My New World in a 12-Passenger-Van

"Isn't that Sears Repairman EVER going to leave?"

Oh wait a minute!  That mammouth, white van in the driveway belongs TO US!   Silly me.  I keep thinking the plumber, the electrician or the Sears repairman is paying a visit, and I forgot to write it down! 

Voila....our latest acquisition:  

Yes, Virginia....there really IS  a twelve-passenger-van in our front driveway.  

We have been vacillating about what kind of vehicle to get for about the past year.  (We wouldn't want to JUMP into anything. lol!)  We originally thought we'd get another year or two out of the 99 Caravan, but the dash and the heat quit working completely and is a mystery to every mechanic in our vicinity, so we finally gave up on it.  Darn.  All that brain power expended last winter, figuring out how to make all five car seats fit.....WASTED!    Oh well.

I was feeling a bit neglected by our neighbors lately, so I figured parking this huge monstrosity in the front driveway would definitely get me a little attention.  Sure enough.  They just can't help themselves.  Over they come.  One asked if I was starting a shuttle service to the airport.  Another asked if we were getting into the carpet business.  One of the more creative, crafty moms thought it would make for a great finger painting project next summer.   Of course, we had the tried-and-true-question-that-makes-all-moms-with-more-than-three-kids-cringe, "How many more kids ARE you going to have?"  

I told them they were all just insanely jealous and they had BETTER be extra nice to me now, or I'd park this elephantine piece of metal in front of THEIR house.  LOL!   

Here we are, all in front of the purple-mini-van for the last time:

I'm saying good-bye to my vehicle that ushered me into my early motherhood years.  I do actually feel like I'm entering a new phase.  I'm not the sentimental-reflective-type, but a purchase this large that isn't actually a house makes you step back and think a bit.   

I am not a mom-with-a-bunch-of-babies anymore.  

I have helpers now.  And, helpers who can carry on semi-decent conversations!  And I CAN pretty much take a shower without having to begin planning four days in advance.    I don't have "only babies" anymore, and I am no longer the owner of anything "mini".   (Well, except Caroline).   

Little by little, everything in our house is becoming LARGE.  My new favorite thing to purchase in bulk is granola.  Twenty-five pounds of granola should last for awhile  (maybe).  

I will admit to having a bit of buyers-remorse for a couple days.  But, the  ladies over at 4Real reassured me that we made the right decision!  So far, I DO love "owning the road" and the fact that the kids aren't constantly on top of each other getting in and out.  The the chit-chatting and crazy convos are much easier on my nerves when they are given more air space to travel around in.  I also like that there is heat and a working dashboard....Those are always nice features. *grin* 

Then there is the fun-factor.   I took eleven people to the polls on Election Day.  And, I can take every girl in our neighborhood and their mother, roller-skating!  Wow.  

Does it GET any more FUN than that? 

Comments

[Auntie Senta KAY]

That van looks Brand NEW, WOW!! I like it.
I also like the idea of hand prints as decor around the sides........or maybe just the back
would look cool!!!!! Summer project for when I visit. So funny seeing Caroline try to stand
up with crossed-legs. hee hee

[nina]

Great van and cuter photos. Wishing you five more sweet children to fill it up. :)

[aussieannie]

It looks fabulous and certainly does look like a lot of fun!

[Maryan]

Suzanne, not only do we have 5 kids the same ages, albeit opposite gender, and purple Dodge minivans...we both have dashes that don't work - for unknown reasons! (Although our heat seems to work). Currently we bang on our dash really hard and then it sometimes starts back up again? Anywhoo... I expect sometime in the new future we will be posting a similar topic. ;) Knowing my dh, I don't think we're going twelve passenger van - I suspect dh will want to drive another 4 cylinder for as long as we can. LOL! However seeing all the space in your van makes *me* want to go the 12 passenger route though!! Have fun! I love it!

[Christine]

You are hilarious! The photos are so cute. I fondly call our family and friend hauler, "the Jolly Green Giant". May God fill your van with 5 more children!

[Sylvia]

Cool! I love the face Madeleine is making in the second picture!

[Sylvia]

BTW, you look like a jjill model.

[Michelle]

Woohoo!

[cheryl]

I like the pictures! I think our next vehicle will be similar. My dh has been looking into what he wants, but our 2002 van is working out great still IMO. My ds 9 has tried to convince us that it's too crowded. Actually, we went to Plymouth with my Dad last week and he had to take his own vehicle because he couldn't fit in ours. A big van would be handy.

[michelle waters]

If you have a minute - I'd love to hear how you came upon the vehicle you chose. We are also in the market for a bigger car (our fifth babe is on the way). My oldest is 8 so our family is pretty similar to yours. What else did you think about? Any advice?

[Ouiz]

Hey! That looks just like my van! *grin*

My neighbors threatened to paint our name on the side of the van, a la Partridge Family style. It *is* a tempting thought.

I'm thrilled to see a picture of your van, and even more thrilled that you are having fun driving it! The only time I feel a little bit leery of it is when I have to park it.

[Maria]

So drive on down to my house, will ya?

Congrats!

[Mary]

That is a great family photo!

[Cay G.]

Ho! Ho! Ho! That's great! :)