Pack Mule

We leave for Brazil early early tomorrow morning, I'm exhausted after a whole day of packing.  Hallelujah that it's finally done!

At 4:00 this afternoon I made everyone change into pajamas so that there wouldn't be any confusion about what clothes were going or staying.  It was the most comfortable I've ever been packing.  I see pajama wear happening quite a bit in our future. 

We packed four giant suitcases, five carryons (not sure how we'll finagle that, but we'll try) and a purse.  In addition we'll be lugging a car seat and a stroller.  

About half of that stuff will be staying in Brazil.  As soon as people find out we'll be heading down south, the orders start pouring in.  While services are super cheap there, things are not, and we buy a lot of stuff here and get reimbursed for it on the other end.

We stopped taking last minute requests last night after we got back from a store we'd gone to three times in two days, and we couldn't bear the idea of going again.

Here's our final list:

• 2 laptops
• 1 projector
• 1 XBox
• 1 PS3
• 4 PS3 games
• 1 digital camera
• 1 iPhone
• 1 iPhone charger set
• 1 iPod
• 5 different perfumes
• 1 perfume set
• 6 Victoria's Secret lotions
• 3 Oakley hats
• 1 calculator
• 6 purses
• 2 pairs of Nikes
• 2 toys (the loud, obnoxious kind)

On top of that, we're bringing clothes that Gabi and Mason have outgrown for a niece and nephew.  It's a miracle we had any room for our own clothes!  I wouldn't be surprised to find out we have to pay for exceeding the per bag weight limit.

A friend loaned me her minivan so we wouldn't have to take two cars to the aiport, two hours away.  Friends like that deserve super cool gifts upon my return.    

It takes 24 hours of traveling door to door.  Our journey starts at 4:30 tomorrow morning.  See you in a few days!