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

[BlueEyeshadow]

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 , and - virtual, so no calories - along the way. Finally, a big thank you to CHB and Swan for leading us heroically through a hectic July!

I'll join the list! Toffee I could have written your post in the early hours! DD also sleeps on an upper floor, it was stinking hot last night and she also refuses to keep windows open because of a fear of bees and insects!! Surprise, surprise, she woke me at 4am complaining of the heat. In the end, I put her to bed on the sofa downstairs ...

How lovely of your ds1 to look after your ds2 like that bless him.

On the positive side this morning, dh is away so we slept in late and I now am now tackling the washing, sewing and cooking with unusual gusto.

Agree about Fat Fairy book btw. If originally, her home resembled her writing style, then no wonder she needed to invent a systematic method to sort it all out!!

Dedalus I have a horse-related broken nose (still a bit wonky) a broken rib, a broken leg and two episodes of being knocked out to declare!! (Plus another broken leg and sprained ankle but they were stair related!!)

Linzer welcome back and good luck with your quick turnaround!! Apologies - I owe you a pm reply - have been travelling and hosting hordes of visitors!! Safe travelling tonight!

Whoknows I literally cannot walk down the aisle of any supermarket where there are scented candles or air freshners for fear of losing my lunch!! (Laura Ashley ones sound v. superior though!) Which is probably why our house probably smells faintly of old socks, dh's cheese and guinea pigs [winks] Enjoy your holiday! Rain on the caravan roof sounds romantic/lovely [sigh]

Feet and Messymammy sorry your other halves are not cooperating [grrrrr] I've just been clearing up the tornado trail blazed through the house by dh on his way to the airport ...

Waves to Fuzzled Noeyedear CHB Swan and everyone else!

Off for a bit of frisbee on the lawn ....

Forgot to wave to our esteemed leader Blue !!

Noeyedear well done on the sock drawer and thanks for the reminder! Only did them a couple of months back but they need sorting again ...

Yes, the language in FlyLady's book is very offputting, isn't it Toffee? I'd forgotten how corny it could be (God's breezes, purple puddles, etc.) The testimonials are incredibly annoying too; all those LOLs! And the one by the woman who had rediscovered romance thanks to FLYing just made me cringe.

Fuzzled I use the Home Routines app, which fits in well with FlyLady's system as it has zones, routines and a to-do list - I really like it and use it far more than my control journal now, but it's not free (it cost around $4 IIRC).

The packing is virtually done, but there's still lots of tidying up and laundry to be dealt with - I really want to return to a nice tidy house so must make a big effort to get it done this afternoon. The DC have a couple of friends here, which I hope will mean less squabbling and more time for me to get on with things - the three of them are driving me mad with their constant quarrelling atm.

Am now wheezing and sneezing, thanks to clearing up underneath the sofa in preparation for the carpet-cleaner man. But the good thing is that I found my timer again, just in time for my crisis clean today!

The other good thing is that we are eating pancakes with maple syrup. And that I don't have to feel guilty about not taking the boys out because it's pouring with rain.

Still - I didn't think of putting DS on the sofa, though he ended up putting himself there, but reading instead of sleeping. I am considering this for his loft window. DH also suggested we buy an air cooler, but I suspect the screen protector is cheaper!

Linzer - the testimonials are as bad as Flylady, aren't they? I cringe too. Good luck with your whirlwind of activity today.

Sorry SC, I didn't see your post when I posted before. Please don't worry about the PM as I know how busy you've been. Glad you were able to have a lie-in this morning; it sounds like you were in need of one after your interrupted night and all the rushing round you've been doing.

Toffee It's pouring with rain here too (and DH has taken the car today) so I don't feel too guilty about not taking the DC out, either - although it would be nice to be able to throw them out into the garden while I pack.

WhoKnows Hope the rain clears up soon. Your book is ready to go btw; will get DH to send it in the next few days (it might be just as quick to bring it back with me and post it in the UK, but I'm flying back with very limited luggage thanks to Ryanair's extortionate charges.)

I only came upstairs to photocopy some of the DDs' piano music to take back with us and somehow find myself back on MN. Must get on...

