I think that there are 2 kinds of parents in this world: those that drive minivans and those that don’t.
I’m in the those that don’t group. 100%.
But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes get jealous of all of you Swagger Wagon driving mamas out there.
I mean, minivans are so easy to maneuver around in, aren’t they?
Because of my lack of minivan expertise, I can’t say this for certain, but I’m guessing that when necessary, you minivanners can probably easily fling yourself over your front passenger seat, while your car is in motion and catch a projectile vomit from your son who is sitting in the very back row of seats before it sullies your upholstery, triggers a sympathy barf from your other two kids and your spouse, and ruins the first leg of your summer vacation.
I mean, it just seems possible with the open floor plan of many of today’s minivan models.
As the owner of a seriously cool SUV, I can tell you unequivocally that you can NOT do that. And, should you try to do any sort of vomit preventative, body launching within a vehicle of this design, you will dislocate your shoulder. Or, at the very least, sustain a rug burn to your face and/or inner thigh.
Yeah, one of these days I might have to really reconsider my position on minivan ownership. And look into one of those Toyota Sienna’s I got to check out when I was at the Toyota Women Influencer’s Network event earlier in the year.
I laughed at the time, you know, because I am clearly “too cool” for a minivan. Even with the “World’s Greatest Parents” next to me and Dumb Dad busting out an awesome rap song to rep it, a minivan can only have so much street cred…
Further introspection has led me to determine that I’m also too cool to smell like barf all friggin’ day. And to have to strip near naked and wash my shirt and hair in a gas station bathroom. Because my kid puked on every inch of my person. Because I couldn’t reach him over my rows of high backed seats.
So there’s that.
Other than the pukey bits though, we had a pretty fantastical, All American Family vacation to the City of Steel (known as such for being sort of a big deal in the history of the American steel industry) aka Pittsburgh aka PBurg aka The Pitts (okay, not that last one, it was just too easy, you know) for a few days where we saw the entire city from the back of a duck…
And then we went ahead and ended the Pirates winning streak (they had won 5 straight games before we showed up)…
We also hit up the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium where The Dudes were strangely more entertained by a stray zoo mouse than they were by the resident pachyderms (sorry, I didn’t get a photo of the mouse because I was too busy doing the fast-feet-get-away-from-me-mouse-dance). Fortunately the evil looking sharks grabbed their attention…
We rounded out all of that awesome with a sweet, thrill-filled day at Kennywood Amusement Park…
Where I spent the day wet and looking like I’d gotten jumped into a gang, and my children posed for awkward photos in which #3 decided it would be inappropriate for him to stand in a line with or near his siblings…
And then, danced their way through the park, oblivious to onlookers…
I freaking LOVE their confidence!
And they would be awesome costars in a swagger wagon commercial with me. Pretty sure we’d be the perfect family for that.
Come on Toyota. Let’s do this.
Are you joining us for Wordful Wednesday?! Be sure to visit my cohost’s Seven Clown Circus, and then check out our featured linkers from last week before you link up your photo awesome post below!
- The argument of Why Buy Toys When They Will Play With Essentials Around the House is made on Modern Style Mama.
- Strawberry Picking always reminds me of summer and these pictures are a delight from Moments That Define Life.
- Sending our babies off to school is sometimes harder on mommy, right? Love this post about it from What Now and Why?
- Fun shots of a road trip Through a Lens and a Windshield at Stacy Uncorked.
- And because Chic Homeschool Mama takes amazing photos of doggies, I had to include this one.
P.S. If you’re going to BlogHer this week and you don’t say hi to me I will cut you be sad we didn’t get a chance to connect. Please look for me at the conference. I will be the awesome one. That looks somewhat awkward smiling nonstop even when it seems inappropriate.
*pBd Admits These People Don’t Pay Her But Do Interact With Her Heavily: I am a member of TWIN which is a group of car savvy women put together by Toyota. I am not compensated for the posts I do with them, and they don’t tell me what to say to you about their cars. I really do think that I should star in the next Swagger Wagon videos. If they gave me a minivan to drive around and rap in, I’d trade it in for a Sequoia rock that. So hard.
I’m a mom that loves my van. Well, I love what it can do for me…like climb into the middle seat to soothe a screaming baby while on the freeway…maybe you could do it in an SUV…Plus, the whole three carseat thing!
You did your trip up in style! I know you all had a great time.
We get three car seats in the Pilot. Luckily we are down to two and by next year will only have one!
