Car seats and boxes

For many months now we have had the car and booster seats all arranged in the van the same way. Lately, though I've been annoyed with having to lean over Ben (making him scream) to get to Eric to make sure he is all strapped in correctly. (He can buckle himself, but he doesn't do it anywhere near properly.) The first move was just to switch Caitlyn and Eric. Eric was on the third row farthest from the door and Caitlyn was on the third row closest to the door. Then we went to pick up Emily's dress and then to walmart. Caitlyn threw a fit from the time we left until we were in walmart and I threatened to not buy her soy nut butter if she didn't stop crying. (Probably a bad thing, but it worked.) I then moved Karen to Ben's old spot. He had the third row, middle seat (with the lap-only belt). Due to the lap-only belt only a car seat can sit there. It would be very dangerous for anyone else whether child or adult to sit there. Then I put Ben on the second row furthest from the door, Eric next to him, closest to the door and Emily back in the third row closest to the door. The only thing wrong with the arrangement is that Karen's seat is wider than Ben's and Caitlyn can no longer buckle herself, so I still have to get to that far seat. I worked with the seats for two hours and the two carseats still are not in a position where I am happy with them. Ben's leans very badly. Karen's leans too, but even worse- it is too loose. Back when we had the Odyssey it took me 30 seconds to install a carseat. I am so frustrated with this stupid aerostar. I know, I am greatful to have a vehicle to seat our family in that we can afford. Last Feb we had no savings for a downpayment and we could in no way have afforded the monthly payments of a nice vehicle. Especially since we were still making payments on the Odyssey until April. It was lucky of Aaron's father to let us make payments on it, starting when the old one was sold. We are greatful that it will be payed off this coming March. Then we will save for our large dream vehicle. (My real dream vehicle is a vw bug or anything very tiny for that matter.)

My other rant is on boxes. My mother had the grand idea to send everyone's Christmas presents with their names on the packages. She warned me, so I had been taking the boxes before anyone had looked too closely at them. Today, however I did not get there in time. A box came with Emily's name on it. The kids bothered me all afternoon, during dinner, and evening about that box. It is Emily's so she should get to open it. Grrrr..... I hope they forget about it by tomorrow. I'm going to wrap the contents tonight and hide the box. They think it is her birthday present since her birthday is tomorrow. In the future I will beg mom to put my name on everyone's gifts and put Aaron's name on mine or do something so I know not to open it.