Count on us to drop things off for Jayden!
We'd be delighted. (I know you weren't asking...) Seeing as the boy is totally a lady's man these days, he'll be all over that.
I am NOT making things, though, unless they're really minor. I know what we'll put together and it will be stuff that is easy to replicate or obtain if there are last minute additions. Fortunately, I'm not working Christmas this year, so I'll have a bit of time to assemble (not make!) things. I also have Mr. Not Into Crafts as a kid, so I would be doing them up myself, and I'm missing the crafty gene.
I totally get the not stressing before the trip. My job (which I love) is complex enough, and I have to spend a fair bit of energy making sure I leave things in reasonable order so I don't come back to a mess. (I refuse to do work on our winter vacations- I know how to turn off work email and all. I'm even good at turning it off.)
I had to laugh (in a nice way) at your packing strategy. My husband and I have opposite packing philosophies. I do put summer things aside in an old suitcase as it gets cold, but I don't stress about it. About 2 weeks before the trip, I take them all out, see what fits the boy, and make The List. The List must be hand-written, so that I can Cross Things Off as they are packed. This is part of the ritual, and the capital letters are important. Colour coding might also be required. I've tried spreadsheets but it's not the same. I can't do it any earlier though - I have to do most of it one weekend (it's a bit of a Zen thing), then finish up in the days before the trip.
My husband is packed now - heck, he was packed a few weeks ago. He doesn't make lists. He makes fun of my list. (Sorry - that's my List, with a capital L.) This results in things like "X... have you seen my swim shirts?" when we get to Turks and Caicos. ARGH.
Final packing ritual? I have to have all suitcases out the night before - open. I then ensure that there are outfits (at least 2) for everyone in all suitcases, including shoes or sandals. This, of course, is as a result of having *my* suitcase go missing on more than one trip for a few days, and I've got nothing to wear. Been there, done that, not doing it again! There is also the complication of packing the "pre-flight hotel bag", the "what we have to move to checked bags" smaller bag so that's ready to go the morning of our flight, and various other complications.
Last year, we were an hour into our drive to the airport when we realized we had forgotten Dude's suitcase - the one with all the on-flight distractions, and his carefully chosen toys.
Dude and I got dropped off at a local mall in small town Ontario, while my husband made the 2 hour round trip to get the bag. Our main excuse is that we have to hide his suitcase or he repacks it. This is bad. This year - I will have a List of Suitcases, which will be handwritten, and things Will Be Crossed Off as they go in the car, and NO ONE will be allowed to make fun of me.
Now, for business trips with just me? Like right now? I packed this morning. Who knows what I forgot??? This will become clear by tomorrow morning, I'm sure.