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!

Well, it stopped raining around lunchtime, by which time we had ditched out of the treasure trail, so we went to Newport for lunch and to see Horrod Henry at the cinema, we all enjoyed it.

I downloaded the home routines app ages ago but have never used it, tried to set it up once or twice but just find it a bit too rigid, ssme for the control journal, apart from the daily jobs I just dom't want to commit to regular slots for things, i would much rather just do things when they need doing. And when I have time, my week seems to vary so much in terms of jow much time I am at home that I can't make weekly routines work.

Have got home after a full day, and am too tired to start flying now.

Done
Morning routine
Get DS up (didn't sleep properly last night so very resistant to getting up this morning
Get over to DM's by 8.10 am to collect her and dog
Everyone to vets
Dash into Co-op
Take DM and dog home, leave DS there for the day
Dash home
Change into work clothes
S/s
Make beds
Quilting course
Go to work - left there at 7pm
Collect DS from DM's
Come home (DH was home from work before me, and came out when he heard to car to enquire what we would be having for tea?!)
Cook tea
Tea
Evening routine
Washing out of machine and onto airer

To Do
Sit and have a cup of tea for the first time today
Watch Torchwood
Possibly play with quilt block
Nothing else as I'm too tired to even look at my list!

Did pretty much nothing today as got last minute tickets to see peter pan with dd1.Was really great, but al that singing and clapping has worn me out :) ifI even manage to do my bedtime routine I'll be doing well!
ta da list:
So anyway, my lists for today are:
grocery shopping
put on wash
empty washing machine
empty dishwasher

to do tomorrow:
sort out dry washing, fold and actually put away!
hoover bathrooms
tidy kitchen table
hotspots x3 (microwave, mantle piece, corner of kitchen)
call dr for dd1's vaccinations

omg Cobweb that was a tiring day. Hope without dog/vet bit, work will be less overwhelming. Time for the slowcooker perhaps? I have an Aga so never invested in one, but the Aga slow bit cooks a bit too fast to put things in first thing and find ready at teatime

Well, today has been a bit overwhelming too, despite it being a HOLIDAY Ds1 (who is fed up with his broken arm) has been exhausting to deal with; had a terrible row with him, and then twins started fighting too after tea (poor things not suprising really, all this stress By the time DH came home I was ready to march out of the house, which I duly did, when dd started complaining about how she hadn't had any popcorn in the cinema [SPOILT [mutter mutter mutter] and ds1 started crying again, in the most exasperating way...

A trip to corner shop (anything to get away!!!) revived my spirits and grim determination to cook those wretched aubergines
Tomorrow can only be worse as we have to spend whole morning hanging around the fracture clinic, and NO-ONE seems to be around to park the twins with

however, I've tidied kitchen after nice aubergine pasta, and put some newspapers in the recycling, and left sink shiny, so that will have to do for now...

Got my work done in the end today, although rather by my mum ringing in the middle of the afternoon ? she kept saying ?are you working?? and then carrying on chatting regardless of me saying ?yes? or even ?I?m trying to!?

So, what?s everyone else been doing?

feet was harrumphing last night and then Toffee, WhoKnows and Linzer were up far too early!

Toffee?s house apparently smells like a whore?s boudoir but her DSs were taking good care of each other and letting her get a little more sleep. She also had window and carpet cleaners in.
WhoKnows was walking in the rain and having fun on holiday.
Linzer was unpacking and repacking? Bon voyage, or should I say Gute Reise?!
DDPW listed her broken bones and was going to IKEA ? hopefully unrelated!
Fuzzled was also up too early and packing. Like the basket-hoovering idea too.
mm had wild kids, an optimistic list and no dishwasher fairy, and was worn out by Peter Pan.
SC was yet another flyer woken at an uncivilised hour by an overheated child. She cooked with gusto, though.
swan had extra girls, storms in teacups and a Rio/Harry Potter mash-up.
CHB popped in while multitasking and looking after a poorly DS. Hope you get a better night tonight.
noeyedear wondered if the house bleugh can be done in an hour ? depends how thorough you are! You could always break the time up as a lot of Cbeebies programmes fit the Fat Fairy?s 15 min slots fairly well.
ellie waved from another rainy caravan before waking her napping DH. It must be a posher caravan than in my childhood if it has a DVD player!
pink has an app and can do electronics. :)
cobwebs had a busy day and was watching Torchwood.

Let?s hope all the early risers are worn out enough to sleep in tomorrow ? part of DS1?s trouble about the zoo was being exhausted from adventures with grandparents, I?m sure.

Now for tomorrow?s links:
Babystep: Write down what you hear ? a bit about this one!
Mission (when it updates): Dusting ceilings, lights and window sills.

Night all.

More for swan! I'm glad you revived enough to cook nice aubergine pasta, anyway.

Managed to get more uninterrupted sleep last night, although DS2 still managed to wake me at 5am (for a drink of water from the glass on his bedside table, FFS!). After that, I couldn't get back to sleep. However, at least I get a little bit of MN time to myself. Can't do any jobs around the place because it'll wake DS up.

