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We’ve gotten travel permission, and are delighted to be expecting to have our girls home with us by the middle of August. That knowledge has pushed me into high gear, thinking of all the things that need to be done within the next few weeks. I decided to share my to-do list with you, in case some of the items on my list might help other families with their own preparations.
PAPERWORK/LOGISTICS
Arrange airfare
Arrange lodging in Ethiopia
Fill out I-864
Buy phone card for family to call Ethiopia
Arrange times for family to call Ethiopia
Finalize child care with grandparents and aunts
Give grandparents a copy of our insurance card and kids’ SS#’s
Write our girls another letter
Get travel insurance
Write extra blogs for 2 weeks
Write notes to kids at home (one per day while we are gone)
Get cash for trip (preferably crisp new 50’s and 100’s)
Get cash for kids at home
Confirm airline tickets
Get immunizations
ELECTRONICS
Order camcorder battery
Stock up on camera batteries
Back-up laptop data before travel (just in case an outlet in Ethiopia damages it)
Select DVD’s to bring on plane
Set up Netflix with good movies for family at home
PACKING
Borrow luggage and pull out all ours
Make packing list (I’ll share it soon!)
Decide what things need to be carried on the plane and which can be checked
Look for thrift store/yard sale toys
Get dollar store treats for kids at home (one per day per kid)
Wrap treats for kids at home
Pack checked luggage
Label/close/weigh donation bins
Pack carry-ons
Pack clothes
HOUSEHOLD
Clean out fridge/freezer
Stock with a couple weeks’ easy meals
Get caught up on yard work
Make schedule for kids at home
Arrange play days for younger kids with cousins and friends
Clean girls’ room
Work on last household projects
Clean our bedroom
Spray apple trees
Catch up on laundry
Stock fridge with easy healthy fun food
WEEK BEFORE DEPARTURE
Spend some quality family time together before the new children come home
Give boys a haircut
Cut younger kids’ fingernails
Braid little girls’ hair in long-lasting styles for the trip.
Weed garden/ mow lawn/ weed whack
Pay bills
Finish last details of packing
Confirm airline tickets
Weigh bags
Double check list
Try to get to bed at a decent hour the night before we leave!
Man, I’m stressed too. I have a lot to do.
I’m stressed just reading your to do list. Good luck, Mary!
Vali
That looks like an excellent way to burn off the time remaining. Listmakers unite!
Soooo excited for you guys.
Congrats, Mary! We, too, are about to finalize & have a list much like yours (sans the international requirements), but I know the excitement you must feel, as we are feeling it too! Our best to your expanding family!
Wow! That’s a lot to keep up with & get done. I’ve appreciate that you’ve listed it here & that you post about how to get ready/what to pack/etc. It will be so useful when we go to Ethiopia next year!
Abby
Oh, thanks for this. I have a list just like this (only I’m still working on “in the months before . . . “). I see now that I’ve forgotten just a few things – thanks!
This is my first post but have been reading your blog for well over a month now! Your posts have encouraged and enlightened me in more ways than you know! This list is printing out right now for me and I’ll be using some of these wonderful suggestions when it’s our turn to travel! Thank You-
Lori (NH)