I always had a "first day" bag when we moved. It included toilet paper, paper towels, a few trash bags, paper plates, cups, a can opener, plastic silverware, a sponge, a kitchen towel, and a few drinks. I also packed a suitcase with bed linens, bath towels, and things like that so they were easy to find the first night. Those bags went into the car with pillows and bedding. Another suitcase was packed as if we were going on vacation. Specific kid stuff depends on the ages of the kids.

We always had a "first day" or "open me first" box similar to above... included coffee, coffee pot, cups, glasses, etc...

If there is any way to avoid loading, unloading, storing, reloading, and unloading and go straight to loading, unloading you are ahead of the game big time. Less risk of damage, loss, theft, etc.

The very last thing we pack on moving day is our sheets, blankets, and pillows, and we put them in a box that we keep in the car. We have suitcases packed with enough to get us through a few days, like we are going on vacation. All sensitive things, such as animals, financial things, medications, etc... also go in the car and stay with us the entire time.

I also have three kids, and it is very good that I have a very large car!

Where will you be sleeping on the nights of Day 1 and Day 2?

Pack by ROOMS for bedrooms and kitchen and laundry. Other things might shuffle depending one the differences between houses.

Label with contents on the top and side.

Flag the critical boxes, the ones that MUST be found first, with a strip of hot pink tape on all sides.

I had the movers leave all the boxes in single height rows in the living room ... when I needed something, I found the box and unpacked the WHOLE box. No rummaging allowed, it had to empty the box.