Am also back on MN, Linzer. My excuse is that the carpet cleaner man is here and there's not much else I can do until he goes. (Not strictly true. I could be tackling the bathroom, now I think of it.)

MN eats up time, though, doesn't it?

Two extra girls in the house; I've instructed them to all sort out dd's room
Pouring with rain, two mini-dramas already causing screaming mum-itis, dd took my carkey and waited in car, was not spotted by boys, so we thought she had gone to friend's house (we were on our way to cheapy 10am cinema of Rio with friend) ds1's cast nearly dissolved in rain,
THEN...ds1 ate all the popcorn because he didn't pass it down the line and no-one noticed till after the film finished!

Storms in tea cups indeed, but all the shouting and screaming this created has made in sore need of a cup of tea and a TIDY HOUSE. Losing my carkey is one of my worst faults so if she takes it I assume I've lost it .

The good news is that Ds2 is doing a project on Formula 1 (cutting out pics from magazines and stickign them in a scrap book and making his own comments) Ds1 is making a video of himself singing Lazy Day (which has the most inappropriate lyrics and the girls are happily squawking amongst themselves after our trip to Rio. Which Ds1 declared was just like Harry Potter (??????in what way dear? Because it has everything mum...Romance Danger Samba dancing

Done
cleared hall and dumped rubbish in kitchen to sort out (hall is so depressing can't bear it any longer)
washed several loads of clothes which are now piledd on landing
wiped table
about to sweep downstairs
took ds1 on long walk yesterday to keep exercise going
then had to go to bed extremely early as knackered from everything, stories, harmonising, fed up with dh-itis etc...

Feet had a row with dh yest about mess in front garden, and he moved all the branches away from front path, but that was it....And he watered everything very thoroughly, but otherwise no tidynig of garden AT ALL or interest therewith lawn is prairie.

Toffee how lovely of ds1 to deal with ds2, I think they are just waiting to be needed aren't they?
SC can never understand why we all stick it out in our steamy bedrooms, it might be fun to just camp downstairs in the hot weather - I seem to remember that's what the Moomins did, followed of course by blueberry pancakes. I remember my mum used to let me sleep on lawn in a tent in London because it was cooler. One of my tricks is to go to bed with wet hair, makes it much much cooler to sleep.

Anyway just steamy today rather than hot, as so rainy.

Dedalus I too have had no breaks due to never doing anything very adventurous, although I suppose I used to ride bikes all the time and climb things.

Whoknows and hello to you in caravan Would you recommend in camprison to tent? Just interested.

Afternoon. just sneaking a quick 10mins mning. Ds is back so it is all dealing with attitude (due to change over and spending time with is early teen cousin who ds considers to be god) and doing stuff with him. Unlikely to be back as still in need of an early night.

Ta da list
Up and breakfasts x2
beds made - ds did his and threatened to do mine whilst i was still in it this morning
Empty some more out of car
Car to garage
Pharmacey to collect meds
Ring tax credit people again
pay credit card bill
1 load washing
make roast veg with sausages for lunch -yummy
Pick the fight about table manners/I hate this food/knife and fork eating with ds - with partial sucess.
play monopoly deal
load dw and run
sort out temper about missing felt pens which were exactly where i told him they would be

To do:
pots
unload dw and reload
make cake
ironing
folding
clothes away
prep cottage pile for tomo
pick up car from garage
training for ds
tea
Tidy lounge
tidy hall
bedtime

but if i am honest i would really love a quick nap.

Sorry not to do personals but promised ds I would only be 10mins as we are going to watch cloudy with chance of meatballs whilst i iron.

CHB - don't worry about the lack of personals I don't do many as I tend to be using the app so I can't see the previous posts and have a brain like a sieve so I don't remember names!

Guests have now gone.
DS hopefully heading for a nap soon, so going to strip and remake the futon as a couch and bring bedding and towels down for a wash. Will then remake the duvet and pillows before putting into sucky storage bags so it's all ready to go for next visitors. Very proud I thought of this - cuts down on storage in the linen cupboard and means I don't have to hunt it out next time.

