Back to Fly school for September Fledglings

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Welcome to the September 2011 Fledgling Flying thread! Hang up your microfibre cloths and park your buckets here!!

[Sorry - I've namechanged again - but remain SC]

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation along the way. (More info available here )

Humungous thanks to our previous thread leader Blue for navigating us all through the August school holidays...and for doing it so consistently and well!!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. Some of us (SC stares at feet) -are even embarrassingly stuck at decluttering stage after two years

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

All newcomers welcome!

Just popping in at lunch time to see how you are all getting on:

Course you can join thereisalight. Welcome! "Decluttering like you have never decluttered before" is something I am hoping to achieve in Sept too (while there is still a bit of light and the cellars/roof isn't too cold) so I'll be with you in spirit! Respect for Flying with 4 dc!!

Madwoman here any good?

Poor you Toffee! Hopefully, you'll feel a lot better come the actual day with all the hustle and bustle of the morning etc etc x

I'm also guilty of staying up late labelling. Gearing myself up for annual text book covering marathon (usually over 20). Promising myself I must not start it at 9pm on Sunday evening!!

Have a lovely morning with your friend Silvery

Messy lovely day for a walk here too

That's the theory Haunted ! You could resort to this although I'm sure your dc's friends won't notice!!

Good luck at the hospital Swan! Hope the cast comes off OK.

I have had a very, very tortuous morning at work. Desperately trying not to eat biscuits to relieve the tedium.

Be back much later tonight!

Madwoman - you have to scroll down - sorry

SC - do we have to cover our children's textbooks? Do I have this to come as well as the labelling ritual?

MC - sorry you had a horrid day yesterday. Hope today is better. My son also wanted everything red. I found a red PE bag at easy2name. I chose their starter pack, which included it, but you can buy it separately. Don't think you'll get it by Monday though.

Have been putting stuff away in DS1's bedroom, whilst he and his friend 'bond' over shooting games on the computer . Have hung all his washed school shirts up, which are meant to be non-iron but still look a bit crumpled to me, so might have to iron them later. Just doing lunch, then taking DS2 over to his friend's house to play. Then it's time for DS1 to do his practise walk to school, followed by fun swimming (inflatables will be out and slide open) at the leisure centre.

Welcome, thereisalight.

Good luck at the hospital, Swan.

Timer has just gone off, so pizza's ready! Waves to everyone else!

Well I forgot that DD wanted to take her library books back to get her certificate and medal for the summer reading scheme, so we had to re-arrange the morning. She managed to get them and you would think she'd won an olympic medal or something. Shes so easy to please.

Managed to get a red pe bag too. Unfortunately red is the 'school' colour so no choice. I got the last one in the entire shopping centre according to the man in the shop. It doesn't surprise me cos I couldn't find one for love or money yesterday.

Also decided to add sorting out the shoe mountain to my list since it has errupted yet again all over the floor. Think i'm going to have a rule that the only shoes allowed in there are going to be the every day ones. I just don't know yet where the others are going to go.

Toffee leisure centre sounds fun and SC step away from the biccies.

Right lunch over, back to it

Hmm

completed list:
Get up done
Banking - will do half of it tomo
Order new glasses - will do tomo
Pick up some wool and new knitting needles - will do tomo
Trip out with mother done
Pick up a wall planner calander (Need to see all months as life is getting uber complicated and serious advance planning is now needed ). - will do tomo.
Meeting
Late Training
Finish making the first of the christmas presents for this year. almost finished second
Start getting organised. starting to formulate the plan but it is complicated and I need 3 week rotational calander for activities and organisation of stuff. My brain hurts but it is getting there.
Laundry one load done first thing
Sleep a touch this morning and just about to take a nap

The what to get people for christmas list is being formulated and I think I know what people are getting. Now it is a case of manic sorting out of the bits that need to be made but as it is just Sept I hopefully will get it sorted.

Hmmm - babysteps indeed.

Sink: Sigh - managed to badly burn my thumb last night BEFORE even washing up, never mind shining the sink, so that didn't happen, but today I have soldiered on through the pain and washed up everything from 2 days bar one pan. Just have to do putting away and shining and that will make me feel purposeful again? Surely!

Non-fly list:
~ Laundry - 2 loads done yesterday, one today and now the putting away and then that can be crossed off my list.
~ About to go and vacuum then mop the kitchen floor.
~ Still need to vacuum whole upstairs.
~ Also clear floorspace in spare room so parents can come and stay (discovered this need THIS morning - but late notice there...)
~ AND book a holiday - either Bude or Axminster in mid Sept - which one with a toddler and baby?
~ Oh darn and I'll need to shop for extra food. Sigh.

