100,000 Miles and Counting

Today was a very special day for me. Nope, not my birthday, or anniversary or any of my kids birthdays...I drove the 100,000th mile on my car! Yes, my 2003 Toyota Highlander - the first NEW car I have ever bought - now has 100,000 miles. I bought it almost exactly six years ago. The first year I had the car I put almost 30,000 miles on it because I was commuting 50 miles each way to work. The second year I had the car Allison was born. My once pristine, always clean car would soon become a haven for graham cracker and cheerios crumbs. A few years later, when Daniel was born, he was happy to help Allison give the car a much lived in feel. So as I mark this special occasion, I would like to take a trip down memory lane...Here's a picture of me and the car the day I drove it home:

Since this day, my Highlander has made 4 trips from Md to Florida, 2 trips from South Florida to New Orleans, and several trips from South Florida to Orlando. It provided for a nice area for Riley to get comfortable on our first 1,000 mile trip from Md. to Florida:

It also provided a nice area to keep Allison shielded from the wind while we tailgated before a Maryland football game:

It also helped us get around after several snowstorms from when we lived in Maryland

And most importantly it carried our precious cargo home from the hospital after they were born:


Of course I couldn't let this special occasion pass without recording it so I was sure to have my camera ready...and here it is...

Here's to another 100,000 (yes, it's very nice to not have a car payment!).