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.

We had half term at the beginning of February and we still have to wait another two weeks until the Easter holidays. And we only get just over a week off for Easter. And there's no bank holiday here for the Royal Wedding either - can't think why not. And the 1st May, which is normally a bank holiday here, falls on a Sunday so we miss out on it. OTOH we do have nine weeks of summer holidays to look forward to.

My sink is looking lovely and shiny thanks to my new Lakeland cleaner - it's the one thing in my order that has really motivated me to get cleaning, and was probably the cheapest item I bought too!

Quick update to keep me going:

Morning routine done
15 min decluttering
Mission done
Recycle paper done
Recycle metal and glass ready to go
Plan English lesson about to do
Send stickers ready to post

Dh gave the children a lovely civilized breakfast this morning to stuff food into ds1 before his 6 hour fast - by 8am everyone was running around headlessly alas...

done
persuaded ds2 not to have another tantrum over football v. school play
assembled books, string, packing tape, scissors, tarpaulins and carried enormous cardboard boxes with ds1 to school
waterbottles
found ds2 trousers (he was trying to put on ds1's
found wet weather clothes for ds1
persuaded him to have a boiled egg
loose change for dd

wash on
wash hung out
beds made

today's plan
CONCENTRATE on sewing curtains as it's raining
what's for dinner - potato gratin, chops, apricot crumble x (one for freezer)
make packed "lunch" for ds1 (handing in at 3pm)
meal plan for week to go with veg box,
SHOP for extras: chops, mince, bread, apricots, apples, yoghurt, packed lunch stuff
chicken stock - make from chicken remains for risotto Wed, soup w/e
BEDROOM !!!!still not hoovered or sorted
pay some bills today (rest of paperwork Wed)
singing practice
sweep path of petals
tidy front garden again
sweep patio again
write sponsorship cheque for ds1 (collect money later)
quick piano/singing practice
hand in leave of absence form
DATES ON CALENDAR at least three

Thanks for all the welcomes - it's heartening to know I'm not the only one who's been caught out by visitors!

Have just got back from first stint at work, but am back at 11.30 so need to squeeze a bit of flying in inbetween...

This morning have:

made packed lunches
found DS 1's PE kit
put on 1 load of washing

I need to:
Do a sort of superficial blitz so that things look tidy to the casual viewer!
Tackle the monstrous pile of dirty laundry
Put away the clean clothes that I folded up about a week ago
Hoover through
Make beds
Make packed lunches for tomorrow
Cook dinner - something easy, maybe tuna bake?
Do reading and homework with DS's

Will report back later!
LinzerTorte Yes - well spotted! Although my Welsh is not fantastic!!

Good morning everyone. It's nearly the Easter holidays for us too (school breaks up on Friday). It occurred to me yesterday evening that I will be on my own looking after both children for two weeks and had better get stuff planned. We usually go to my Mum's for a week, but we're not going this year, for various reasons, including MIL moving house.

Found these useful free downloadable activity packs from the Woodland Trust whilst searching for free stuff. There's an Easter pack in there as well. Plus, spot the April fool!

Am still sticking to the challenge. List today looks like this:

Get dressed, hair, face etc done
B/fast, vits, water done
Packed lunch, water bottle done
School run done
Post done
Empty d/w done
W/M on done
S&S done
Fresh handtowels out done
Home ed doing
T/D doing next
Put laundry away
15-min declutter - bedside table
Order crafty stuff from Yellow Moon
What's for dinner? DH and I are having something reheatable that he bought. Have no idea what to give the children. Pasta, again?
Paid work - 2 hours
School run
Open classroom
Make cheesy cakes at home with DS ( but I promised him)
Dinner
Bedtime routine
Lay out clothes
2 mins hotspots
Shine sink
Tidy sitting room
Face etc.
Bed at decent hour

Sorry for lack of messages, but must keep up with the routine! Back later.

