It all started innocently enough...

First there was the car seat box, converted to "donation storage", then came the hot pink tubs from walmart (which for the life of me I couldn't squeeze 50 lbs into so they were returned despite thier very attractive color), next came the pile in the garage that unfortunately prevented me from doing laundry (can you hear my despair?) and the "pawning it all off on Grandma and Grandpa to deal with" phase which was quite pleasant for awhile. At some point in there I remember several shopping trips to search for just the right ginormous rubbermaid crates (that hold lots of big fluffy diapers and yet aren't over the airline size restrictions), measuring of duffle bags, and the last resort, my mom actually MADE a duffle bag sized exactly to the maximum size allowed on British Air and capable of holding lots and lots of diapers, two Bumbo seats, two bouncers and a Moses basket. That's it below in the green canvas, that is one hurkin peice of luggage!


I only took photos of a small portion of the total haul, because it never actually all fit inside one room at the same time! The grand total: 300 lbs of donations (and twenty more that will have to go with someone else next month because I'm maxed out). Here's what we have:


Supplies
Formula: 29 cans
Diapers: 4 Costco cases and 11 more packages
Baby Wipes: 2 Costco cases and 2 more packages

Diaper cream: 2
Baby shampoos and lotions: 6
Toothbrushes: 32 and 72 more for later
Toothpaste: 4
Specialty shampoo: 5
Children's vitamins: 8 Jumbo bottles
Flax seed: 2

Baby Gear
4oz Avent bottles: 9
Bouncy Seats: 2
Bumbo Seats: 2

Clothing
Older kid pants: 31
Older kid tops: 14
Kid Pajamas: 8
Big Kid Shoes: 31
Underwear: 18
Baby clothes: 15
Scrubs for the Special Mothers: 8 sets
Toddler slippers (remember A's little feet?) : 3

Fun Stuff for Big Kids
Soccer ball
Football
Stomp Rockets
Frisbee
2 jump ropes
Fun pencils
A million stickers

And for good measure
A care package for Neely's little girl
Some food Almaz requested (interesting assortment by the way)
A couple outfits and gifts for my sponsor child at CCF

And NO CANDY! After reading Maria's experience detoxing her kids from all the pity candy, I decided the dum-dums could stay home.

We have 2 fifty pound bags and 3 seventy pound ones. Since we're traveling British we don't have a weight restriction on our carry ons, so those have all of our personal items (in space bags of course- they weigh a ton!) and there is about 10 lbs of toys and diapers (and snacks!) for Ashenafi in my suitcase.
So a big shout out to the kind souls that chipped in for the extra luggage fees. I think it's $300 for the extra tonnage (which in the grand scheme of things - compared to the ticket prices- is chump change).

Wish us luck!