It’s late at night. My alarm is set for 3:15 am. The kids are asleep. Before daylight, we will board a large airplane and travel westward to The Lone Star State. When we arrive, two pairs of little toddler legs (still in their pajamas) will race down the baggage claim hallway and jump into the arms of our post-Christmas vacation hosts, my parents, the proprietors of The Glorious and Relaxing Wonderland of “Grammy and Bah’s” House. We will call it home for NINE ice-free, snow-free, “I-can’t-get-this-@#$%&*-minivan-up-the-driveway” free days.

To prepare for our journey, I spent the better part of today packing the following luggage and carry-on items:

• The four suitcases I lugged out of the attic at 7 am.
• The umbrella stroller.
• Bagels and sippy cups with milk for the ride to the airport.
• Light coats for our trip.
• Heavy coats to leave in the car for our return home.
• Cash for the toll on the way to the airport.
• Cash tip for the curbside check-in.
• Cash to buy the water bottles and extra milk we’re not allowed to take through security.
• A change of clothes for each child (in case they find a mud puddle inside the airport…it could happen).
• My diaper bag/purse with 5 diapers (or should I bring 6???).
• The “less than three-ounces” allowable plastic bag that includes mini-hand sanitizer and lip gloss (the essentials).
• Band-Aids (someone could get a paper cut on the airplane).
• Advil (oh yeah, I’ll need that).
• Benadryl (I could be allergic to the plane).
• Migraine medication (I definitely might need that).
• Gum.
• Tissues.
• Wipes.
• Napkins.
• More wipes.
• Snacks to be distributed in 20-minute intervals: Wheat crackers. Fruit snacks. Granola bars. Pretzels shaped like airplanes (nice touch, I know).
• Organic oatmeal cookies that I’ll end up eating. Those things are good.
• Cell phone.
• Cell phone charger.
• Video camera.
• Video camera charger.
• Digital camera.
• Portable DVD player.
• The DVD charger and six carefully selected movies ranging from “Charlotte’s Web” to “Little Bear.”
• The kitty cat backpack.
• The ladybug backpack with the slew of new little rubber ocean animals that Santa gave us – “Oh wait Mom! We need to take the little robot and two race cars and two spaceships too!”
• Blue pacifier (her favorite).
• Emergency pacifiers (both orange).
• The Spiderman notepaper.
• The Tinkerbell notepaper.
• Plain drawing paper.
• Lined drawing paper.
• Markers.
• Crayons.
• Go Fish.
• Old Maid.
• Big sticker book.
• Little sticker book.
• Magnadoodle.
• Wikki sticks.
• Electronic ticket itinerary.
• More wipes…
• Oh, and my husband.