December's Fledgling Flyers: Christmas time, swish and swipe and wine, flyers sing to the fat fairy rhyme.

[elliepac]

Welcome to the December Fledgling Flying thread.

From the 1st of the month we shall be decluttering and taming the chaos using baby steps, missions and zones. A great big thank you to DEM/DID who looked after us last month and did a fantabulous job

We are not strict followers of the fat fairy and take some of the babysteps wearing shoes indoors with a pinch of salt. Also advise against signing up for the fairy's emails.

All are welcome, jump on board for one of our three methods of chaos attack:

1. Baby steps
2. Baby steps and 15mins decluttering in current zone
3. Re-inforce the baby steps and daily mission

This month the fat fairy is gearing up for the feastive period. So I shall also post the christmas mission for those who wish are brave enough to look.

In here the motto is:

*"No perfection! Do what you can, but be realistic about what you can do."

Happy flying.

Ho Ho Ho its morning again.

at work, so far have managed to get both dc up and dressed without any major tantrums or fights until dh got up and obviously cant put on dd jacket in the same way that i can cue 20 min tantrum and clingy girl at drop off. DS bouncing off wall as pre school are off to the Ponatmyin [his words]

apart from that managed to put tumble dryer on.

today have to do lots of work as was only in one day last week, but phone keeps going
wrap at least secret santa present tonight as out at christmas dinner tomorrow.
find very warm jacket at lunch break as currently borrowing mils
tidy up in general.

Hope you all have a lovely day

myhands are ffrreeezing from recyling DONE
removed from rubbish from "Steptoe's yard" as well
cleaned out food recycling bin
did a bit of gardening

Nettie it's mornng again
I know those tantrums! They are creatures o fhabit aren't they?
Deck satisfying though to see what comes out of them!

neighbour with tidy house and no kids, coming for coffee at 11, determined to carry on as usual and not panic
UPSTAIRS

some rubbish not from rubbish - frozen keyboard too..

Hi all,
Sorry for prolonged absence, RL keeps getting in the way of MN time!
FLYing stil happening - we now have a NEW BOILER and lots of lovely heat and hot water and a NEW DISHWASHER (not a grin yet because DH hasn't plumbed it in yet so it is just sitting in the kitchen making the place look unkempt.)

Anyhoo, you are all much more productive than me. Must go and do some stuff myself!

It is killing me doing the carpet. I have to rest alot and it is taking ages. :( Only done one half of the lounge so far. Its taken all morning. Have rest of lounge and hall to do yet. If i wasnt so tired i would be please with how clean the carpet is coming up.

So i am going to corner shop for chocolate.

Done
I've tidied my bedroom,
dusted surfaces
scrubbed basin and loo
hung up all the clothes, made a pile of the Christmas presents (unwrapped of course
unfortunately then I started sorting the bookcase and reading an interesting looking book...

notdone
sink downstairs still full of pots and pans from Steptoe's Yard [aargh]
hoovering

deck I'm not cleaning my carpet till after the last guest

seemed pointless to put the furniture that had been moved for decorating without getting rid of the decoating dust and having to move it all out again in a few months.

nearly done for today. thank fuck.

marking my place because RL is crazy. am still babystepping though - just around the madness. should have time to catch up this afternoon! x

Unexpectedly have some child-free time as DD1 is at the cinema, DD2 at a friend's and DS at the doctor's with DH. I also had the luxury of not having to pick up the DDs until 2 pm today thanks to the grand opening of the new school gym. I wish I could say that the house is now sparkling and my Christmas preparations are back on track as a result, but unfortunately I've spent all the extra time working.

Now trying to decide whether to go to the book club tonight. I really don't fancy making the trip into Vienna in this cold weather (snowy and -3° atm but it's bound to be even colder this evening), haven't finished the book let alone worked out what I'm going to say about it, and still have a sore throat so am not sure a late night is such a great idea. It would be nice to get out but I just wish it was a bit earlier and a bit nearer. Decisions decisions...

Home from work, with kids in tow.

Deck I know my carpets need doing too, but am waiting until after Christmas is out the way.

Swan I feel faint looking at what you're achieving.....

And hello to SC, Nettie, Linzer, ellie, PA, and anyone I've missed.

Have a few minutes before we need to go for ds's swimming lesson, and kettle on the boil for a cuppa!

Done:
Morning routine
work job 1 to 34
collect dcs

To do:
Swimming Lesson,
Dinner,
Reduced evening routine (no lunches tomorrow, its the Christmas dinner at school and I'm going along too.....

And.......flake.

Tomorrow:
morning routine
some washing (as I'm off)
dishwasher
declutter downstairs ready for decorating
shopping
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
dinner
evening routine.

Friday:
last work jobs before Christmas (and before IT goes offline)

Afternoon all

I'm having a few minutes away from the madness to have a cup of tea and a break. DS is refusing to play in the warm living room, but is about 2 inches away from me wherever I am in the rest of the house (aargh!)

