Pimpin'

We finally got our much-vaunted mini-van, a 2010 Toyota Sienna. I have to admit, getting a new car is always cool, even if it turns you into an instant soccer-dad/mom by simply climbing into it.

Here are some stats:

wheels: 4

cylinders: 6

seats: 7

cup-holders: 15

cup-holders (if 2 middle seats are folded down): 17

# of coffees Louise will let me have in the car per day: 1

Length of car: 201"

Length of garage: 210"

# of electric sliding doors: 2

# of times doors have been used today to entertain Kai: 27

# of times our old, dowdy Element tried to hit its younger, cuter sibling: 2 (we eventually had to park them far enough apart so the Element couldn't reach the Sienna - good practice for when Kai meets his sibling soon)

Tomorrow we're heading to NJ to see my brother, his wife Laina, and their wee daughter Eva. On the way, we'll stop by Mystic to check out the aquarium, operate the electric doors a few more times, and let Kai stretch his legs. After what seems like a dozen road trips this summer, we've been feeling a little lax about the preps for this one. Maybe we're just jaded about the relative simplicity of this trip. Or maybe its the acre-plus space in the back of the minivan so we can just toss whatever we MIGHT need in instead of measuring and worrying about fitting everything into the Element like a reverse-Jenga puzzle.

Kai's throne: THE cleanest this will EVER look!

Time to snooze - hoping for an early start tomorrow. Adios!