Almost four years ago...

We made the switch to a mini-van.

I dreaded the thought of it. I hated the idea. I didn't want to be a stereotypical stay-at-home-mom carting my kids off to soccer practice in a mini-van. But finally, we caved and bought what we affectionately call ''The Swaggerwagon".

Now it didn't happen overnight, but each day I liked it a little bit more. The sliding doors were genius...the kids didn't whack the walls of the garage anymore. I could buckle the baby in at Target without blocking an entire parking spot. I had room to change a diaper, when needed. I could fit both the stroller and my groceries. The stow-n-go feature on the Chrysler Town and Country is GENIUS! I can keep my reusable grocery bags in there, a spare change of clothes/jackets, snacks. When we travel it seriously saves so much space because you can fit a lot in those floor cubbies. Dare I say, I learned to love it?

And the kids did too...until they learned there was better out there.

Amy drives an SUV with a DVD player in it which prior to becoming friends with Amy, I don't think my kids knew that this feature existed. Then the more friends we made in Italy, the more the kids realized everyone's vehicle except ours, had a DVD player. I was fine without having one. In fact, when we bought the van years ago I insisted on getting the base model. I didn't want power doors that little arms could get caught in. I didn't want to worry about the fighting over which movie to watch. I didn't want leather that carseats would tear up. I was secure in my decision, knowing that the kids were little and well, dirty and that some day I would have a nice car again. And the kids learned to live without a DVD player.

However, when we returned from Italy, we had to rent a van as ours was on an ocean carrier. We rented a 2013 Town and Country Touring. It was ''just" like our van but leather, had a DVD player, power windows, power trunk gate, satellite radio...it was like our van but better!
When the kids spilled a little Sonic drink, I just wiped it right off the leather. When they were arguing, jet-lagged and wanted to be anywhere but the car on the drive from San Antonio to Houston, I popped in a movie. When I had eleventy-billion things to carry and the dogs, I just pushed a button and the doors opened like magic.

I was intrigued.

So here were are, having been stateside five months now and I was still thinking about that rental van...especially after driving to Kansas and back at Christmas. Our van was at the point where it needed help. I won't go into all the issues, but it seemed like we had two choices: put in about $1000 of work or put that money toward a new van.

Today, we made a decision and it came with a DVD player.

While I still don't think we ''need'' a DVD player, I no longer feel guilty about turning the screen on the second we get in the car. For one, I'll take peace and quiet any way I can get it. Secondly, we don't have cable nor watch hardly any TV during the day at home, so it's not like they watch it all the time. Third, I no longer care, to be honest. It makes them happy. Happy kids means happy parents. 

Now I don't mean to turn my blog into a complete review of the 2013 Chrysler Town and Country, I'm pretty much going to do just that. Reading a review on edmunds or consumer reports is dandy, but really getting to know the vehicle from a mom's perspective, its more practical when it's moms who are buying the van!

So, on the outside, it looks almost the same as our old one. (It was a 2009, this is a 2013).

The color we got is called "Maximum Steel" it's not really black, not really navy, not really a dark gray but all three colors depending on how the light hits it. As Maggie put it, "it's very sparkly!". Exterior wise, it looks pretty much the same but this does come with nice rims instead of plastic/fiberglass hub-caps. We also opted to make sure we got the roof rack/rails package because we have used our van to move mattresses or IKEA furniture before and this would make it much easier. Standard on the 2013 is fog lights and a rear back up camera too.

On the inside...it's heaven. It's just like the rental we had. Satellite radio, DVD, leather, power doors/gate, and a REAR BACK UP CAMERA. (Amy, now we're twins!) I can make phone calls by pushing a button on my steering wheel (through the dash's uConnect system). There are FOUR USB ports in this van and four lighter/chargers. So I can use the GPS, charge my phone and charge Sissy's leappad. I can charge the boys cameras while we drive to our destination, rather than completely forgetting and having the batteries be dead on arrival, only to have disappointed kids. I can listen to my iTunes music by plugging my phone into a hidden USB port inside the glove box, which will charge my phone while I listen! (In our 2009 van we had to use an AUX out cable and then my phone had to be plugged into the charger to do this).

There are SIX cup holders just between the driver and passenger seats (eight if you count the ones molded into the driver and passenger doors). Which while I admit is a little overkill, it's convenient on road trips when Ron and I each have our water bottles, then drive thru Starbucks for coffee. I don't have to hunt for my nalgene bottle nor risk it rolling under my feet while driving. The center console is huge, without being bulky. It sits much higher up than the old one and has two separate compartments as well as a handy little inlay that my phone can rest on. The first compartment is semi-hidden by the phone tray and has a power outlet. Perfect for keeping the GPS in. Then with the press of a button, the console slides open to reveal a much bigger compartment, perfect for fitting DVD's in. I love the fact that there is no clutter like in our old console! The entire console can also slide back, I imagine so whoever is in the second row can reach the cup holders, but with Connor and Maggie, neither can reach. Like the 2009, this one also has two glove boxes. With four kids, I use one to store the first aid kit (we have to carry an epi-pen with us at all times with Ryan and while I keep one in my purse, if Ron takes him somewhere it's good to know there is one in the car) and the other to store the car papers.