I'd better stop loitering near iPlayer...

Why do I forget all the things I HAVE done? Like walking to the library, buying tiles, getting ds2 vaccinated, collecting tiles, updating diary, organising in-law visits... They are good things right? Just don't look as sparkly as a shiny sink...

Hi all,
joining in very late today. I'm in Scotland where the children went back a couple of weeks ago so not really having to think about that kind of thing
The Tesco jerseys turned up today, but they are going to be too small so are going straight back. There wasn't much choice in size left.
Out all morning and now have DS and his friend playing at death/murder/kill.

Done so far
washing up
laundry in
hang out washing
s&s bathroom
S&S kitchen
lunch
started dinner
tried to fix carpet shampooer, but it is doomed!
Shiny sink
got dressed
joined Flylady big tent thingy

Still to do
put on new load of washing
tumble some clothes
put away clothes
take DS's friend home
Force DS to do a bit of homework
Spray horrible smelly rug with Oust (it's a sisal mat with a stinky latex back)

Just resting my stumps for two minutes after school run with a cup of tea (and no biccies MC I promise) while dd watches children's telly for 30 mins. It is a gloriously sunny day here (now we are back at school - harrumph) so we are going to eat supper on the terrace or have it picnic-style on the garden tonight.

Don't worry Toffee you may not have to! Think it may be more of a continental thing. Over here it's done with non-sticky, thick, transparent vinyl paper without actuallly attaching any sellotape to book. Took me a while to get the hang of it (you sort of have to form an envelope). It's an annual ordeal although I think I may have got off lightly this weekend: only 14 text and work books delivered home to be ready for Monday!! Although no doubt there will be more this week. You sound very organised with regards to all the school prep. Enjoy your last few days of "freedom"!

Glad you found the bag MCand good luck with the shoe mountain

Ouch you are getting me worried with regard to Xmas. You are incredibly organised!! I had intended to make one Christmas present per week during the holidays [cue SC laughing maniacally] but um, failed to finish even one. Did make a couple of aprons and a drawstring bag but have already given those away ... . Really, really must get cracking though as each one always takes longer than anticipated. Thanks for the kick up the bum!

Definitely Gentleness all those things listed in your second post are just as valid (if not more so) than sink scrubbing. And laundry and floor mopping definitely count as Flying in my book!! Ouch re thumb!

Hi RowingBoat had realised Scottish kinder have been back at school for a fortnight. Er, did you really join the Big Tent ?? You may be inundated with e-mails .... I was going to warn against when it comes up in tomorrow's step. Too late I fear!! But you can always unsubscribe if it gets too much.

Did the practise walk to school with DS and his friend. I trailed behind them for most of the way, then they disappeared . Turned out they had gone to a shop to look at the 'rude things' (jelly boobs and penises!). They finally reappeared 15 minutes later. DS is all confident about the walk on Monday now and says he's looking forward to school! I never thought I'd hear him say those words.

Letting go is very odd. I have spent years keeping him safe and now I have to trust him to keep himself safe.

TA-DA
Shower and dress
Swish and swipe
Boys to dress
Sort dry clothes
Put clean clothes away
Iron??
What's for dinner?
Pack lunch for today
Collect prescription
Baby-step
Tidy away
Tesco
Cook dinner
Clean kitchen

Nesbit
Write packed lunch plan for ds1
Mission

Oh well.
Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow is my weekly home blessing day hour.

Toffee sorry, x-posted. That must be tough. Can't imagine a day when I'll be able/be forced to leave ds's to it.
I'm sure it'll go absolutely fine.

Toffee - that must be a huge relief after the last few months, but tough at the same time. I am starting to let mine have more independence now, for example letting them go off out of sight with their friends at the park but my heart is still in my mouth, can't imagine how letting them go to big school will feel.

Back later, DCs are still up and need to get them to bed. We went to the pub for dinner and sat in the garden, probably won't get many more nice warm evenings this year, one of DD's best friends was there and they all had a jolly old time playing together, but they are hyper now.

Good evening. Hope you all had a great day.

A landmark day here today. Ds last day at nursery, 4.5 years on and hes not my baby anymore. Very teary and thats just me

He picked an apple of the tree earlier and gave me two daisys as good luck presents for me looking after his sister on my own whilst he is at school. so weet.

toffee aw so cool practising walking to school. you are being very brave. (im trying to get my crying done at night so as not to be jibbering wreck Tuesday)

Done lots of work, picked dc up, had playdate to distract ds from the fact that that really was his last day at nursery. Bathed bed, helped dmil to sort out her ibooks for her holiday. She has just had her treatment dates through and think it threw her a bit she was very stressed. Starts day after she get back from holiday with pre chemo chat followed by chemo two days later. (if you know what i mean).