I have to finish my crisis clean in the house this morning and try to fit in a trip to the library with the boys. Then mum comes at lunchtime. She is staying for the weekend so that DH and I can go away tonight to celebrate our wedding anniversary (so Friday really is date night for us today - fits in nicely with my Flylady routines !). Both children are in a right state over us being away, even though they love their granny. I have had to promise to ring them . We are actually only just round the corner, staying in a smart hotel, so not far at all, but I would like just one night off kid-duty.

GGGGAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

Ooh, that's better!
Sorry ladies. It's just one of those days!
DS was screaming at 4am (after needing resettled at 11am & 1.30am. Came into bed with us. I doze off again with him, hubby then decides not to wake me at usual time so I can shower and dress before he leaves. This then knackers my plans to have the towel wash on at 7am and done before we leave. I'm furious, but a bit as he did say he did it as he didn't want me to be too stressed with the packing. Men! And my printer is out of ink so I can't print off my packing checklist so having to do it solo... sure I'll forget something, but it's not like we're in the middle of nowhere!
Anyway, rant over!

Today is packing and tidying day. DS has already been packed, barring his last sleep bag which is in the machine now. I've looked out his food - bowls will go in after they've been washed up from lunch.
I've looked out my clothes and toiletries for me and DH.
So, DH needs to look out and pack his clobber.
Then we need to pack the car.

Hopefully DS will have a longish nap this am so that I can amalgamate everything and check it, but I can't see it. He always seems to know when I need him sleeping - and duly stay awake for all the morning

Right, onwards and upwards! CBA!

I like your 'DS has already been packed' statement, Fuzzled . Maybe that's the answer to your problems. I hope your day improves anyway!

Have had quite a good morning so far (sorry, Fuzzled). DS2 has been busy playing with his pyramid, so I have been busy getting ready for mum's arrival: mirrors wiped (she always notices fingerprints and DS2 had been kissing his reflection (narcissism!) yesterday so had left kiss prints all over it); shelves wiped; a stack of old videos packed away to go to the dump; bits of clutter cleared from the sitting-room shelves (remembering 'you can't clean clutter'); washing on. Just about to get myself dressed, then quickish crisis clean in the kitchen and dining room.

I'd just like to join Fuzzled in an aaaarrrgggghhh!!!

morning guys :)
hope everyone is well.
Felt a bit guilty about doing nothing yesterday so before bed I flew around the kitchen/sitting room and even got to hoover (well half before dd1 came to tell me dd2 was awake!)

Today I have yesterdays stuff to catch up on too sooooo....

sort out dry washing, fold and actually put away!
hoover bathrooms
tidy kitchen table
hotspots x3 (microwave, mantle piece, corner of kitchen)
call dr for dd1's vaccinations

I also have:
to empty dishwasher
hang up clean wet washing
put flowers in the bin
empty bathroom bin
make dinner (meat out of freezer since last night)
call T to thank for tickets to peter pan

Late morning here, as I was up for a good chunk of the night with DS, who didn't feel well - coughing and wheezing, eventually settled after Ventolin, cough mixture and Calpol, but then of course I spent the rest of the night dozing and listening.

So, we're just finishing a bacon and egg brunch

To do today
Finish morning routine
Meat from freezer
Wash up
Clean washing away
RR living room
RR kitchen
Vacuum through house
Zone cleaning
Zone mission
WI paperwork
Lunch
Cook tea
Go out somewhere with DS if its not raining
Tea
Evening routine
Clean out handbag
Pet stuff
Hope everyone sleeps tonight

Swan I use the Aga for slow cooking, but thought that leaving something for 10 hours + was pushing it a bit. My quilting course has stopped over August, and the dog is down to monthly visits, so I won't have to fit in quite as much for the next few weeks.

Next week I start working 2 1/2 days per week, so everyone will be adjusting to new routines here. DS is going to my mum's 1 day per week, and is staying at home with DH, as he works from home 2 days/week.

ihate i could have written that first para.

ds was poorly last night. burning up, mucusy and wheezy. he crawled into my bed around 2am and crawl out again on notifying me not to roll over as he had wet the bed yep thanks for that ds. He promptly crawled back into his own bed and went back to sleep. he was good though and has let me have a bit of a lie in between the interruptions for hugs every 10mins I feel like death and predict a slow day with non existance flying and little activity. ds is having an almost naked day. I cba with going out.

to do list:
find sleeping bag for the sleeping bag down stairs thing promised for ds
get up
cook tea
endless games of monopoly deal
wash my bedding
early night.

Back from fracture clinic not so bad, they all behaved quite well despite lots of different to-ing and fro-ing
Then we came back on the bus, went to bed shop to look at recliner chairs and bunk beds,
then another bus ride to WHSMITH where we loaded ourselves down with Jacqueline Wilson and trashy novels for dss, bumped into serene friend with four children
and have collapsed at home.