Good morning, ive been drinking in the postivity and have so far.

s/s
Made my bed
Dw emptied
Wm filled
Td filled.
Changed ocado order.
Ds to Montessori.
DD and me to play group, bit late as builders turned up no notice

Still to

Read all about what you guys are doing-done
Drink coffee
Finish rearranging Scotland trip.
Change dc beds
Finish putting away clothes
Change milk order
Tidy whole house

Tuesday is supposed to be water and fertilise your plants day. >

Welcome nicwnacw good luck with your superficial tidy, can you send me instructions on how to do it. I have stuff everywhere
whoknows reward charts do sound fab. I think I might even do that myself. We have one but it just takes so long to build up to a treat that dc look sight of it altogether. Hope it works well. Another iphone buddy thanks for words about school, the school I want him to get into only have 20 intake each year so it?s a long shot, but ill just wait and see I think. You never know.
toffee late night owl, how on earth do you still have energy im loving flyboy please can you send him here to encourage my dc?s
swan hope you found your large cardboard boxes. Aw about ds getting upset re football. Mhy ds gets so frustrated when he cant do something that he tends to give up. Not worked out how to make him stick at things yet. A civilised breakfast made by DH
cheerfulyank I think you are doing brill.
chb hope ds is feeling better and training went well
linzer I got my new iphone (after dunking my existing one in coffee) for £50 albeit on a contract, which might not be possible where you are I suppose . Almost ordered kitchen composter, but don?t like look of silver one and kitchen is black and s/s. hmmm ..
ellie Good luck with your list. of your easter holidays.
scatty hope ds does fab in concert. Definitely be proud stage mummy today
janeyjampot wow at dh noticing clean kitchen. I?m going to start putting a list up of everything ive done, maybe my dh will notice that!
darts at dh stripping beds. Whats going on here with dh?s

right better get on, time is marching. see you all tonight.

x-posted with toffee thanks for link, looks fab.

Hi all right my list so far:

1. start washing machine and get it dried/hung up - done
2. bedding day - got DD's covers in drier, and DS's duvet cover and pillow case in washing machine (his bottom sheet is white while his cover and pillow case is a dark red) otherwise rest of bedding is washed dried and re-made
3. sort out corner and move DD's toys to either her bedroom/bin/or put away for DC3 - done
4. help DH to build bookcase we bought today - done
5. Ironing my earlier washing load
6. put clothes in washer ready for Wednesday morning
7. wipe down kitchen and table in room - done
8. shine sink
9. If control journal not done tonight, to start tomorrow. - done last night

I have also made a trip to the local skip to dispose of 2 black bags and lots of cardboard we had from either side of settee or from the bookcase we bought.

Cant believe how much nicer my house looks now Ive done one corner of my front room

We too finish school on Friday. Am still going to be getting up to speed with my routines, but might not sort out much of the house as its much easier to get rid of the kids and do a bit before picking DD up at 12.

Anyway I'll be back later to catch up with people and to finish my list off

I'm determined not to give up on Flying for the day as soon as the DC arrive home (as I usually seem to end up doing), so need a list to keep me going.

Lunch done
Book airport hotel for christening in September done
Clear away lunch things
2 min hot spot
5 min room rescue
15 min decluttering started
DD1 to computer lesson
Homework (DD1 and DD2)
Piano practice (ditto)
Homework for dyslexia lesson (DD1)
Water and vitamins
e-mail friend re hotels

Nettie How much do you pay per month for your iPhone, if you don't mind me asking? I could get an iPhone for free but it would cost ?30 per month (min. 36 months) and I honestly don't know whether it's worth it but am hoping to be convinced.

Toffee Great link; thanks for posting it.

NicwNacw My Welsh isn't great either - too many years of living in England and then abroad. I love your name btw; it reminds me of the children's books I used to read (Wacyn Watcyn, Teitws Tatws, etc.).

Afternoon all.

Fun -I hope you enjoy learning how to use your iphone - I bought an iphone4 a couple of months ago and love it to bits.

Nettie hope you have good news about waiting list

Linzer - My DD spilt applejuice on my ipod last year andit wasn't under warranty anymore -I rang the tech support number on the apple website and sent it to them to fix - turned out that the just replace with a refurb one (Although i'm convinced it was brand new) - did cost my about £140 though so fixing it could be expensive -If your on a contract on your phone you can get some reasonable deals on iphone. I had to get an iphone not only cos I'd been coverting one for ages but because I hated carrying a phone and ipod around.

Busy day yesterday and didn't get time to post - my last ever lecture on my PGCE course, just in tomorrow for my exam and then for a few days in June - Yikes!!

Got home to find a letter from DDs school advising about easter bonnet parade today - Bonnets to be made at home please so the rest of my evening consisted of shopping for craft stuff and helping dd make a bonnet. Did manager a swish of the kitchen and also changing and washing the bedding.

