The people that got us through

Let's have a To Do List review. First I have to give you the original list.

1. Find pediatrician (no comments on me not doing this in the months prior)
2. Visa applications
3. airline tickets
4. gifts for people in Russia
5. Photobook to show judge
6. find house sitter
7. Pack
8. embassy paperwork
9. pick up money at the bank
10. unpack car seat
11. unpack table booster seat
12. arrange drop off and pick up at the airport
13. prescriptions
14. buy remaining stuff for trip
15. take care of the bills while we are gone
16. cat food/ litter
17. clean house
18. notes for house sitter
19. finish babyproof
20. set up sprinklers
21. attempt to stay as calm as possible with only 8 days to do all of this.

I am keenly aware of the fact that there are quite a few items I could have done prior to knowing our court date, but I was so oblivious to the fact that we would actually get a court date I said screw it. So now I have 8 days 6 hours and some odd minutes to complete all of this stuff. Lucky for me I got to work.

Visas and airline tickets are taken care of. Visas should be arriving Thursday or Friday. Cutting it close, but I trust the travel agent. I found a house sitter!!! Yeah! I can't tell you what a load off my mind that is. Thanks Shey! Embassy paperwork was done last Wednesday. Easy. The car seat got unpacked on that last Manic Monday. The rest.... well that is still to do.

This afternoon we are saying good-bye to our Jetta and trading it for a more affordable car. Now the smart people would trade the Bug (aka. the Mommy car) but we like to be difficult. The Jetta is too expensive with the high car payment and the need for premium gas. So it is outta here! CS's mom and sisters are coming tomorrow to help me pack, babyproof and clean. Tuesday I have to work in the afternoon, so that leaves the morning to finish up some orphanage worker gifts. Wednesday I have to run my newsletter that I have been cramming in there too. Wednesday night is a Mariner's game with the fam. Thursday work all day. My last day actually at the church. I go to working from home once we get back. Friday I am getting my hair done if it is the last thing I do. Saturday is a house warming party for some friends. Sunday, last minute packing and watching Elle run around like a crazy woman because she isn't able to handle the fact that she is a) leaving the country for 3 weeks and b) is going to be a mom. Think CS should take a video of this?

Alright... gotta go install more baby latches.