Why do I do this????

So we leave in a few days for Legoland, and I am trying to get everything done for the movers.  Of course I waited till Friday to *really* start.

Anyone who has done a PCS with kiddos knows how difficult this can be.  (When we PCSed with no kids, I was stressed out, but I had NO idea how hard it would be with three kids.  I should have enjoyed it while I could!)

Since I have to start work shortly after I get there, I need to pack up all my work clothes and teaching supplies.  I thought the easiest way to do this would to be to clean out the big walk-in closet in the master bath, and we'll also clear out the bathroom so that they don't even have to come in there.  (I really don't want them packing the bathroom trash!)

So I am currently moving everything out of the closet so I can repack it with stuff that we are taking.  Then I have to unload the bathroom to the kids' bathroom.  I usually keep everything in our bathroom because.....well......do I need to remind you of stories of Abs and shampoo, conditioner, floods or toilets?

Gunner took all three kids to the movies so I could get started on this little endeavor.  I think I made a bigger mess, and now I want to quit.  Instead I am procrastinating.

Then there is the separation of all the things we get rid of when we move.  Some people wash everything, but I have no time for that, plus after a few years, those things usually need replacing.  I get rid of the plunger, toilet brushes, cheap trash cans, shower curtain liners, anything plastic, and I'm sure there are lots more.  The outlaws told us to leave the BBQ pit behind.  The thought of washing it doesn't sound appealing!

Of course there are the things I need to hand carry with us because we don't want them to get damaged or stolen.  (Have you ever had something stolen?  We've had a few things that were taken over the years, but nothing too expensive.)  Do you remember that story about the household goods that were ruined by a fire?  So in go the baby pictures, the wedding pictures, his saber, the tank drawing, and all the notebooks with our important information.

After that, we have to pack things for the kids to do on the trip--DVD players, DVDs, a few toys and books.  Add in a pot and a few utensils for cooking and stuff like soap, sanitizer, toilet paper, kleenex, etc. and you have a whole other pile.  But don't forget that you still need to add in the food that they won't carry.  Sometimes I can sneak the spices in, but other times we have hand carried them.  We don't ship canned goods because they weigh so much and we are already pushing our weight limit.  (Do you take your food?)

I'll have to pass on a lot of the food to someone else, although we are currently on the PCS meal plan.  You know, the meal plan where you throw together whatever is left so you don't have to go to the commissary?  All of the sudden we are eating strange combinations, and the kids are less than excited about it.  (The other day, Junior, who eats no meat, was perfectly happy with a jelly and relish sandwich.  He devoured it like it was the best meal he ever had--what does that say about my cooking?)

After getting all these things separated we will still have computers, a copier so I can do my other job, and a printer.  We have no idea where we will leave or when we will move into a house, so we have to be prepared.

How do you prepare for a PCS?  Please tell me someone else hand carries all that stuff with them too!