Today's list
Clean washing off airer and folded done
Washing from machine to airer done
Load washing machine for tonight done
Collect DS from my mother's (was out last night so he stayed over) and take him to Dr for second flu jab done
Take DS to playgroup done
Bake cake for playgroup cake sale tomorrow done
Clean washing away done
Make beds done
S/s done
Washing up done
Hotspot done
Phone bank as DH card was declined this morning, and I wanted to make sure account was not compromised done
Vacuum through house done
Collect DS done
Lunch done
Ice cake for tomorrow done
Cut material covers for mincemeat and jam done
Load basket with things for playgroup tomorrow done (Christmas party tomorrow, plus cake/produce stall) done
DS Christmas mission - make cards for playgroup staff done
Phone to confirm arrangements for toddler party on Friday done
Clean blue teddy done
Light fire in living room (for DS who has nw decided he doesn't want to be in there) done

Order model airplane
Order shirt
Iron living room curtains and replace (I took them down Monday as they desparately needed washing)
Sort float for playgroup tomorrow
Living room - sort/clean/tidy - 30 mins (I'm hoping 1/2 hour a day this week, and it should be presentable for Christmas!)
Prepare crafts for toddler Christmas Party on Friday
Wrap present for Father Christmas to give to DS at party tomorrow
Item from paper file
Mending
Menu plan
Clean fridge
Cook tea
Bedtime routine
Washing up/sink/Aga/breakfast table
Playgp paperwork
My paperwork
Quilt a bit more of the Christmas Tree Skirt
And collapse!

By the time Christmas comes, all I will want to do is sleep and recover from the madness of this fortnight!

Darts I feel pathetically slowconsidering I hve no outside the home work to do at all.
However [virtuous emoticon] have looked after friend's kids this afternoon as well as my own, which brought on a rush of fake good parenting;
jigsaws
saltdoughpainting
explaining how to make lego
supervising dancing in front room

not the usual I can assure you, but at least it stopped me shouting at my own darling ones and resisted turning on telly till at least 5.30 (had to finish off the painting and get them out of kitchen....)

now just going to take a delicious homemade bake out of oven visitors of course have insisted on perfectly plain pasta!!

Kitchen horror as usual. can't even eat round the table any more Sparkly stars in living room though, from the pound shop

Hello all!! I'm been AWOL! Caught up with RL!

But I have been trying to fly too!

Today
S&S Kitchen
Wiped Kitchen Wall Tiles
Tidied up Sitting Room
Mopped Sitting Room and half the Hall!
Laundry - Wool wash.
Unloaded DW.
'Washed' DW - Vinegar & Empty Cycle.
Decluttered hot-spot on dresser

Tomorrow
Tidy up Dining room
Mop everywhere!!
Tidy up Kids Bedrooms
More Decluttering!

Watching Christmas Glee

swanriver can empathise with your 'no space at table' dilemma!!

So much for staying at home so that I could get an early night. DH went to bed about an hour ago while I've stayed up writing Christmas cards - I've now got another 9 or 10 done, so am almost there. Still, at least I've been in the warm, the house is looking much tidier, and I've saved myself the price of the train fare and a cup of coffee . And it is very cold out. And I still haven't finished the book. Must make more of an effort next month...

swan I gave up making an effort to feed visiting children a while ago. Plain pasta or pizza is now all that is on offer, although one of DD1's friends only eats salami pizza with the salami taken off and one of DD2's friends scrapes the entire topping off. Come to think of it, I should probably stop offering pizza too.

Evening all,

Not much to report here, DS still off sick, but he managed to sit and watch Cbeebies at th tennis club for 2 hours while I played (very badly) in the Christmas tournament.

I have spoken with PA today, she is taking longer to recover from her op than she would have liked and sends her best wishes to everyone but can't keep up with the thread at the moment.

Off to bed now.

good evening (yahey, bedtime!)

off my list today i have

got some work done
wrap at least secret santa present tonight as out at christmas dinner tomorrow-done wrapped 10 presents
find very warm jacket at lunch break as currently borrowing mils-done and dress bout for dinner tomorrow night
tidy up in general- done whilst plumbers in trying to fix boiler!
washing on
cards written

going to hit the hay and come back tomorrow!

hve lovely restful nights sleep. Stay away from episodes of ghost whisperer!!

Sorry to have been away - RL has suddenly become frantically busy. I have divided my pre-Christmas to-do list, which makes me feel like this , into daily chores, which makes me feel more like this .

I was so exhausted last night that I was asleep by 10pm and woke up this morning at 6. Before the school run, I had: washed and dressed, had breakfast, done first load of washing, put it in tumbledrier, put on second load of washing, unloaded the dishwasher, swished and swiped in the bathroom and done the usual pre-school stuff with the children (breakfasts, packed lunches, nagging about teeth, etc). I was so proud of myself! Now I can see why one of Flylady's rules is to get an early night. Must try harder!

I won't post today's list as I don't want you all to fall asleep on me, but it did include going to my youngest son's nativity (he was so, so sweet...), shopping for teachers' presents and making 30 party cakes for the school Christmas party tomorrow. Am absolutely knackered again. And the house is such a mess .

