Now Back to This Checklist

We have a house and about five weeks to get ready for this move.  Here is what we have done so far.

~ Set up our expense log for the move.
~ Updated my house inventory, complete with pictures.
~ Gone on a house hunting trip and secured a house.
~ Registered the kids for school while we were on the house hunting trip.  The gaining school will request school records from our child's last school, but it is a good idea to hand carry what records you have like report cards, IEP and counseling records, test results, etc.
~ Advertised our swing set in the hopes of selling it soon.
~ Turned off the automatic payment to the our electronic toll road gadget, since it is not useful to us once we move.
~ Contacted the Traffic Management Office (TMO) who will set us up with a moving company.  We are still waiting to hear back from them about the exact dates of our move.  Our fingers are crossed that we will get the dates we requested!
~ Given notice to our landlord.
~ Reserved TLF for a couple days in our current town as well as a couple of days in Ohio before we close on our new home. 
~ Arranged for pet lodging since TLF does not allow animals.
~ Arranged for childcare on the days the moving company is hopefully arriving, as well as for the date we are to close on our house in Ohio.  The base offers free childcare during our move through certified providers.  Contact the Child Care Center to get a list of providers. 
~ Seen our dentists for the last time and requested that they forward our dental records to our next base.
~ Checked that there is no lapse in our renters/homeowners insurance during the move.  Heaven forbid there is a fiery crash on the highway and all of our belongings go up in smoke.  But if that happens I want to know my stuff will be replaced!
~ I have made a list of every agency or person I must contact to change my address with.  I haven't started yet, but I will be calling a few a day before the move.
~ And I have started to use up all of the things I cannot move such as liquids like soap and olive oil, cleaning supplies, perishable foods, etc.  I do have a small box I will fill up and take with me in my personal car, but the movers will not move any liquids, flammables, household chemicals, or things that can melt like candles.


There is still plenty more to do.  Probably most important is keeping my sanity.  Talking with my kids about their fears and finding ways to get them excited about this move is part of that.  Taking time to relax.  Maybe go on a date with the hubby.  Take a hot bath and unwind.  Keeping myself calm helps me stay patient with my kids and with all of the people I encounter through this whole process.