Fledglings dreaming of a FLY Christmas - December's fledgling flyers thread

[BlueEyeshadow]

Welcome flyers one and all, old and new, to the December thread! As the advent calendars go up, let's beat the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and FLY through Christmas into the New Year (or have a go at it, anyway...)!

We take a three-pronged approach (and a large pinch of salt) to the FLYlady system:

-babysteps
-babysteps and 15 mins' decluttering
-babysteps and missions

The website is here: FlyLady - if you haven't had a look at it for a while it's worth a gander as the design and layout have changed for the better recently.

Whatever you do, though, don't sign up for the emails or your inbox will be bursting within seconds. Or so I'm led to believe... I will post the links to the babystep and mission for each day (the first ones to follow this evening) and there'll be plenty of chat, , and along the way.

A big thank you to Darkness for leading us through November with so much fun!

Hi all quick list!

DH has just gone to fetch ds2 from school as they've called and said he wasn't feeling well.

Get ds2 to finish writing Xmas cards
Write an extra card myself
Stick received cards up
Tidy kitchen
Dry all wet washing
Lunch and naps
School run
What's for dinner?
Call revd
Thorough Hoover of downstairs
Rubbish and recycling out

Yohoo! I'm back. Internet was down for several days.
Now I have belt and braces in form of HOME HUB and a NEW DONGLE. Much grinding of teeth in meantime Have to work out how to install home hub though...

Been at work this morning in school library.

Done
some xmas groceries already arrived
most of children's presents
presents for teachers
been to Eire for a weekend away without children. Did my mum's Xmas grocery shopping! A long way to go. A lovely shortlived break though Read three books. Left dh in charge. He was fine. Tis good for him to be in charge for a bit, it concentrates his mind somewhat on some of the ishoos.

Also done
dd's carol concert
Beavers'/Cubs' Xmas concert, and helping
Dd's ballet display
Now to do dtwins' play x 2 nights' running
ds1's Carol Concert at his school.

Will read up on thread properly. Courage (in a french accent) to OFM, Ellie and SC

bbl

aha! I think I've done it..(productive name change)

honestly it is like being back in a sweetshop to have access to the internet again - and time is slipping away just like it used to must do something useful.

Perhaps some piano practice for my last ever piano lesson

Hi all
TA DA!
Clean bathroom
declutter top of cupboard
declutter toy basket
FIND TOY I WAS GOING TO BUY AT FULL PRICE FOR 3.50 IN CHARITY SHOP (Yay)
Clean Kitchen
Make pizza dough for playdate

To Do
Ironing
Wrap presents

Ok I have to get off computer as dd2 is bugging me to watch Coldplay (I hate coldplay by the way it's all my husband's doing)
(Sorry if you are one of the vast majority who loves coldplay, I am in the minority after all!)

Bigeyes I was wondering if I was pregnant (pretty much impossible, I hope) last night as I kept on cleaning until midnight... but I think it's just the thought of Christmas coming up and I want the house to be all lovely.

all round

Hello, thanks for yesterday and allowing a guest flyer. i was sore by night time but pleased with how much i got done. Having day off today from house but been shopping n have swimming club with ds tonight x

pop back tomora x

Afternoon all

Not much done today as was up all night after eating yeast again I really do need to be extra careful. Have been to shops for a couple of family cards I forgot and then had a couple of hours sleep on the settee so am feeling a bit better. Have been to dd's school play and now I have an hour before brownies Christmas party.

I think I need to write a list to focus my head on what else needs done this week.

Mmmm

Welcome back, Swan. I did notice your absence, but assumed you were caught up in pre-Xmas events. Glad to hear you managed a weekend away and were able to help your mum out - and that your DH coped fine.

MC - up all night? Poor you.

Fuzzled - so sorry you are still suffering sleep-deprivation. I remember 4am awakenings. Apart from the horror of being dragged out of bed so early, it makes the day sooo long. Hope you manage to get to bed early tonight and catch up on sleep.

Waves to everyone else.

My short list (above) has been interrupted over and over again

Finish AM routine done
Have friend round for tea done
Do Christmas cards (still haven't started them!) not yet
Baking session (for school tea party tomorrow) first batch of cookies done
Misc phone calls and suchlike done

Interruptions included: phone calls; argument heated discussion with DH; dealing with both DC because they are both off sick, but are surprisingly lively and hungry ; lunch; battling with laundry monster (two loads done and some put away); taking DC to hairdressers; endless washing up because there are four people in this house who keep eating; etc. etc.

DS2 is sitting on my back (I'm kneeling on the floor, with the computer in front of me), which is getting increasingly uncomfortable, so I think I'll sign off and go and bake some more cookies and cupcakes. Then dinner, Xmas cards, before-bed routine and .

