another stupid freak out friday

\So, John has been hunting down another bus for us.  Last Friday, I did junior achievement for James' class, then John and I dropped off Jason at preschool and we drove about 30 mins. to test drive a bus. 

We passed a bunch of semi's moving big giant cement beams.  It was funny because at the end of the beams were these little tiny tin steering cars.  All these old men were driving them.  We were laughing so hard at them, I had to get a picture. 

We got to the dealership and our bus was smoking.  I can just imagine what the salesman was thinking when we drive up in a broken van.  "easy sale!!  :)"  Can you believe my stupid bus was broken again.  So of course we fell in love with the van, but we had to leave to get Jason from school and Annies half bday was last week so John was going to eat lunch with her.  (yum, school lunch).  Since we didn't have time for the negotiations or paperwork, the salesman told us just to take the new one and try it out then come back and finish.  He couldn't guarantee it would still be there.  We didn't mind since ours was still smoking.  We head to home and get Jason and are making plans with kim to watch the little kids until the big kids get home from school (early out day) then becca could watch everyone til we got home with the new van.  After we get all the details worked out we realized we left the garage opener in the van.  We were locked out, again.  I don't know when we are going to learn our lesson.  Hopefully soon.  Cause I am tired of this.

Here is Annie showing off to me at her school lunch recess.  Super cute!!

So we piled all the kids in (dropped off kims kids and grabbed some garbage bags from her because my van was super duper full of crap.)  and took off to buy a van.  Hours later, we had our beautiful  van!!  (the kids ate lots and lots of popcorn after I made them go take the garbage bags into to van to clean it out.  It was seriously, seriously nasty.  I was so embarassed to have it look like that.  Oh well.  I guess.  The other interesting part of the story is that someone from Billings MT did come to buy the van.  They had to get a different one with more miles that cost more instead.  So we were greatful for the salesmans scare tactics.  They helped us to get what we wanted. 

Here is John and James taking off the licence plates. 

We got home at 5:15 and James had a bday party to go to at  6 so he took off with John for Walmart to get a few things.  Now fast forward.  I got a phone call with John laughing, telling me that his car is dead in the walmart parking lot.  Not funny.  So I picked him up, of course he got a good parking spot.  That didn't help the situation.  We went home until 11 pm and went back and tried to jump it, but no go.  So we went in a bought a $12 tow rope.  By this point, I am crying in the parking lot because I didn't want to be any part of towing.  I was a nervous wreck to use my new beautiful bus and I haven't done anything like this before.  Johns car's towing hook was all screwed up, so he had to wrap it around the frame under there.  That means that he was even closer to me which freaked me out even more. 

I drove the van and thank heavens for cell phones.  John couldn't see over or around me since the bus is super huge.  But, yeah for us, we made it!!!!  It took us 40 mins. to go 5 miles and I was glad it was late at night and not a lot of traffic. 

 Well, there you have it.  The machanic was busy so we don't know yet what is wrong with it.  Thank heavens for parents to step up who have extra cars and then be willing to loan them out!!!!  Have a great week!!! 
(I think I gained 17 pounds becasue of this.  Suzanne was extra nice and sent over these yummy rice crispy/peanut butter/gooey/chocolate things to help the rest of our month go better.  I think I ate most of the huge pan.  double yummy