One day a few weeks ago……

There was a day a few Saturdays ago when we went to a Toyota dealer to look at the Sienna.  You see, we figured with three kids we wanted more car than what the truck provided and I wasn’t sure I was on board to deal with three car seats in a really tight row in the 4-Runner.  I am sure I would have been fine, but I felt like the 4-Runner was small for me and the two kids, I was not sold that it would work with another baby. 

Forever I have wanted a Sequoia.  Then one day, out of nowhere, I realized that it was not really practical.  I envisioned spending way too much on a car that would have a third row with access only by scaling the middle seat to get to the back.  I know the seat goes down and you can get in the back that way, but I will have two car seats on both sides.  The vision of muddy little rain boots after a day at school flying over the seats was enough to make me reconsider. 

The question begged to be asked: “Could I drive a mini-van?”. 

I posed the question to Emilee, who owns a Sequoia, who responded with a definite YES, I could drive a mini-van.  She assured me that if she could go back in time she would get one in a second.  She also said that everyone she knows that has one loves it (and she knows a lot of people with one).  I decided to sleep on it and see how it felt. 

The next night, someone I went to high school with posed a question for discussion on Facebook:  Should I get a mini-van?  The response was overwhelming positive in favor of getting a mini-van over other large SUVs.  While most agreed that it wasn’t their dream car and minus the kids they certainly wouldn’t be driving it, but throw back in the kids and you don’t get better than the mini-van.  2 points for the mini-van.  0 for the Sequoia. 

A few days later my ex-boyfriend from college posted on Facebook that he just bought the Honda Odyssey.  Rob has a mini-van.  My ex-New Yorker boyfriend with only 2 kids had a mini-van.  Hmmm.  3 points for the mini-van.  Actually, that probably brought the count to 5 for mini-van, extra points for un-believability. 

Suddenly I see mini-vans everywhere I go and suddenly I find myself wanting one.  It is as though the Universe is screaming at me that I need a mini-van.  The Sequoia seems like an unpractical distant memory and I realize I crossed over to the group of mini-vanners, and more so, I am excited about that.  Greg agreed it was the best choice and we decided we would buy one at the end of the summer. 

One gray yucky day after t-ball, we decided to head out to the dealer “just to look”.  I swear that is why we went, we even tried to drive by the cars slowly without getting out of the car.  Before long we decided we just had to get a better look and jumped out. Before I knew it, the guy was there asking all kinds of questions, you know the ones they teach them in selling cars school to make you think they are your friend and you hold all the cards. 

And then things progressed, suddenly before my eyes, Greg was taking a test drive, we were walking down to the office, we were sitting in the office, we were discussing prices and trade-in options, we were discussing colors and credit scores and models. 

And then we couldn’t help ourselves and signed the papers for a new loan for a 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited!!!

And then before I knew it this was happening…

and now we have this….

and I am in LOVE. 

It is very clear that I can not only drive a mini-van, but I can love one as well.  (especially one with all of the bells and whistles they offer, that obviously helps)

And today was the first day that I truly used the mini-van.  We went to zoo.  We loaded Owen and his friend in the back, Ivy and Evan in the middle seats and Angie and I rode in the front.  Everyone had room, everyone fit, no struggles with seatbelts or car seats and we were all in one car, and the baby to be could have joined us.  Owen and his friend watched a movie on the way back with their wireless headphones, Angie and I listened to old country songs on the XM radio while the navigation system assured we made it back the right way, the babies slept soundly in the middle, the stroller rode in the back with room to spare, and…. I couldn’t help but fall a little more in love. 

I am sold.