Now just have to make sense of holiday plans, as next appt cuts into middle of holiday but it will mean him having a shorter cast so may be worth hanging on for.

Booked some more playdates for next week for dd
loaded some more songs onto ipod

Still need to tidy house. Blah. Will attempt again in small doses. After cup of tea.

Toffee what a great escape! Still have not managed to get a single night away from children with DH for 12 years. Sister keeps promising, I think it is our fault for not making it happen.

Sons still fighting though, the only time they have a civil word for each other is whilst discussing football teams. Just about surviving on the Wii at the moment, I must make the most of it.

And ds1 seems to have lost weight, as he now weighs the same WITH a cast as he did at beginning of hols without one, so that is good news. Seeing nurse to discuss on Monday now.

Marking spot.....

Thats all my brain can cope with at the moment. Will return when I have recovered a little more.

I now need a holiday to recover from my holiday!!

I have done no flying whatsoever today.
Dd's friend has just turned up and all four children are playing in garden. I have spent forever trying to work out holiday flights etc, but no closer to solution, then I surfed conservatory extensions but no nearer to solution on that one, then I surfed caravans on coast..., then sailing courses. Nope, no nearer decisions on any matter.

More pasta cooking.

Fuzzled hope you got away
Positive hope you enjoying a milder clime, and familiar sea breeze
Toffee thank you for your PM and Positive too.

Hi all, Well, I managed to hoover the house , but then 5 minutes later, there were crumbs all over the place! Typical!! But DH managed to do a load of shredding, so that counts as decluttering ( I did some too!!) Burnt dinner yesterday , which was meant to last yesterday and today. Unburnt bits only lasted yesterday, so it's takeaway today and hopefully a large glass of !
Are the babysteps a bit surreal or is it me? I'm finding it quite good, because there are days when I can just ignore the weirder babysteps!

ds has not been doing very well today. Neither has my arm as a result

Cake made
sleeping bag down stairs races
monopoly deal

boys make bad patients.

Swan - hope you have a better day tomo

Hello all - quiet on here today! It was a day of accumulated minor frustrations in the Blue household, but a minor miracle at teatime when DS1 tried onions, and declared them yummy!

Anyway, what else has been going on?

Toffee had a better night but another early morning. She's been crisis cleaning pending arrival of mother and preparing for a weekend away - Happy anniversary, and have a lovely time. :)

Fuzzled was also having one of those mornings, and had packed up her DS!

messymammy was flying high.

Cobwebs had a bad night but a bacon and egg brunch. I hope the new work routines fall into place.

CHB also had a bad night and then raced sleeping bags down the stairs...

swan was fighting holiday plans but had good news re DS1.

PA needs another holiday!

noeyedear was battling crumbs and finding the babysteps surreal. Yes, there are plenty of ignorable ones... Tomorrow's is a good'un though.

No mission tomorrow as it's the weekend - Family Fun Day in Fat Fairyland.
Babystep: Hotspots - this is a key to the whole system so worth a read. :)

Have a good weekend everyone.

Thanks for the hug CHB it has done me good, and I can now confess that
today has been quite satisfactory

Children played nicely in the end, and went to bed nicely
I sorted out the washing piles
tidied kitchen
fed children
went round to friend for sparkling wine (with two children on scooters [smile)
managed to produce supper for dh (another delicious tesco ready meal
wipe down kitchen
drank my first alcoholic drink for many weeks a G & T which Dh mixed for me
booked babysitter for a night out on Sunday
arranged to stay in London and make most of London fun for another two weeks

well done CHB on cake, and all those monopoly games

Blue I love onions, very good for purifying the blood too! And warding off all sorts of chest ailments. Ds1 likes them raw and fried. The others pick them out with horror.

Hi all,
had a minor huge meltdown over the state of dd1's bedroom, so went in and decluttered 2 big black sacks of old broken toys, wasted markers, old magazines etc. There was no 15 minute limit to me, I was not stopping until it was done :o
I also packed up her dressing table and toy kitchen, she can take them out if she wants, but they are just collecting dust sitting out.
Then I gave the room a proper deep clean, and even cleaned the windows :o

I feel great now, I had been meaning to go through it for ages. Have loads for the bin, so wil bring them down tomorrow (communal bin in underground car park, and dp on night shift, otherwise I would do it now!) Also have loads for the charity shops. Talked to dp about bringing the bags and he agreed to drive one day next week when he is off.

Since I got so much done today, I have come to the conclusion that no matter how much washing I do a day, CHAOS cannot be overcome until the back log is cleared, so will get dp to drive me to laundrette one day next week too. At least that way, everything will be clean, and then I can do more decluttering on that stuff!

It's very early for me to be in bed, but I'm done in after crawling under the bed to retreve old books and blocks!

Glad to hear you evening got better swan

Tomorrow I have more games of monopoly deal and children's dvd watching planned. flying is on hold whilst ds is home, especially whilst he is poorly. Kinda nice as he is cuddly atm and he had declared himself too be too old for cuddles a while back so they are a rarety.