Getting ready for a new truck

Ever since my kids witnessed Rich and Eileen's car accident they've been chirping and chiming about wanting to get a new truck that is safer. They realized quickly that if we were side impacted like they were they'd be dead pretty quick.  That accident really left an impression upon them. Whenever we drive anywhere they immediately put their seat belt on. Then as we drive they point out every truck they plan on getting when they get big. They've even begun learning the various car and truck brands. They can identify certain vehicles by the little emblems now. It's also not very comfortable for them to sit on the little side seats. So, although this little truck only has 160,000 miles and could keep going for another 10 years, it's time for something a little more family friendly. For my birthday we had a family outing to Tucson to go car shopping. David worked on Sunday instead of Friday so we could be there when the dealerships were open. We even got to stay in a hotel! It was a fun and memorable experience. The kids thoroughly enjoyed swimming at night in the hotel pool and hot tub. I regretted not bringing my camera to take pictures of the kids swimming, so I only have a picture of the aftermath...

 

 First we tried out a Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI. It can get up to 56 miles a gallon! We liked it. I especially loved the seat warmers :)

 But...there's just something about trucks that we liked better. We test drove a Toyota Tacoma and a Nissan Frontier. Both were great but the customer service at Nissan was far superior. We talked to three guys for about an hour about homeschooling, sustainable agriculture, and rainwater harvesting. They were so cool. They even signed up for a farm box!

 This is a convertible that was inside the dealership. The kids had never been in a convertible before.

The kids were so well behaved that the men in the Nissan dealership were amazed. They knew these kids were different. They let their light shine!

This is what we are wanting to get. A crew cab 2012 Nissan Frontier SV.

Now we are in full gear to sell our truck so this Sunday we washed and waxed it together. The kids enjoyed helping. Orion is fully engaged in washing the dirt off the back. Omega is sitting over there ready to be called on as the sprayer.

I'm so glad we always have some project to do on Sunday. The kids get to help and it gives them experience for real life. In fact, here's a funny story. In our "car washing bucket" is soap, a little round sponge, a big soft sponge that your hand goes in and another big type sponge that you have to hold. When I wash the truck by myself and the kids we each get one. Well, this time around David was there. The kids went for "their" sponge and he freaked out (not really, but you know...he corrected them quickly). "No! You can't use that sponge. That's for waxing! And you can't use that sponge. That's for doing the tires! If you use that one then the grime from the tires will get spread all over the truck and scratch it." I felt a little sheepish. I admitted that I let them use them before because I didn't know. No one ever taught me that. My Dad always took his car to the car wash in town. I never once saw him doing it himself. The only time I ever washed a car with another adult to instruct me was...well...maybe a fundraiser event? Not even sure there were adults there then. In fact, I think I wore my bikini top and daisy dukes and stood on the corner with the sign to get people to come.

 After the washing came lunch. Then the waxing. 

David waxed on and I waxed off. While waiting for the wax to dry I washed the windows. He informed me when the wax had dried and I told him, "okay I'll get to it in a second. Let me finish these windows." Then he told me that the longer you leave the wax on, the harder it is to wipe off. Hmmm....another thing I didn't know. He smirked at me when I told him this was the first time I had ever waxed a vehicle.

 And, the final outcome.

 So if you're in Arizona and you're looking for a truck, see our ad on Craig's list!

Food for thought

"Thousands in their own homes are left almost uneducated. "It is so much trouble," says the mother. "I would rather do these things myself; it is such a trouble; you bother me."  Does not mother remember that she herself had to learn in jots and tittles before she could be helpful? It is a wrong to children to refuse to teach them little by little. Keep these children with you. Let them ask questions, and in patience answer them.Give your little children something to do, and let them have the happiness of supposing they help you. There must be no repulsing of your children when trying to do proper things. If they make mistakes, if accidents happen and things break, do not blame them. Their whole future life depends upon the education you give them in their childhood years."

 Child Guidance, 119