OK, I admit this has not been what I have been dreaming in all of my life. In fact, our first minivan was purchased after my husband wore me down when I was sick. He had been looking at them for a while and I kept resisting his suggestions to purchase what I considered pinnacle of getting old and boring. (Of course he did not want to drive it either.... He just wanted us to have one). Like I said though, he waited until I was sick and next thing I knew I was the proud owner of a minivan. and old. and boring.
After I started feeling better I resented being stuck with the minivan. When I first started driving it I HATED it but After 1 - 2 mos I actually started to like it. I may not have admitted that I liked it but I did. It was easier to see over smaller cars in front of me in gridlock traffic, my kids were safer, I felt tall for once in my life (I am barely 5" 2""). Also, shortly after our first minivan I found out I was pregnant with our third child so I realized that a minivan was inevitable.
Through the years we have LIVED out of our minivan. We have traveled up and down the east coast. I went back and forth to work, and ventured to the Dr.s office, grocery store, gymnastics, and McDs. I was even the GS cookie mom one year and filled my van top to bottom with cookies. I spilled coffee on the floor (more than once). We would find stray petrified fast food fries under the seat, along with hair ties, pet shop toys, candy wrappers and yugioh cards. Once I even found a petrifried frog. (That was pretty sad. and pretty gross.) I started to want a new, clean, nice smelling minivan.
After our van was paid for we had a good 12 months of no car payments and no problems. Then the problems started. -> The AC went out. -> The brakes needed to be replaced -> The wiper blades stopped working. Every month it was something else. It got to the point that we were paying as much in repairs as we would be paying in a monthly car payment.
So again my husband talked me into a new van. This time though I think he is the one that wants to drive it. It has so many nifty gadgets and features. I LOVE it. We actually have agreed that whomever has the kids takes the minivan and whomever is going to work takes our family car. I know that in another 7 years we will be looking at getting a new car but may no longer have the need for a minivan.
Never thought that would make me nostalgic but it does. How quickly my kids are growing....
