April Fledgling Flyers: April Fools we are not, babysteps and decluttering makes our thread hot, step right in and mark your spot.

[NettieSpaghetti]

Welcome, come away in you?ll have had your . This is the April Fledgling Flyers Thread.

Thanks to WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes who was champion at leading us through March.

We are trying to stick to the Flylady © Website and her baby steps and routines to help keep our houses out of C.H.A.O.S and ready for everyday, maybe the odd visitor or two.

Check her website out but don?t sign up for emails as they are likely to inspire but fill your inbox so full we might not see you till August.

The principles are:

Babysteps (one at a time)
Babysteps and 15 minutes daily decluttering
Babysteps and daily missions.

This month I will be posting the links and leading you down the road to building a routine and keeping your house under control.

It is amazing what you can achieve in a simple babystep,15 minutes a day and a little chat.

My three aren't really aware of the royal wedding either, CHB. I was telling DD1 about it yesterday (I'd been complaining to a friend that I was going to miss it as it would clash with the school run so she phoned up last night to ask whether she should pick up the girls from school for me) and she asked me "What's royal wedding"? I have been sadly neglecting their British cultural education. [cgrin]

Toffee DD1 had a tooth out last year with an injection and said it was fine; I asked her whether the injection hurt (I seem to remember them being quite painful) and she said no. It's quite common not to have injections for dental work here (you have to pay extra for them, and DH didn't even realise you could have them until he met me!) and DH had a lot as a child (lots of sweets + only brushing once a day), always without an injection, which he said was just awful.
Re the brushing - have you tried disclosing tablets to check how well your DS is brushing his teeth? I've used them a few times with the DDs; DD2 brushes quite well but DD1 really doesn't do a good job of it - the dentist told her off last time. I let them clean their teeth on their own but always brush them afterwards; I know the recommendation here is that they can clean their teeth on their own from about 6 or 7, but DD1 (9) def. still needs it and the dentist said she brushed her children's teeth until they were 11!

Nettie I'm wondering how long I can hold out before I go down the hair dye route, as the white hairs are definitely multiplying. Sorry to hear about your evening; hope the wine helped (and, like Toffee said, there's no excuse for your DH shouting at you).

No time to go back any further I'm afraid, as I have to go and make the DC's snacks and have my shower before I wake them up. They still haven't got used to getting up early after the Easter holidays; DD2 was in a foul mood all yesterday afternoon, and I'm convinced it's because she was over-tired.

stomps through

Joins Cinders in stomping :)

Been AWOL as DH did 'something' to router and internet etc disappeared. Think its fixed but did seem to get a lot done without distraction [cblush]

Not sure what today will bring but will do quick list:

• Watch wedding with DD (DH still in bed, DS might watch but will probably get bored, as may I!)
• Morning routine which may be done in stages throughout the day
• Shopping from yesterday zapped and away
• Washing up from last night
• Plant some things
• Get email to work so i can send one to friend
• Eat takeaway
• Watch last two rounds of Masterchef - got very behind and have had to avoid all TV, radio, internet mention of it over last 2 days

Enjoy the day however you choose to spend it [csmile]

Morning all - Didn't get back on again yesterday as restarted my essay as not happey with it.

DD is so excited by the wedding but doesn't want to watch all the interviews etc - she has gone swimming with DH and insisted that I tape the wedding bit. She has told me this morning that Kate must be really nervous and what will be happening.Shes surprisingly knowlegable about it for a 5 year old. I suspect its because of the words prince and princess - think she thinks its something to do with Disney.

