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.

Good afternoon.

Feeling rather tired and not really inclined to do anything today. I know what you mean about the meal planning bit Janey . I planned the meals quite carefully this week (for once ) but it's all rather gone to pot as DH has been home so little (tough work week) and I can't really be bothered to cook just for me at the end of the day.

Anyway after a week in which I feel like I've done everything on the childcare/housework front he has gone out again. It's a work thing and I know he didn't particularly want to go as he's quite tired but it's left me flying solo again.

I spent the morning ferrying the DCs to their various activities as he needed to go shopping (for mother's day stuff for the DCs to give me) and then the afternoon helping the three of them simultaneously with their homework and I now need to do their tea and our tea (ready for when DH gets back) and prepare for the group I run for the little ones at our church.

Feeling a bit fed up with it all and struggling not take it out on DH who I know doesn't actually want to be at work all the time.

I haven't even done the swish and swipe yet . Anyway I'm hoping that posting a belated to do list will get me moving.

to do

swish and swipe x 2
hot spot x 1 (did this first thing and you can't tell now!)
tea for DCs
tea for us
get DD and DS2 showered
bring washing in and put away
prepare for class tomorrow

nettie getting the children out is the only thing we get done at weekend really , unless dh takes them away for the whole day.
Your poor friend, I'm sorry she had such a awful last few months, hope she is at peace now.
Your cat may pee on the same place again if you are not very crafty - could you put a rug over it for now, with a familiar smell, rather than the new or pee smell iysim. From bitter experience they tend to keep using the same place, especially when it is cleaned... Or shut her out of that part of house for a few weeks (dunno if that is possible? until she forgets..which is what we did when our cat kept rushing up to our room to pee on our duvet!!!and same corner of our bedroom carpet. AARGH. Luckily not happened for three years now.

Today has been busy. I've walked miles. Too hot, wrong coat etc etc. Mostly shops, and picking up cars, children, catching buses, walking back from trains, trailing round shops.
However,
done
catechism first thing
birthday drop off ds1 to film
Hobbycraft to buy some Hornby model items for a birthday present
derailed in Hobbycraft with dd - she now wants to make a complete dolls house from scratch
new shoes (like you janey dd's shoes are usually a trial

rescued front room
rescued kitchen
swept mud off floor

dh is determined not to let me meal plan, and has gone off for a Chinese this time I'm not complaining as I'm knackered...

linzer I think you must be super sleepover mum and your dh too.

scatty hope party going well, and you are giving yourself a big pat on the back and some valium/ now. And lots of pictures for MIL tomorrow.

Fun poor you, sounds a difficult day, the activities, volunteering sometimes is wonderful, sometimes just all too much to add to a Spring day (where is that floaty feeling to go with blossom?)
I miss Merlin/Dr Who terribly they did so frame the day...and kept dcs on their toes and we all chilled out on Saturday eve...

P.S. Fun if it's any comfort, my los love the children's liturgy group that someone like you prepares for them at Church and they look forward to it so much.

swan Dr Who is starting again soon I think. I've seen a couple of trailers. I'm wondering whether they're planning to start the new series at Easter?

Thanks for your kind words re the liturgy group. I think part of the gloom I'm feeling is that I'm not quite sure what to do for it this week.

Sigh...I didn't do anything last night, didn't even shine my sink. I just sat around clutching my heating pad and whining at DH to bring me chocolate. But! Onwards and upwards!

This a.m. I want to:
Swish and swipe
Shower and dressed (yes, it's noon and I've not done it yet )
Wash sheets and pillowcases
Put away the mountains of clean laundry that have taken up permanent residence in baskets beside the dryer
Do 15 minute rotation with DH in dining and living room

I'll be back! :)

Wash towels
Put away laundry
Bits of ironing and mending - mending done but not ironing
Tackle the dining room - dining room slightly improved
Buy a birthday card for friend's 2-y-o - oops! Forgot!

Still, DH has done loads of gardening, and I have successfully prevented the boys from killing themselves or each other.

The new toy thing is great, but we now have a large hamper blocking the sitting room and don't know what to do with it. Ho hum...

