Happy New Year, January's here, fly with the fledglings to get clutter clear

[ToffeeChristmascake]

Welcome to the January Fledgling Flying thread. A very big thank you to Ellie, our intrepid leader, for guiding us through the frantic Christmas month.

We are not strict followers of the Fat Fairy and take some of the babysteps - such as getting dressed to lace-up shoes - with a pinch of salt. We also strongly advise against signing up for the FlyLady emails.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, using one of the following methods:

1. Babysteps
2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

This month's motto is: You can't clean clutter! See here for Flylady's advice on decluttering.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink.

And if you need to sort out the house after the New Year revelry is over, a crisis clean is what you need.

Back shortly with tomorrow's babystep .

(With apologies to Ellie for plagiarising some of last month's intro')

Morning everyone,

Another interrupted night's sleep here due to DS's coughing, which was just awful last night. We've got another appointment with the lung specialist tomorrow, so I'm hoping that will help. On a brighter note, my voice has returned (I lost it yesterday afternoon) so I won't have to cancel today's English lesson after all.

It's still snowing heavily so I may walk to school today; the exercise would definitely do me good. Otherwise, I'll have to manoeuvre DH's car out of the garage (he's gone away for a few days and has taken my - well, the family - car); we share the garage with our four neighbours and by the time I've got his car out, it will probably be quicker to walk.

I must admit that "partial desk time" is a Flyladyism I hadn't come across before. The Americans are very into balancing their check books, aren't they? Surely it would be easier and less time-consuming just to check your balance online... Not that I want to call Flylady's system into question, of course.

Today's list:

Morning routine
Mission
15 minutes decluttering
Last-minute prep for English lesson
English lesson
Afternoon routine
Help DD1 revise for test
Thank you letters x2
Pick up DS and friend from kindergarten
Evening routine

Thanks for round up Toffee and sorry to have been awol! I was, of course, educating the nation's children as you say - although at the moment it involves taking 50 7-11 year olds to the swimming pool, teaching swimming (having supervised them getting changed, going to the loo and getting changed again!)and then doing gym with them! Actually I love teaching swimming!!

Anyway - good morning one and all!Hope everyone is OK and having a productive week!
I rediscovered menu planning last week and can I say ladies, it is life transforming!! No more 'What shall we have for tea?' More 'The choice is...'If you haven't tried it, and I'm probably talking the the already initiated it is definitely worth a try!!

DD is still not great! I can't believe she's has the same sore throat and snotty nose etc for 10 days and counting.
DS1 and I had a fallout last night because he procrastinates soooo much about little jobs. Last night's was the ongoing saga of his mobile phone contract (beware!!). Having come out of it I wanted him to organise a lower tariff (I pay for it!). In the end I had to threaten with cancelling the contract altogether so he could start again!!Anyway ... amazingly he jumped to it!!Wish I didn't have to threaten though.. because then he got a wonderful email from his college with the phrase'There is much to do before October and we must begin immediately'!!!!!It reminded me of Dumbledore so now I have a picture of Dumbledore as the Senior Censor at the college!!!

Sorry for long ramble...
Today:
Clear up!!
Morning routine
Look after God daughter for a couple of hours.
Washing/ironing
Food shopping (if time)
One -to - one lesson
Go out for dinner with 2 lovely friends
Oh and make sure there's something here for everyone else!!

Catch up again later....

Morning, the house is empty of bodies, so I'm having a moment off with a cup of tea.

Linzer feel free to ignore the balance online does not necessarily reflect the actual amount of cash available, as I've told playgroup committee ad nauseum when they are excited the by balance in our current account. What they don't seem to take into consideration is the number of unpresented cheques etc that are always in the system

Om - I have very happy to wait a very long time before I have to think about DS with a mobile!

