Join the Club

In the big snowstorm back in January, Mark was driving when he hit a patch of black ice, skid out of control and landed in a ditch.  Thankfully, Mark was safe, the Honda however, was totaled.   Buying a new vehicle was not in our game plan - not, not, not.  After a sleepless night (or two) we took a big step back, let the Honda be towed away for good and waited for the shattered glass and insurance deductible dust to settle.  

For the past two and half months we have been a one car family.  It was good for us to realize we could survive with one car, it was also way too much communicating, coordinating and planning for any marriage!  Wouldn't you know, we ended up with "more" car than we could have hoped for.  Friends from church are in the car business and were getting ready to trade in their one year lease, we were able to buy it out from them for an amazing price.  

As of this week, we now are cruising in a 2009 VW Routan minivan.  Sexy? No.  Chic?  Not so much.  Wonderful?  Completely!  We are embracing this auto right of passage into parenthood.  The extra cargo room is needed for road trips, hauling stuff (i.e. Leah's legendary decorating bargains) and seating for when we have visitors. The family friendly perks like the DVD player (please hold us accountable to the rule that movies are for one hour plus trips only) and Ipod hook-up (Hello?  Glee!!) are true luxuries we never anticipated.  We took the first family outing today to the Discovery Place in Charlotte. As Yellow Submarine trumpeted from the speakers, sippy cups raised in a cheers, we christened the minivan ours and totally felt like parents and to our surprise, that felt okay, more than okay.


P.S. Leah promises no mom jeans and Mark swears he won't wear socks with sandals.