Anyway jobs for today

• Watch the wedding
• Wash bedding that didn't get done yesterday
• Essay
• Attack kitchen
• Toy culling
• Ironing and general clothes sorting

Back later

Good afternoon Royal Subjects [cgrin]

Im all royalled out but had a nice day. DS refused to wear his iron man 0utfit and wore a bow tie and waistcoat instead. Had a few and a good laugh and met up with an old friend. Im now desperate for bedtime [cgrin]

Today I have
Put clothes away
Swept floors
Washing x 3
Dishwasher
Got out meat to defrost for advance meal planning tomorrow.
Bathed dcs

toffee thank you for your kind words. All ok now dh acted like it hadn?t happened. He has been working all day and is napping before work tonight.
chb hope you have been feeling a little better today. Well done on almost avoiding the royal wedding. Hope you had a nice day
linzer I have the disclosing tablets, I haven?t tried them yet as always seem in such a rush, I think id be brushing remainder off for hours Thanks for your kind words too. On the hair dye front I figured if I start now no one need know the grey is with me. Hope you had a good day today
cinders stomped on my toe on the way through, as a consequence she now has bunting attached to her bottom like a tail. [cgrin]
feetheart my dh used to do that, mess around with settings and we would be without service for ages. Glad it seems sorted and hope you had a lovely day and didn?t get too bored watching the royal wedding
makingchanges your dd definitely had the right idea, hope she enjoyed it when she did watch it. Good luck with essay.

I think after watching the scenes in London swan was very wise to get out of London would have been manic.

Well im not sure who is taking over, I haven?t seen sc for a wee while. Ive only got one more day left in April and I could continue to the 3rd but after that im going to have to pack pack pack.

Hope you all have a nice evening. Im gonna post (possibly) my last set of links later.

Just in case I get caught up in something else tomorrow. I wanted to say you are all brill, thank you for making hosting so much fun, for not inundating me too much, and for all your banter over the last month. [cgrin] What a month, ive had dragons, easter bunnies and crowns, sunshine and laughter too. [cgrin]

Evening all,

I have looked back at the last thread and SC volunteered for June, but not May, so we have no one lined up for May yet. Any takers? If not I will do it, but will be away for a couple of days from tomorrow, so would start the thread tonight and then ask Nettie to do it till she goes away. I will also be away for the last week of the month, so I'm not the ideal person.

Well, I decided I wanted to watch the Royal Wedding but not participate in any related activities (except bitching about the dresses on MN and by text with MIL), so DH took the DCs into town and I managed 90 mins of ironing while watching the wedding / texting / MNing. I liked most of the clothes but not THE dress, too old fashioned for me, and TBH although I like the big occasion, the whole thing does make my feminist shackles rise a bit. We had lunch in the garden, popped over to the next biggest town in the afternoon, came back and had a barbecue in the garden, which was nice. Not much Flying!

I'd be happy to lead next month unless anyone else would like to do it. I seem to spend enough time on here as it is, so might as well put it to good use - and have been on the thread over a year now, so it's probably about time I took on some responsibility. [cgrin]

Well, DS1 was safely deposited chez GPs (FIL and step-MIL). DS2 was a bit worried about us leaving him behind but seems to be enjoying free rein of the toys. DS1 could hardly wait to see the back of us, but did say "I wish they were staying" once we'd gone so I needn't be too miffed! Got to watch the wedding too as we arrived just as she was reaching the Abbey - DH totally uninterested so wouldn't have seen it at home. I liked the dress, but there were some CRAZY hats among the guests!

All that means no flying today. Tomorrow:
shopping
hoover inside car
gardening
DH to put up towel ring and soap dish
wash towels

Oh, Linzer that would be brilliant, I'd rather not do it again quite so soon after last time, thank you.

woop woop, brilliant linzer you will be fab. You are the linkmeister indeed. [cgrin]

May Fledgling Flyers: We are all in our hay day come and we will show you the way, sticking to babysteps all way. hmmm maybe not. [cwink]

Maybe someone else has some inspiration.

My last links here they are:-

Tomorrow being family fun day there is no missions.

The last babystep of April something im really bad at

Be back for round up tomorrow if not before [cgrin]

OK, I shall set up the new thread later on today - it may not be until this evening though, as we're planning on going to Bratislava today.

