Fire & Ice

The trip started with an ice storm in Cedar Rapids early Monday.  Road conditions were a bit dicey en route to Iowa City (6 AM); but fine from that point onward.

Friday morning called for an EARLY departure out of Clearwater.  All was on time until the pilot informed us we were turning around (30 minutes into the flight) because of a warning light that had come on.  Once on the ground, we had 4 firetrucks chasing us.  All were asked to deplane.  We were seated near the back, and Emmie needed to use the restroom.  After the plane was emptied, Grandma knocked on the door:

Grandma:  You ok?

Emmie:  Yeah.  I'm trying.  I may need another 20 minutes or so though (her concept of time is not reality yet).

Flight Attendant:  She needs to deplane sooner than 20 minutes from now.

Emmie came out shortly after.  I was in the back, and startled by the Fire Chief in all silver gear following me up the aisle (still not sure where he came from).  He told the pilot that there was an issue.....hot air in the hydraulics.  Glad we turned around!  A plane was sent from Sanford such that we arrived to Moline with only a 3 1/2 hour delay.

Quotes from the trip:

Emmie:  Hey, City Hall (Oldsmar).  Eric is in that.

Kris:  Do you mean the Hall of Fame?

Emmie:  Oh, yeah.  That.

Emmie asked more than once (while at Busch Gardens, and on the Pirate Ship), "Am I dreaming?"

Upon seeing dolphins in the water, "This is like paradise."

While collecting shells:

Emmie:  This is another piece to the same shell.  We must be making an orphan.

Kris:  What is an orphan?

Emmie:  Remember what you said.  It has a pearl inside it.

Kris:  An oyster.

Emmie:  Yeah, that.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for making this trip memorable!!!

On to the next adventure......a weekend with Dad in Chicago/Kenosha.

While driving from Moline, Phil yawned in the car.  From the backseat, Emmie asked, "Want me to drive?"