Tomorrow I have to call my mum and write a shopping list. Happy Mothering Sunday all! :)

Right on the back of being howled at all day, having drunk far too much caffine and consumed far too much sugar I have name changed. But as this is a return to name rather then a new name I shall just wave for now.

Was going to attempt a round up, in a bar waiting for the girls, bottle of wkd in hand but connection pants and scrolling is impossible.

Here what I remember

cheerfulyank is going to get dressed
swan ran around like headless chicken all day and made me feel tons better and im sure fun too as she advised what a fab role in
Church she has.
blueeyeshadow has a fantastic hamper with no use whatsoever! How about an ottoman?

I can remember no more sorry everyone else.

I managed to put all clothes away, refrained from
Kicking the cat and tantruming dd!

Hope you all get a lie in and breakfast in bed tomorrow or at the very least a huge cuddle. Happy mothers day everyone

ah gotta love plans!! Sitting in bar on own after paying for a taxi and find out via Facebook it's cancelled!!!!

Hmm

Knock knock.....

Ashamed NickNacks wants to know if she can join you again? Third tme lucky?

Things are really bad here.......last two weeks of March we all had a bad D and V bug (5 of us) so everything has gone to pot!

Kids rooms especially need de-cluttering but to be fair the whole house is terrible- I need your inspiration!!!

Poor you Nettie
NickNacks welcome
Have a good evening everyone and enjoy tomorrow. My DCs have been very mysterious this evening and keep dropping hints about gifts. They're so excited. It's really sweet.

Ah *Nettie that's not nice of your friends hmm indeed!

Good evening ladies (and gents, if there are any on this thread)

Sad to say, I've already had 2 and am definitely feeling the effects, considering I don't actually drink very often.

Have managed to do all the things I promised myself, and am now relaxing in anticipation of an early night

Also sadly, I have discovered in the last few days that I may have a problem with my right arm that could limit my time at the pc. I seem to have some weird twitching whenever I use a pc, that could be an RSI type problem due to constant use of the mouse. It certainly seems to crop up whenever I lean on wrist or elbow and although it doesn't hurt it's very disconcerting.

So, I may not be here very often, depending on the level of twtching, but I'll be thinking of all you nice people!

And I know what I'm getting for mother's day (I chose it myself - it may seem weird, but I've always wanted Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 on dvd as I love the music...)

Nettie sorry your plans have gone awry.

funambulist hope your dcs enjoy surprising you!

swan I wish I had a Hobbycraft near us, the nearest is at least 15 miles away. I've made cards for tomorrow for my mum and MIL, and dd has made hers too (with young ds just signing his name in hers, he's also being mysterious about "something" made at school.... given his tendency to blurt out secrets, I am impressed he's kept quiet for so long.)

Tomorrow is lunch out from dp, he's been very complimetary about "how great a mum" I am today, even though I know sometimes it feels like all hell's broken loose

I think I'd better stop there. I KNOW that has had an effect. How on earth has my spelling managed to be this good I don't know....

oh nettie I'm so sad, I was so thrilled by the idea of someone going clubbing. I was even dancing to some 80's faves in support.

fun I'm ashamed to say I'm not sure what the readings are tomorrow. Dd is going to Methodist Church instead for Brownies Mother's Day parade, so I'm going with her instead of our church (well I have to, as her mother ) I hope you think of something.

Done
a great deal of gardening into the dusk...soda crystals on the drain etc, moving of large bamboos/bay trees/camellias,
and sowed all the rest of the seeds yesterday as a displacement activity before braving party.

Upstairs is not good, but I've given up for now.

Linzer Golden! is that 50 years? there is hope

Darts Hobbycraft felt as if it was 15 miles away, as Central line was down and we were on the most rickety replacement bus I think you need to go there in search of specific items or it becomes a bit overwhelming - I was torn between making moss soap and embroidering a poster of the Titanic, and luckily avoided both

swan No you need to go to hobby craft with a list and a budget. Otherwise it becomes very expensive!!!!

I have managed to do training, not kill ds, sort out equipment for training and a load of washing this evening. Mostly been hanging out on mn. but there doesnt seem to be a lot to draw me in atm. I think i must be getting old.