So today:
Morning routine done
DS to playgroup done
DH out of the door done
Find cat box from shed done
Make sure cat stays indoors this morning done
Clean washing away done
Washing on airer done
Washing in machine for tonight done
Handwashing - in soak at the moment
Washing up
S/s done
Make beds done
Shopping list done
Take cat to vet for boosters - about to do
Shopping
Collect DS from playgroup
Zone cleaning/decluttering (I hate my bedroom)
Zone mission
DH tax return
Playgroup financial report
WI end of year
Elec meter reading
Financial change stuff
Clean fridge
Make bread
Paper file item
Make tea - DS has asked for macaroni, so need to shuffle menu plan
Tea
Bedtime routine
Evening routine
Exercise

Off to retrieve cat from wherever she's hidden herself - always my job as DH can't put his hand near her if she's under the bed/sofa etc - and struggle her into her basket - how many legs can a cat have??

Just back from the English lesson and now need to focus on my list as I'm having a bit of a slow morning so far.

Morning routine doing
Mission done
15 minutes decluttering
Last-minute prep for English lesson done
English lesson done
Afternoon routine
Help DD1 revise for test
Thank you letters x2
Pick up DS and friend from kindergarten
Evening routine

Ihate Pedantic is good. Yes, I did think of that when I posted before and my comment about checking your balance online was slightly tongue-in-cheek. It's just that Americans seem to be obsessed with talk about balancing their cheque books far more than we do. IIRC we were even sent a little booklet to do so along with our cheque books when we lived in the USA. (I used to keep a note of every single penny, or rather cent, I spent before I decided it was far too time-consuming but have never balanced my cheque book as they don't have them here in Austria.)
But anyway, I do agree with Flylady that keeping track of your finances on a regular basis is a very good idea.

Sleepless night in the Toffee household. DS2's cold turned into a croupy cough which kept him (and me) awake for hours last night. Then he wanted a ham sandwich at 2am .

DH is off work today and had suggested that the two of us go out somewhere while the children were at school (one of the therapist's suggestions was that we make more time for each other). But DS2 was still too croupy and blocked up to go this morning and DS1 felt terribly sick and had a stomach ache on the way up to school and eventually, after sitting in the school office with me, hoping it would go away, had to come home again.

Ah, now I remember why DH and I don't do much together as a couple these days...

DS1 is engrossed in his latest 'Training Your Dragon' book (he is hooked on the series - lovely to see him so keen on books at last). Having planted DS2 in front of Cbeebies for a bit, I have managed to do my morning routine. The rest of today's list looks like this:

Washing machine - 2nd load
T/D
Put dry washing away
15-mins declutter in bedroom
Book hair appointments for me and the boys
Book dentist appointments
Clean and clear the fridge
Menu plan for next week
Tesco online order
Make pizza dough
Decorate pizzas with boys
Afternoon routine
Dinner
Evening routine
Bed at decent hour

I had written 'Fun' on my list too, referring to me and DH going out, but I think decorating pizzas is about as fun as it's going to get today .

Linzer - sorry to hear you had a bad night too and that DS's coughing is so bad. I really hope you get some answers and good advice from the lung specialist tomorrow. Glad to hear you have found your voice again.

OM - welcome back! I am reeling in shock at the idea of taking 50 children between the ages of 5 and 11 swimming. Sounds like an absolute nightmare. Rather you than me, I say. Sorry your DD is still ill. Re: menu planning - I agree. It's lovely not to have to think about what to cook each day because I've already planned it and have the ingredients ready. Have a lovely dinner with your friends tonight, btw.

Ihatecobwebs - my DH is just like your playgroup committee. I have explained to him over and over that our balance does not take into account any cheques or payments that may be about to come out, but he never seems to get it. Have to say, I never 'balance my cheque book' and really can't be bothered, but my mum does it fastidiously every week. She does have more time on her hands than me though.

I feel so sluggish today, thanks to the lack of sleep. Might manage a nap later, as DH is here, but will have to sleep through the banging from the house next door, where they are having a loft conversion built.

See you all later.

Aw, just came on here to confess to a nasty case of CBA, and my absence had been noted in the roundup! thanks Toffee! I feel all accountable now - in a good way

I am still at the stage of having cracked the food / meal planning but resisting expanding my routines. In fact I have this week failed on both the dishwasher and the laundry front, both of which I thought I had sussed. And was spectacularly late for work today, largely because I didn't do a proper BBR; it could have been an easy morning but I watched TV last night instead.

Have just remembered though ds was ill all last week with a fever - I guess that doesn't help! I see I am not alone in dealing with the joys of sick children; sending you all get-better vibes (sorry to hear party had to be cancelled Lair).