Then going to make galette batter for our dinner. Means we can use up majority of fridge contents before going away tomorrow.

Need to think about packing, but thinking about leaving it until tomorrow to let me get washing done and house tidy before going. Got tomorrow morning when DS naps so shouldn't be too difficult.

Carpet cleaner has been and gone, so front-room carpet is now looking clean again. However, it cost twice as much as I expected because I'd opted to only have the one room done (to save money!). Apparently, it's cheaper per room to have the whole house done at once. Grr. Bit late now. But at least I've now learned - following a conversation with the carpet-cleaning man - that even carpet cleaning won't get rid of the smell of wee on DS2's bedroom carpet, so we might as well buy him a new one (tiny bedroom, cheap offcut of carpet). So I suppose at least I didn't waste money forking out for that carpet to be cleaned.

Am itching to tackle the bathroom (how sad is that?), but DS2 wanted me to play with him, so I played Indiana Jones versus Star Wars Lego with him. Am hoping I've done my bit now, though I doubt it. Linzer - good idea to invite your DC's friends over so you can, hopefully, get stuff done in the house instead of having to entertain them.

Have to think about lunch now. I do get so frustrated by all these interruptions. When I'm in a cleaning mood, I want to make the most of it, as it will probably be gone by tomorrow!

Aha, internet is back after a brief wobble. DS1 was dragged to the CM kicking and screaming for his trip to the zoo. Got a text an hour later to say he was having a lovely time. I just hope they don't get too wet.

I have done shopping, laundry, a bit of decluttering, but no work.

This afternoon I need to finish the hoovering and DO SOME WORK!

Waves to all. BBL.

Crikey Linzer I do admire the fact that you have managed to fit in a play-date (excuse horrible expression) in the one day you have between returning and leaving again!! Although thinking about it, it's probably quite a good combination: having to be at home and round and about in the rooms fetching things etc and so able to keep an eye on the dc from a distance while they play ...might try it next week!! (DD having a sleepover!!) Have a great trip!

Swan I probably should put dd straight to bed on sofa tonight but, very selfishly, I can't quite sacrifice my pre-bed trash-tv of choice "Project Runway" We get it about 5 years later than it is shown in US!! I'm addicted (although wish they would show more of the actual sewing and less of the emotional upheavals!! All delightfully camp however) I like yr strategy of giving the girls your dd's room to sort! Hope it works!!

Toffee exactly the same as you .. when I get the (rare) urge to clean ... I want to be able to do it there and then!! And thank you for Lakeland link, will investigate!

Good luck with your respective lists Fuzzled and CHB and with getting your work done Blue

Feeling fairly chipper here. Scorching sunshine. On my fourth load of washing - all drying beautifully on terrace.

Multi-tasked at lunch and prepped veggies for lamb casserole tonight. (Meant to be veggie night on Thursdays but all at sea because of holidays/visitors.)

On my second batch of fruit and nut loaves (made some to send through post but they were rather moorish so making more for ourselves!) Bit hot to have the oven on but trashing the kitchen before cleaner comes tomorrow!

Well, DS2 did have a good hour and a half's nap, but in that time I managed to clean the kitchen! How on earth can you clean a whole house in an hour? When I'm cleaning, I always feel terrible because DS1 is just plonked in front of the telly while I clean for what seems like hours! Does it get quicker? It's ok when he's at pre school but i feel really neglectful in the holidays- even though he'd rather watch Cbeebies than do all the crafty stuff I force encouage him to do! Managed to clean all of downstairs now though

noeyedear it does get quicker! My house is proof of this!

I blitzed my bedroom last month (before I found this thread) and now cleaning it is a doodle. Not a massive in-depth move all the furniture clean; but dust, hoover main areas, change bedding etc I can do in about 20 minutes. Toiletries all get put into a basket and then it's lift one thing and swipe. Basket can then be hoovered as it's wicker so hoover sucks the dust through.

This then gives me 10 spare minutes while DS finished watching Show Me Show Me to have a coffee and MNet tidy my hotspots.

