Stuck in Customs

No, we haven't left the country yet. We haven't even packed
yet. It's just that I've realized a person can't really make
any progress, packingwise, while the children are awake.
My only hope is to pack when they are in bed. So today,
we went to Home Depot and bought these little doodads


to make cardboard suitcases.

What for?

Why, to play customs and immigration, of course.


The kids are bouncing off the walls for excitement about
the upcoming trip so might as well harness all that
energy and make them do dry runs of the whole
fascinating, lovely, spirit-uplifting experience that is
airport customs and immigration.

First, we made and decorated cardboard suitcases


- nesting ones, to save space when storing

No, I don't have a pattern - they are just rectangles
with rounded corners and a gusset hot-glued all around.
We used little hinges (pack of 4 for just under $2) for the lids

and some sort of hasps (less than $2) to keep them closed.
Note: if you are going to try this project, I recommend not
hot-gluing the hardware on. Try a slower-drying, stronger
glue, or use paper fasteners or something to
really get them to stay put more securely.

The handle was just a loop of cardboard that slid in
and out for carrying and storage, respectively.

We also printed out flags of different countries and used
our sticker maker to make them adhesive. Emily especially
enjoyed this part because we got to talk about which
countries I or her dad had visited, and which countries
were part of which continents and why North Carolina
didn't have a world flag of its own.


We stitched together little books for passports and
the girls got to draw in their mugshots and choose a
fictitious name and country of origin (Kate picked
Candyland). For simplicity, we assumed all countries
world-wide were part of the visa-exclusion program.


We added luggage tags and then assigned roles.

Whomever's turn it was to be Airport Officer got to stamp
in the passports with all the Thomas Tank Engine and
Hello Kitty stamps, and inspect the luggage for smelly
socks and vials of suspicious liquids and pointy objects.


If you can't beat 'em, might as well join 'em eh?

Packing tonight. Must. Or we might never leave.