Due to popular demand! (Ok only one person asked)
Here are some things I find important to pack.
And yes, I have actually started packing. LOL!
We stay at Pop. So these might not be useful dor everwhere.
I get a shoe hold that hangs like a hanger from a dollar store. We then hang it in the closet area to put misc. stuff. Hairsprays, gels, brushes, combs, just anything, and it keeps stuff together, and keeps the sink area clean as well.
I bring along clothes pins. Pop has a retractable clothesline in the shower, so I hang wet clothes up in there after swimming.
DD can be a messy eater. She normallly doesn't use a bib, but when she wears something nice, I don't want it to get icky either. She also loves soup, which then dribbles down the front. So I buy the disposable bibsters and bring them along, so when she has a messy icecream or something that is messy, I just put one on her and keeps her clean. Technically, my 16 year old needs to wear these still. LOL!
I am also making magnets to decorate our door. We did this lat year and it was easy to spot our room for DD. I am make some with magnetic pare (which is kind of pricey) and some with card stock and glue small magnets to the back.
We bring to laundry bags (again only a dollar at the Dollar store) We seperate lights and darks in them. I also do laundry while there so we don't have to pack quite as much. I buy travel size detergent from Target.
This year I am bringing a slound soother thing. First year we just played a CD on our portable DVD player, as DD needed music to go to sleep. Last year we brought the DVD player, but rarely used it (it's staying home this time around). So we used the fan in the bathroom or the TV, both kind of annoying. The fan only goes so long and I would notice it as soon as it clicked off. (we run a fan everynight at our house)
The clocks at pop have a sound machine(as of last year at least) but they would have like an ocean sound and then dang seagulls would chip loudly and it drove me nuts. Ours is much more soothing.
several pairs of shoes for a little one with bad feet. Well Claire isn't bad, so this isn't needed for her. But Paige had horrid feet (now wears a size 11) And she would blister everyday, so I had to pack a different pair of shoes for each day, so that the blisters in one area would get a rest, while news formed that day. LOL!
Costumes for people who have a little one who loves to dress up.
bandaids, sunscreen and all that good stuff.
We pack some small breafast items. Like a box of DD's favorite granola bars, and I usually get the hotess 100 calorie pack cinimon crumb cakes to eat before we head out. We also bring along a few juice boxes to take to the parks in case of an emergency thirst by DD. Also some gummys or crackers. It has happened too. Last year the parade was on and people near us were eating funnel cakes, and DD thought she would die without food, so I pulled out a drink and crackers and she was all happy.
I'm debating on bringing my laptop, just for the purpose of uploading pictures on it, or DD watching movies on the plane. But I think I won't. I have a ton of memory cards now for all my cameras (just ordered another to be safe for the point and shoot) so we should be OK. And DD hardly ever used the DVD palyer in the past, so it was more a pain to lug it around. This year she has a leapfrog leapster, and really likes that, so I think we'll just bring that and her two games, plus the new one the "nemo" is giving her.
Also be sure to pack some of your clothes in anothers suitcase. If you fly and one gets lost, then at least you have some clothes for everyone. I do it this way. I pack an outfit for each of us in the carryon, along with swimsuits and one of DD's costumes. So if by chance one bag didn't turn up, we each have a change of clothes (and underwear and socks), and can swim as well.
This year, unless the forcast if for cold weather, I'm leaving my winter jacket home. I'll just wear a sweatshirt with a hooded sweatshirt to the airport. and then won't have that big blulky thing to worry about on the plane. Same for DD. She has a Mickey jean jacket, and I'll just have her wear a sweatshirt under it. Our airport is not far at all, and very small. We'll be out sound for 2 seconds and then right up to the checkin counter.
I can't think of any others right now, but if I do, I'll share them. Or if I learn of anymore, I'll share as well.
So sorry to hear about the flooding. That same thing just happened to my grandparents house. They're not sure what's causing the problem, but they had to spend a great deal of time cleaning up the mess in their basement. I hope it gets better!
. Just wanted to say Happy Birthday. I like your packing list too. We always bring the over the door shoe holder, works great!
The hard part is having someplace for Claire to go while I go. I can go while she's at preschool, but thats only 2 days a week. So I may have to ask MIL and Paige to watch her here and there, so I can get a few extra times in and get my moneys worth. I always feel bad asking MIL as she watches her other grandchild EVERYDAY. He is autistic, and I think he's like 12. But they let him do anything he wants for the most part, and now he hangs on MIL and he is twice as tall as her. Long story, but SIL really takes advantage of the situation, and works ALOT. then stil lgoes out on weekends, here and there. And the is NO ONE else to watch him.
