Sunday Snapshot: everything but the kitchen sink. . .

seriously. That is what I feel like I have purchased and am getting ready to pack. We are in serious countdown mode: t-minus 5 days until we board the plane. And you know what? I am ready to go home.

But in answer to what so many people ask. . . what do you buy to take back to China? Each year, it is a little bit different. The one thing that is a constant is that I ALWAYS buy toothpaste. And lots of it. Just as a funny aside, the cashier rarely makes a comment, but just imagine someone buying a year's supply of toothpaste. At one time. Plus a ton of medicines. Yet again a year's supply. And I am surprised that I don't get more comments. I mean, I would notice and think it a little strange that someone was buying 15 tubes of toothpaste. Not to mention the 5 things of deodorant and all the medicines. It honestly took me two years to figure out exactly how much toothpaste we use in a year.

I feel like this could be an I Spy: The Travel Version
I spy 10 tubes of toothpaste, something you want with you when it rains, 4 things that will make you sneeze, and the remedy for a headache.

The great organizing begins. Notice that the duffel bags are still quite empty. Unfortunately, I have just a little more shopping to do. [sigh] I am really, really tired of shopping.

Surprising, we don't buy much food to take back with us. This is a change from our first couple of years. I would buy mostly food (coffee, chocolate, baking supplies . . . the list seemed endless). But now, I buy some things, but have really either been able to find what I need or have just learned to do without. As evidenced by the pictures above, I buy a lot of spices. After getting off skype with Andy, I realized more things I need to buy. This is NOT my favorite kind of shopping. But I think that I am almost done.

Just so you don't think all the packing is organized and tame. This is what it looks like way too often. Can I tell you how tired I am of living out of a suitcase?

The kids and I went out for ice cream tonight. Yes, we are still adhering to our daily ice cream ritual. 5 more days of ice cream left! While we were out, I asked them how they were feeling about going back to China. This is often a mixed bag. Their home is China. They have majority of their friends in China. All of their things are in China. Daddy is already in China. BUT, the U.S. is still their home. They still have friends here that they are sad to say goodbye to. Their grandparents and (some) of their cousins are here and they are definitely NOT ready to say goodbye to them. And this brings about a wealth of emotion. Essentially, they are kids who have 2 homes and are always somewhat torn between them. I really believe though that it is important to bring this up ahead of time and talk through what they are thinking and feeling. So we sat there with our ice cream and thought about all of the things that we were excited to return home to. Their lists were long. Including everything from their friends to their stuff and of course, Daddy. Josh is even excited to eat some of his favorite Chinese foods (namely, lamb kabobs and rabbit legs). But there will be many tears over the next week as we say goodbye to all that we love here.