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Housekeeping

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It's August - can the Fledglings keep FLYing with children underfoot?!

830 replies

BlueEyeshadow · 29/07/2011 14:32

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to August's edition of the Fledgling Flyers,
Meine Damen, Mesdames, Ladies! (although any Herren, Messieurs and Gentlemen would be very welcome too, I'm sure, and apologies for the show tunes now lodged in everyone's heads ...)

If you're trying to keep out of CHAOS over the summer holidays, with the dear children creating havoc all around, then pull up a chair, roll up your sleeves and join in the fun.

Fly Lady's website is here, but we don't recommend signing up for the emails unless you want an ironically cluttered inbox. I'll post the links to the information for every day this month and try to keep up with all the chat.

There are babysteps to get you started on forming a routine, and missions to do once each room is decluttered and, as the Fat Fairy says, it's amazing what you can do in fifteen minutes. We'll be starting August in the entrance, front porch and dining room, and sifting the sense from the cutesy language. :)

I notice from the archive that it's the thread's second birthday so I'm sure there'll be cake as well as plenty of Brew, Biscuit and Wine - virtual, so no calories - along the way. Finally, a big thank you to CHB and Swan for leading us heroically through a hectic July! Grin

OP posts:
Fuzzled · 17/08/2011 14:49

Is it Wine o'clock yet?!

Just had a massive issue putting DS down for his nap so I can get on with things. Normally he's out like a light or, if not, within about 10 minutes as he wriggles about with a bit of wind. A whole sodding hour just now. I know it's my fault - late nap yesterday afternoon and no real nap this morning, but even so. Think it's also because DH has been on holiday last week, so his nap routine (due to trips out and DH spoiling him with cuddles!) has gone right out the window. Sad Means a revisit of the PUPD/controlled crying with pats routine Confused I hate this!

But enough moaning.

My slightly condensed list today is:
CBA!

Been in at work and done a day's work in about 3 hours, the kitchen is tidy (ish) ditto the living room so I'm going to claim a rest day, and am going to be eatingchocolate while putting my feet up. Sunday is usually a tidying day for me as DH is off work so I'm allowed a day off again?!

May also dig out a mirror and tackle my eyebrow... no, not a typo, just bad personal grooming!

Happy FLYing...

OOOOH!!! and waves to Canistay - welcomes :)

SilveryMoon · 17/08/2011 14:53

Fuzzled It's gone midday so your def ok for a Wine Wink
Enjoy your quiet time

CHBitchy · 17/08/2011 14:55

Toffee meant to say earlier that my solution to the I'm bored whining is "If you are bored go tidy your bedroom" which envitably after me stating that it will be expected if he is going to whine about being bored means he doesn't dare complain about it.

Don't be too tough on yourselfs if you have a cba day. It happens. Life is like that.

Speaking of which the interesting combo of meds the doc has got me on for my ankle has wiped me so I am about to go back to bed and sleep some more. I hate feeling so dead all the time :( but I guess it means the sleep dep situation will have improved by the time ds gets back from his jollies.

Have lovely afternoons might be back later if I wake up in time.

Toffeefudgecake · 17/08/2011 15:10

CHB - well, I was thinking of having a rainy day box on standby to entertain DS for his bored moments (I used to have such things in my more organised one-child-only/childminder days), but you have made me think that maybe I should have a Flyboy kit: dusters, J-cloths, sprays, etc. Smile

DH is now looking after DS1 so I can go out - which means he's watching telly with him! There is a lot of growling and roaring going on, which DS1 is finding hilarious - I have no idea what they're watching, but never mind, I have better things to do...

...like shopping!

Fuzzled - have some Wine.

BlueEyeshadow · 17/08/2011 15:50

SC - have posted on your recipe thread. I can provide proper recipes rather than vague ideas if you want me to. :) I like puddings...

Just wanted to say - I've done the filing!! :) :) :) As you were.

Off to collect the boys now and my peace will be shattered...

