive bridges, I was completely unphased.  I guess I overcame a fear!!  Yay!!

About 15 minutes later we learn we have to board a ferry.  Ok, so at this point I've had to use the restroom for an hour and a half.  Not just like "Oh, I have to pee" but "I have to pee now!!"  To top it off I'm still recovering from the bridge experience above.  Now they're telling me I have to get on a ferry?!  Riiiiiight.  Oh boy.

We spent the 4th of July in Vicksburg, Mississippi (Civil War Battlefield site).  Pictured above is an Iowa monument within the cemetary of Iowans.

Again...my "artistic" view.  haha

View from the top of the hill.

We watched the fireworks on the Mississippi in Mississippi...on a river boat casino.  They started cancelling the fireworks because of lightning and rain, but then the started letting them off on a boat sooo close to the river boat we were on - it was amazing!  :)

On the 5th we went to Graceland...
♪♫We're goin' to Graceland...Memphis, Tennessee...we're goin' to Graceland♫♪

On the 6th and 7th we were in Springfield, Illinois.  We toured Abraham Lincoln's house, tomb, museum, library, law office, etc.

After Springfield we headed back towards Iowa.  On the way we stopped in LeClaire, Iowa to visit Antique Archaeology which you may know better as American Pickers.  They were taping that day, so we couldn't go in, but that didn't stop us from going past the barriers to get pictures with their van, antique car, and other notable items.  Wes & I are addicted to this show as well as Pawn Stars and American Restoration.  Side note: last night's episodes of all three were continuous from one another.  Rick from Pawn Stars contacted Mike from Picker's to find him a 1957 Chevy 150 to give his dad for his birthday...and then they took it to Rick from American Restoration to build it back to it's original condition - who also called in Kount Kustumz to help!!  It was amazing.

Ok, now that I'm completely off track...

Also on the way home we stopped to see Jordon (can you believe we didn't take pictures together?!), which was so great and long overdue!