In the meantime, keep those thread titles coming. [cgrin]

May Fledgling Flyers: May is here at last, we are having a blast, those dust bunnies will not last!

Morning all! So sorry to have been awol (again!). I am about to enter my mad crazy period at school and it has already begun so have been really busy. My presence may be intermittent for the next few weeks (I am sure you will just about cope without me ) due to coursework, coursework marking, GCSE prep, parent's evenings etc.

Had a lovely day yesterday. We have come up to the caravan in Filey for the long weekend. Got here yesterday morning just in time to watch all the royal shenanigans which I thoroughly enjoyed. Have managed to discover that my i-phone can act as a modem for my laptop whilst we are here so no need to go into the internet wilderness when we come up! PLus I don't have to go without my mumsnet fix!

Thank you for volunteering for May linzer. You will do a fab job! I know sc volunteered for JUne. I will be quite happy to do July as I haven't lead for a while and like to feel I am pulling my weight . Nettie you have done a truly fantabulous job this month so thank you in case I don't get on again over the weekend due to lots of family time being the order of the day!

DD had her first day at preschool this week. It went really well, no tears, no fuss in fact she was so excited she got up at 6 to get ready! Every night we have a bedtime routine of pj's, teeth, story, cuddle and lullaby. The night before she started we did the routine, it got to the lullaby part and she said 'No baby song mummy (we sing rock a bye baby), I'm a big girl now because I go to school, I don't need baby song'. Sob Sob, my baby girl really is growing up. They said she was really good. It is the same preschool DS went to about 4/5 years ago. I think they think DD is the same good, calm , quiet type of child as DD.......they'll soon find out . I didn't want to burst their bubble on the first day .

Anyway,DS is bugging me for the laptop and I need more coffee as they both got up very early!

oooh look at all that random bolding! Whoops!

Have just started the new thread here (we've decided to postpone our trip to Bratislava until tomorrow). Sorry Nettie, I spent so long setting it up that I've only just seen your excellent suggestion for the title - maybe we could use it next month?

Lovely to see you again ellie and glad to hear your DD is settling in well at preschool; they grow up so fast, don't they?

Oh
I want to go to
Bratslavia

I want crisps
and pickled onions
and marmalade
and

other stuff
scowls at boring spar over the road..

well
think I shall hobble off and do a quick tidy....

My list for today

hang washing out done
More washing in
Shopping for I'm not sure but one of those hold me in things is Definately in the list
S/s
Bed making
Braised mince making
Chicken curry making
Finalise shopping list
Get out luggage and start packing
Take dc to play park
Contact milkman and find out what happened to organic milk
Tidy up toys in snug
Find charger for camera

linzer thanks for new thread. Love title
Ellie glad dd loved preschool. I'm already feeling a bit funny about my dd starting in October. Have great fun at caravan.
cinders hitch hike over there and stay there till youve eaten enough of those to last you

Right better get dressed, already got shoes on as been hanging washing in garden.

Have lovely days

Send me a list Cinders; I can bring the things over next month. We have a "Gourmet Spar" in town, which is just a posh way of saying it's very small.

It's a lovely day here today so DH is out working in the garden. Am quite tempted to join him (with my book - I cannot work up any enthusiasm about gardening), although it would really be an ideal opportunity to do some decluttering. I'm hoping that leading next month's thread will motivate me to do a bit more Flying again; I've been struggling to get much more than the morning routine done this month.

Hello my lovelies ! Hope you are all ok ...

So sorry to be awol again ......been a madhouse here.... visitors, more visitors and yet more visitors! Haven't had a minute to myself to post. Not helped by the fact that text still slow and "juddering" only when I post on Mnsnet - anyone any ideas what that might be??

Just wanted to pop in to confirm that I will indeed be very happy to lead thread in June (will have to sort out juddering before then!!)

Thank you so much for volunteering for May Linzer - really brill of you!

Catch up with everyone on Tues when I will hopefully have a free hour ....in the meantime ... enjoy your sunny, extended w/e!!