This morning had problems with DD - didn't get out of bed until 8.30 - school starts at 8.40 and I had an appointment at 9am so DD had no breakfast. Luckily she is hot dinners today and gets a snack mid-morning but I'm hoping that she is better at getting up the rest of the week - She just would not get out of bed.

Have been to visit a school today for a prospective teaching job - hoped I would like it cos its close to me but I'm not sure.

Jobs

• Visit school -Done
• Pick up parcels - done one but royal mail seem to have misplaced another - and then tried to deliver a third whilst I was at the post office so back there tomorrow.
• weekly shop - Done
• Clean out fridge
• 2 x washing load
• cook tea - chilli as still no cooker
• swimming lesson this evening
• Clear paperwork mountain
• revise for exam tomorrow

Back later

Ds has been good, and antibiotics are kicking in really quickly which is brilliant. Hoping he is back at school tomo. training was frustrating but ok. sleep has taken priority this morning, ds played quietly whilst i napped. so almost feeling human. Hoping coffee will allow me to hit the to do list later.

Linzer - I pay 30 a month for18 month contract and get 500 mins calls, un-limited e-mails and internet. I am always on the internet at uni, on my lunch, dds ballet class etc. (I did upgrade an existing contract though so not sure how much a new contract is)

No time to read properly so:
Morning list-
Breakfast and coffee, done
Shower, done
Hair and makeup
Get DS' dressed (he has preschool today so I didn't have him sleep in his clothes :o)
Feed the dog
Swish and swipe
Throw in a load of laundry

I have 39 minutes. Eeeeek! Catch up with you later!

Sneaking back in to admit that I have so far failed impressively on the challenge
Spent the w/e either recovering from the mad Mother's Day craft-fest at school (over 200 kids during 5 lunch-times ) or doing 'stuff' - making blankets for dolls house with DD, trip to garden centre for ideas, enjoying chocolates in bed on Sunday morning and roast chicken dinner cooked by DH and DC.
Yesterday was taken up by the continuing saga of the bathroom for rental house and so far today I have been working.
Got just over an hour before I need to get to bank (work and school stuff) and pick up DC. In that time I need to:

• Get some lunch
• Finish morning routine
• 5 mins in living room
• 5 mins in kitchen in an attempt to re-discover worktops
• Straighten hair
• Listen to the wonderful Radcliffe and Maconie now they are on 6Music in the afternoon. I now NEED a DAB radio upstairs too.

Best get on - waves to everyone :)

That's interesting to know Makingchanges - the ?30 (about 26 pounds) per month doesn't sound like such a bad deal then, as it would include 4000 minutes of calls, 2000 texts (not that I'd need anything like that amount!) and unlimited Internet. It just seems like a lot to fork out every month, esp. as I don't need Internet access when I'm out and about all that often - although it would be useful.

However, in the meantime I've managed to switch my iPod back on; someone on another thread suggested I should try pressing both buttons for 10 seconds, and it worked! So I'm to have it back but that I no longer urgently need an iPhone. I def. haven't given up on the idea though, and have a "round birthday" (as they say here) coming up later on in the year so may have to drop a few hints to DH.

Back to my list - seem to be making slow progress atm (nothing to do with the fact that I've somehow found myself back on MN, of course ).

done
paths & petals x 2
3 bathrooms deepcleaned (well one is just a loo)
dw
worktops
swept floor
dates on calendar x 3
hall rescued
laundry hung out x 3
laundry washed x 3
handed in packed lunch
shopped for menu plan (sort of)

SCHOOL PLAY - another proud mummy here dd played a very cantankerous old lady to perfection
viewed cardboard city, and listened to Year 6s buskers lots of live music today that's for sure
N>B> Girls much better at building shelters than boys (who had all created little dog kennels for themselves, the girls had made communal pavilions!)

Feet I think you are flying but you don't know it.
Linzer I think that is my challenge to try and do more tidying IN FRONT of the children. I tend to get becalmed when they are around. Odd and counterproductive.

Right, before I take dd to singing lesson (moved from Monday this week) I will finish 5 mins of garden clearing. Exhausted, virtuous dcs are watching telly and munching through various snacks...

Ah yes, the pressing both buttons at once is what you do to the iPad when it freezes too. My iPhone is PAYG, so it cost a lot to start with but am only paying £10 a month for 250mins and unlimited Internet.

