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.

Lord of the Rings Risk, Harry Potter Cluedo, Monopoly...
mine get very overwrought with Scrabble as they can't spell.

at pottery cafe, how lovely

Wasn't the most tactful choice of game as DS is dyslexic . But he actually did very well and we didn't have anything else. Thanks for the suggestions, Swan, I'll look into those.

Articulate is another very good one for different age groups!
Ds is recommending computer games not what you had in mind!
We also play a game called Labyrinth and have branched out into Charades which requires no money,just imagination and crowd control!

Evening All

Thought I would pop in to see what all the excitement was about not being able to get onto the thread but looks like I missed it!

DSs just about recovered today and snow starting to melt so I had planned an outing but then woke up with a bug this morning, typical! Feeling much better now and DH has finished work for the year so looking forward to some fun family time over the next week or so.

DS2 is growing so fast that we need to dig out all the 3-6 month clothing and put away/return all the tiny stuff (I had to borrow newborn clothes because of being early and much smaller than I expected him to be)!

not sure i have the brain power to think of a christmas nickname

finally mn is restored been tres productive today but have a present that i must get cracking on finishing so am afraid that this is a flying visit.

**

Glad I wasn't the only one getting scary messages...

Linzer - you have been warned!![wink
Toffee - I keep forgetting then remembering! It is a little difficult as my Dnephew is in same year group and has only just put his form in. We have to circumspect in our family iykwim

I did get my ironing done sufficient for me to be able to shut my kitchen cupboard!
I have wrapped more pressies.

I did have a funny incident when I mouthed 'just wait' and frowned at a woman who beeped at me for my parking space. Only thing was it turned out to be DS1 and GF who were in her car behind the woman and were frantically trying to get my attention. I had no idea until we all got home a few hours later! Whoops!

Got to go and get DH. He's now off until Christmas ('apart from the odd email and conference call' - grrr)

See you all tomorrow....

cooked a delicious supper
posted a flurry of final presents to Scotland and other parts of outer Mongolia (don't hold out much hope of them getting there)
children in quite good (though messy) mood

kitchen v. bad again
but dh has been given a nice roasting joint by his boss for our meat-eating Christmas eve dinner, so don't really have to worry about shopping now.

Just the Christmas Tree to buy then investigated and will walk out with dcs to buy it tomorrow from our local Xmas "Forest" a busy traffic intersection...

no scary viruses here, should I be on my tiptoes?

mini ds2 is obviously doing v. well, hurrah for next stage clothes Hope you are completely better in next few days.

I just counted the number of presents I have sent and given to people so far, it comes to: 15 That's not including 4 people this weekend, 3 dcs and 1 dh or teachers (given earlier) No wonder I feel a bit distracted.

Right, Christmas food shopping DONE. Braved the icy roads and went to big Sainsburys this evening. Much quieter than I predicted and I spent under £100 (again better than predicted) which included big chicken, nice Tropicana juice for Christmas breakfasts and MUCH cheese. Now if we don't have it we don't need it.

Linzer - the Gingerbread house is a bit of a tradition now and not hard at all. We started when DD was small after seeing one in a Good Food magazine (and getting a bit domestic Godessy!) I make it, DH puts it together (edible Lego
sort of thing!) and DH and DC decorate it on Christmas Eve. Done my bit so I can put my feet up and watch from now on

Darts - eek, scary stuff. Hope you have all settled down today?

MiniM - lovely to see you, hope germs clear off quickly.

Toffee - would second Labyrinth, have started to play with our two. I think DD(7) gets it, DS(5) is a bit more random but does enjoy it. Backgammon is brilliant as is Rummikub for older ones and we play a lot of Dominoes together at the moment. Are going to introduce them to Uno this holiday. Charades sounds fun Swan though might wait till DS is a bit older, his ideas can be a bit off the wall so I suspect we would never get what he was acting out

Failing on early night Babystep (and washing up/shiny sink) but at least germs seem to be going - no huge coughing fits today. Might attempt Morning routine tomorrow

Night all

we play an awful lot of othelo here. Ds has just discovered the delights of pop to the shops good for his maths skills though and does make a change from endless games of guess who, battle ships, ludo, snakes and ladders and the exciting of things: top trumps

Board games are a complete favourite in this house, though what is Labyrinth?

just thought build a beetle is a good game for mix ages. a bit like the old beetle drives but with plastic body bits and a dice. Tummy ache is also good fun.

Have finally managed to hang up string and put all the cards up. Also hung wreath on front door.

Couldn't face the ironing, in the end, so I tidied up downstairs and it all looks a bit more presentable now.

Tomorrow's list:

Am routine
Hoover
Washing - boys' bedclothes
Walk DC to the library (thereby combining exercise with errands ). Do some chores in town, then walk home for lunch.
Lunch
Produce 'Penguins of Madagascar - Xmas Capers' as a surprise for the boys. That should keep them busy whilst I...
Crisis clean dining room (nb hotspot - piano top)
Crisis clean bedroom
Dinner
Eve routine

Glad all of you with bugs and with DC with bugs seem to be getting better. Nice to see you back, Mini, and good to know that 'miniMini' is doing so well.

Thank you for all the recommendations on board games. I'm going to look into all of them. I'm not a great board-game player (only child - no one to play with), but DS and I did have a very nice, sociable time playing scrabble together today. We should do it more often. Also, I really need to provide him with activities other than the computer (his favourite thing).

Right, am going off to check out the Christmas Flylady thread here and find out what I should be doing next.

Good night everyone.

Did - beware of Build a Beetle noses, they tend to break quite easily. Got ours from charity shop minus 1 nose, think we have broken 2 more since so have to play with Blutack!!

