It's a brand "new" car!

It's a brand "new" car!, originally uploaded by islandj.

Yup, it's true. For the first time in, oh, maybe 8 or 9 years, we have two cars in the family. Not even when we had 3 adults and 3 kids in the house did we have this luxury, and it is with a fair bit of trepidation that we do so now. Our wonderful car of 7 years - the white mini-van that has crossed the country so many times, and has been, as Siena says, "the only car I've ever had," not to mention actually been home to us for a time - is nearing the end of its adventure with the Hansen's. The AC is officially gone, she stall periodically, and well, it's nearly time.

Enter our new best friend - a 2006 Honda Odyssey. For us, it is untold luxury - leather seats, hidden storage spaces, even an 8th seat (hurrah - so many of my 3 children mom friends will be happy too!) - and we are a bit in shock. Our old white friend will still be our beach car, but this new one is pretty spectacular. We bought it at a used car dealer, and what a treat to simply sign our name at least twenty times and walk out with a new car, no trip to the DMV needed! I confess to being near tears at one point, realizing afresh how blessed we are that we could buy in cash, and buy what we needed, when we needed it. It's not something I take for granted in these days.

The kids love it. LOVE it. And they haven't even figured out that there is a DVD player hiding up there (and I charge all of you with silence on the matter). Now, to figure out how to move the turtles from the white car to the silver, for it can't really be a Hansen car without the turtles...