to be almost packed 2 weeks before we go?!

[Northend77]

We go on holiday in 2 weeks time, first time abroad with our almost 3 year old twins, and I am already about 60% packed!! I started yesterday on our checked bag and mine and the girls' hand luggage (they are only having small rucksacks to hold snacks and airport/flight entertainment). I set up my packing list on a spreadsheet months ago!!

i do this every time we go away. I guess it makes me feel organised and unrushed but also gets me excited for the holiday but otherwise I don't know why I do it as i know it sounds crazy!! in contrast, my husband throws his stuff in a bag the night before!!

Please tell me I'm not the only person who's so ridiculously fastidious about packing for a holiday?!!!

Well I'm having a proud moment for you

Nope I do this too
Pack and repack, check and recheck my lists, right up till the day before when I shut the cases for the last time!

It does drive me mad at times but I cant help it I hate being unprepared or thinking I have forgotten something (and ds2 loves to help pack so gets in on the act

I do similar, even if just for a night away as we need so much stuff (DS with ASD and DD who is just plain high maintenance!) to help things run smoothly. DH will infuriate me by lobbing in random things last minute.

I like packing in a really organised way, also think parenting twins may push one into being more organised, enjoy your holiday.

I wouldn't have enough clothes/underwear to allow me to do this! I generally set stuff aside the week before the holiday, and make sure that everything we need is in the wash cycle at least 5 days before we leave

I did when mine were little too.

Now it's just me and dh it's last minute chaos

I do it too as invariably you'll discover something you really wanted to take is in the wash an hour before you go. It's all done at least a week before, often more.

How on earth do you have enough clothes that you can be packed two weeks before you leave?!

Its easy if you are going abroad at the start of summer hols as you wont have the opportunity to wear any summery clothes before you go

I just add undies to the case as it gets closer to the time.

I also have to hide stuff so that the kids or DH don't wear and wreck it before we go on holiday!

To me the packing is the easy bit.
It is getting everything else done that I find hard work.
Cleaning out the fridge/bins/bread crock.
Ensuring house is tip top before we go-not easy with 3 lads about. Changing all the beds and getting the dirty stuff washed and ironed before you go.Remembering to order all the meds one of my sons need, and all the other 'bits' you need, like plugs etc. Having all their clothes washed and ironed and put away.
Packing is the easy bit.
Open cases, put in stuff for holiday. Close cases. Out of interest what is on the spread sheets? We take clothes for each person, they wear runners and bring crocs, washbags for toothbrushes/toiletries for each person. My make up bag-very important and big,sun cream, swimming stuff, inflatables, medicines...but I really don't feel the need for a spread sheet, so would love to have a nosy at yours!

I have pretty much written off summery weather here so have no worries about putting it in the bags now! Also, we are photographing a wedding this weekend and then doing some shopping so no sunny days out and I refuse to sit in bank holiday traffic to go to a beach or somewhere so we'll just go round to family probably. Then we are swimming the following weekend so I have left out a swimsuit for that but otherwise I won't need it! I also bought new underwear recently so just put it straight in the case (we have the use of a washing machine whilst away)

The girls clothes are easy too as I keep their nice summer stuff for weekends rather than nursery as it just gets ruined

So it will just be a few things last minute (and of course, that's all on my list so can be ticked off later!)

Glad it's not just me!

A1Sharon my spreadsheet is a work of genius (to me, anyway!!) - it bewilders my husband who hasn't ever made a list in his life!

It's sorted by me, twin1 and twin2 (I don't organise or pack for DH!), by category (clothes, sleeping, toiletries, entertainment, etc), whether I have to buy it (for which I create a separate shopping list on another tab!) with a check box for when it's been packed!! OMG I sound ridiculous!!! (did I say it even has conditional formatting to colour code it? )

I dont do a spreadsheet, I prefer a nice notebook and lists

List for each of us, me and 2 kids for clothes, toiletries.
List of miscalaneous stuff - chargers, adaptors, phones, DS's etc
List of suncream, meds, first aid stuff, etc.
List of things to buy to be 'ticked off'
List of things to find!
List of things to do.

You get the jist, I love a list

Enjoy but remember you have to pack before you come home.

Northend

Ha ha I do that with my Xmas lists, I use a spreadsheet for the run up to Xmas, present list, etc etc and colour code it too

Packing to come home is easy, you dont have to think about 'what to take'.
All clean clothes in the case, the bin bag of dirty washing, everything you see lying around.
Everything you can see in the whole appartment/room gets put in the case, case weighed.
If you have checked everywhere, under beds, furniture, cupboards, bathroom, drawers and there is nothing left you are packed .

Yes, coming back is easy - just make sure it all goes back in!

Yep, birthday parties, Christmas - any excuse for a detailed spreadsheet list!!

I make a list over the couple of days before then pack from that at the last minute. I hate all the faffing of having bags hanging around, plus I don't have enough clothes to do anything else. If you forget something and it's essential to human life, you will be able to buy one where you are. If it isn't essential, you'll be able to do without. I don't make any special effort about leaving the house either.

My mother always does this, minus the spreadsheet. I've always presumed it's because she has too much time on her hands! That obviously doesn't apply to you though as you have 3 year old twins.

I do have a spreadsheet but only print it out a couple of days beforehand.

I do this, but mainly because I get anxious that I will forget something. It helps me not have anxiety dreams for the week or two leading up to the holiday. I check the expiration date on all the passports about 3 times as well!

I'm going abroad for a week tomorrow morning with DH and 2 x DC tomorrow. We leave for the airport at 9am. I haven't even got the suitcase out yet, let alone consider what to put in it.

OMG Silly I would be a wreck in that situation!!

Show us the spreadsheet. I dare ya! 😉

I am just startinf to pack and I go on the 5th. Am takimg a 2 year old and a 11 month old. what the hell do I take?!