So you realize that your 8 year old minivan, with 178,000 miles gracing it’s odometer has reached that point of no return.

You can either pay to have the transmission fixed to the tune of at least $1500 or recognize it’s time to say goodbye.

We decided to say goodbye to our Grand Caravan..

She served us well, taking us on many family vacations, lots of soccer games and let’s not forget all those trips to school, as well as bringing two of our three babies home from the hospital.

But she had to go.

It was time.

Problem was van shopping while on vacation 400+ miles from home isn’t ideal.

Yep, you heard right.

We made it in one piece to PA only to have our van start acting up on us as soon as we arrived.

So we spent a lot of time online looking at vehicles, and even more time test driving and jumping from dealer to dealer.

It was high stress and a lot of frustration.

Monday night, which also happened to be Brianna’s birthday was the culmination of our efforts.

After spending all day van shopping, we took Brianna to Build-A-Bear and then to get her ears pierced, and then went off to see if my dream van was in fact at RideSmart Auto.

It was…

A fully loaded Chrysler Town and Country. I’m talking dual DVD people, and heated leather seats, up front and in the second row and power sliding doors, and a power lift gate too! And a back up camera! And.. and… and… so much more!

I am in love with this minivan!

So the very next day we went back to get the van.

After a very long day of waiting at the dealer, Brian taking it to the mechanic for a once over, waiting some more, talking endlessly with our bank, filling out lots of paperwork, eating some lunch, waiting some more..

Did I say waiting?

We got to take home our new baby..

I mean van!

I heart my Town and Country!

The kiddos love driving in style, their favorite thing to do, besides the DVD player of course, is shutting the doors with a touch of a button.

Brian loves the van too, not so much the spending money on a huge purchase, but oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

I will end with this..

Buying a van on vacation?

Definitely on my list of things never to do again!

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