First, it's so nice to just talk about everyday stuff instead of the crazy adoption! :)
Josh and I had planned to look into purchasing a home that we could come home to in between moves, on leave, etc. We find that we need a good 30 days to see both sides of the family and that gets harder and harder to do! So, we started setting aside money to use as a down payment. We decided on a place that was about half way between both sets of grandparents. It would be so nice to put our furniture and things that don't always go with us on every move in the house. I found a house in a great location but it was a little on the small side. Then again, we just wanted some place to crash every so often for about 30 days at a time.
Then we got TWINS! :)
Most of you know that we weren't quite planning on TWO babies! Although you don't have to get two of everything, there are some items you HAVE to have two of such as carseats, cribs, high chairs, etc. Formula alone was over $300/month!!! We saw our down payment start to dwindle.
Then this adoption ended up costing thousands more than we were expecting. That drained the savings a little more.
Before we moved to Morocco, we sold our Honda and stored our Nissan sedan. The Nissan is only a few years old and we thought that we may even be able to get by with just one car when we returned.
Then we got TWINS! :)
There was no way we could fit all 3 children comfortably in the back of the Nissan. Add to that the luggage and gear to just go to the grandparents' for the weekend and we have a big problem!
So we realized that we needed a mini van. Now I know there are some out there who hate the idea of a mini van. It definitely screams family inside.
Growing up we lived near a Navy base. When the day was done at the base, it was almost impossible to make a left turn into our neighborhood on green because it was bumper to bumper traffic with Navy guys in the driver's seat. I remember my sister and I scoping out the cute ones and she told me to avoid the ones driving a mini van because that meant he was married. :)
Anyway, I never minded the idea of a mini van. I always like the Honda Odysseys ever since they came out and figured one day I may get to drive one. I asked friends and family what features I would want to look for with a mini van since I'm playing single mom of 3 for the next 2 years.
My sister said to definitely have a luggage rack. This way you don't have to pile everything inside for a long trip. Right now I think the two portacribs and the double stroller would fill the back of the van! I definitely need space!!!
A dear friend of mine suggested having the automatic doors where you push a button on the key chain and the sliding doors open for you. I figured this would be a huge benefit with twin toddlers!
So I set out looking for a van that HAD to have those two features. Any other features would be a bonus.
Josh was home in the US for a whole 4 days before he had to report in for training but he managed to get me a mini van. I had been e-mailing and negotiating with the dealer for about a month before so by the time Josh got to the states all he had to do was sign for it.
So, here is the Honda Odyssey I ended up with:
I ended up with a LOT more features than I was looking for but that's ok. I thought it was a blue color but it's actually a green color. I can't wait to actually see it and drive it.
Rachel
P.S. I don't have to live in the mini van!!! I have a house to live in, but I'm renting :)
3 years ago
5 comments:
Congratulations on the new vehicle. We drove a mini van when our two were little and it was great they each had their own row so no squabbles on those long trips to visit family;)
Yay a new van!!!! When we got here I so did not want a van so we got a big Jeep instead and I LOVE it. With being down to two kids soon it is soooooo perfect.
Holly has an Odyssey and she really likes it a lot. I am definitely jealous of her automatic doors!
I've been an Odyssey driving mama for 4 months now and LOVE it!!!!! We just got in tonight from a 9 day vacation with 2 pack n play's and the double stroller in back!! Add on top of that 2 beach bags, 4 luggage bags (one for each of us), a bag of food, a bag of diapers/wipes, 2 diaper bags, and who knows what else was piled in! Everything fit perfectly and I could have added even more!
You will love it!!!
ps I've been keeping up with your blog for a while now, but hadn't ever posted!
I would add one caution to teh automatic doors...
Liam (nearly 2 1/2) loves to push buttons! The one in the van is no exception. As you unbuckle him from his car seat he starts yeling my turn, my turn, push button, my turn! Well, I only have one automatic door, and it is on the passenger side, not the driver side. So I open the driver side sliding door, and he wants to go out the passenger side door, all to PUSH the Button! It was pretty scary one day when I wasn't prepared for it, and he almost leaped out ina busy parking lot on the opposite side of the van than where I was at!!! YIKES! Anyway, I frequently have to 'fight' with him to get him out of the van, as he likes to push the button, to open , then push the button to close and push, push, push, the button. He just wants to stand in the doorway and push the button to have the door slide back and forth, open and closed! UGH! I have been having to put the door lock on and disable the push button feature lately. I hope you don't have any of these issues. Glad you got a fun new van. I LOVE my minivan. We had a suburban for a couple of years, and then went back to a minivan (when I ony had one kid to haul around durring the day with me), I like driving a Minivan so much better. Enjoy!
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