Tuesday, April 15, 2008

weekend


The weather this weekend was fantastic. My sister came over with her boys for another photo shoot of the 4 cousins. This week my sisters-in-law are helping me with a photo of the 8 cousins on the other side of the family. Nothing makes the grandparents happier. I also took pictures of just Nathaniel for his 1st birthday on Saturday. I'll have some of the keepers up on my photography blog soon.
Sunday Jeff and I went out looking for a new car. We found one on CL in Salem that sounded like a great deal, but the sellers weren't available until evening. So, we started out at the car lots. Oh, the lines those salesmen have! One guy said, "I'm not wearing my usual uniform because I just came from church." Sure. Their tactics are all the same: get the customer to trust you and then convince them they want to spend more than they previously agreed upon. We heard quite a few lines like, "I know you said you only wanted to spend $X, but let me show you this one that is $XX,XXX." The salesman then goes inside to get a drink of coffee or something, all the while hoping that we are falling in the love with the beautiful leather and snazzy chrome of the vehicle we can not afford. Jeff and I shared lots of knowing looks and left the car lots in our little Jetta.
After Nathaniel's party we went to check out the CL van. It was really nice and a great price because the owners needed to get out of debt... fast. We talked about it and made an offer, purchasing the mini van yesterday. Yesterday I also decided it was high time I had the flu. It was a quick one, but fierce. I was really ill as we went to p/u the new rig, but I didn't want to barf on the leather seats, so I contained myself. Today I am feeling much better and got another chance to try out the new van as I went to the DMV, swim lessons, and dentist. Boy, it is nice! I had quite a list of requirements if I was going to drive around a mini van. I have come to the point in my life where I know that a van is the best option, but I still long to be impractical. The van we purchased excedes my expectations and drives nice -- no more stick shift or seats too close because of the crammed car seats!
I'll have to get Jeff to take a picture of me in my new ride, looking terribly mom-like, but oh, so comfy. :)
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4 comments:

Andee said...

Welcome to the club!

Lindsay said...

Yay! That is very exciting. I remember saying I would never drive a van...then somewhere along the road (perhaps it was during the 4 months I spent squishing three kids in the back of our camry) I changed my mind. I love mine, and I can't wait to see yours.

Cathy said...

Ha! I laugh because "been there, done that"...I think it just is inevidable with having kids. We didn't get ours until after the kids were half grown...because of all the hauling around from game to game to game. Now, we're back to a car...yay! (But I have to admit, I do miss the hauling capability!)

Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs said...

Yay for you! I can't wait to see it! (the van, not the flu!)