OP posts:
Toffeefudgecake · 17/08/2011 18:18

Have spent a lovely time wandering round the shops, browsing. Bought one cheap vest top in a sale. Was rather put off buying in the next shop because I found a very large black spider on one of the cardigans on the railing. Thought it was a trick plastic spider at first (some sort of brooch? New fashion? Confused), then had another look. The shop assistant put it outside and it came to life as she shook the cardi' and cantered away on its huge black feet Shock.

Off to make a late dinner now. Gosh, it's humid here.

DH is pouring the vino Smile.

Stillchuckingit · 17/08/2011 19:00

Yikes at spider Toffee we get some whoppers here but you don't expect to find them out shopping ...

Thank you Blue!! (And Feetheart!) Have replied on other thread.

Got to go. Dh here and supper ready. Back later if poss!

Cheers Wine Fuzzled and Silvery

Hope ankle recovers soon CHB

SilveryMoon · 17/08/2011 19:22

OMG toffee I would have screamed so loud Blush
All jobs on my list have been done. God I'm getting good at this!
Dinner's in the oven. Dp's working til late tonight, so I am having stuffed jackets - yum yum.
Pouring the Wine now.
ladies

Toffeefudgecake · 17/08/2011 20:11

Where are you, Still?

Silvery - I think I might have screamed if I'd realised it was real. I was in a state of disbelief. It's the last thing you expect to find whilst browsing through the 'sale' rail.

Dinners done. DS2's pizza was over-cooked, but he came back to the kitchen to tell me how delicious it was! He's been less complimentary about meals I've spent hours preparing and cooking.

Was thinking of doing some missions tonight, but after sharing a bottle of wine with DH I am feeling decidedly less enthusiastic about that.

swanriver · 17/08/2011 20:22

Good day, lots of fresh air, lots of exercise, ending with tantrums from everyone! Oh dear... didn't stick to my no fun after five rule...serves me right.

An member of my old book club has invited me round to supper with another friend, so I'm out of here (most chores still undone) leaving dh in charge yet again. Stuffed Marrow for supper (one of my childhood favourites) tried out on him and ds1 was not a success. Yet it was delicious... I suppose Marrow is one of those veg that not many people like...

Ds2 is still loving the drama sessions. But I think it takes a lot out of him...he said today after mega tantrum, why is that I have a lovely time at drama, and then ds1 always says something mean to me [I think the answer is that ds1 doesn't say anything particularily mean, but ds2 is by that stage out of fuel Hmm

I'm loving rainy London, as you can do all sorts which when it is hotter feel unbearable...

swanriver · 17/08/2011 20:26

We were lookign in vain in the fridge for the foamy cream to put on our strawberry pancakes. It turned out that dd (thinking it a valuable substance and worthy of hoarding) had put it in her special cupboard after spraying it on a friend's strawberries in her room last week, supposing it to be like some edible shaving foam. There we were all hunting high and low for this wretched cream...oh dear...

Must abandon ship now..

swanriver · 17/08/2011 20:28

Toffee I have no fear of spiders at all, whereas beetles - yuck! I always think of spiders as clean helpful creatures.

elliepac · 17/08/2011 20:32

I neeeeed wine. DS knackered after sleepover so stroppy, dd just stroppy Grin.

We have had a lovely afternoon at my mum's followed by a nice family evening here playing in the garden, enjoying the lovely weathrr Smile.

swan can i be cheekyand ask what your recipe for stuffed marrow is. DS has been growing them at my mum's and he's brought home some whoppers and expects me to cook them all. Hmm.

I'm going to get wine.

elliepac · 17/08/2011 20:34

I'm not scared of spiders. DH poos his pants every time he sees one Grin.

Toffeefudgecake · 17/08/2011 20:35

Swan - I wish you lived nearer to me - I'd call on you next time I found an eight-legged beastie. I am truly phobic about them.

Re: stuffed marrow. We always had stuffed marrow stuffed with sausagemeat when I was a child. Absolutely delicious.

Toffeefudgecake · 17/08/2011 20:36

, I mean.

(Must preview messages first. Tsk tsk.)

NettieSpaghetti · 17/08/2011 20:46

Good evening all.

