So I can't remember exactly when my sister was here last, but I think it has been close to a year. When she came to visit, my 1999 mini-van started doing weird things (remember that drive from the airport A?) Anyway, the battery would work intermittently while driving and everything would turn off all of a sudden (the radio, the digital speedometer, air, etc) and the car would kinda jerk. We thought it was the battery connectors since the battery was really new. We tightened them and it seemed to help for awhile, except when we hit a pretty big bump.
A few months later it happened again and then a few more months after that. We stuck pin needles inside the connector to help it be tighter and had to clean off the corrosion each month. It seemed to be doing better until today. Yes, on Wed, a very busy day for the Hanson household.
We started the day by waking everyone one at 6:30 (not a fun task to do when 4 sleeping children want to keep sleeping!). We all got dressed and had breakfast and were out the door by 7:10. We drove in rush hour traffic and got Ashlyn to school about 7:45. We drove as quickly to Wal-mart as possible for a potty break and about 15 grocery items. We hurried off to Speech Therapy by 8:30 and left there about 9:15. The boys remembered that there was story time at the library today (I have stopped reminded them during the holiday season) so we stopped off there for toddler time. We got a DVD movie and were all pumped to drive home to enjoy some Wal-mart donuts and our Nick Jr DVD. Everyone buckled and smiled and then heard a funny little noise come from the engine. Yes, the battery did not start! So there I was with 3 hungry little boys in freezing weather trying to jump the car at the library....John was getting ready to go to Ashlyn's school to teach his class and couldn't come up to help us out (it is his 2nd day of class and couldn't just not go). He helped me get started by trying to jump it over the phone...no luck. We called the tow truck to come get it so I had to empty the car - seems easy right, take out 3 car seats, a stroller, some freezer item groceries, diaper bag, movies, purse, and coats while keeping track of 2 active toddler boys and a crying baby! We got everything moved back into the library (we were freezing outside) and were waiting for the tow truck and John's mom from work. The tow truck came first of course and we tried the jump again....this time it worked. He said that the Ford Focus who was kind enough to help this little mom in need didn't have the boost my car needed like his really LOUD, big truck. So $45 later, I have to put all the "stuff" back into the running car and call Grandma Sue. I caught her before she got too close to Kearney so she turned around. We got everyone buckled and home right before too many major breakdowns started - except when the DVD player broke :( The car sat dead in the garage until John replaced the battery tonight. It's working again and now that "Check Engine Soon" light is off! I would have never guessed that light actually meant something this time :)
Oh, and we got the DVD player working later with John's help again on the phone...nothing like a great mid-week adventure for our crew! I think we are staying in tomorrow!
A few months later it happened again and then a few more months after that. We stuck pin needles inside the connector to help it be tighter and had to clean off the corrosion each month. It seemed to be doing better until today. Yes, on Wed, a very busy day for the Hanson household.
We started the day by waking everyone one at 6:30 (not a fun task to do when 4 sleeping children want to keep sleeping!). We all got dressed and had breakfast and were out the door by 7:10. We drove in rush hour traffic and got Ashlyn to school about 7:45. We drove as quickly to Wal-mart as possible for a potty break and about 15 grocery items. We hurried off to Speech Therapy by 8:30 and left there about 9:15. The boys remembered that there was story time at the library today (I have stopped reminded them during the holiday season) so we stopped off there for toddler time. We got a DVD movie and were all pumped to drive home to enjoy some Wal-mart donuts and our Nick Jr DVD. Everyone buckled and smiled and then heard a funny little noise come from the engine. Yes, the battery did not start! So there I was with 3 hungry little boys in freezing weather trying to jump the car at the library....John was getting ready to go to Ashlyn's school to teach his class and couldn't come up to help us out (it is his 2nd day of class and couldn't just not go). He helped me get started by trying to jump it over the phone...no luck. We called the tow truck to come get it so I had to empty the car - seems easy right, take out 3 car seats, a stroller, some freezer item groceries, diaper bag, movies, purse, and coats while keeping track of 2 active toddler boys and a crying baby! We got everything moved back into the library (we were freezing outside) and were waiting for the tow truck and John's mom from work. The tow truck came first of course and we tried the jump again....this time it worked. He said that the Ford Focus who was kind enough to help this little mom in need didn't have the boost my car needed like his really LOUD, big truck. So $45 later, I have to put all the "stuff" back into the running car and call Grandma Sue. I caught her before she got too close to Kearney so she turned around. We got everyone buckled and home right before too many major breakdowns started - except when the DVD player broke :( The car sat dead in the garage until John replaced the battery tonight. It's working again and now that "Check Engine Soon" light is off! I would have never guessed that light actually meant something this time :)
Oh, and we got the DVD player working later with John's help again on the phone...nothing like a great mid-week adventure for our crew! I think we are staying in tomorrow!
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