Im sorry ive done a huge skim tonight. Ds has only just gone off to sleep and ive still to tidy up dinner mess, was supposed to be having a bath but feeling bit lacklustre.

Anyway to perk me up and give me focus

Gonna take dc to beach and petting zoo after secured plimsoles that fit for ds proving impossible task.
then tidy find some dejunking to do im sure.

Im off to cuddle up with harry potter! Night all.

Hello September Fledglings!

So DD's birthday went very well! Offically no longer a baby :(

We got up and opened her pressies which she was fab at opening (with a little help from her brothers) and had a play. This afternoon we went out for a lovely family lunch at Frankie and Benny's and then to the clinic to get her birthday weigh in- 24lb 10oz.

Evening time and nannies, grandad, uncle, auntie came round to bestow more gifts on the birthday girl- this was less successful as she was getting tired and is a clingy mummys girl at the best of times.

Absolutely no flying done today and probably minimal tomorow as we have around 35 people coming for a birthday bbq for her. We have a tiny house so praying on good weather to keep everyone out in the garden.

Tomorrows list

Tidy downstairs
Hoover and dust
Clean bathroom
Prep 'my' foods (DH is meat, i'm everything else)
Shower and dress
Bath DC's and make them look gorgeous
Mop kitchen floor (waste of time as garden door is there but hey ho)

And i think thats it- except to ask,

Does anyone have any tips for holding a large BBQ at home to ensure it all goes smoothly? Much appreciated for any tips you may have.

waves to everyone Sorry i will be a much better FLYer from Tuesday Sunday when everything is back to normal!

Evening all. Today has been tiring, but we all survived! This morning I just felt like I couldn't cope with the boys at all - always demanding, underfoot, hungry... Boisterous visiting boys this afternoon much easier in comparison as we were in crowd control mode rather than trying to do anything!

Still, Ta-da!
Washing done, dry and yesterday's put away
Builder all arranged for next Friday
Friends over to play and nothing broken at the end of it
Reasonably nutritious tea for boys
Made lettuce soup - doesn't look fantastic, but tastes OK
Cooked yummy grown up dinner - stuffed courgettes with loads of
Clean kitchen and sink (in 4 weeks time will have new, shineable sink...!)

Nesbit
Tidy desk. Hey ho, it's not that bad...
School uniform labelling - got another week because of staggered start dates for reception.

Tomorrow FIL and step-MIL are coming over so a little hotspot putting out in the morning and then entertaining. May try to organise a blackberrying party if DH and FIL get involved in complicated DIYing as often happens.

Hope the BBQ goes well NickNacks. No tips really, but forecast reasonably promising I think.

Toffee it's good to hear your DS looking forward to school.

Waves to all. Good night.

Evening. Absolutely shattered. Boiling hot day and didn't really stop until just now. So much to do this w/e I don't know where to start!

All of you lovely fledglings have been extremely productive. Lots of important landmark events taking place too - first birthday, first day at secondary school, last day at nursery. The bitter-sweet bits of parenting ...

Baby-step no 3 for Saturday 3rd September is here which is basically do step 1 & 2 over again (ie consolidate) but don?t set foot in the Big Tent or you?ll be inundated with e-mails (sorry RowingBoat!)

No zones or missions because it?s the weekend. But next week?s zone will be the kitchen for those of you who want to get a head start.

Oh and I?ve just spotted that September is apparently the month when we are all supposed to be working on our before bed routine here (scroll down where the Fat Fairy helpfully reminds us to get undressed before getting in the bath! (I always wondered where I was going wrong).

Reminder for newcomers. In Fat Fairy land:
Friday: is "Date Night"
Saturday: is "Family Fun Day"
Sunday: is "Renew Your Spirit Day"

Make of that what you will!

*

Ok so a quick round-up might be in order I think:

Blue has resorted to crowd control
Nicknacks has been celebrating! Happy Birthday to your dd!!
CNettle has been receiving treasured presents and trying not to cry. Your ds sounds lovely!!
Whoknows has been enjoying the warm weather
Silvery has been wearing flip-flops, getting ahead with missions and generally been extremely productive
Toffee has been letting go and giving her boys self-confidence [sniff again] [Think sweet shops may er, have changed a little since I lived in UK ] Brilliant to hear your ds is looking forward to school!!
Rowingboat has [cue music of doom] entered the Big Tent!!! Don't worry - we'll send in a search party
Gentleness has done lots and lots of GOOD things (with the exception of burning her thumb - ouch)!!
Ouch has not only mentioned the 'C' word [shock/horror emoticon] she has finished making her first present!!!
MC has been tackling a shoe mountain and communing with her new hoover
Thereisalight has joined the thread! Welcome!!
Messy has swapped ciggies for fresh air! Way to go!
Haunted has been hosting small friends
Swan has been visiting out-patients (hope it went well), searching for her phone (hope you found it) and attending a barbecue (hope weather held)!!!
Whyistherum has been achieving things before 7am!
Madwoman has done lots of admin and (as usual) has been keeping all the organisational balls in theair!
SC has been buying yet more school stationery [double harrumph] and grey school socks. Her work was even less interesting.

