Bertha's tired

"The Whitaker Bus" (Rachel calls it Bertha) served me well today.  We went to the doctor (in town), high school (35 min from the doc in another town), presidency meeting, home for lunch, elementary to pick up Esther, then to her piano lesson, post office, gas station, drug store, consignment store, home for dinner, baseball practice (clear out towards the high school), Rachel & Bekah's piano lesson (near home), back out to pick up Matthew from baseball then finally home.  Whew!  It probably would have been better if the gas didn't cost so much.  It costs about $97 to fill up!

Joseph has tried for some time now to talk me into getting rid of it.  He didn't want it in the first place but I insisted it was what we needed.  Now that the kids are starting to leave home, I finally am willing to give up my 15 passenger van. Most of my driving now only includes 3 or 4 kids at the most.  Sunday and youth activities are the exceptions. We've had it for 11 years now and put quite a few miles on it.  It's been great for family trips cause the kids don't actually have to touch each other and we have lots of room for luggage.  I've used it to haul furniture too.

5 schools of learning; Rachel wanted to put the stick family on the back
but I think that would take a whole window!

It's actually become a part of my identity (sad!).  I really like being the "novelty" car.  Although my kids have had their share of being embarrassed by it, their friends seem to think it's pretty cool (well...some of them do).  They all want to ride in it.  Teachers know me by sight when I drive up and I've never lost it in a parking lot.  I had a stranger once tell me how impressed he was at my parking such a monster of a car.  I'll admit, that's one skill I would like to give up.  I hate parking it!

Well, we haven't found a replacement yet, but it won't be long now.  I think we might shed a tear or two....

Like my new header?  I added my lilacs and forsythias.