We are the proud owners of a new (well, used) BIG 12-passenger van—and this is certainly worthy of a blog. It is GREAT. I wasn’t sure how I’d like driving it, but it is nice. I feel like I own the road. It took a little getting used to (only ran off the edge of the road a few times), but we really like having some extra space.
How you know when you drive a big vehicle:
You dream that you are driving a school bus (Yes, this really happened!)
You need walkie-talkies to talk to your kids in the back seat.
You pull up next to a BIG pick-up truck at a stop light, the guy looks UP and you and then back, with a look on his face that seems to say, “Dang, I need a bigger truck!
It costs $10 in gas to go to church, but the trade off is a little more sanity and WELL worth it.
You have a back-up camera mounted to the rear license plate—no it doesn’t “beep” when we are in reverse. The kids love the camera, sometimes, you can drive around and it will pick up security cameras in stores. There is a gas station near-by whose camera is on the same frequency. We like to go there. David will go in and wave to us. We are SO easily amused.
You can pick up several friends to go to the park and everyone has their OWN seatbelt.
You can put a full size cooler between the two front seats—and still get to the back.
The kids are excited, because now we can have 10 children!
There are no fights over who sits where (I know this won’t last for much longer, but the novelty of trying out a different spot each time hasn’t worn off yet!)
You don’t look for the closest parking spot, but one where you can pull straight through and straight out without having to go into reverse.
At the bank, McDonald’s drive-through, etc, you have to lean way out and down to push the buttons and get your food.
And the BEST thing, is that you can drive with 8 people in the van for four hours to Columbia, SC to go to the temple and still be worthy to go in!!
How you know when you drive a big vehicle:
You dream that you are driving a school bus (Yes, this really happened!)
You need walkie-talkies to talk to your kids in the back seat.
You pull up next to a BIG pick-up truck at a stop light, the guy looks UP and you and then back, with a look on his face that seems to say, “Dang, I need a bigger truck!
It costs $10 in gas to go to church, but the trade off is a little more sanity and WELL worth it.
You have a back-up camera mounted to the rear license plate—no it doesn’t “beep” when we are in reverse. The kids love the camera, sometimes, you can drive around and it will pick up security cameras in stores. There is a gas station near-by whose camera is on the same frequency. We like to go there. David will go in and wave to us. We are SO easily amused.
You can pick up several friends to go to the park and everyone has their OWN seatbelt.
You can put a full size cooler between the two front seats—and still get to the back.
The kids are excited, because now we can have 10 children!
There are no fights over who sits where (I know this won’t last for much longer, but the novelty of trying out a different spot each time hasn’t worn off yet!)
You don’t look for the closest parking spot, but one where you can pull straight through and straight out without having to go into reverse.
At the bank, McDonald’s drive-through, etc, you have to lean way out and down to push the buttons and get your food.
And the BEST thing, is that you can drive with 8 people in the van for four hours to Columbia, SC to go to the temple and still be worthy to go in!!
7 comments:
Sounds like an answer to prayer! How did we ever make it to the Eagles' Nest at Big Sky Montana with 7 kids, food for the week, snow clothes & boots for everyone, & a couple pair of skis all piled "neatly" into the VW Dasher? Obviously, not everyone had their own seatbelt . . .
I remember that trip--crunched up in a ball, with skis digging into my neck. I don't think anyone could move!
It sounds like you have arrived! Does it fit in your garage? That's funny about the camera frequencies, etc. It sounds pretty cool. Happy Trails!
I love it! Our van only seats 8, but it sure is nice to have more seats than kids! So...ten? Go for it!
Ha ha!!! It looks HUGE in the picture! You guys should drive it in your local 4th of July parade.
I loved this post...this is what is called, "Keeping it real"!! I smiled big as I read it...I cracked up when you admitted to going off the road a few times....and as I read it outloud to my husband...he did too! With all said...I have to give you kuddos for being a multi tasked driver...I have been a passenger in your new van..and you drive like an experienced trucker.
I HATE IT WHEN YOU TYPE OUT A BIG OLD LONG COMMENT AND YOUR COMPUTER LOSES IT!
Here's the jist. I am so happy that you have your own blog. Every time in the past I have clicked on your profile, it only showed your family one that I didn't have access to.
I am cracking up at this post. One- thinking of you in your other life as a truck driver, two - thinking of David sheepishly waving to a security camera and three - thinking how I was telling LG that Faye told me you had to get a bigger vehicle so you could go to the temple worthily. Our minivan was broken and with the girls in the backseat of LG's honda for a week, we got just a SMALL taste of what your life used to be like in your old mini-van!! WE were pulling our hair out.
I can't wait to see the kiddos that you guys are going to have to fill up that monster van!
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