We had been putting clothes together incrementally for the last few months, but the actual packing job was just as overwhelming as we expected. We approached packing strategically: knowing that we only had 50 lbs for checked-in baggage, and that we already had 40 lbs of books for Agent P's Eagle Scout Project, we tried to fit as much as possible in the carry-on bags. We also had another thing working against us: We have to pack for two seasons, the Fall and the Winter. In the end, we were able to have one empty bag (we fit all the 6 year old's clothes in a carry-on).
For our 3 month trip, here's the packing list we used:
| Suitcase | Backpack |
|---|---|
| 10 Short-Sleeve Shirts | Camera, Cord |
| 5 pairs of shorts | Crayons, Colored Pencils, Pencils, Pens |
| 7 Pairs of Khaki Pants* | Nintendo DS and Games |
| 3-5 Long Sleeve Shirts | Journal & Drawing Book |
| 10 Pairs of Underwear | 2 Empty Water Bottles** |
| 10 pairs of socks | Snacks |
| 2 pairs of running shoes | Flashlight for night hiking |
| 1 pair of crocks | Tooth Brush, Tooth Paste |
| 1 pair rain boots | |
| 1 pair church shoes | Extras for Suitcases |
| 1 jacket | Games (Dominion, Curses, Guillotine) |
| 1 rain jacket | School books |
| 1 coat | Bug Spray (Euro-Mosquitos are insane) |
| 1 set of church clothes (shirt, tie, socks) | Wet Wipes (So MANY uses for these) |
| 1 pair PJs | Taco Packets (for when we need Mexican) |
| 1 set running/play clothes | Small toys for 6 yr old |
| 1 Swimsuit and Towel | Ear Plugs |
Of course, for the adults, we subbed in suits, dresses, skirts, scarves, jewelry, makeup, medicine, hygienic products, and so on (but let's face it, packing kids is the hardest).
*Because having a dryer in an apartment is so uncommon in Italy (and throughout Europe), we opted for clothes that would dry quickly. Ergo, no jeans.
**Water fountains are much less prevalent in Italy than they are in the U.S., so for each trip, we'll fill one bottle with water, one with juice.
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