Just got back from marshalling a sponsored walk at the DCs school, all went well, there was some very competitive "walking" going on so have spent the afternoon bellowing "slow down" at them.

Nettie,

I came home today to find not only the beds stripped and re-made, but the hoovering had been done!!!!!!!

Good job, as now my arms are aching from the blood donating. Arms, yes - they tried to do the usual arm, but the needle went in wrong, caused a bruise, and they only got about a shot glass full out before it stopped. So, the asked if I would donate with the other arm. They didn't mention that I'd be on the bed for another 5 mins while they created a new set of paperwork . And, to cap it all, I'd had a quick cuppa before setting off, plus the large glass of water they now get you to drink while waiting, and I was lying there despreately needing to pee.

I broke my own donation record in a record time of 3 mins 10 seconds and shot to the loo before going back for a hot chocolate and some legitimate cake . I now have large plasters on both arms, but on the plus side, both dcs have been suitable nice.....so not all bad.

Evening all, have we all had a good day? I feel so puffed out right now and warm, but I'll survive.

1. start washing machine and get it dried/hung up - done
2. bedding day - done
3. sort out corner and move DD's toys to either her bedroom/bin/or put away for DC3 - done
4. help DH to build bookcase we bought yesterday - done
5. Ironing my earlier washing load - not done and should be doing it now, but really dont want to :( though feeling bad so will do a little bit after here
6. put clothes in washer ready for Wednesday morning - done
7. wipe down kitchen and table in room - done
8. shine sink - about to do
9. If control journal not done tonight, to start tomorrow. - done last night and just added a few more things in it.
10. Ive also realised that Ive been getting the kids uniform ready and hung up in the living room ready for the morning so that is another thing I can put on my daily list - done

I really cant wait to be able to invite people round, I feel as though I have been missing out on some good friends as I havent arranged any play dates at my house :( ATM its not too bad, but I still wouldnt feel comfortable.

Also DS's lump on his head has gone down and he's just got a massive bruise now.

Right tomorrows list:

1. start washing machine and get it dried/hung up
2. Ironing my earlier washing load
3. put clothes in washer ready for Thursday morning
4. wipe down kitchen and table in room - done
5. shine sink
6. Complete more control journal
7. get uniforms ready for school and hang up in living room (good job me or DH dont smoke so they wont smell)

Its not as long as its DH 30th birthday tomorrow so I am just going to do bare minimum.

Right off to find Ipod shuffle (so want an iphone now just for the app ) and get the iron out. I WILL feel better after Ive done it and wont feel as guilty I know I will.

I have not done no 4 on tomorrow's list, just forgot to take off the "done". I copied and paste it every day and just modernise it

enough said.

Today I have got the boys to nursery and toddlers, and back again, had lunch, done an afternoon's work, got tea, now getting dinner for me and DH. Did manage to do 15 mins in the kitchen too. :)

Tonight: put away washing
tidy dining room
bins out
clean downstairs loo ready for plumber - new hand basin yay!

Tomorrow:
Read book bag book
Strip beds, wash bedding, change beds, put away laundry
Swish & swipe x2
Clean bins
Shiny sink
Paperwork/filing
Hotspot on piano
Work!!

oh poor arms Darts

MC forgot to say you are nearly a teacher now! WOW.

done
cheesey potato gratin
supper in general
picked up and dropped from football and evening performance, mucho walking
dd singing
garden 15 mins more

ds1 now at home recovering from day outside, football and not being picked up on time from football(I thought he was walking himself home [grr]
dtwins and husband at Second Performance of school play
I thought I would relax now, but time is running out! They'll be back in a moment.

Quickly rushing off to have hot bath/shower.

okay

I admit
I only keeping on top of the grotty house

if I stay off of mn

so

hi
and bye again

Ive done the ironing, Ive done the ironing, Ive done the ironing

I know its only a small thing, but the fact that Ive actually done it when I really CBA just shows that my attitude is changing for the better. Not sure if attitude is the right word, but cant think of a better. A month ago I would have said I should do some ironing tonight, but I CBA I'll do it tomorrow (and we all know when tomorrow comes). We'll sort out the uniforms in the morning. This usually led to us rushing about in the morning looking for unironed uniform to give a quick once over. Now we are ready to go Such a big step for me.