Zip lock baggies- lots of them, for all of the contents of
random drawers and collections. That way, the little items don't end up all mixed up in the bottom of a box. We moved 12 times with the AF and have grown to love zip lock baggies.

Hire packers and movers. Just moved with my 6 and 8 year old boys, and I wish I had paid for packers.

Also.... Throw away anything you haven't used in the past year. Just throw it away.

We have moved our son five times in his life. You have gotten some great practical tips on the mechanics of moving. Here are a couple of ideas that have made our son look forward to and love moving:

- A new toy or new privilege that comes with the new house. Pick out a toy for each child and/or something small for their new room/s from Amazon and get it delivered the first day. When we moved from California to Tennesee he got a Robbie the Robot, his first remote control toy. The empty rooms were perfect for palting with a robot that danced and shot foam discs out of its mouth. Or a new privilege....

- When you get a spare couple of hours (I know, wishful thinking) make a photo book that chronicles their last home. This really helps especially when a child may be anxious about changing homes. It also underscores for children that each chapter of life holds great things and that the new home will be a source of good memories as well.

And really, kids and boxes? They are in heaven. Some Crayola markers and masking tape and stickers and they can pack and decorate their own boxes. And the forts and cardboard rocket ships possibilities at the other end are also lots of fun.

Good luck with your move!

I recently moved with a 6 month old, so it was a little different, but very challenging nonetheless. Try and throw out as much as possible before you move. Organize several home pickups from goodwill or salvation army. Get as much packing as possible done at night when they are asleep. Be diligent about writing what is in each box and labeling what room in the new house they should go to. If you can get into your new house a few days before the move, I suggest moving most of your kitchen stuff yourself and going in early to set up your kitchen. That way you can actually eat a meal pretty soon after you get there, and this will save on moving costs. Also if you are looking to save on movers, move pieces of furniture like dining room and kitchen chairs, and art that isn't valuable yourself. Movers will wrap up every chair and piece of art and this will take a long time, and will drive up costs.

Also it would be really helpful to have your kids stay with a relative for a day or two so you can get all settled in without them there. Enlist relatives to help you unpack as much as possible. Accept that you will be living with lots of boxes around it will be very stressful!

LOTS of airholes in the kids boxes!

Another military family here. I always hire a house cleaner to set up the kitchen the day of unpacking. They are responsible for cleaning out the cabinets, washing all the items and putting them away. Find someone on Craigslist. Usually takes about 8 hours to get the kitchen in order. Best money spent ever (signed mom of a 5, 3 and 1 year old).

I wish I had this advice years ago when moving with a preschooler. The house was so dirty and I spent way too much time cleaning. I could have used help like this for the kitchen. The kitchen is a big job. IMO this would be money well spent.

Leave kids with relatives for a day or 2 to get as much as possible unpacked and put away.