Tomorrow, I will:

Take cakes in to DS2's teacher
Do the morning routine
Put MIL's washing on
Make sausage casserole in slow cooker
Wrap presents for teachers
Wrap presents for family
Finish Xmas cards ( at you finishing yours already, Linzer)
Put string up and hang up cards
Tackle dining room (fling all the clutter into large box and put in cupboard till January - idea from Flylady herself on the Preparing for Xmas thread!)
Contact window cleaner? (not sure I can be arsed, but windows are filthy)
Order turkey
Add cold buffet-type foods to online order for Xmas
Plan dinner for Saturday
Cancel direct debit that I should have cancelled last month
Sort Xmas card for Mum
Second wash
Put today's clean washing away
Ironing????
Pm routine

Out to Christmas late-night shopping event in
the evening and taking the children for the first time. Should get us in the mood for Christmas. I think Father Christmas will be there (though it will be the third Santa DS2 has met this month ).

I shall be so relieved when this week is over. There is so much going on with school and we are all getting tired, including the children. I want to get all their presents wrapped and ready before the end of this week, so that we can enjoy next week without the usual frantic preparations.

Swan - your reference to your dining table made me laugh. Mine too! It is covered with DS2's papers, pens, glue, glitter, etc. and the children eat dinner surrounded by all of it (I just sweep it to one side ).

Apologies for not leaving any more more personal messages - I really need another early night.

Goodnight all.

List only as RL is mental!!!

BETWEEN NOW AND SUNDAY EVENING
Buy rest of Christmas gifts as don't want to be shopping next week
Find and purchase outfits for me & DD1 to wear on Christmas day and boxing day

Finish pile of ironing
brush and mop living room floor
put up Christmas card holders
Wrap all the kids gifts as we have them sorted
clean inside of car as is shocking

Pray this weeks snow is not as bad as last weeks

My dining table is also one of my biggest hotspots...all the time, never seem to have it cleared for more than a day!

Morning all,

didn't get on last night due to family crisis which was very upsetting . Will explain all later.

The babystep for today is read an e-mail, entirely superfluous when we are all meeting ourselves coming back due to Christmas .

The mission for today is here.

Have a good day everyone.

If someone is able to pass on my good wishes back to PA, I'd be grateful.

Ellie, best wishes, hope your family crisis is resolved happily.

And Good Morning to Swan, MrsDing, Linzer, Deck, Nettie, SC, Toffee and all.

I am not up to much flying today. I'm off work for the school Christmas dinner, but I feel absolutely rough. DP and I have finally succumbed to the colds/sore throa bugs going around, and he's gone to work looking green, while I am currently swigging a cuppa and contemplating a nice shower to get me through the dinner (can't not go now it's all arranged).

So today:
morning routine (reduced) done
washing on done
2nd load ready to go on
shopping

And not much else, although I did get the cards done, and the sink is miraculously shiney! (I think dp was at it)

morning. I am having no luck health wise and seem to have caught another infection. So much make time to see the doc before the weekend.

Today's list.
School run and morning routine done
Move furnituure done
Clear landing about a third of way through
Wash remainder of lounge carpet
Wash stairs carpet.
Wash landing carpet
Return carpet washer machine thingy
entertain ds
ss present
Doctors

REST.

Hope you all have productive mornings!

Crikey, last day to go to shops without children!!!Aargh!

THe good news is
I HAVE WRAPPED ALL KIDS PRESENTS with dh late last night (once the little blighters were actually asleep and put away safely, includin Fther christmsa presents (most of them - dh is beginning to say why should Fther Xmas get the credit for all our hard work?)

Ocado has delivered party food/wine supplies
including ready made Apple Strudels and sausage rolls

The Bad News is
TODO
need to turn delivered mostly raw food into casseroles and pies and quiches and salads (what was I thinking?)
need to buy glasses from Morrisons
napkins
paper cups
large casserole dish
hotplate!!!!Arrgh just remembered this
wrap presents for teachers and deliver TODAY to cut tomorrow stress
clean out recycling box to keepp wine outside chilled in
oranges for mulled wine
stuff to shed????
also have I any money left to buy an outfit (MumtoBlaire you have reminded me)
(((perhaps that is a nice trip to do with kids next week)))

Did Carpet cleaning is incredibly hard and heavy work, are you sure you should be continuing if you are coming down with something?

MrsD yay for tennis!
Toffee please goto bed early tonight again if you can, I need to too!

I am beginning to see that there are advantages to the school holidays not starting until the 24th here. OTOH I am still looking for the advantages of the short school day - off to pick up DD2 now. Will be back later with a list and to catch up properly!

list update:

School run and morning routine done
Move furnituure done
Clear landing *about two thirds of way through8
Wash remainder of lounge carpet
Wash stairs carpet. done
Wash landing carpet
Return carpet washer machine thingy
entertain ds
ss present
Doctors

probably not swan but it just needs finishing off.