To do lists

I think we will be ready to leave on time tomorrow morning. So far in my trip preparations, I have:

• Found or bought summer clothes for everyone who either didn't have any or had out grown the ones they did have.
• Caught up on the laundry. I lost count, but it was probably at least fifteen loads.
• Told R. that yes, we are going to visit Grammy, but no we are not going on an airplane approximately every 10 minutes for the past three days.
• Laid out clothes for everyone and now need to put them into suitcases.
• Found dress clothes for everyone for the Memorial service.
• Arranged for house/pet sitting for the weeks we are gone.
• Introduced our house/pet sitter to Kenzie, since they hadn't met yet.
• Checked out seven recorded books from the library for our car trip.
• Bought lunch and snack supplies for the car ride.
• Renewed or returned library books.
• J. made reservations at hotels for on the way.
• Made an emergency trip to the bank to help an older child sort out a problem.
• J. took the van in for two new (and much needed) tires.
• Got the seizure medicine fiasco straightened out. I can pick it up this afternoon.
• Took a skirt of H's in to the dry cleaners to have a zipper replaced. (No, this is one mending job I have no desire to do myself.)
• Bought needed toiletries for the trip.
• Helped a child who is still completely stressed by vacations get back on the rails.
• Send the children on a house wide hunt to search out all the missing hairbands.
• Worked out my writing schedule with my editor. (Yes, I'll be writing articles in the hotel bathroom.)
• Assured R. that I would get out her knapsack and pack it before we left approximately every 15 minutes for the past two days.
• Explained to Y. where we were going and when. She then told it back to me the next day, so I think she has a basic understanding.

Still to do:

• Actually pack the laid out items into bags as well as collect the other many things we need to take along with us.
• Pack the trailer so we can leave quickly in the morning
• Buy more cat food.
• Pick up the van.
• Pay the bills (Yuck.)
• Straighten the house for the house sitters.
• Print out all the information we need to take with us.
• Iron some of the dress clothes that need to be packed.
• Write the article that's due tomorrow.
• Reassure R. that we are all coming back home to Kenzie and Midnight approximately 10,000 more times.

And... write a blog post to post tomorrow while we're on the road. Be sure to check in, it's a big anniversary!