last minute passport renewal questions, children

Anyone can help?  4 children need passport renewals.

I've just been going thru the instructions again, and I'm worried about details.  Like supplying photocopies of everything.  Do I need to photocopy all of these:

my current valid passport (1 photocopy for all kids, maybe?)

Husband's current passport (he's got the notarised permission form done), including the valid passport in my possession?  1 copy for all kids will suffice?

photocopies of each of the children's previous passports, or photocopies of each of their consular reports of birth abroad, or both?  I can bring original documents, but the form keeps banging on about photocopies of everything.

I just noticed the form has in upper right corner "Expiration date 12-31-2013"; I went thru the entire form filling exercise on embassy website again and the preview form today still has that expiration date, it won't matter, right?

I'm going down tomorrow so last chance to get it all done.

okay, I found it on another gov website, they want photocopies of everybody's ID document (passports) but I think I can get away with just one p/c of each item.

It looks like I have to go buy a bigger stapler, too, I don't know why I'm fussing when the whole exercise is costing around £500, but still,
fudge fudge fudge.

What have I forgotten?  My list of what to bring is:

Consular reports of birth abroad x 4
Expired passports for kids x 4
Valid passports for both parents
Photocopy of each valid/expired US kid passport, inside and out (x 6)
Application forms x 4 and passport pictures 4 x 4
Notarised permission from other parent allowing passports x 4
year by year age progression photos x 2 kids
Appointment sheets so we can get in the building x 4
Kid British passports x 3 (DC3 doesn't have one)
1 x American Credit card to pay in $
1 x RM Special Delivery envelope for return from Embassy

In the car: seats, blankets, snacks, sandwiches, water, directions, change for the meter, wallet with cards and cash: bring most of that to Embassy, too.  Kids must sleep in their clothes if possible tonite and several alarms to set.

Don't hesitate to email the consulate with questions. They were very helpful when we did ours. We even got the photos and doc checked ahead to save time there

Just don't forget - do NOT take anything electronic, battery operated, anything. Not your car clicker, not your cell, not the kid's DSs, nothing. There is a pharmacy down the street where they will hold your stuff for a small fee.

Meters in Westminster don't take coins.  There is a sign with a phone number which you call and then punch in your credit card details.

Also, you'll need to pay the Congestion Charge which I think you need to sort out before you enter the Congestion Zone.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/

We've been, thanks for replies.
I did have a car clicker, actually!  But they didn't seem to mind.  And dd's watch has a battery in it, too.

So exhausting, though.  And the other American parents are always so much more wealthy than me; they just drip money.  Feels like I've stepped into the twilight zone when we meet at Embassy.

Insisted I had to use the courier downstairs (£10) and not the RM Spec Delivery envelope (£5).  (hmm)

They didn't want photocopies at all (I have a deja vu that the form said photocopies last time and they didn't want them then either).

I drove to Epping & we tube'd from there; I couldn't have driven all the way into central london (no SatNav, did I mention the bit about not dripping with money?) and only a surly sleepy teenager for navigator.

Phew, not again for 5 yrs...!