From the Happiest Place on Earth to Sin City in a Matter of Minutes

We are home and settled after our Disneyland / Vegas adventure.  For those who haven't heard the tale, I've broken the trip down into a few phases.

Phase 1 - Disneyland

Last Friday, we left Philadelphia for the warmth of Southern Califo

rnia and four days at Disneyland to take part in One Lambda's (Skip's company) 25th Anniversary Celebration.  Disney was amazing, and Alexander exceeded all of our expectations with regard to enjoying the experience.  Each character, show, ride, etc. made him smile, and we found ourselves wondering why we had waited this long to take him to Disney.  Highlights of the four days included our special lunch with Ariel and the rest of the Disney princesses at Ariel's Grotto in the California Adventure park, and each of the character meet and greets. Amazing.

Phase 2 - The Beginning of the Return Trip

On Tuesday, we boarded our flight from LA on schedule.  About 20 minutes into the flight, we started smelling fuel and smoke.  Ten minutes after that the flight attendants made an announcement that they were speaking to the cockpit about the odor.  Another ten minutes later, the pilot made the announcement that we were making a "controlled emergency landing" into Las Vegas.

The oxygen masks did not deploy, and we did not exit the plane via the slides.  We were, however, met by numerous (four) fire trucks upon landing as well as other emergency vehicles.  After exiting the aircraft, we learned that the assembly around the cockpit windshield that houses the heater (to keep the windshield from freezing during flight) had ignited.

So, Alexander experienced yet another first at a very young age...his first official emergency landing!

Phase 3 - Venetian Madness

We booked a room for the night at the Venetian on the Vegas strip when it was clear we were not getting to Philly on Tuesday.  We are told that US Air took passengers on our flight to a sketchy Super 8 off the strip that was seedy, dirty and altogether horrible, so we're very happy we had the foresight to call our travel agent.  And the Venetian did not disappoint.  They upgraded us to a room the size of the first floor of our house and we made the most of the lovely surroundings.  By far, the most surreal day of our lives.

Phase 4a - Return to Philly

After waking at the ungodly hour of 4:15 am to catch our 6:30 return flight at the airport, we were delayed for about 2 hours in Vegas because the plane was now failing its pre-flight diagnostic tests.  It was about at this point that I jointly wished I had a prescription for Xanax and that we had rented a car to begin an impromptu cross country voyage.

Phase 4b - Arrival in Philly

After the extended delay in Vegas, repairs, and long flight (thank god for first class upgrades!) we arrived in Philly, collected our bags and made our way to the car.  And, the battery was dead.

Phase 4c - The Hill Family Decides that they are never traveling again

This one just goes without saying...

All in all, amazing trip, capped off by an even more amazing (albeit for different reasons) diversion.  Alexander was the trooper and Skip and I, resigned to the elements of traveling that are simply beyond our control, laughed our way through it.  At the end of the day, we're so happy to be home!