A tada list is all i have
got up, dressed,
dc up breakfasted, dressed, nurseried
DW on breakfast stuff cleaning up
Wm on
work (horrebdous day, how on earth can i possibly take on all mother in laws roles on top of mine in 2.5 days, and i right royally cocked it up too. Why am i doing figures? I cant count!!! aaarrrraaaggghhh) (phew much better thanks) Grin
pick dc up nursery
put away all ironed clothes
put td on and wm
emptied dishwasher
Laid out dc clothes

Still to check up on you guys
wrap present for ds friend party tomorrow after work tomorrow
flake with some more Ally (i will not stop till then i have reached)

I did the mission a little differently to save having to clean the full lenght mirror in bathroom. DD helped me out by pulling it off the wall and smashing into smitherines. Dah Dah mission done Grin

whoknows thanks for ds advise. I shall hold off too. He has played with one before but he doesnt really know what it is. I think some more educational games on the proper computer will be better
swan omg at locked out scenario. Hope today was better. This one has a lovely dolphin in bottom but hey ho, maybe next time we go to the zoo we can get her another one. good point on expensive games. Im convinced just need to convince dh. oooo but then ellie and sm came in and now im thinking again...Hmm what was Mr. Popper like, ds is desperate to see it?
pa i used to love school shoes shopping as it was one of the few times i would get something new that was just mine (i have 6 siblings)
blue if you need a break watch rastamouse. They all speak rastafarian, i cant understand much of it at all but ds loves it.
feetheart i want pop up pirate, its just like bukaroo isnt it? Sounds fab. ds has two scooters and a bike that i dont want to upgrade for a few years yet.
toffee my ds is exactly the same wants tv all the time but eventually manage to get him in garden and bouncing on his trampoline. We rarely make any cakes so if im really desperate i let him make cakes with me. If all else fails i abandon the house and take him out. If in doubt get out!! been my motto since he was born Grin
ellie well done i would have said sod it and do what you want Wink Laughing my head off at vision of your dh running away petticoats in hand from a giant spider Grin
makingchanges oh yes i love chalk drawing on the patio too. I started it when i was pg with dd and too tired to move. So i used to sit there and draw with ds. A caravan in Sherwood forest sound delightful. I dream of caravans in picturesque surroundings [nerd emotion]
canistaysane lovely to see you. pipe in whenever you can. we love it here. Grin
chb answer..i think you might be onto something there. Grin
fuzzled oh yes i remember the controlled crying and patting. (used to find myself patting a bit too hard sometimes Hmm)Hope he settles down again soon.

Right im off to chill.
Nite all Smile

missjulie · 17/08/2011 21:00

Hello all, am sorry have been awol for so long Blush
Hope everyone is aok? Anything major happened since i was around in May/June?!
House move etc all done, been ill, recovered now, been on holiday. DH about to go back offshore on Friday, so will prob be around online much more, and need help and motivation to get house unpacked (still!) and cleaned, organised etc, so thought i really needed to come back!
Catch you all soon.xx

Fuzzled · 17/08/2011 21:13

DH on laptop again - so no personals again. Angry as he's working and that I can't MNet properly Blush

Back again to report on my afternoon of CBA that turned into an afternoon of BA Sad

All windows washed on the inside Smile as the sun came out and I saw... well, didn't see actually as window was covered in little finger prints Blush

Still, one less job. Going to tackle the dining room properly (including the piano stool Confused) tomorrow as well as a supermarket trip and my usual job work.

Would be doing Wine but too tired to go find a bottle in the garage - which also needs FLYing!

Actually, can anyone recommend a free standing but sturdy set of garage shelves? Price about £20-30? TIA!

Nighty, night! (I'd say don't let the bed bugs bite, but we Fly so we don't have bugs Grin)

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 17/08/2011 21:57

Evening all,

MissJ - welcome back, good to hear from you.

SC - yes, there are lots of good things you can do on a DS, trouble is Mario Karts is what DS is completely addicted to on the Wii and he knows you can get it for the DS too. Have posted a recipe for you

Nettie - Pop Up Pirate is a lot easier that Buckaroo, but just as much fun, we haven't used ours for a while now, but definitely not going to be decluttering it.

