THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN...

You will recall that our little van was wrecked a few months back. Goodbye old friend.

 So with a big ol fat check from the insurance company (not)

we were forced to car shop.  

The whole process was agonizing. I hated to see our old van go.
First of all I'm not a big fancy car kind of gal.
I figure with seven kids I don't deserve to drive around in the lap of luxury.
Secondly...
I loved that our old van was worn and used I didn't worry about spills or door dings.
Third...and most importantly our old van was paid for!
So after about three weeks of spending more time with KSL classifieds than my own husband, we finally found the one car for us.
A nice used (one owner..yay) Suburban.
And just by chance the Suburban came with a DVD player installed.
That single feature...a DVD player...has transformed our lives.

Here are my kids just a few months ago driving around in our old van.

They were happy and silly. They would rely on each other for entertainment or sometimes bring a book or even talk to each other. Dean and I usually had to referee the fights, but mostly they looked outside and read the billboards, made up songs or fell asleep.

Now here they are in the new car.

 Earphones on. DVD system fully engaged.
When I say their name there is no answer.
When I ask them a question there is no answer.
They are zoned out on Fantastic Mr. Fox.
When the car stops and the engine turns off;
like little hypnotic slaves they snap out of it, rub their eyes and wonder where we are.

In our old van we would drive down the freeway and spot a car with happy little children inside watching a movie. My kids were so envious and would beg Dean to drive along side so they could also enjoy the movie.

I would then lecture my kids and tell them of the old days of my childhood when my brothers and sisters and  I would have to entertain each other, sing and make up car games. (actually I remember a lot of arguing, elbowing and fighting)

Here are my two little brothers Will and Jared in front of our family car circa 1985.
A red station wagon.

 I remember when my Dad brought it home brand spankin new.
The neighbor kids were so jealous. Who wouldn't be?
Just look at it.
The vinyl seats,
the cassette player,
the sleek modern design, ash trays on each arm rest.
That car saw me through many family vacations and trips to Storehouse Market.

Then on my 14th birthday as some sort of cruel joke my parents brought home this car.

 Here Brooke and I are posing in front of the gem. Look how happy I am. My Dad got it on a trade for some work he did. I think it was a 1960's Oldsmobile, all I know was it was big and gold and I was a teenager for Heavens sakes!

Then a couple years later...
 to redeem themselves my parents announced they bought a new van

It was probably the best day of my young life when they brought it home.
A 1987 custom Chevy van.
The van had blinds,
swivel chairs,
a bed in the back and....get ready for it...A MINI TV AND VCR!
We were royalty as we drove up and down Spanish Fork Main waving to everyone through the mini blinds.

I remember thinking I was the luckiest girl on earth.
How was I to know that twenty five later I would look back and laugh at the sight of such nerdiness.
I wonder if my own kids twenty five years in the future will look back through pictures and make fun of the new car we just bought.
Of course they will.

And they will in turn lecture their kids on the hardships they had growing up.
When they had to drive cars on the ground instead of flying in them.
When cars only had one TV...
 instead of the TV's being surgically implanted in their heads.

At least that is how I imagine the future to be.
The times they are a changin...