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.

swan We're an hour later here, so I actually started bedtime at 6.30 - I aim to have the DC in bed by 7, but it's often more like 7.30. DS is always out like a light, but the DDs take much longer (they share a room and tend to keep each other awake). They're always extremely tired in the mornings however (they have to get up at 6.45 am), so I wish they could go to sleep more quickly in the evenings.

The visiting children (and ours) were unusually well behaved today and ate their dinner without complaints (I did the Austrian standby of Würstel, which are basically frankfurters), but I shall keep the wine in mind for next time - it seems to make everything much more bearable somehow.

Now aim to do 5 min room rescues in hall, kitchen and living room before DH gets back - I sense he might not be too happy to arrive home and find me on MN surrounded by chaos!

OM With all this talk of Oxford, I'm starting to feel quite nostalgic (I grew up a few miles from the city). I also remember how I felt when I visited my friend at Christ Church and saw her rooms - she shared a living room with a friend that was about twice the size of the kitchen that I shared with 7 or 8 other students in Bath and had far more character. (She is also very down-to-earth, we went to a state school and she had a great time at Christ Church.)

Why is it that the more things descend into chaos around me, the more time I seem to spend on MN?

Oh dear, it looks as if everyone is having a very stressful pre-Christmas time . Large bottles of wine needed all round, I think. It does seem to make everything more bearable.

Feel a bit embarrassed to say, but...err...have had quite a good day :

Put rubbish out done
Swish and swipe in b/rm done
Unload d/w done
Find cards for MIL and boys
Put first wash on - white stuff done
Put second wash on - our sheets done
Look after DS2's best friend and his brother whilst mum goes shopping done
Find playdough recipe for above visit (hoping this will keep them quiet and busy) done
Tumbledry done
Put washing away (rather than leaving it for a week as usual) not yet
Ironing?????
Put Xmas boxes away
Deliver cards to neighbours
Borrow hammer
Hang cards up
Lunch done
Piano top - clear clutter
Boys - wrap presents for each other
PM - visit CM with presents done - had a lovely time
Dinner - easy stuff from freezer done
Make our bed waiting for tumbledrier to finish

Playdate went really well, but it was only two hours and I didn't take my eye off the three boys for a minute. Grandma said she thought boys were easier - I beg to differ! But I kept them busy and occupied with playdough-making, building railroads and drawing, and survived the two hours. They turned the wooden spoons into guns, naturally, but nobody was hurt, so that's the main thing. And I managed to stop the smallest boy falling backwards off his chair - just! - and prevent his older brother hitting him several times, so i call that a success.

DS2 has been my shadow all day. He will not leave me alone for a minute - maybe because he has been ill. Anyway, I have spent a lot of time with him, but it is still not enough. Very, very clingy boy today.

Had a particularly lovely time at DS2's childminder. She is such a lovely, exceptional woman, with an enviable gift for looking after children. My son loves her to bits. I watch and learn!

Wanted just 15 mins to myself, but DS2 had to join me again. At least he is playing next to me while I type. Maybe he's making up for lost time (at school).

My 15 minutes of MN time is up. Time to run the bath and get the boys to bed.

Hello, just dashing past

It's 8.03pm here. Everyone fed. DD in bed and may even fall asleep if I'm lucky (have worn her out with sledging today). Dh in office. Guests gone to concert with a friend we have in common ....

... which means I have a full three hours before bed in which to dash around frantically like a mad thing. Must resist collapsing in front of telly as guest free time at a premium atm.

Linzer & *Swan - glad you are sorted with recipes

Swan - good luck with card-making

Linzer - I know what you mean about using UK recipes - it doesn't often work does it? I always have to buy in industrial quantities of mixed spice at Christmas, to take one example.

Right, girding my loins for today's final onslaught (strong coffee required):

I will not sit down
I will do productive things for next three hours
I will not swig gin

See you all. Bon courage!

Don't be embarrassed Toffee - that's brill! Well done you!

And well done to all of you saints who are hosting play dates (sorry for using that term) atm. I think that would have finished me off frankly!

Toffee - Your childminder sounds lovely btw

[SC scuttles off and dives unethusiastically in to large pile of paper chains, wrapping paper, mistletoe and tinsel]

Still - thank you. And yes, my childminder is brilliant. She loves looking after children - she believes it is her vocation, which it clearly is - and she is just a wonderful person. When my son was suddenly taken ill a few months ago and I was really scared, she was the first person I called. She was absolutely wonderful, just as I knew she would be. I am very lucky to have her. My son adores her. I waited and waited for her to have a free place - saw lots of other childminders, but none of them were right - and eventually she had a place available. It was worth waiting for. .

Linzer - i hope you have managed to sit down for 5mins for a coffee/strong drink before you fly around the house manically. Hoping today is better for you.

i did my list and managed not to panic as much as was on my list. Barely seen ds though as dsis took him to school and collected him and they have been doing stuff. Its kinda nice but I do miss him too. As much as he drives me mad with his 101 variations on the same question, i love him to bits and he is a lot of fun.

curled up in bed and tired. meds due at 10pm so will stick an alarm on and crash i think.