Can't remember if I posted this but ds has now seen paed and has been diagnosed with sensory integration issues, but no associated ASD. He would benefit from sensory integration therapy but that's not funded on its own in this area, so it's down to us. A big part of this is keeping the environment clear for him - so tidying up has to go up the agenda. I'd love to set his bedroom up as a sensory room for him too, but that is advanced home organisation I think - let's get it decluttered first.

The bedroom is marginally better, though nowhere near fully decluttered, progress has been made and the floor is visible. But dp has lost his wallet and it's my birthday on Saturday, so I am fully prepared to come home to a house of complete havoc tonight as he will have gone through like a whirlwind looking for it .

had friend round for coffee,
now about to do piano practice as builder is coming into the kitchen....poor man needs his lunch out of the rubble and paint fumes

spectacular non-dw day today! one whole load behind - Systems
join you in thinking clearing the clutter helps calm the kid/kids -
also me, although today I seem to be fine with dish clutter [waves arms airily at it and eats toast], just as long as no-one is making a noise or moving around at the same time or expecting me to find anything

toffee so hard to find amiable time together. Do you know, I think the children sometimes don't want us to be alone together. Sometimes dh takes day off work just to sit and chat to me in peace...unfortunately I then start remembering various things that need doing - it takes a while to get into the habit of actually spending constructive time together.

Systems - glad I have prompted you into action. I do understand the watching telly late and not doing the bbr. I can honestly say that it has now become such a habit to do my routine before bed that I always do it, but before it became a habit I often watched telly too late, simply because I was too tired to get up on the sofa. Just stick at it and you'll get there.

Also, Systems, it's good to hear that you have some answers with regard to your DS, but not so good (though typical!) that you don't get any financial help with it.

Swan - it's no good having time at home together, you are right. Therapist was insistent that we had to go out and get away from household responsibilities and children. But without family to help and not enough money it is very tricky. I have booked DS2's childminder to babysit for us this Friday evening though, so we can see 'The King's Speech'. I just hope nothing happens to stop us going.

DH is doing a great job at playing with DS2 so that I can go back to bed and catch up on sleep. The builders are still drilling next door, but I'm so tired that I don't think it'll stop me sleeping.

Toffee Sorry to hear about your sleepless night; I hope you do manage to catch up on some sleep despite the builders.

systems Good to hear you've got a diagnosis and can start doing something about it; very often, it's not knowing that's the worst.

swan I'm not good at spending time with DH if he has a day off either - too many other things to do!

The lack of sleep over the last few nights is starting to take its toll and I have no energy today whatsoever. Am also feeling quite shivery as if I had a temperature, but I can't be ill again so soon after the last time, especially not with DH away.

I think I shall just have a lazy afternoon with my book - need to pin DD1 down to get her to revise for her test, though - and try to have a very early night. DS has a friend coming to play, so hopefully that will keep him occupied. Am not looking forward to tonight, as I'll be on my own - but DH has been very good about getting up to see to DS, so I suppose it's my turn now while he enjoys a well-deserved uninterrupted night's sleep!

Quick update for me rather than anyone else!!
Today:
Clear up!!done
Morning routinedone
Look after God daughter for a couple of hours.done
Washing/ironingdoing
Food shopping (if time)done
One -to - one lesson todolater
Go out for dinner with 2 lovely friendstodolater
Oh and make sure there's something here for everyone else!!done sausage and mash

Toffee- I really feel for you. If it makes you feel any better time with DH does get easier. The one advantage of teenagers is that they don't need babysitting and they spend all morning in bed at the weekend!! DH and I now regularly go out for breakfast. We didn't go anywhere at all ever when ours were your age though so to go to the cinema is one up!!
Is there anyone who could have your DC for a night and you book a night away - there are some good deals around! IMO one night away on our own is worth 6 months of nights out!!.

