My Mama Machine

For 3 years I have been driving this. And it has made me happy, I have no complaints. I was able to choose the colors and drive it off the lot at 0 miles. It has taken us many places and has not given us a bit of trouble. But when we numbered 4 children, the noise level began to get SO loud. And though it seats 8, it began to feel crowded. So about a year or so ago I convinced my dear husband that we needed something larger. And we began shopping. Many of our friends with large families told us they drove suburbans, expeditions etc. Which are obviously MUCH cooler than a mini van. I thought I had found our solution.

Till I went to test drive one. And found while yes, they look WAY cooler than a mini van, there is no more room than what we had. I had driven a Durango back when Makenna was a baby, and we traded that in on a van, so it did not make sense to go back to the SUV over a van for the same amount of room. Though there is a part of me that longs to be cool. Sigh...

Get home from China just 2 weeks ago and the noise level is even worse, Makenna is getting so big and looks so crowded in the back, and the miles on my Honda are climbing out the roof as it is the only vehicle we have that we can all fit in of course. We decide we will sell Mark's car and just pay cash for something, but keep the reliable mini van. So we go over our options.

A. Conversion Van. Our friends drive a 9 passenger conversion van that is SWEET! The kids have been begging us to buy it for the last year. But it is more than we are thinking. So regular conversion van? Only seats 7, but obviously more room.

B. Church van type of vehicle. You know what I am talking about. Bench seats, alot of them.

C. Limo. Someone at our homeschool group drives one and I found that fascinating. The thought of we could actually put that little screen up between us and the kids and have quiet? I LOVE that idea!

D. Trade in a few kids.

Mark put his foot down on the limo. He said can you even imagine the looks and what our friends would say? Oh I would love to pull up in church in one, the thought of it just makes me laugh!

Church van. Not quite ready to go there yet. I know many people drive them and I think that is great but I just don't think we need that at this point.

Trade in kids? Nah, though maybe staying home would save my sanity as much as a bigger vehicle would.

So that leaves us with a conversion van. You know, the big old vans that used to have tables in them? Plush, comfy, back makes into a bed type of van? My friends have informed me we are going to be so dorky if we buy one. I want to know, do you REALLY think we are not already dorky? COME ON! We have FIVE children and we homeschool, we are DORKS! Just ask the people who watched us have lunch at burger king today. I was never so excited to see a place that had a private room ready just for us! (no they did not really have it ready for us, they just happened to have a side room and we ran right in!)

Mark found a "good deal" so we drove over an hour today with 6 children (we had an extra, we are just seeing if we can handle 6. Kidding, I am kidding, Makenna just had a friend along) and we came home with this beauty. Oh yes , we are officially THAT family!

It is LARGE, it is comfortable and we are so happy! We took it for a test spin and even with 6 children behind us squealing with excitement, it was SO much quieter! There is space, so 2 little girls are not kicking the back of my seat. I can stand in it, which probably makes it even dorkier, but how great for getting kids buckled in!

And while it may not be all that cool to some, the kids think we are the best! They came home and played in it for hours and were arguing over who gets to have the first friend over to spend the night in it. (remember the back makes into a big ole bed!)

Today as Mark drove it home and I followed behind him in the mini van, I could not help but giggle. It is just so BIG. I drove it once home and it is pretty fun to drive. Though I have not tried to park it yet, that seems scary. Which might be a good thing really, if I have to park in the back of all the lots, that means I will get at least a little exercise in right? And it does not fit in our garage, to tall. Small problem since we will be SO comfy when we travel now!

To all my friends who drive big vans & homeschool, believe me, I am in no way saying you are dorky! ;0) I think we are WAY cool and I am glad to be in the club!