The 2013 is also flex-fuel and I finally live in a big enough city to take advantage! While it doesn't offer 8 passenger seating like Honda or Toyota, that doesn't bother us. I LOVE having the two captains chairs and the ease of being able to walk down the middle if the kids need something on a long road trip. And the stow and go in phenomenal. When we need more room, we can put Maggie in the third row with her brothers then fold down the van seat into the floor and have room for all that stuff we bought at IKEA. It's literally a lift of the handle and pull of a different loop handle.

Yes, I'm not yet thirty years old and pretty damn excited about a mini-van.

Could we have gone with the more ''trendy'' Honda Odessey or Toyota Sienna? Sure. But the features of the Town and County, with that stow-n-go that I love, comes with a price that is so much more 'down to earth' that the competitors.

So for now, I am basking in the stereotype. Enjoying the peace and quiet that an episode of Scooby Doo can induce. With the push of a button I can open the doors from inside the house without having to hear ''I wanted to open the door and *insert kid here* didn't let me." I am a card carring member of the ''Minivan driving, stay at home mom" club. What, what!?

Just don't expect to see any stick people decals on my back window. I haven't completely lost my mind.

Yet.

Everything's bigger in Texas

Since moving to Texas four months ago, we're learning that Texas is practically it's own country. The people here have state pride like no other! Everywhere you look something is claiming to be Texas' best. They have their own grocery store, the trucks are bigger and it seems like every one of them is "Texas' Best Truck". And the restaurants, oy! They all claim to be the "Best Hamburger/Mexican/BBQ in Texas". So when we were on our way to Sissy's four month check up and took a back road to avoid traffic, we excitedly but apprehensively stopped at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. 

The parking lot wasn't too full, we didn't have a lot of time and it smelled delicious. They were able to seat us right away and despite being a "Mexican Cafe" they had a lot to offer. it's a crowded little place, the walls are covered with pictures, articles, old ticket stubs, magazine pics, coloring book pages and everything but the kitchen sink. The booths are old Long John Silver ones and the waitresses are loud and friendly. After looking at the menu, I opted for the Chicken Fried Steak. Afterall it's a Texas staple, I love it and I hadn't had it since we moved. I expected it to be a big serving. I didn't quite expect it to be bigger than my daughter is...

Okay so I exaggerated, but just slightly. What you can't see is that the plate is full of french fries underneath the steak. Or the Texas toast that Pooks had already swiped. I ate a good portion of the steak for lunch, took the rest home and ate a bit for dinner and B polished off the rest the following day. So are you wondering the price?

$10.

Yep, everything is bigger in Texas and I'm not complaining about this one!

Sweet as Sugar!

A few weeks ago my very good friend {we've been friends since high school!} Katie, blogger of Our Life with the Littles asked me if Miss Sweetcheeks would be interested in modeling some crochet leg warmers that she was making for her Etsy shop. Sissy would get to keep the leg warmers and headband in exchange for a little bit of work. Katie needed Sissy to model those leg warmers and headband, and for me to catch some good photos of her doing it.

Acting as her agent, I said "Yes!". Katie has some super cute handmade items in her Etsy shop: Sweet as Sugar and I couldn't pass up the deal. I love handmade items. I especially love handmade crochet/knit items and given the fact that I don't know how to crochet (or knit) I'm uber-jealous of those that can. Sissy has a few headbands from other Etsy shops that we also adore, but nothing like what Katie sent. The headband is so simple and fabulous. The yarn that she used is super soft, slightly stretchy and a gorgeous color. I love that it has a thin band and is perfect for Spring/Summer.

 

 Isn't it just perfect? It's so girly and fun and it's a perfect match to the leg warmers. Which, we also adore. Again, super soft, slightly stretchy and the flowers are the perfect feminine touch without being overpowering. I love the way that the leg warmers and headband pair pefectly with her simple Polo dress:

 

It's perfect for this mild Texas weather. And I know that once she starts crawling, they will do a great job of keep her little knees protected on these hard ceramic tiles that cover our entire house.

I also love that we can pull them up over her chubby things and make them into a sort of leggings, or leave them slouchy and kinda trendy looking...

I'm sure they'd look great with a pair of faux-Uggs but we don't have those. They also look great just as a photo prop...this picture I captured of Sissy is one of my all time favorites. Forget the fact that the exposure/lighting is off (it was overcast out) I just love how the leg warmers & headband add that touch of girlishness yet shows off her baby side; I super love that she is sucking her thumb...just a little something that she's been doing recently that her brothers never did.

So, I cannot recommend Katie enough! Be sure to check out her shop for other cute items as well! She not only crochets but also sews and has the most adorable onesie dresses and bibs too!