Prius Update

We've driven 3,345 miles since taking delivery of the Prius on September 26.  Three-thousand miles plus in less than two months! 

During September, we spent $239.56 on gas for the Odyssey minivan.  Just trips back and forth to town during that month, and one trip to Huntsville (75 miles away). 

During October, we spent $139.52 on gas for the Prius--with the normal trips to town, and three trips to Huntsville, plus one trip to Memphis (3 1/2 hours away)! 

I can live with that. 

One thing we missed from the minivan is the DVD player.  One of Luci's presents for her birthday was a DVD player for the car.  So now she gets to watch her movies and I can listen to the radio!  Any station I want!  Plus, we have Sirius XM satellite radio, so I can listen to just about anything I want and not lose the signal.  We traveled to Birmingham (2 1/2 hours away) twice this month for field trips and I did not have to hunt for another station as we traveled.  Oh, the luxury!

I told Luci we'd be able to go on more field trips once we had a car with better mileage.  And we have--at least SIX in two months!  Lotsa fun!

Another thing I am really liking is the built-in GPS mapping.  We've found every field trip destination with no problems whatsoever.  So nice to have it built in and not falling off the window like our other little machine does.  Mine does not chide me when I go 4 miles over the speed limit, either.  That's another thing in its favor.  (Uh, no, Dad, I don't speed!  Don't know why I'd know about that nasty tattle-tale thing on the other GPS unit.)

Now you know what I am thankful for today, as we get closer to Thanksgiving. Our little car with the great gas mileage. 

The ZOO, part 2

I couldn't get these photos uploaded on the other post.  Finally figured out why: John was signed in to his google email, which derailed my attempts.  So, anyways, here is the rest of the Zoo trip.

Luci and Kenzi on the carousel

Luci and Kenzi holding hands (yes, Kenzi's mom and I both took strollers...it's easier than listening to the girls whine...whine...whine about all the walking.  Now, if we could just get the mommies to quit whining....)

Kenzi, Luci and Mamie (and an unnamed boy) watching the Penguins as they eat their lunch.

The Three Amigos

Tiger watching.  These tigers just seemed too close for us mommies to feel comfortable.

On the way home...she was out like a light before we got to the Mississippi line!  163 miles home, and she slept for about 145 of them.

This is not from the field trip.  We had to make a milk run early Saturday.  So happy to go to Piggly Wiggly!  She has an outfit for every occasion.   (As a side note, that little Prius did very well in the gas department!  We had driven 100 miles before starting this trip.  Then 326 miles round-trip to the zoo, and we still had 75 miles left on the meter.  We got 8 gallons of gas after our trip to the Pig.  Happy with that!!)

I did not want to take my big camera on the zoo trip.  I'm glad I left it at home.  These photos (and those from ZOO part 1) were taken with my cell phone.  It's not a smart phone, has a little camera, but I think it did just fine for the daylight photos I took.  If you disagree, it's not necessary to let me know.  :)

What Was, and What Is

Tree-Hugger, I'm not.  (although I do care about the environment...I'm just not militant about it)

Cheap, I am.

So, it was with not too much sorrow that we traded in our Honda Odyssey (getting 20 mpg city, 24.8 highway--not bad for the 2007 model!) for a 2011 Prius.

What Was:

What Is:

What Was:

What Is:

Wow, now our garage looks so BIG!

On the way to the dealership to pick up the Prius, Luci waxed eloquent about the Odyssey: 

This car (van) has been lots of places!  Disney World, (took us to) the cruise, to Vero Beach, to Mt Rushmore, The Arch, to Idaho!  Lots of places.  It was a good car.

Yes, it was.  Now it's time to learn how to pack well because we can't take just everything.

On the way home, we got to listen to Radio Disney on the satellite radio!  Very happy little girl in the back seat, singing all the way.  Very happy mommy in the front seat, saving money on gas.

And, I knew it would happen as soon as we got a gas-sippin' kind of car:  The Upside of Economic Worries:  Lower Gas Prices.

At first, Luci was not happy with getting a new car.  She is very resistant to change.  Once I explained to her that we can go on more field trips, she was all for this little vehicle!  We already have two trips planned for next week:  the Memphis Zoo and a visit to Huntsville to see another family with a daughter from China.  YIPPEE!