Trip Packing & High Heel Hiking

On a recent three-day trip to the mountains, I failed to check the kids’ suitcases.

Ten minutes down the road I glanced down at my youngest daughter’s feet and noticed she was wearing her white dressy heels. (You would have thought I might notice this before, especially since she was also wearing a fancy dress.)

“You packed other shoes, right?” I asked.

“No.”

“Not even flip flops?” Not only had she not packed any play shoes, but she hadn’t packed undies, pajamas or her toothbrush.

But there she sat with her doll on her lap, and surrounded by her doll stroller, doll backpack, and doll beauty salon chair! It cost us about a half hour in the turn around, but thankfully we were able to get her tennis shoes and everything else she needed before leaving town. When we arrived at our destination, we opened up her suitcase to find the doll’s entire wardrobe complete with all the accessories! (She hadn’t missed a thing!)

What a great reminder to have packing lists on your computer to print up before vacations or short trips. The lists will save time and empower your kids to do more for themselves (which will free up time for you).

A sample list from our Colorado trip:

• Jeans (3-4)
• Shorts (5)
• Shirts (7)
• Underwear (7)
• Socks (7)
• PJ’s (2)
• Western shirt/square dance outfit
• Sweatshirt (1)
• Jacket
• Tennis shoes (2)
• Boots
• Cowboy hat
• Flip flops (1)
• Swimsuit(s), goggles, cap, towels
• Workout clothes
• Hat or visor
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Flashlight
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hair gel, lip balm, etc.
• Vitamins/medicine
• Hair bows/bands
• Bible, pen, devotional
• Water bottle to carry for the week
• Sunday clothes: girls: dresses, guys: khaki pants/polo shirt
• Tennis racquets and balls, baseball gloves/baseball,
• Hammocks/spike ball/slack line
• Camelbacks for hikes
• Camera (and charger/extra batteries)
• Stuff for car: pillow, snack bag, books, magazines, backpack
• DVD’s and Mom’s laptop
• Note to mom:
• Hostess gifts
• Notecards
• Stop mail
• Dog – instructions, crate, bowls, food, treats, leash
• First aid kit
• Extra trash bags
• Bags for dirty clothes
• Laundry soap
• Fanny pack
• Use hitch-all and car topper.
• Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues and paper towels for car

For trips we make regularly, I like to list favorite restaurants, rest stops, and hotels we enjoy.

Using the list, children can lay out their items, and then (as the high-heel story would remind us) mom can check items off the list as they are packed in their bags.

Happy packing!