OOOOOhhhhhh - sorry - sorry - very rudely forgot to say to Nettie what a fab leader you have been!! April seemed a very long month somehow and you did wonders keeping up with everyone with inimitable style and flair !!

Big wave to elliepac and Stillchuckingit

linzer thank you for the May thread.

Have had a busy morning today- up early and to DDs dance class - Had breakfast there whilst I started to proof-read my essay. Spent an hour reading books to her and neighbourhood children and then walked across to shops for my weekend shopping (lovely day and couldn't be bothered to fight for parking spaces - plus it limits how much I spend). Just having lunch now and catching up.

Jobs to do today

• One hour to check and proof read essay - I am allowing it no more of my time
• One hour to finish off book I'm reading
• 30 minutes toycull that didn't get done in week
• Going to clean out washing machine - its full of gunk and needs a hot wash
• Clean around DDs bedroom and wash her bedding
• Promised to watch a film with dd
• start my 6 weeks of planning that needs completing by tuesday

Ellie how do you use your iphone as a modem- We have a caravan with no internet and if that was possible it would be great.

Hope you all enjoy the sunshine back later

Waves back to MakingChanges and everyone else...

Just linking to thread I just started here about 'bouncy/juddering text' in case anyone has any ideas ....

Thanks Nettie. Sorry just about to offline with computer problems, having managed to rig up a temp solution to the problem. have fabulous May and may your house be decluttered by the time i return.

Have just replied on your thread SC, although I'm not much help I'm afraid.

Makingchanges Sounds like you've had a busy day; what book are you reading?

Nettie DS was very excited to receive the royal wedding picture, and especially liked the drawing of the big wheel. (I think he might have actually been interested in the wedding if it had taken place on the London Eye!) His eyes lit up when he saw he had post; he said, "Is it from [Nettie's DS]? Yay, my friend [Nettie's DS]!"

Just about to start on the here; I'll pop over to the new thread in a bit to post tomorrow's links.

An Ode to the Fledgling Flyers.

On Monday we surveyed the mess, That caused us to do a Home Bless.

On Tuesdays we had a bit of a rest, A little decluttering and watering plants, not guests.

On Wednesday we tried our best to procrastinate less and less, To ensure we meal planned with a sparkly desk.

With Thursdays for errands and list, we give decluttering a miss.

On Fridays we decluttered the car, purse and made plans for a date.
It wasn?t always possible to tie down the mate

Saturday for some family fun perhaps to make a few buns.

Sunday we renewed our spirit, making sure the was stocked to the limited.

Nettie in spaghetti form led, trying for April to get people to make their bed.

Whilst round ups and friends we made, fun and baby steps were laid.

They have kept me on my toes, And listened to some of my woes
Whilst making sure my house didn?t hurt anyones nose.

linzer glad your ds liked the picture. I was a bit as I never suggested it, he did it all by himself and even found an envelope too. Hope you have fun at Bratislava tomorrow. Thanks for taking on the thread. Its good fun ive enjoyed it.
whoknows I wasn?t that impressed with the dress either, a bit too plain. Gosh is she thin, must be a size 6 (just a little bitta ) Hope you have a nice night under the stars
blue glad ds1 was quite happy. I thought definitely some spectacular hats and fascinators (only just found out what a fascinator was the other day)
ellie Hope the next few months at work are ok. You will certainly be ready for your summer holidays. Have a lovely time in the caravan.
cinders longed for a Bratislava trip and will be pm linzer with a huge list.
sc juddered into view, has been drowning in guests but of course likes us all best
makingchanges breakfast at dance class sounds great. I imagine a lovely scrambled egg on toast whilst watching dd pirouetting around.
chb popped in briefly on the back of useless technology. Thanks for your company. Hope you have a great may with much less pollen around too.

Well I hope im not missing too many people. Thank you everyone who has been here, in and out over the past month. I hope it helped and you all managed a bit of progress. Even if baby steps are all. Thanks again