Wishes Fullfilled

For a few years now I have dreamed of owning a Toyota Sienna. I really wanted an eight passenger mini van. I just couldn't rationalize the expense. Now that we are expecting baby number three, we have to get a bigger car. Three car seats will not fit in the back seat of my Honda CRV. Since learning of my pregnancy we have been checking out listings on these mini vans. There really isn't a big selection of used 8 passenger Siennas (The 7 passenger is more popular).

Well, over the weekend I found a couple of Siennas on eBay that I was interested in. Our very good friend, Mike, is the manager of a Toyota dealership in California. He has been looking for a Sienna for us. He also offered to negotiate a price for us if we found one locally. Well, David emailed the two listings to Mike on Saturday. Mike told us which one he thought was the better deal. In fact, he told us that he has been looking for us for months and hasn't been able to get one at that good of a price. He said he'd call the salesman and try to negotiate the price down a little but even if they didn't budge $1, it was a great price. He figured that there wasn't much room to move the price but he may be able to get it down $500. Well, Mike called. He got the price lowered $487.

We made a deposit on the van through paypal after talking to the salesman. We booked a flight for David to fly to Ohio Monday morning to close the deal and drive the van home. David shows up at check in and presents his drivers license to the TSA agent. The agent asks, "Did you know your drivers license was expired?" David answers, "uh... no.." They ask him for other ID like a passport or military ID. He has none. They have security check him very carefully. They went through every pocket of his backpack. Fortunately they decided to let him fly. Phew!

The salesman picked David up at the airport and drove him to the dealership. They completed the paperwork. Thankfully everything came together because that van was David's ride home.

I am now the very happy owner of a New Toyota Certified Pre-Owned mini van. :) I love driving a mini-van. I love being up high. My first trip out was to Wal-Mart. When I went to back out of the parking space, I was so excited to find that I could actually see if a car was coming! It was amazing! I find myself reaching for the clutch with my left leg a lot. This is the first time I've owned a car with an automatic transmission so I have to get used to it. I love driving stick shift cars, but I conceded this time because I really wanted a mini van. Its a good trade. :)

The girls were also really excited about the mini van. When we went outside, the sliding door opened and I instructed Eliza to climb in. She gasped, "The door opened by itself... that is so cool!" I showed her how I opened it with the button on my key chain. She climbed in and looked around and kept repeating, "This is so cool." That's not even a phrase she ever uses.

BTW, David went to the DMV on Tuesday and renewed his license. I guess that's something they have those over the hillers do when they turn thirty. :)

OTHER RANDOM STUFF

Another wish of mine has been fulfilled... Sadie had bronchitis last week (um... that's not what I was wishing for). She was given two presciptions. She doesn't fight me to take her medicine! I don't have to feel like a jerk as I force it down her. In fact, all she wants is to be able to administer it to herself. How wonderful!

Here's a photo of Grandpa and my girls enjoying some watermelon together. This was on Monday afternoon when my dad delivered a twin bed to my house. It has a very comfortable generic Tempurpedic mattress. My mom and I traded. We are giving my dad David's old 1994 Toyota Corolla, which just yesterday hit 200,000 miles. Its hard to believe, but its actually a step up from the old two door Toyota Tercel my dad drives. I mean, I know he grew up in the depression and all, but the guy just won't give up on his car. This interesting trade is the only way we can get him to indulge in driving a four door car with all the seats in tact and no holes in the floor. We will all miss seeing blacktop below us when he drives. :)