T minus 5

Greeting friends and family! In 5 days, we leave for our big adventure in Belgium. Here's an abbreviated list of what we had (have) to do to get ready:

5+ passport-sized photos for everyone
FBI background checks for Dan, Naomi and Jenee
Medical exams for everyone with signed and notarized statements of health
birth certificates with apostilles for everyone (re-issued within the past 6 months)
marriage certificate with apostille for anyone married (same as above)
letter of employment for anyone employed
copies of transcripts, certificates and resumes for anyone requiring a work permit (Dan and Jenee)

A lawyer in Belgium to act as our "local agent" to obtain the work permit

Residency visas for everyone from the Belgian consulate in NY

A tenant for our house and caretaker for McGraw (and snow shoveler and lawn mower, etc., etc.)

Finish the kitchen renovation
Organize the basement (arguably, that didn't *have* to be done prior to departure but I'm very happy it's done)
Cleanup the attic (yeah, that did have to be done)

Sort clothes into (1) give-away, (2) store, (3) pack
Sort toys into (1) give-away, (2) store, (3) pack
Sort books into (1) give-away, (2) store, (3) pack
Move dishes to the basement (tenant will use her own)
Move sheets and towels to the attic (tenant will use her own)
Empty dressers and closets of clothes (tenant will use her own)

Buy 6 months worth of dog food for McGraw and get his vaccinations early (he was not psyched!)
Get the HVAC filters and thermostat replaced, have the whole house humidifier serviced

Stop the newspaper
Hold the phone
Hold the cable/internet
Ask for a (what's the word?) delay on paying our state and federal taxes
Change our health insurance

Get cell phones in Belgium
Get a bank account in Belgium
Get the girls' school supplies for Belgium

and, last but not least, find a place to live in Belgium!