Huge waves to everyone else or anyone I've inadvertently missed!
Here's hoping the warm weather will continue over the weekend ...
G'night everyone

Hi guys,
today hasnt been very productive at all,so will not bother with my tiny ta da list and huge nesbit list. Shall just slump in the corner at the bar i think.

Am tucked up in bed with new moon and loads of goodies to distract me from cigarettes.blah.

Had a big chat with dd about her friends dads death and think it really got me.ill be grand (and flying better ) tomorrow
x

Thanks SC lovely roundup.

Tada!

Morning routine-done
General tidying/decluttering/hotspotting-quite a bit done
Clear out DD's wardrobe - huge bin bag liberated
Check DD's old school uniform, PE kit, winter coat for fit - done, DS to do tomorrow
Take DCs out to meet friends at park and picnic-done
Go to library to complete summer reading challenge -done
Go to a different park-done
Post parcel-done
Pub for evening meal-done
Washing -put away
1st few pages of control journal drafted -ta da! Only 18 months since I started babysteps
Early night -oops!
Detailed cleaning -oops!

SC - thanks for the round-up - must take you ages. The naughty sweets were from a novelty-gift shop, not a sweet shop. DS asked me if he could have £4 to buy the boob-shaped jelly beans. Er - no. Maybe he's growing up faster than I thought .

WhoKnows - well done on your TaDa list . I have lost my control journal , but I did find it very useful when I was starting out and would quite like to find it and update it.

Messy - that sounds like a very upsetting conversation, but it's good that your DD was able to talk with you about it. Hope a good night's sleep restores your spirits.

Managed to get the boys to bed at decent hours, although I did have to confiscate DS1's new mobile from him half an hour later (playing a game on it under the covers, tsk tsk). Am now sorting out the kitchen as DS1's dyslexia tutor is coming at 9 tomorrow morning. At least that will get us all up and ready. And then MIL is coming to lunch, so will have to sort stuff out for that too.

Night night Fledglings.

Just read further back in the thread....

Silvery and WhoKnows - thanks for your kind words about DS1.

Coostoonettle - your DS is so sweet. What a lovely, kind thing to do. You should keep those daisies (press them in a book) and write down what happened as a keepsake.

Nicknacks - glad the party went well. It's a mixed blessing saying goodbye to the baby years, isn't it? Babies are so gorgeous and cuddly, but such bloody hard work too!

Blue - well done at coping with boisterous boys. Hope the entertaining goes well tomorrow (meant to be good weather again if that helps).

Gentleness - you were on this thread ages ago, weren't you? I remember your nice name. I see you have been busy having another baby - no wonder you went AWOL for a bit!

Kitchen still not finished. CBA, but really mustn't leave it till tomorrow or I shall regret it.

Anyone up to administer a kick up my backside?

Managed to galvanise myself into action with the thought of what DS's tutor would think of us if he saw the kitchen in its messy state (he teaches DS in a room that leads into the kitchen, so he can see it clearly).

Off to bed now at a not-quite-decent hour.

Evening.

Thanks for the roundup.

night.

Good Morning

Just found my dsis liking the fatfairy on Facebook so have been waxing lyrical! hee her

Dh just got dc up for breakfast! Im wide awake and should have done it but it was his turn and I'm preserving my energy for when he is away next week and I have to do it and my first week of school runs interspersed with nursery and running business

My list for today

Test smoke alarms
Getupdressedshoes
Shine sink (more like a buff as it's black)
Make bed
S/s
Take dc to town to hopefully once and for all find plimsoles that fit!
Take dc to petting zoo as a treat and to make the most of my ds before school starts
Home to chill
Wm/dw
Hoover my bedroom
Tidy bookshelves in living room (ransacked last night trying to find dd baby bracelett that used to be mil can't find it!

I think that all folks

whoknows all I manage on control journal in same amount of time is printing stuff off.
Although I do have a Christmas journal....think i might see if I can find that! Be time to get started soon.

Hope you all have lovely Saturday's