Another first...

So today was the first day of school for the older 3...

6th, 3rd, and 7th grades
It's really kind of scary to think about how old my kids are getting. I can't believe that I have a 7th grader already - it's really just unreal to me.

The whole gang
I got the stupid timeline on my personal facebook tonight (it sucks) and I took the opportunity to go back and look at some of the old pictures that I've posted of the kids on there (which I could have done just as easily even easier without timeline) and I can't believe how much they've changed over the past few years. They're really growing up so quickly.

May 2010 - what a difference a couple of years makes
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Now, on an extremely happy note - some of you might have seen this on my facebook page earlier today. To make a long story short, Daniel and I stopped in at a garage that we keep walking past on the way to and from school - for whatever reason, it never dawned on me to stop there and ask how much they would charge for a new transmission for the van. Anyway, they can put in a used one (with a one year/unlimited miles warranty) for $1500.00! Here, I've been trying to come up with $2495.21 based on the other quote that I had. So, needless to say, I'm going to be taking the van there.

Thanks to the ChipIn, donations that have been made directly to me, and the money that I've been able to put aside, I currently have $1096.65, or what is now 73% of what I need to get my van fixed! And with any luck, I'll be able to put my hands on the remaining amount on Wednesday (or pretty close to it, anyway).

With any luck, I'll have my van back (and I'll be able to give The Dude's back to him) within the next couple of weeks! Woot!