Help you selves to as much as you feel is needed.

Managed to get one room rescue done before DH arrived back, and he then tidied up in the kitchen while I supervised last-minute homework that the DDs had forgotten about (which they suddenly remembered after they'd gone to bed). I am finding that wine also makes preparing the English lesson must more enjoyable (and also gives me the chance to sneak back onto the thread while I print out 20+ handouts).

DEM Well done on getting through your list without too much panicking. Thanks for the alcohol, which I shall imbibe for medicinal purposes only.

SC Hope you were able to make the most of your three free hours; sitting down in the evening is always my downfall. I already have quite a long list of cooking ingredients to bring back from the UK; I've run out of dried mixed spice (although the "Italian herbs" you can buy here are probably a close equivalent) and can't find cumin here either.

Toffee Well done on such a productive day - like SC says, absolutely no need to be embarrassed! I also beg to differ with your MIL (though can only speak from personal experience, of course); as funny, bright and affectionate as DS is, he has been much harder work than the DDs from day 1 (who can be difficult too, but in a different kind of way!). I have heard that boys are easier as teenagers, though...

Haven't managed an early night yet again (it's gone 10 pm here), but will turn off the computer now before it gets even later! Night all.

Okay ladies, I'm back for a spot of light relief.

We just had to get paramedics out to ds (aged 6). He vomited up blood earlier. After a lot of checking, they are happy for him to settle down for the night and we'll get him in to see his doctor (or a doctor) tomorrow. It seems that the combination of straining with constipation (back history) coupled with a cold and, more importantly a retching cough, is the cause. Probably a burst blood vessal in his throat poor lad.

He perked up noticeably while the paramedics were there and at the end I gave him some calpol as advised and he had some water and a small piece of bread (he was hungry.....)

We popped him into bed and read a story. He's fast asleep now.

DD ( aged 10) needed a bit of reassurance, which she's had from DP (he's very good at reassuring kids, I think it's the voice) while I tidied everything up.

So, now it's all over, I get a shaky reaction, hence me finding a spot of distraction by reading MN for a while.

Oh dart. Hope he is ok. Not surprised that you are feeling shakey.

Unfortunately you missed the first mn christmas bun fight thread and it has already been deleted although i have a copy saved. hope you can find something that suits. i am currently re-reading the zombie plan threads.

DID, I think ds is feeling better, he woke up and went to the loo, for a wee (cue DP and I rushing upstairs to check..)

While not wishing to re-start any bun fights, what was the subject?

pmed a synopsis just because i think hq's dash board it lighting up madly as the check every thread where it is being mentioned.

Lets just say its something that doesnt surprise a lot of people and could be said to have been too long coming by those who have suffered at the poster's hands. I think it was inevitable in the end.

Morning everyone. Freezing fog here atm.

Got on fairly well last night but so much still do - it's a bit eeekkkkkk!!! [hair stand on end emoticon]

Darts oh no! That must have been so stressful for you. I'm so pleased that your ds is feeling a bit better and hope he continues to improve today.

Toffee I have a baby-sitter who is similar - cannot rate her highly enough. So wonderful when the dc love them too!

Sorry, no more personal messages, must dash.

May not be back on here today but wishing everyone a productive day. Deep breath ...

Waves to Linzer DID Ellie and everyone else!!

SC you can do it!
Did not sure who or what is the subject...was is in AIBU or somewhere else? Reassures me that I am not on Mumsnet as much as I think. unless of course I too have been harangued by said poster...[scratches head in search of ancestral wrongs]

I'm on Mumsnet now because I am stalling in the face of far too much to get done.
Recycling (need to do before xmas or disastrous as we are away)
get children dressed (no easy task as they are quarrelling again and we have switched on telly in desperation)
take everyone across town to Orthodontic appt for which we have been waiting since JUNE (just appt no surgery thankfully)

Darts poor little boy, hope today you can breathe deeply.

Morning everyone. Was up really early this morning and did a proper long post with round-up and everything but as per another thread my virus soft ware then said there was a problem and shut down on me .

So the steps will have to suffice!

The babystep for today is to check your control journal. The mission is here.

Have a good day everyone.

Last day at work! Wooooooohooooooo!

Morning all.
Darts - hope your DS is better this morning - what a horrible evening for you.
SC - I was wondering how you got on - well done for not collapsing with a large glass!!

I need to fly like I've never flown before otherwise we will not be ready for Christmas (and if anyone says 'are you ready for Christmas?' I will probably throttle them!!)

So I'm going to do some ironing as I cannot shut the kitchen cupboard in which it is housed!
Will report back in an hour....
Big wave at everyone on the thread...

I still need a control journal
Really I need a Manual.

Dh has been very good this morning and given children a pep talk on fact that Christmas is cancelled unless they stop arguing. Presents from mum and dad, but nothing from Santa. They looked very grave.

This all culminated when dd would not lend her pastels to ds2 yesterday to draw a Christmas card for Nonna and Nonno (gps) and then was incredibly jealous when I did a collage with him instead....

