First, Lasts, and Longests

So many firsts and superlatives associated with this trip...

1. First wedding of the next generation of Swanns
2. First time we'll cross the date line
3. First time we'll go south of the equator
4. Longest single flight ever
5. First Zorb experience
6. Maybe last time all the Chalmers family will vacation together (though we said that in 2011 too.)
7. First time using a blogging tool other than WordPress (sorry, something geeky had to squeak into the list somewhere.)

Saturday, we drive up to Vancouver, leaving enough time that I won't necessarily become a complete basket-case of travel stress (...need to build in 2 hours in case we break down, 2 hours for the border, 2 hours in case we have to return home for something after picking the college kids up...really, we should leave today!)

Can't leave yet though....one kid has finals, one has his final week of work, and two are getting stern tsk tsks from their teachers about missing 5 days of school as it is. Oh, and one adult is in Albany NY right now. Plus, there's a ton of packing still to do....

So far: dress for wedding, santa hat,
passports (clearly, will not actually be packed in suitcase!)
Several suits still to be added.

So far: small Christmas Tree, presents, beach dress.