Your puke story made me laugh out loud. Oh, how parenting changes us… ;) And that shark shot is cool. Happy WW!
I think we’ve dicussed my hatred of all things van-like before, but I too do (sometimes) understand the thrall they hold over everyone.
Sorry about the puking but on a lighter note, that’s a really cute, cross body, bag you’re sporting.
Can I just say that looks like one very busy vacation?! You’re a great mama.
I drive a Toyota Sienna. Not exactly by choice, although I’m fine with my ride now. It’s just that I loved my SUV…but then the huz got the Sienna as a free company car. So here I am, rockin’ the mini. Whatevs.
I suddenly have an image of a slow-mo recreation of you flying across your front seats, catcher’s mitt in hand fielding globs of vomit. The horror! I hope the offending kid did not go one to eat those nachos!
I don’t have a minivan either. I’ll keep my Scion and let the puke pool on the floor of the backseat.
I got rid of my mom van for the SUV I *really* wanted. The hubby thought that because I was a mom, I *needed* a mom-van – hence the reason he got that instead of what I wanted. ;) But had it been a Toyota, I wouldn’t have minded – but a Dodge Grand Caravan just wasn’t my ‘thing’. :)
LOVE all the pictures! Your family looks like it would be so much fun to hang out with! I sure hope we run into each other at BlogHer – I’ll totally say hi, and we can smile nonstop together even if it seem inappropriate ‘cuz that’s how I roll, too. ;)
Thank you SO MUCH for the shout out! :)
Dang. Think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. As a fellow non-minivan family I hear you on the street cred but I do not ever want to be in a puke-filled cool car. Swagger Wagon here I come…
And I’m loving the picture of the dudes on the bridge. #1 looks so sweet. #3 looks his usual bad-ass self but #2? He’s looking all suave and sneaky in his shades. He’s gonna be a ladies’ man if he’s not already. Look out Mama!!
You reminded me of the best vomit-in-the-car-story evER.
Since no one invited me to be their personal assistant or valet, for BlogHER, I will not be there. However, everyone,( because I appear to be the only person who ever so much as opened a blogger account, who isn’t going), missed out. I’m that cheap and easy. And it seems to pay in no way whatsoever. I have no idea what was motivating that one girl in high school.
You couldn’t do the swagger wagon thing because the whole point is that those people have none. Please. I have to squeegee the cool off my screen after you write about your kids.
You wouldn’t be a mom if your kid hasn’t puked all over you a time or two! What a fun time though at the ballpark and around the city!
I’m totally laughing. We have one- I wanted a suburban. It just sort of happened- you know how it goes on the car lot- they can’t always give you exactly what you are looking for & well……………. nevermind. I chose the sleekest & most sophisticated one I could find & I have learned to tolerate it my calling it my beach wagon (even though I have not been able to get in a trip home & take it to the beach in a year & a half) But it is what it is & works for us for the moment. I do have to say- I was happy I didn’t have a suburban when gas prices were inching close to $5 a gallon. It still costs about $100 to fill up- but it does get good mileage.
Oh my gosh!! I would LOVE to see your family in a Toyota swagger wagon commercial. That would seriously be the highlight of my year. They really should pick you guys.
How flipping cute are they! And yes I tried to take the minivan route but just couldn’t do it either. Being ignored by the so called “helpful Honda guys” kinda helped…
Have a blast at Blogher12! So jealous.
I’m the only one of my friends who doesn’t roll in a swagger wagon. And even with the threat of vomitosis, I won’t. Unless I’m driving cross country, this mama will stay in the SUV. I’ve given up on the dream of driving around in a 2-door sports car, so if I’m gonna go four door, it’s gonna be an SUV. ;-)
One time, a guy friend told us how much he loved their mini-vans because they are “just like” trucks. Obviously, he has never driven, ridden or seen a truck, or he wouldn’t make such a self-incriminating statement ;) Our names will never appear on the vehicle title of a mini-van because, frankly, we look way cooler in an SUV…..
I want a new Pilot. I. love. them! But. I know the Sienna is more of what I need. I don’t want to need that. I mean, yes, it’s roomier and has magical doors, but I really, really want to seat 8, not 7.
Anyway, y’all have been having a fantastic summer!
Here’s my take on the minivan situation. Car manufactures make this really great automobile for parents, it’s called a SUV. It has tons of room and basically all the features of the beloved swagger wagon. Right now I drive a sports car; it has four doors, but my car rocks. If I ever need more room I will purchase a SUV, with a tv, and tailgate seats because I’m jealous of those features.