Toffee - I'm under continual pressure to have the TV on too, I tend to let them more than usual in the holidays as it's the only way I get any MN housework done. DS is on a campaign to get one in his bedroom as he has just realised that some of his friends have one, have told him he can have one when he is 25 as that is how old I was. Funnily enough, when the electricity was off on Monday we had an hour to kill before going out, confined upstairs as the electrician had taken over downstairs and the DCs played beautifully, board games, make believe, just general fun. Might have to have the occasional "power cut" I think.

Ta-da list

DCs beds changed (no mean feat as they have about 200 teddies each on them)
2 lots of washing done and dried
Intermittent tidying
DCs to optician for checkup
Quick bit of shopping
Swimming with DCs, lovely as we met a friend and her DCs there who we don't see often, the DCs played together very nicely
Out to meet other friends at the park (ante-natal class, our DCs all ended up at different schools so we try and get them to meet up in the holidays once in a while)
Several litres of pasta sauce with lots of veg from school and home gardens in it cooked for the freezer

Dh turned up from work unexpectedly early (5pm) so I got him to feed and bath the DCs while I went for a run and did an hour's worth of ironing (not both at the same time)

To do list

Put away washing
Few bits of paperwork
Shower
Put pasta sauce in freezer

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 17/08/2011 22:23

On the subject of things to do with the DCs, I bought the latest copy of How It Works magazine yesterday, it has a whole section on scientific experiments you can do at home (though of you CHB, was it you who posted about using red cabbage to make universal indicator ages ago?). A lot of it looks messy but fun!

elliepac · 17/08/2011 22:36

nettie honestly it is hilarious. DH is a big butch construction worker who spends his days with lots of manly men yet put a spider in front of him and he screeches like a girl, runs out of the room and gets me in to sort it Grin.

toffee thanks for the Wine. i am drinking copious amounts as i post Grin.

missj lovely to see you!

Better go. Am up way past my bedtime and have a busy day tomorrow as we are up and out early for and a day trip to the National Railway Museum in York.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 17/08/2011 22:39

Ellie_ I used to share a flat with two big burly men, who would both run away screaming and get me to deal with spiders.

BlueEyeshadow · 17/08/2011 23:09

Hello again. What?s everyone been up to today?

There was lots of confusing discussion about DSs for our DSs (and DDs)?

ellie was debating between resting and FLYing but did both in true Fat Fairy style. Glad you had a good afternoon too. Enjoy the railway museum!

Fuzzled was taking DS to work and struggling with naps. A day off sounds well deserved.

feet was going to make brownies to test out her oven and head out for a picnic. Sounds lovely!

Toffee was feeling the benefits of bed at a decent hour but startled by a spider browsing the sale rail?

SC had a leisurely day but found the right sort of horses on a lunch box

MC was going swimming - hope you?re feeling better now

Canistaysane popped in to say hello. How nice of you to say such kind things!

CHB has been mostly asleep.

Silvery has been a flying ace again. Does number songs mean give numbers to songs or sing songs about numbers?

swan is loving rainy London ? enjoy your evening out! DS1 is always out of fuel at the end of activities so I always try to take a box of breadsticks and rice cakes with me to stave off the slump.

Nettie took the creative approach to cleaning the bathroom mirror and is flaking with Ally again.

missjulie was discovered hiding in the naughty corner bar. Welcome back!

WhoKnows changed the DC?s beds around the teddies ? very familiar! ? and had an unexpected chance for a run and some ironing ? would be extreme ironing if you combined them?

Hmm, my DH doesn?t do spiders either. Me, I don?t mind them but don?t expect me to stay in the same room with anything that flutters! A butterfly house is my idea of hell?

Anyway, here come the links:
Babystep: Read the eleven commandments. I just checked them out again ? mostly sensible!
Mission (when it updates): inventory the bathroom and tidy the desk. Incidentally, I looked up credenza and it seems to mean the hutchy bit on a computer desk. Who knew?!

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 17/08/2011 23:16

Thanks Blue - nice roundup, the thread is busy at the moment!