Well, I have had a poppy day. I started off well cos I cooked dinner first thing (great!) but then got distracted by reading DC2 a story and burnt it (grr.)
Never mind, I thought - I will not let such minor setbacks derail my flying! So when dc had post-lunch nap (would only eat cheese straws for lunch ) I made the SAME dinner AGAIN. Great! Then I was heating it up while I cooked the rice, and went to sort out an altercation between my offspring... AND BURNT IT AGAIN!!!!!!! So had to make wierd mixture of pasta sauce from freezer and tin of mixed beans as a sort of imprompteu chilli to go with the rice.

So I have spent most of my day cooking, washing up from cookimg, and scraping burnt pans. Rubbish.

And I have to go out and don't want to go. And although the house WAS relatively tidy and clean since dc1 came home from preschool it has descended into absolute screaming chaos.

BBL for personals...

poopy that should read

Bird soo frustrating burning things, v.impressed by your improvised chilli though. After school is often like that here Hope you can give yourself a pat on the back for getting through it all.
Toffee I find sitting on the floor an invitation for everyone to come and jump on me too!
Why do children create so much washing up? Perhaps we should revert to one tin plate each they have to wash themselves . I have a large stack of paper plates which I found lurking, and I INTEND to get through them this xmas. Dd is obsessed by nutella at the moment and keeps making her own sandwiches too.

A heavenly interlude whilst twins are at first showing of the school play (I'm going tomorrow) and ds1 is still at football. So peaceful...Ds1 will be back in a moment.
I've just been looking in his RE book at the work he has done in class. It is like reading something from EastEnders I hurriedly closed the book. They do this lovely thing called Peer Marking. One of his classmates had written "You must try harder with your homework"

Fuzzled hope tonight is better.

waves to everyone else.
done
cooked supper
started tapestry with dd
moved some washing from a to b

oh dear he's back!

Hope you are feeling better soon mc and fuzzled.
toffee I hope having both DC off wasn't too much hard work!
bird I know it wasn't supposed to be funny but burning the dinner twice made me , it's good to know I'm not the only one that has disaster days!

Oh, Bird, that made me too, sorry! I have had days like that, though, so you are not the only one. I hope going out cheers you up, even though you don't want to go.

Swan - I quite like the familiarity of DC climbing on me, but inevitably suffer bruising and sore muscles the next day. LOL at the comment in your DS's RE book.

Lauren - argh! You are already onto wrapping Christmas presents and I haven't even written a single card .

Well, since my last post I have been a cake-baker extraordinaire: two batches of chocolate cookies (I used the recipe you linked to, Ouch. Btw, I forgot to put the granulated sugar in - just put the moscavado sugar - and they are definitely sweet enough without it) and three of cupcakes. Still have half a bowl of cake batter to cook after I have put the DC to bed.

Dinner was a Menus4Mums one I'd done before (spaghetti with pancetta, egg and parmesan - except I used Cheddar ), which handily used up lots of ingredients in my store cupboards.

Unfortunately, DS2 is still rushing off to the loo urgently at regular intervals, which means no school for him tomorrow again. I've volunteered to help at an OAP Christmas tea party at DS1's school tomorrow afternoon (DS1 is going to be a waiter and his grandma is going to be one of the guests), so DH will have to look after DS2 - which means he won't be able to work in the afternoon. Honestly, I sometimes wonder how anyone does any work at all with children.

Anyway, DS2 has just put himself in his bath, so I'd better go now.

Evening 'to do' list:

Bedtime routines
Before-bed routine
Finish baking cupcakes
Decorate cupcakes
Christmas cards
Bed at decent hour

That's interesting. Might have to experiment with that recipie before making the present up oh the hardship

not done a lot, and would go to bed but waiting on the washing machine so ds has uniform for tomo. Sleep was good might feel human enough to do stuff tomo at this rate.

I'm back! One day I will keep up with this thread

Not many personals as there have been too many posts since last week, but just wanted to say Congratulations and good luck to Bird, I'm sure everything will be fine with DC3 :) Also hello to bigeyes :)
The other post that jumped out at me was Ellie's on storage... I really really believe that people with tidy houses just have great storage, hiding the clutter behind cupboard doors is the only way! Our house has been sooo much tidier since we got massive built in wardrobes installed in the bedroom and a large tv unit with tonnes of storage in the living room. DS's room is tiny, but can fit a bed (his is a wooden one with space underneath and we have several boxes on wheels under there with toys in), a bookcase and a bedside table. The room also has a small built in wardrobe/cupboard with a cupboard on the bottom and shelves on the top.