Nettie shame about the night out.sucks when people cba to txt changes in plans.

Nettie - am feeling very on your behalf. That's not fair. I hope your friends are suitably apologetic.

My 'short nap' turned into two hours. DH did dinner, thankfully, so all I had to do was get the boys to bed. The kitchen is a mess, but I'm going to tackle that in a minute. I'm also going to do my before-bed routine as having everything ready really helped this morning.

I'm not sure that I'll get anything special for Mother's Day tomorrow. DS2 couldn't wait to give me his card from school, so that is already on display. DH forgot to remind DS1, who very probably hasn't prepared anything. However, DS1 has brought me breakfast in bed for the last couple of years, so maybe I'll get that .

Have a friend coming to stay tomorrow and we're planning to go out to a local farm to feed the lambs (mums go free!), weather permitting.

Nicknacks - sorry to hear you and your family have all been so ill. When things get out of control in my own house, I always do a Flylady crisis clean first, then start over with the routines again. It really helps.

Darts - that twitching does sounds like a muscular thing. It might be worth seeing an osteopath about it. I'm planning to go myself because ever since I pulled my neck, I've had twitching in my left arm, as well as pains etc. When I googled it, I found out that it was often related to muscle strain. I love your choice of Mother's Day present - I love that film and the music.

Fun - it's lovely that your children are so excited about Mother's Day and have stuff planned.

Swan - nice DH buying you Chinese. Am not surprised you were knackered after your busy day.

BlueEyeshadow - should you declutter the large hamper? Last weekend we took a foam chair from DS2's bedroom to the dump. It has given him much more space to play and he doesn't miss it at all.

CheerfulYank - never mind about missing a night's sink shining. Flylady says: you are not behind. Jump in where you are!

DS1 is upset about something and can't sleep, so have to go and calm him down. I don't think he ever manages to get to sleep before 11, no matter what time I put him to bed.

Hope you all get a Mother's Day lie in tomorrow morning.

Happy Mother's Day to you all. I am still up, thanks to a sleepless, worrying DS1. Have just settled him back in bed with Horlicks and a hot-water bottle, as well as having a chat about his worries. Maybe he and DS2 are taking it in turns to keep me up every night.

Might as well post tomorrow's list whilst I'm here:

Lie in
Breakfasts delegated to DH
Get dressed
S&S
W/M
D/W - empty
D/W - load
Make lamb casserole in slow cooker
T/D
To farm with family and friend to feed baby lambs

[Oh no! Have just realised what I've done! Must not tell the DC that it's a lamb casserole at dinnertime )

Dinner and and time to catch up with friend
Before-bed routine
Bed at decent hour

Morning all,

We're off to my ILs once everyone is up (I'm the only one so far) and going out for lunch for their golden wedding anniversary (yes swan, it's 50 years). Am hoping it will be slightly more relaxing than the meal for my FIL's 70th in February, when DS was suffering quite badly with his cough/allergy (the reason we're not staying overnight this time), DH's niece was getting stroppy about having to wait so long for her dessert and MIL was v. bossy with the waiters due to "late" arrival of said dessert.

Toffee LOL (although I shouldn't really) at feeding baby lambs followed by lamb casserole!

CHB I go through phases where I don't get sucked into MN much - they never last too long, though.

Darts I also find my right arm gets quite painful if I'm working a lot on the computer, and have to switch over to using the mouse with my left hand (quite. awkward).

NickNacks Welcome back.

Nettie Oh no, I was so looking forward to hearing all about your evening clubbing! Has it been postponed? Glad to read on FB that you had a lovely evening anyway.

Aargh, have just realised from reading all your posts that it's Mother's Day in the UK today. I spoke to my mum yesterday but completely forgot to mention it, so will have to phone her again today - and as usual, I've forgotten to send a card.

