2012 Under Way

I love Winter when I can wear sweaters and be cozy and warm, but having a January that has been in the 80's is ridiculous! I wish the weather would make up it's mind! It is freezing in the mornings and at night and mid-day it feels like summer. My closet is confused.
I can't wait for the days to be longer again. Getting home int he dark feels like there is nothing left to do but go to bed! My days are so short, I want the light back :)
Last Friday, the Volvo took its last trip to LA. It blew up on the side of the 5 freeway in Norwalk. I had to leave work early to go pick G up. It has been sitting there since. I found a place online called Kars4Kids that we are going to donate it to. We will get a $500 tax credit for next year and a free 3 day, 2 night hotel stay at a hotel of our choice (nice little incentive for donating the car). Not exactly sure what was wrong with it, but the mechanic said it would be about $1000 to pull the motor apart to find out. F That! We were both sick of buying used cars with used problems and putting so much money into them as time went on. I can't even being to add up all the money we have wasted on used cars in the past 8 years.
With the baby on the way we both needed reliability. We went down the Kia dealership on Saturday and rolled out with a 2012 Kia Forte. When you think "Kia" certain images may come to mind...but we were both incredibly surprised with all the features.

• 2.0L 4-cyl. engine 
• Automatic transmission 
• Up to 26 cty/36 hwy mpg 
• Bluetooth 
• iPod input 
• Satellite radio 
• Side/Curtain Airbags 
• Stability Control 
• Traction Control

We got it as a lease, and it is a screamin' deal. We wanted the cheapest payment a month possible - and we got it! The monthly payment is cheaper then our cell phone bill! In the long run, it is the right choice. We also got the high mileage package because of all the driving G does.  Driving 150 miles round trip a day really eats up those old cars. At least he won't have to worry about it now. I actually like it so much that he is driving the Scion and I am driving the Kia right now. Who doesn't love that new car smell?? I told him we can switch back and forth. One thing we know for sure...as soon as we can get that Scion off our hands we are most definitely getting another Kia.