Vacation countdown has begun

We leave for Australia in two weeks. We are bubbling over with excitement. It's been quite a while since we took a big vacation. We typically go somewhere international once a year and then take many mini trips through out, but with me getting laid off last year and my husband taking on a new job, we just sort of bunkered down for the past 12 months. We did take a trip to Tahoe twice and a few overnights but that's it. This trip is much needed. And we are visiting family which makes it even more special.

Now the packing and planning begins. I tend to start thinking things through, as far as packing for a long trip, a couple weeks ahead. Just in case I need to make any purchases beforehand. I check weather reports, dig out my toiletries containers, think about the plane ride. Maddox has been on one long-haul flight and numerous smaller flights, but since we haven't traveled much lately it's been about a year since his last flight. Now that he's a full blown toddler, there's definitely some pre-planning involved. I bought a sticker book (700 stickers!!), have some snacks planned and am borrowing a DVD player. Our flight out is a red-eye, so I'm crossing my fingers that he will drop out at some point during the 13 hours in the air.

Other than the dvd player, the activities, snacks...any prep suggestions you have, please send them along.

As far as the actual vacation, we will be staying with my sister-in-law and her family at their beach house in Sydney. My mother-in-law is also joining us from South Africa. So it will be a great family reunion. There's a Hot Air Balloon ride planned, the Sydney Opera House, an excursion to wine country and to another place called Kangaroo Valley. Can't frickin' wait!