why i "need" a minivan LOL

I have been asking for a minivan ever since I found out we were having twins in Jan 2005. I haven't gotten one because DH doesn't think we really need one. Well today, I came up with yet another reason why we need a minivan. Not only is my DH a youth pastor, and we are constantly transporting students. But when my parents come visit we end up having to take 2 vehicles everywhere we go. And today, my need for a minivan supercedes any other reason I have come up with.

A minivan is an essential while potty training. Today, I had just buckled in Alexis and I'm buckling in Rachel getting ready to leave the grocery, and Rachel announces, "Poo poo!" I say, "you're wearing a diaper it doesn't matter." (bad potty training mommy). I just didn't want to get them both out and load into the stroller for a trip into a potentially dirty bathroom only to find out Rachel didn't need to poop, she needed to pee, and she already did it in her diaper. So, on my way to the church to get Rachel's diaper changed, I am thinking, if I had a mini van, I could get her to sit on the training potty which I would keep in the back! I could have her sit on the potty and the van doors would be closed and it would be fine. but there is no where in a Camry to put a training potty, when you have twins. . .

I want a minivan

 

I have been asking for a minivan ever since I found out we were having twins in Jan 2005. I haven't gotten one because DH doesn't think we really need one. Well today, I came up with yet another reason why we need a minivan. Not only is my DH a youth pastor, and we are constantly transporting students. But when my parents come visit we end up having to take 2 vehicles everywhere we go. And today, my need for a minivan supercedes any other reason I have come up with.

A minivan is an essential while potty training. Today, I had just buckled in Alexis and I'm buckling in Rachel getting ready to leave the grocery, and Rachel announces, "Poo poo!" I say, "you're wearing a diaper it doesn't matter." (bad potty training mommy). I just didn't want to get them both out and load into the stroller for a trip into a potentially dirty bathroom only to find out Rachel didn't need to poop, she needed to pee, and she already did it in her diaper. So, on my way to the church to get Rachel's diaper changed, I am thinking, if I had a mini van, I could get her to sit on the training potty which I would keep in the back! I could have her sit on the potty and the van doors would be closed and it would be fine. but there is no where in a Camry to put a training potty, when you have twins. . .

I want a minivan

 

Yes, you do need a mini van! I know I couldn't live with out mine. It is so much easier to load up. Good thinking about a potty chair in the back. I may have to give that a try.
Sue

 

You do need one! We just got ours a few months ago and I really don't know how I made it without it for so long!

I think that's a great idea...now it IS a must!

 

I will have to try that one with my dh. I have also been begging for a van. He doesn't want to have to drive it.

 

I think twins should come with a free minivan. Seriously! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE my Odyssey.

Your DH doesn't see the need because he isn't having to drive them everywhere. Can you sell your camry and buy a used van for about the same $$?

I never thought of the traveling potty because we're not quite there yet but you're a GENIUS! Thanks for the great idea.

 

Three months and counting until we buy our Honda Odyssey!! I never thought I would be having "minivan envy" while driving around... Now I'm like "oooooh! Look at that Odyssey in blue...I wonder if it's the Touring model!??" LOL I'm now at 17 months with twins jammed into our '99 Accord... We are all tall people so it looks like a clown car when we are all piled in.... Tell your DH it is a MUST HAVE!! Good Luck!

 

You do need one. We just got our Town and Country last week and it's amazing how much easier it is with all 3 kids. Amazing!! Keep working on him.

 

If you can't talk your dh into a minivan, see if you can convince him to get a Buick Rendezvous. It's technically a station wagon, but with all the cargo room of a minivan and the feel of driving a big car. I love mine, and I've done exactly what you're saying about having the potty chair in the back. I just took mine out last week.

 

I hope you get one! For us a mini van would be a step down since we have 5 kids. We currently have a Suburban but I am waiting for my 15 passenger van. Once I get that the kids can actually take friends places.

 

quote:
if I had a mini van, I could get her to sit on the training potty which I would keep in the back!

You are absolutely correct....because I have done it!

 

I always swore I would never ever drive a minivan, but when the twins were born, we needed one lol. Especially since we had a Neon at the time. We borrowed my mother in laws for awhile til we bought our caravan. Which was nice. Then a few weeks ago we traded in the Impala we got in March for a Mazda MPV and I LOOOOOOOVE it. It's WAY better then our caravan, and newer. I was just pleased with the tinted windows, now the twins are not sweating like mad from the CO sun when they fall asleep in the car lol.

 

I know ours is a must. I got it in Feb '05 right before the twins were born, going from a camaro to a minivan was a big change

 

OMG I can't even imagine twins in a Camaro!

You can get by with a wagon or a compact SUV (like our old Forester) with twins - if you're willing not to shop for much and don't have a 95lb retreiver.

But I have to say, I almost dropped to my knees and cried the first time we took our Ody to Costco with the kids, the big honkin' stroller, and STILL managed to jam all our loot into the back. Then again that Christmas when we drove home with the tree inside the back. For months before we got it, I was driving the Subaru around with the roof basket permanently installed "just in case" because space was getting tight.

Is DH opposed to the van on the basis of "we can't afford to get a new vehicle" or is it that he doesn't want to drive a minivan specifically?

If it's the latter... he just oughta suck it up. You're driving it most of the time anyway. And you can get cool techno gadgetry to help cushion the blow of driving a mommymobile. Or tell him how much lumber he can carry from Home Depot in it.

--> Andy

 

quote:
Originally posted by Thumper:
OMG I can't even imagine twins in a Camaro!



DH took the boys and my brothers to wrestling in Sept. and I wanted to go to a concert at the amusement park so DH took the van and I took the camaro, it was the twins first ride in it and their first time forward facing I have pics somewhere and they look so thrilled (not!) After that trip I was sooo glad I didn't drive that car anymore. I had to put the stroller in the front seat lol

Ive been eyeing the new Chrysler Aspen, looks like an SUV but the inside is just like a minivan...Id love to have one!

 

I've got a Nissan Quest w/most of the gadgets - it's got the upper console w/2 screens so when we go on long trips (the only time they're allowed to watch tv in the van) everyone is entertained. We looked at the Honda, Toyota, and the Nissan and got the Quest b/c it had some features that the others didn't, and, let's face it, price. I could load that baby up and it was still less $$$ than the other two choices. I also like having the "skylights" all the way down the roof of the van since I'd always had cars with t-tops. Not a darn thing practical about it, but I get clausterphobic with an actual roof over my head.

 

While I love my Odyssey, I miss my small SUV My MIL just got a new CRV and I love it!!! If I only had the twins, I would have one of those. But with 3 kids, it would have to be the Pilot and even that would be tight. I would push for an SUV before a minivan with only twinks

 

We wanted (well, I wanted, stupid macho hormones) to make a Pilot work when it came time to trade in the Forester, but we really wanted to make use of the 3rd row (friends, grandparents, etc). With the two kids seats in the middle we couldn't fold down the seats to get back there, which kinda sealed the deal for us.

That said, now that we have the minivan (mini, indeed. Hah!) it's so much nicer to have the sliding doors - there are plenty of instances of tight parking that I couldn't have imagined trying to wrestle the kids through.

--> Andy