It's official

Buying a van is the best thing we could have done. We've been wanting one for 2 years, and boy do I wish we would have/could have done it earlier. There are just SO many "pros".

1. Ability to haul everything we need, easily, for weekends away.
2. Ability to bring home large items (such as furniture) from the store if need be...instead of having to wait to borrow a truck from someone (which has happened plenty of times before).
3. I don't have to bend over to put the girls in anymore!!!! Major saving grace for me especially being I have pre-existing back problems anyways.
4. The sliding doors are nice for a situation where parking is cramped - no issues with the door getting in the way or having to watch it so it doesn't door ding the next car over while you get the girls out.
5. Being higher up gives a feeling of safety/more control.
6. Very comfy (not that some cars aren't of course)
7. Lots of storage under the floor
8. Our particular van has the highest crash test ratings possible, so that's of course good.
9. Worse gas mileage than a car, of course, but still better than many SUV's.
10. Our specific van isn't the "egg shaped" van of the past. It was redesigned a little boxier and I love it because it looks like an SUV/van combo.

There are some things I am still getting used to. For example, the shifter is different than in any car I've had before. Also, it does not have your traditional metal key. Instead it's a keyless entry thing that includes an attached "key" that isn't really a key, and you use that to start the car. (So instead of a keyless entry remote, and a seperate key, they are all one one unit). These aren't bad things...they are just different and take time to get used to.

So anyways - I know vans are often viewed as totally uncool. That is okay with me, becaue I am thrilled and it is so worth it. People don't know what they are missing! I am proud to be a minivan momma.