All right, it's 1:22 a.m. here so the "going to bed at a decent hour" thing is bollocksed already. Sigh...that's the one that would do me the most good, too! I'm going to shoot for 10:30 p.m. every night this coming week. All right, today (well yesterday really)I have accomplished the following:

~Swish and swipe
~Done an embarrassing amount of laundry and put it away (this is cause for a parade around the Cheerful household!)
~All the dishes (I really need to invest in a dishwasher)
~Scrubbed the stove
~Emptied and cleaned all garbage cans
~Fed/watered/walked/brushed etc pets
~5 minute room rescue in entryway
~shiny sink!
~27 fling boogie! YAY!

Now I really have to get to bed. Good night everyone! My house is so much tidier already. I'm a happy camper :)

Good morning everyone (don't shout! I've got a headache!)

I'll be back later when I feel more human.

Happy Mothers Day everyone

Renew your spirit day

practise practise

Happy Mothers' Day, everyone!

I downloaded the Home Routines app last night. It looks great but I am slightly overwhelmed. It doesn't seem quite as forgiving and gentle as Flylady. I don't think it helps that I have started it on the last day in a 'Zone', which makes me feel I've got to do everything for that zone in 15 minutes!

I have had the bubble bath (after a 10k run) so I am well on the way to renewing my spirit . Now going to swish & swipe and wipe the kitchen surfaces - the DDs have put the breakfast things away but they will have overlooked that, and as it was sesame bagels there'll be seeds everwhere! Then put the washing out and go to church.

Have a lovely day, everyone.

Hi all,

Good morning to you all, hope you are having a good weekend wherever you are. Those of you in UK hope your mothers day is going well.

nettie sorry to hear no-one actually made sure you heard the evening was cancelled, but it sounds like you managed to figure something out. Hope you had a good night.

Right back to plan. Last night I told DH my new rule of whenever someone leaves the front room they HAVE to take something with them. I actually took a couple of cans to put in the recycling on my way to bed, even though it wasnt the right direction and had to walk back through the room again to go to bed

I have also successfully deregistered from flylady's e-mails.

I forgot the other day I had mentioned to DH I was going to get all the towels washed today so I have got the first load in and will include it on my list. What is the ettiquette with towels anyway? Our bathroom is downstairs and we have our tumble dryer in there which leads the way as a bench for towels to find themselves on. We have some bars in place to hang 2/3 towels (depending on size) up. I DO wash the towels, not in any particular routines, just as and when (esp when the cats get trapped in the bathroom and end up peeing on them - boak) Sooooooo whats the towel routine? Do you use the same towels and hang them up then someone else uses them? Do you have your own towels? Do they get washed after every use and clean towels got out? I did about a year ago get them all away, but this was only the once So today I am going to get them all washed and dried and put away apart from 2/3 left hanging in the bathroom. Currently we seem to be using our own, but I dont know if when we use them we should just hang them to dry for the next person? Anyway let me know what routines you do and I can decide what we are going to do. Thanks.

Right my list for Sunday

Get all towels washed, dried and put away - first load in
Do some ironing, 1hr and it should pretty much all be done
Sort out a kitchen drawer, I know there are 3 pairs of scissors, cling film and sellotape in there, but what why does just that fill it up?
Put some clothes in the washing machine ready for it to be turned on first thing in the morning
Clean and shine sink

Still need to look at a control journal, I have an ipod nano, will this hold the app?

Speak to you later

Toffee.

Glad you had a good night in the end Nettie

linzer - Both my sisters have managed to forget it is mother's day and they are in the uk. Don't feel bad. Making the effort to ring to speak to her today showss you care.

WRT towels - everyone has their own towel, a different colour for different people. Generally towels get washed once a week, ds' might go two weeks if he is being a grubby boy and only uses it once in a week. Towels get hung up to dry between uses during the week. Hth myhouse

Ds is shouting singing instead of screaming. It is still super annoying. Need to get him outside so that i can get up in peace. I need coffee, a lot of coffee this morning. Might try and take him out for a walk later. He has trashed his room this morning.

To do:
get up
chuck ds in garden for a hour
get ds cleaned up from being in the garden
clear the dining table of the mending stuff that has been abandoned there
washing
ironing
tip run
kitchen
make hat for ds to decorate for school
try not to kill ds for refusing to do anything the first, second third or fourth time h has been asked.
Go to bed at a reasonable time.