I'm Fonda my Honda (Odyssey)

Our Minivan

 Ok, well I thought it important to do a post on the van (aka the Swagger Wagon). Mainly because we were so against it for so long! I still can't believe I drive a van. I always told Paul, "No, that will never be me in one of those MOM vans. I am way too cool for those." hehehe :)   But, when the gas prices went up and we started carpooling each day to save money was when the thought of a van started to sound appealing. We were crammed into the Accord or Pathfinder and it was just starting to be uncomfortable loading and unloading every day. Plus, the cars were getting really dirty and messy and it was getting harder and harder to keep up with it. On top of that, whenever family from out of town came to visit, we would have to take two cars everywhere. Or if we wanted to go to the park with the kids, we couldn't take the dogs too. So we justified the fact that "it was probably time." Ugh...

We decided if we are going to get a van, it has to look a least a little "cool" (I know it's an oxymoron). So over the Summer (July 14th to be exact) we researched and worked with a friend who works at a local dealership and was able to score the van of our dreams! LOL! A souped up 2008 Honda Odyssey.

Actually it is pretty neat - we have all the bells and whistles a parent could ask for and most importantly the DVD player. However, we do set limits on the TV watching in the van, but it sure is nice when Corey is screaming at the top of his lungs or when we're trying to have an adult conversation up front and are interrupted every 2 minutes with complaints of "I'm hungry", "I'm bored", etc. Just being able to easily go to the back seat and retie a shoe, or prepare a snack has been awesome. And yes, as mentioned in a previous post, it was perfect for the soccer season - between changing clothes for practice and packing extra folding chairs for the games.

Right now we are enjoying listening to the Christmas movies playing on the DVD player while driving to work in the mornings. The sounds of Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer are cozy to me and it's especially nice when we are all in the car together commuting to work and school/daycare talking about the TV specials.

Before closing this post, I thought I would add a video that my friends sent to me once we told them we were considering buying a minivan. They were definitely poking fun at us because we were "caving", but I still think it's hilarious and worth sharing. It's not for the Odyssey but for the Sienna (another van we were considering). Enjoy!



We are still met with lots of resistance, but the general consensus of parents with young children agree that a minivan does help everything go a little smoother. Not to mention the ability to haul everything you need, the smooth ride, the seats fold down, the secret compartments.... I could go on.... hahahaha

"I got ma pride in ma ride...."  :)