I felt like you toffee and Linzer the other day...but the good news is that just one night's sleep is enough to make one feel better - (I know I sleep very badly when dh is away, pretty much on permanent alert)

Dh is away this Thurs/Frid/Sat in Stuttgart, so I probably should get my sleep reserves now.

done
picked up tiles (by taxi another tenner as car mia - but better than getting panicked about not pickign them up ifysim )
piano practice
unloaded/reloaded dw
recycling out
ds2 piano
picked up friend's kids from school for 15 minutes very easy favour..but actually tying myself in knots about it in advance as it is raining and hall is full of wet gloss paint - N.B. children don't mind a quick walk around n the rain if you show enthusiasm!
supper made last night
very frustrating conversation with builder about taking off staircarpet versus painting bathroom ceiling - it's all very well, but I actually have to live in this house for next two weeks.

I don't think I would make a good project manager at all

P.S. toffee we've never had a night away from kids. It seems impossible to arrange, although if we tried harder I suppose we could co-ordinate sleepovers, but it just has never happened, and ds2 doesn't do sleepovers..maybe soon he will. Optimistic I take heart!

I'm exactly the same Swan - never sleep as well when dh is away - which he is at the moment; returning last flight tonight hopefully. Partly, it's because I'm on full alert and partly it's because dd sleeps with me when dh travels and she grinds her teeth something rotten, bless her! It's like the sound of nails dragging down a black board!! Eeeeekkk!!

Hope you are not going down with something Linzer and that you managed to have a restful afternoon. Hope you manage to get your ds's chest problems sorted out too. Have you tried metal polish for your sink btw? I know it seems over-the-top and I don't do it every week, but once a month or so, and it really repells the water stains.

Another one here guilty of not spending enough quality time with dh without dd. And she, bless her again, definitely tries to come between us - to the point of getting in bed between us, sitting on the sofa between us, interrupting our conversations; only wanting to go out with one of us at a time. Totally normal apparently! [Makes note to book theatre tickets for dh and me and book baby-sitter] The other thing I am guilty of is pouncing on dh (not literally ) once he sits down of an evening and presenting him with a list of practical problems that need sorting out at office and at home. A real relationship killer but it's so tempting when I finally get him to myself without his Blackberry in hand!!

Optimistic respect taking 50 dc to swimming pool!!! The mere thought of it makes me quake in my shoes!! Hope your dd shakes off the microbes for good this time.

Dolanette a belated happy birthday to your dd!

Thanks for round-ups and links Toffee and hope you catch up on some sleep.

Waves to Ellie PA Ogre Feetheart Lair Ihate Arabella

Er, [SC looks furtively over shoulder] has anyone noticed that I haven't mentioned Flying ...

Dh away - loads to do in office - just about keeping up with routines and meal planning. Still working on last Thursday's list Is this a record I wonder?

Forgot to wave to Systems and everyone else!!

Oooooooohhhh! Mega exciting...... DH has asked if I would like to go shopping on the mainland with him tomorrow!!

So absolutely no flying for me tomorrow

Have a good evening everyone and I hope you all sleep well and get rid of nasty bugs.

Swan/SC - I sleep much better when DH is away, no snoring! Not that he is away very often.

PA - have a lovely time tomorrow, just do what I do when I go shopping with DH and park him in the mancreche Costa Coffee.

OM - menu-planning, I do try, and when I manage it it is very good, but I find it extremely tedious trying to plan round two DCs with extremely limited palates and a DH who arrives home from work anywhere between 5 and 8pm without any advance warning of which it will be, so I tend to have phases where I just give up, like now. My favourite thing is my master shopping list, a list of the things I need to buy regularly that aren't part of main meals, it lives on the fridge, I add anything that runs out during the week and go round the kitchen crossing off regulars that we don't need that week before I go shopping, I hardly ever run out of anything or get duplicates any more.

Not going to stop for too much chat tonight, still need to wash up and also pack my bags as I am travelling tomorrow straight from work for my uncle's funeral on Friday morning.

Just a quick post, Hello everyone!

Too busy for flying much as I'm prioritizing sleep. I'm unused to 6am wakeup times[falling asleep face]

The baby got sent home from nursery today as they were worried that her loose poos were infectious. I knew it was because I gave her mackerel last night she's absolutely fine but I can see why they err on the side of caution. I think she enjoyed the emergency pickup by Granny!