Hello all. Big waves to everyone as, like whoknows post while listening to rain on a caravan roof . swan the big difference with a caravan is that it is raining yet we are dry, the toilet is next door and the dc's are whiling a rainy afternoon away watching dvd's .

Having a lovely holiday so far. Started off badly when dd had a monstrous tantrum in the local Morrisons which involved kicking, biting and screaming.... Good job we don't live here .

Hope everyone is ok. . Better go and wake dh from his afternoon nap... Yes you read that right....dh .

Still - gosh, you have been productive! I wish I could say the same.

Noeyedear - I think Flylady expects us to do a very 'rough and ready' clean of the house in an hour, ie hoover in the middle of the floors, not the edges. I find it almost impossible to do in an hour too.

It does get easier when they are older (mine are 5 and 11), but depends on their moods. My 5 year old has been very demanding today, with the result that I still haven't cleaned the bathroom. That's all I've been trying to do since about 11am! Eventually, I gave in and let them go on the computer together. I could see that I wasn't going to get anything done otherwise. And this was in spite of getting the Playmobil pyramid out of our loft and assembling it for DS2 (he then played with it for about 10 minutes - even though he'd told me how much he wanted it!) and giving DS1 a new story CD to listen to (he didn't like it).

Fuzzled - well done on the bedrooom blitz .

Toffee have you tried sprinkling the carpet with bicarb soda, Leave it over night then hoover up? Sometimes works.

In our house, the computer causes further scenes so not much chance of getting anything done with it on..
No, playdates seem to be only solution, visitors have considerably improved the mood of the children, and at least if nothing's tidy there is now a reason!

DD's room has reverted back to primal chaos, visitors have done sewing, self organised treasure hunt, Wii (trouble about that alas)visit to park with three for scooter and biking. Ds1 has been problem today as he keeps bursting into tears of rage about everything. Now saying he is starving.

Done
run in bare feet round running track in park (recommend bare feet for instant foot massage)
sandwiches for six
Rio (cheap tickets)
exercise for three children
swept front path
swept hall
started making piles of laundry on landing
successfully removed ds2 from tantrum situation
sewing with visiting child
arranged fracture appt for tomorrow, after much non-communication between gp and hospital

SC programme sounds v.interesting never heard of it!
Blue and toffee feel your pain with frustration of children not quite understanding principle of benign neglect

Toffee I forgot to mention I found (Thunderbirds)Tracy(e?) Island in a charity shop, complete and perfect a few weeks ago! From 70's I presume, Ds2 has spent hours playing with it since then, the plastic is v.superior He has never really shown much interest in Playmobil alas. I long for him to play with things like Pyramid or Romans, but he just isn't that keen, prefers books about them for some reason.

now I am determined to unload dw and reload - feeling slightly more motivated, though supper prep is now looming, Tesco tomato sauce and pasta I fear. Not delicious lamb casserole [boo hoo] Will add aubergines to dh pasta sauce.

Ellie [breathes in sea spray and imagines cosy caravan lamplight]

Finally, finally have got to the bathroom. It is nearly done.

Swan - you are right about computers - the computer play didn't distract them for long because they fell out over it. However, DS2 eventually came down and started playing in his room. I have promised to make cakes with him "for pudding" if he lets me finish the bathroom first.

at the Tracey Island model. We had one for DS1, but it fell apart (modern plastic, clearly).

CHB - will try that tip. Thanks.

Linzer I love the home routines app just downloaded it £1.99 in the UK and whoever wrote it has definitely based it on flylady. I have never managed to get to grips with the control journal I am not good with paper at all! But electronics I can do.

Whoknows and Ellie hope you are both having a lovely time
Linzer hope you quick turn around goes smoothly and you enjoy you next trip.

ds is another one who has been demanding. And quite frankly clingy. Tbh i think that is probably as a result of 1. 10 days with his dad and 2. Him being ill. it is starting to drive me mad as i am not keen on hugs. But also means loads has been left undone.

To do:
pots
unload dw and reload
make cake
ironing done whilst watching dvd with ds
folding done
clothes away
prep cottage pie for tomo
pick up car from garage done
training for ds too poorly to go
tea done
Tidy lounge
tidy hall
bedtime about to do