Packing for 20 days...with 2 kids

Pretty much I don't take a long time to pack for trips and since we have been traveling so much, I have it down and don't pack until the day before...even with two kids. I know what I need, how much and can get it done pretty quickly and without much stress. However, when I started thinking about traveling for 20 days with two kids, with formal nights, smart casual nights and separate outfits for dinner and swim stuff and the list goes on and on....I realized this was probably not a trip that could wait until the day before to pack. I didn't even know if the kids had enough clothes for 20 days (and kids can not reuse outfits) and all the special dinners and so I have already started packing for our trip which is still 12 days away. 


I had no idea how we were going to make the clothes last especially when Graham goes through clothes like crazy and doesn't have 20 outfits plus nice clothes. I don't buy him nice clothes because he is a boy...he grows too fast and destroys clothes! So, I came up with the idea of doing a spreadsheet....you may begin to laugh now. 

It has everyday that we are away...a column for Peyton, Graham, me and for everyone....I refuse to pack and plan for John and then also has the amount of formal, smart casual and casual dinner outfits and then three extra outfits and then at the bottom has items to remember to pack for each person. I figured this would help maximize outfits and space. For example, I am using casual dinner outfits for the cruise later in the trip while we are in Rome since I am hoping they can't get that dirty over dinner and I figured this would help everyone know what to wear on what day so we aren't wasting clothes and John doesn't ask me every day what to dress the kids in. The yellow boxes are outfits that I am missing (I am pretty sure I have something but I haven't finished laundry) and I am pretty proud that I have found combinations for all 20 days without having to buy too many new outfits! I have two extra outfits for Peyton and three for Graham and worst case...they can wear formal outfits or smart casual outfits the last few days....or dirty clothes! 


So...that is what I came up with to help pack for a family of four for 20 days away...12 nights at sea! I started pulling dresses for me to try on and see what still fits and what will never fit and hoping that I can plan enough this week so packing is pretty easy and quick next week....and we don't forget anything too important!

30 days until....The Mediterranean :)

In 30 dyas we are off on our next vacation and this time...John is coming with us! I think I am almost as excited about that part as I am about the trip! So....we leave May 15th for  Rome to embark on a 12 night cruise on Royal Carribbean's Mariner of the Seas through the Mediterranean! 

We figured that a cruise was the best way to see Italy, Greece and Turkey with two little kids. It allows us one hotel room and not having to deal with bag transfers and flights and then entertainment for the kids. We booked two interior connecting rooms so we have enough space and also a place to retreat to when the kids are asleep and are really excited about everywhere we are stopping! 

Our itinerary is as follows....we picked this cruise specifically because it has two days in Istanbul which is the one place I have been dying to go to. I am so excited and also completely overwhelmed with planning what to do in each of these ports. Thankfully with kids you can't do too much so we don't have to plan very much!

Then at the conclusion of the cruise we are spending an additional 6 nights in Rome exploring. I found a wonderful hotel that is apparently in a quiet but central location and was highly recommended as a kid friendly place. I was able to book a Junior Suite which has two rooms with a small living area in the middle. It also opens up to the courtyard. 

In total we will be gone for right around three weeks which seems insane to me! I am really going to need to pack carefully because I don't want too many bags with two kids and traveling around with trains etc but I don't want to not pack enough! Now that we finally have all the airlines, accommodations and transportation booked, I am starting to sit down and plan what to see and do in each location which is overwhelming! We are looking forward to our Mediterranean and Italian adventure!