VANtastic!

Yesterday my life as I know it changed for the better. And for the convenient. And I am absolutely giddy with excitement in a totally geeky way that I am now a minivan mom! I suppose these are words that I never thought I’d say, but ever since this shoving-three-kids-in-the-back-of-my-sedan thing started (and immediately got OLD), I have been lusting after a minivan.

Since we are Toyota people, Bobby and I really wanted a Toyota Sienna.  We also wanted to pay cash, which meant USED.   And, we wanted leather seats (because, really, Joshua has thrown up in my car about 8,000 times and if it didn’t have leather, I’d have to wear a HAZMAT suit just to DRIVE it) and at lease ONE power door.  (Whoever invented the power door is a geeeeeeeeenius and should be given the highest honor the country of his or her birth bestows upon civilians.  Anyhoo.)  Also, we were hoping for a 2004 or newer because that’s when they last changed the Sienna significantly.  SO -we were being very picky!  We really began searching about a month ago and we called on a couple but they were always sold – these babies go fast!

Then, Tuesday, I saw one that was slightly out of our price range but not too far out.  And it was nearby, and had everything we wanted.  So Bobby said, “Let’s go look at it!”  We pulled into the JANKIEST car lot I have ever seen.  The first letter was missing from the company sign, it was about the size of a gas station and the lot was packed FULL of cars!  Nevertheless, it has the perfect Sienna.  It was pretty dirty on the inside but the outside looked great.  Since Bobby is a mechanic, he wanted to take it into work to look at it thoroughly, and the car salesman said that was ok.  After looking it over the next day, Bobby thought it was a no-brainer.  So we made them an offer, they took it, and yesterday, we brought this baby home!

We are calling her Yoshi.  A good Japanese name for a good Japanese car!  It’s a 2004, with leather, two power doors, and pretty much every option you could get back then. It’s like, the finest in minivan luxury from 7 years ago!! SCORE! Bobby took it to work today to get it detailed (it really was dirty on the inside – the previous owners left all kinds of stuff in it including several hair bands, some earrings, and an Nintendo DS game!) and tomorrow I will get to click open that power door and put my three kids in it without wanting to shoot myself and go for a spin!! I can’t wait and I’m so thankful to have this new-to-us-car!

Yippee! Minivans rule!