Last weekend we went and looked a new vehicle. We’ve known for a while that we have to get something (I can’t fit three carseats in my car). I had my heart set on a slightly larger SUV than I currently have. We test drove the car I had been dreaming about, and even got to the number crunching stage. We had the deal almost set and Dave and I decided to go grab lunch to talk about it before finalizing it all.

At the diner we realized that it wouldn’t work for us. While the bigger SUV could fit the number of people we needed it to (and then some) we wouldn’t be able to easily access all three children in their carseats. At this point Adam can’t buckle or unbuckle himself (which I’m fine with, the last thing I need is him bailing ship while I’m driving), so our original plan of putting him in the third row of seats and Luke and the new baby in the middle row, wasn’t really feasible. Plus the third row of seats didn’t have the latch system we like to use while installing the carseats (we’re able to get them in much more securely using the latches instead of just the seat belts).

We came home and researched as many other options as possible. What it comes down to isn’t so much the number of kids we have, but the ages of them. I have little kids and without a DeLorean with a flux capacitor that’s not going to change (for the record – DeLoreans aren’t really carseat friendly either). We did find a couple of options that we might be able to make work for the three children we’ll have in May, but there is no way we’d be able to make it work if we decide to have a fourth child.

So just like that, my SUV dreams were crushed and I found myself smack dab in the middle of minivan territory (a place I vehemently swore I’d never go). It took me two days to grieve the loss of the SUV I’d wanted (a bit melodramatic perhaps, but hey, it’s being replaced with a MINIVAN). Then I joined Dave in the hunt and started looking around online at our options. We had it narrowed down to two and decided to go look at the front runner today.

We were just planning on looking at it and possibly test driving, so we took the boys with us.

Luke’s test drive

Redneck playpen

Adam at the wheel

Luke took a nap in the floor model

We ended up being there much longer than we anticipated (about three hours longer by my count). We did end up getting a van though and will pick it up in a few days.

Now I just need to sign Adam up for soccer and get a little stick figure family for the rear window (that was total sarcasm, if you couldn’t tell). I’ll drive the minivan, and I’m incredibly thankfully for the little people that make it necessary, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Not too much going on here this week (thus the lack of stories and pictures). We’ve been dealing with some mild sickness. Both boys have had on and off low-grade fevers and stomach issues. Adam has had a runny nose as well. So we’ve been doing a lot of snuggling and resting to try and get everyone back to normal.

We’re not there yet, but we’re close.

This kid got a (much needed) haircut today.

Pretty handsome, don’t you think?

Last night at the thrift shop I came across a Sheriff Woody doll. I knew that Adam would love it (they’re his absolute favorite movies), and it was only 99 cents. The only problem was that Woody was missing his hat.

When we got home, I looked around online and found people selling just the hat for $18. I wasn’t about to pay that much. So this morning I searched the internet and found a pattern to make a baby sized cowboy hat. I scaled it down to fit Woody and got to work.
I spent a couple of hours this afternoon making a new hat for Woody. It was a little more time consuming than I thought it would be, but I was able to finish it before Adam woke from his nap. He was thrilled when he saw the finished product. So it was all worth it.

Plus, I think it will look great on my application for “Mom of the Year”.

Hope your Valentine’s Day has been a sweet one.

Adam and I made some Love Day (as he calls it) cookies this morning.

Luke kept busy with a backhoe and some cheerios.

Adam declared them to be “dee-licious” (the rest of us agree).

The other day during nap time I could hear Adam playing in his room. I don’t mind if he has some books and toys on his bed and plays for a little bit, because I know he’ll eventually fall asleep. But I could tell that he was on the floor playing with his legos, which is not allowed.

So I opened the door to check and he immediately hopped on the bed and tried to act like he’d been there the whole time. I reminded him that he needed to stay on the bed and he said, “I have an idea Mommy. How about if I play on the floor, but I will jump in bed if I hear you coming.”

Yeah, nice try buddy.

Yesterday morning Adam decided he wanted to be a detective. So he got out his magnifying glass and put on his detective hat and pants.

I mistakenly called it his explorer hat and he was quick to correct me. “It’s only my explorer hat when I’m exploring Mommy. I’m being a detective, so it my detective hat now.”

This kid is pretty darn fantastic. He was so proud last night, after he put on Adam’s boots all by himself.

Last night, Luke was was getting in trouble for biting me and Adam ran up with his toy camera. He pretended to take a picture and then said, “You need to put this on the website mommy”.

I’m thinking that maybe recording all their naughty antics might be be sending the wrong message (but don’t worry, I’m not going to stop).