Night night all

Just need to do a quick list as its been an odd day - feel like I've achieved very little though had planned to do loads. Need to see what has been done:

• Chat to recently widowed neighbour
• Part of Morning routine (washing up left from last night which put me out of kilter all day :(), washing x 1, S&S, beds made)
• Made vanilla ice-cream
• Packed up and posted 2 lots of stuff for ebay
• Relisted stuff that didn't sell
• Sorted babysitter for Friday
• Made chicken pie for dinner
• Made Rocky Road for first time - yummmmmmm :)
• Decluttered 1 drawer in bedroom
• Photocopied stuff for School Assoc with DS's help whilst waiting for DD to finish Cheer-leading club

Actually not too bad when its written down. Still don't feel right though, may have to have Rocky Road to make me feel better :)

Sorry for lack of personal messages, need to watch more Dr Who (working way through all of David Tennant's episodes :)) and have early night.

Sleep well all

P.s. Have suggested to a few old timer flyladies (of which I am one - not that I've really mastered anything in three years, except possibly chattng on mumsnet) that they come over to Dark Side, which is here.
I've said you would welcome them, they are all lovely, and very hardworking.

Swan are you saying we are the dark side? Humph, not sure me likey!! But everyone would be welcome.

Managed to get a nice long sleep, but felt rough this afternoon, so hope I haven't caught Ds2's bug. Going to bed early tonight and am leaving my sink unshined .

Tomorrow's babystep is to look at the bottom of any Flylady email you get, which is irrelevant if you have taken this thread's advice and chosen not to subscribe to the Fat Fairy.

Tomorrow's mission is here.

Thursday is grocery and errand day.

Can't do personal messages, sorry, except to say thanks to OM for giving me hope that DH and I will get time together one day. And I like the idea of booking a night away, which would be possible if we arranged it with my mum as babysitter. We last went away for a night without children ...er...seven years ago .

Hope everyone gets a decent sleep tonight.

feetheart hope you are feeling better now, that was a lot of things to get done. possibly cookign doesn't feel like it counts because it gets eaten

SC fingers crossed dh got back and you are sleeping peacefully (or have I got wrong day, sorry)

of course this is not Dark Side, what was I thinking...

pitifullatenight done
recycling
wiped table
food compost
put anothe rwash on
lined up shoes for tomorrow
thrown some stuff on landng which has no HOME into bin bags for now

bedtime!

Still up with DS2, who keeps being woken up by his coughing and is now wide awake and says he wants his breakfast .

He is now chatting to me about the Ancient Egyptians. I think I may be up for some time.

Goodnight all.

toffee I'm still awake. Have you tried "theobromine" - aka cocoa or hot chocolate, as it sometimes helps coughs. I hope he and you go back to sleep soon.

Just been looking up corner cabinets for kitchen [sigh] no luck, too wide a search.

Ogre DH has just come in and I don't know yet whether he wants his tea or not, so I know where you're coming from. Tea is made, and has been sitting on the side for hours. It can make a mess of the menu planning. I'm determined to keep to the planning though, as it has helped reduce grocery costs.

Morning routine done
DS to playgroup done
DH out of the door done
Find cat box from shed done
Make sure cat stays indoors this morning done
Clean washing away done
Washing on airer done
Washing in machine for tonight done
Handwashing done
Washing up done
S/s done
Make beds done
Shopping list done
Take cat to vet for boosters done
Shopping - groceries done
Buy birthday present for DN done
Wrap birthday present for DN done
Collect DS from playgroup done
Watch DVD with DS done
Make birthday card with DS for DN done
Zone cleaning/decluttering done - I've now cleared one side of the room (the easiest bit). Haven't dared go under the bed yet more than a couple of inches, its scary under there . On a good note, my fabrics are nicely sorted, in boxes and drawers, rather than in plastic bags stuffed in odd corners
Zone mission done
DH tax return - part done, need more info from DH
Playgroup financial report
WI end of year
Elec meter reading done
Send meter reading off done
Financial change stuff
Clean fridge done
Make bread - don't need to do today
Paper file item done
Make tea - DS has asked for macaroni, so need to shuffle menu plan done
Tea done
Bedtime routine done
Evening routine done
Exercise done
Long bath done
Freeze meat done
Get beef out of freezer for casserole tomorrow done
Go to bed - as soon as DH makes up his mind about eating