Pop to Shops and Tummy Ache popular here too tho probably wouldn't stretch an 11 year old. Have also rediscovered Wanted which has shouting and actions and HalliGalli which involves counting and a hotel-type bell. Great for the 5-7 yr olds in this house and might suit your DS.

Need to go to bed tho can hear DH's snoring from here through the floor

at snoring through the floor.

We havent had any problem with the build a beetle, except that the bits fall out a bit now. But then again we have had the set over 2 years, possibly 3 years. And it has been played extensively.

Tummy ache will work if you change the rules and have to make the most disgusting meal you can.

Didnt read it carefully enough and missed it being for an 11 yo

anyone play that game where its like a giant where's wally picture and you have to find a certain picture in it? is it any good?

Morning all,

Last day of school here today and DH is now off work until next year, which will limit my computer time so I might actually get a bit more done. We're having DD1's birthday party this afternoon (it's her birthday on Sunday) and have booked a party at a pottery studio, which I hope will make it a little less stressful than usual.

Today's list:
Morning routine
Food shopping/buy bits and pieces for party
Hairdresser's
Pay bills x2
Hand deliver last few cards
Book skiing course for DD2, DS and friend
Afternoon routine
Birthday party

Off to have a shower and then wake the DC...
Evening routine

Oops - I need to wake the DC slightly before my evening routine. In about half an hour, to be precise.

Morning all. Computer playing up so am posting on phone. Late on this morning as have been to do THE food shop. Can't post links either although am sure that they are the least of our worries today. Sorry. Will be back later when I am less like a headless chicken!

feeling a bit bleugh now..and still haven't decided on my veggie main course for DB,SIL and exGF of B all of whom are coming to lunch on Sat with my non-veggie parents. The veggie lunch was meant to be for all, but I can see my darling little ones are not going to eat Gorgonzola and Fennel Tart even if with their 3D glasses on There are 10000s of options just to make the decisions, and I have so many different veg here already

I am dressed at least.
Written one more foreign card to Italy to Dneice (not there till NYear so it will get there in good time)

Todo
charge phone
buy xmas tree [fgrr]
walk
tidy up wrapping paper after final wrappign session
write a few more xmas cards
get everyone to practice their music for a festive flurry on xmas day

kitchen [help]
laundry, worktops
wash floors, bring in milk, sort food cupboard, sort saucepan cupboard, put away baking trays

I still haven't decided on my veggie meal either swan - something from the freezer looks like the most likely option at the moment. Even if I do manage to come to a decision, I'm bound not to have all the ingredients and I'm not sure I can face the shops tomorrow morning.

Updated list:
Coffee having
Morning routine
Washing investigate what stage DH has got to with all DS's bedding (he had a nappy on too...)
Food shopping/buy bits and pieces for party done
Hairdresser's done
Pay bills x2 one done, one transfer slip filled in (needed to phone company for their sorting code as DH had managed to overlook the post & packing when he paid)
Hand deliver last few cards given to DH, who has gone to pottery studio to make last minute arrangements
Book skiing course for DD2, DS and friend
Afternoon routine
Birthday party

Am sure I have forgotten something; maybe the coffee will help to remind me.

Morning all

Last festive bits here too as Christmas begins tomorrow at DGP house in the afternoon (eek!)

so:
Send DH/DS2/DD to town for bits and bobs including sellotape and a take out skinny latte for me!
Wrap pressies for them while they are out!
Go to Tesco for very last food bits and pieces.
Make mince pies and some soup/supper for later
Drinks Party!!(yippee)

The wonderful thing about teenagers is that don't need babysitting and can also drive drunken parents home!!!!

Games: my nephews aged 5/6/7/9 all absolutely love tiddly winks believe it or not!! They are very competitive and work out the scores properly etc. They have always played with the Orchard Toys games like Pop to the Shops.Another favourite for slightly older ones is Rummikub and also Bananagrams (a bit like scrabble but less formal in a banana shaped bag - good to take to restaurants!)And don't forget Twister and Rapidough/Pictionary!

A bit favourite is scattergories at the moment. Choose a letter and some catergories and each team has to come up with something unique for 2 points, something that another team has for 1 point - we played it last week at a party with kids ranging from 18 down to 7 and adults - mix the teams up!!

Got to get on....

at teenagers driving drunken parents home, OM. I'm sure my oldest son will learn to drive before I ever do .

Have found another thing - my favourite eyeliner pencil was right at the bottom of my handbag, mixed up with all the old tissues and receipts. Maybe all my lost things are going to come back to me again before Christmas.

I can sense a growing sense of something on this thread as Christmas Day approaches... panic, maybe?

Linzer - I really hope your daughter's party goes well. It sounds as if there should be lots to occupy them, and, hopefully, not too much for you to organise . No wonder you are stressed - a birthday party to run as well as Christmas coming up.

Have managed my morning routines (I must say, MIL threatening to do the washing up always gets me going - she means well, but leaves food all over the plates and cutlery, so that I have to rewash it all over again in secret. When I say, "No, really, it's ok, we have a dishwasher!" she says, "Ah, but if I do it, then it's done." I want to say, "No, no, it isn't!").

Must stop MN-ing and take the boys out. Library and a trip to Boots to spend a Xmas voucher (hope the boys will let me have a browse, but it's unlikely. Will probably just have to grab what I can. Am tempted to spend it all on an anti-wrinkle cream, but they never work really, do they?).

Waves to Swan, Ellie, Feet and Did and any lurkers.

Panic.....what panic toffee.

.

Can i suggest putting increasing babysteps and doing missions on hold for now? And just focusing on getting done for christmas?