Three days til we take off!  Now we're basically wrapping up paperwork (setting up insurance for here and there), renting a van for our arrival, scanning important documents, returning things (how could we possibly have so much for so many stores?) and putting the yard and house on its best behavior. Since the Grafs' kids are older than ours(17, 15 and 9 vs 9, 7 and 5), we also need to pack away all the toys and games that won't be age appropriate.  Know any high schoolers who play with dinosaurs and Duplo blocks?  Exactly.

I have heaps -- really-- waiting to go into suitcases tomorrow.  Many people have asked how we know what to pack for a whole year.  I'm not sure we know!  In May,  I sent over 4 tubs worth of snow boots, winter jackets, rain coats, etc.  Now we're sifting through a year's wardrobe for 5 people.  It's hard to be selective when I know that I too will get sick of rotating 4 sweaters all year long.  Luckily my parents are coming in October so whatever doesn't fit now, they can squeeze in then.

Lots of goodbye gatherings, our friend Laura Kestner said it well, "Everyone likes you when you're leaving!"