Thanks to everyone for the inspiration and motivation. I've got so much done since joining you this week. I'm hoping that Ill be able to keep it up.

Happy Christmas Week

Haven't really gone AWOL just a combination of illness and RL - DS and I have horrible cold, DH looks like he is coming down with it and is currently at osteopath to try and sort his back out! Only DD is fine and able to wind the rest us up

Luckily we are staying at home this Christmas after having our flights to my parents (in N Ireland) canceled last year. We have no firm plans and, at the moment, not much food but if worse comes to the worse we will take the sledge over to the Co-op and stock up, as we did last year!
I hope presents are sorted and I've just about given up with Christmas cards - if they get done they will, if not, well, that's tough! Its just a shame that I had planned to be so organised this year as its the first that both DC are at school - ho hum.

OM - HUGE Well Done to your DS, a rightfully proud Mummy

Need to get back on track a bit. Will start by getting dressed!
I have made dough for Gingerbread house and start of Choc ice-cream for ice-cream bombe today but need to do some more boring, Flying things now.

Happy Flying one and all

Still not getting much done in the way of flying or Christmas preparations. The first half of the morning was taken up with DS's doctor's appointment (it turns out he's allergic to cats and dust); I then spent the rest of my time at home preparing the English lesson before teaching the lesson itself. I've now agreed to help out with DD2's English lesson too, starting after Christmas, and really hope that it will just be helping out rather than teaching the entire lesson this time...

feetheart Sorry to hear you're under the weather. I translated a gingerbread house recipe a few weeks ago and remember thinking that it sounded like quite hard work; am sure it will look very impressive though!

arabella Glad to hear you're feeling inspired - I think feeling motivated is half the battle sometimes.

swan It's good to hear I'm not the only one being driven round the bend by constant arguing. Threatening the removal of presents is always quite effective, I find - unfortunately it can only be done at certain times of year...

OM Are you ready for Christmas?

ellie Thanks for the links; I really must start using my control journal again.

SC You're doing so well and are almost there now - you can do it!

Almost forgot my list:

Morning routine no
Post now-belated birthday card done
Hairdresser's (attempt no. 3) postponed till tomorrow
Afternoon routine thinking about it
Get off MN about to do
Pick up DS
DD2's ballet show
Pay Betriebskosten
Book skiing course for DD2 and DS
Find veggie Christmas recipe
Menu planning
Write shopping list
Evening routine

Just dashing past with strong coffee for all.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone!! Much appreciated and reciprocated in tinsel-adorned buckets!!

Ellie don't worry - it's not you - Mnsent have been having probs I think here

Everyone else - you are doing brilliantly!!!
Keep it up!!

Hope everyrone who is feeling poorly feels better soon including you Feetheart. One day I will be organised enough to make a gingerbread house.

[that last sentence was meant to sound wistful btw ...]

Keep going everyone!!

PA Hope you are OK ...

Fecking snow,fecking stuff falling again and I was going to do food shopping tonight. If I never see another fecking snowflake again it will be too soon. Feck feck feckity feck......wine anyone ?

Everyone is in a better mood now - I think getting out of house is always the answer - as early as possible LOL

ski-ing course, oh I wish I could exchange availability of ricotta for ski-ing conditions; dcs would be so thrilled (don't think I could face an actual ski-ing holiday though, dh hates ski-ing...)

Ellie how frustrating
curiously clear of snow suddenly here, but I thnk it's coming back. Streets very empty and shops quite peaceful and uncrowded. Not that I am allowed to go shopping, dcs cause a riot the minute they enter a shop - I think I have a maximum of 10 mins to grab something, pay and exit before they either break something,
steal something
eat something
or start pinching each other

I have finally managed to find my way back to this thread after being stalled by scary warning messages about viruses (like you, Ellie).

I don't have my list with me now. But never mind, it's very dull.

Took DS2 to a pottery cafe this morning. We painted tiny cups and teapots for him to give to his toys as Christmas presents (his idea). I think I ended up enjoying myself more than he did.

Played scrabble with DS1. We had quite a nice time, chatting whilst we played, but afterwards he said, "Please, mum, don't ever make me play that game again. It's so boring!"
Anyone know any better board games for 11 year olds?

Darts - hope your DS is feeling better today. What a scary evening you had. I'm not surprised you were feeling shaky afterwards .

Arabella - glad the thread has helped. Flylady is all about incremental changes, which does make overcoming the chaos seem more achievable, and somehow relieves the stress. I find it very motivating to have to 'report back' to this thread as well.

Ellie - last day at work for you! Whoopee!

Linzer - you are so busy and doing so well in spite of it. Glad you have some answers about your DS.

OM - will you be coming down off that cloud in time for Christmas Day?

Waves to Swan, Feet and Still and any lurkers. I think Did may have been shut outside by the virus warning. I sneaked in the back door through 'Topics'.

Now, either have to borrow a hammer from the next-door neighbour, or do my ironing. Think I may borrow the hammer and hang my cards up next (the dishiness of the next-door neighbour has nothing to do with it, of course ).