I am pretty proud of myself today :) Velcrobaby (AKA DD) has undergone a personaility transplant and is now allowing me to put her down to sleep in the evenings.. I don't know what to do with all this time to myself :o Also, both of my glorious children slept in until 8am this morning (I was up at 6.30am), so here is my Ta-Da list:
Whole of Morning routine
Whole of evening routine (apart from the teeth clean and going to bed bits)
Mission completed
10 mins decluttering
10 items of filing done (I have realised the only way to get through the 18 month old pile is to do 10 items per day until it is done)
1 Hotspot done
Home bleurgh
Basic control journal created - I will need to work on this and re-write lists to suit me etc, but it's a good start :)

In creating the control journal, I've realised that it's ok to change things a bit to suit me and that I don't have to follow flylady's exact routine. So I have added a few things to my daily tasks lists and have gone through the detailed cleaning lists deleting things which are not appropriate. Also realised that I have to do my home bleurgh over the whole week (one thing per day) as that works better for me. The other thing I have changed is that I don't get my clothes ready the night before (I don't find that part difficult and it wouldn't save me any time), but I am getting the kids clothes ready the night before as that does save me time, as I am very indecisive when choosing their clothes, especially DD's (all those cute outfits! ).
I have ordered a timer on ebay (£1 :o) as I think that will help keep me on track.

Am feeling really good :o Although decidedly knackered Hoping to get a good nights sleep tonight and wake up refreshed tomorrow to keep the momentum going :)

phew, that turned into an exhausting eve. Another supper required by everyone. Dd found a ballerina outfit that I had foolishly brought down from loft (where are all those Xmas cards? I thought I had loads from last year and was prancing around in that, then it turns out they have class parties tomorrow, so choosing outfits....ds1 suddenly decides to write Xmas cards to people he doesn't get on with (very sweet - except we only have 5 Xmas cards left)
no underpants for ds1 anywhere for tomorrow, cue frantic washing

But play was good, apparently, although Dh said it did not have "the professionalism he has come to expect" - lots of kids fluffing their lines. King Herod was brilliant though, and ds2 did not fluff his lines, what more can you ask? Dd's turn to say lines tomorrow.

Kate good luck with momentum, and thoughts on storage very welcome.

Evening all! I have survived today, despite a big scare this afternoon when the client got a day ahead of himself and was about to lop 24 hours off my deadline?

DS1 was a lovely innkeeper (obviously!) and the play went very well. Had to leave the toddlers party in the middle of pass the parcel though, cos DS2 got too wiggly and nearly knocked me out?

Let?s see what else has been going on:

ellie swooped through in a haze of Christmas parties, nativities and marking?

Toffee had DC off sick, tackled the laundry monster and baked cakes.

Fuzzled is still suffering from a non-sleeping DS. :(

StNicks had another ill child ? definitely that time of year?

Swan is back with a home hub and a new dongle? Glad the play went well.

Justone found a wonderful charity shop bargain and hates Coldplay. Personally, I just find them rather meh.

bigeyes was having a day off but went shopping and swimming.

MC was another with school plays and Christmas parties. Hope you have a better night tonight.

Bird was struggling with a recalcitrant dinner and fighting children. Hope the evening wasn?t as bad as you feared.

Lauren had a busy day and caused palpitations with talk of wrapping presents?

Ouch was waiting for the washing machine. Glad you?re feeling a bit better.

Kate no longer has a Velcro baby but does have a control journal and has ordered a timer ? sounds good!

Waves to everyone else.

Links:

Babystep: Read how to use a calendar.

Mission: Shiny toilets? and front hall hotspots.

Tomorrow would normally be my house bleugh day, but flat out with work so will have to see how it goes. Waves to all. Night!

Ha easy baby step for me as I have a stationary addiction...
Evening was fine, glad I went :0)
Right, a bit late but evening routine as friend coming for coffee tomorrow so will have to tidy up in the morning...

Hello everyone, I am still here, Flying a bit and failing to keep up with the thread

Christmas in full swing - tree up, DD's school concert and DS's school play and gymnastics Christmas show attended (she played guitar, he was in the 'choir' at school, a clown at gymnastics and won award for Hardest Working gymnast in his class :o), cards all signed but no letters written or cards sent yet, still ordering presents via ebay/Amazon, can't find paperwork re flights for next week, still need to do most of present I am making for DPs..................argh.

Today is 'shopping for school Christmas parties' and then putting 'Party-in-a-box together for each class plus wrapping up class presents if Amazon has delivered them.

I need at least another week but fly to DPs at stupid o'clock next Weds so 1 week and counting.........................double argh

Morning all!!

Just the usual morning list dump as on my phone AND it's DDs birthday today 1 today!where does the time go!

To do:
Playgroup this morning
Wash up/shine sink
Washing/drying *1
Bedroom hotspot
Little tea party tea for DD and mindees
Have family round later to see DD
Hoover -better do this now actually

Be back later

Flying on phone.

Seem to have managed yesterday's list. Definitely much easier to have an odd day without worrying about work during the day.
DS was up again in the night, but I just thought sod it and went up and slept with him. If thats the way it's got to be then so be it; at least I got sleep and so did he. He's happier and so am I and my hope is that one night it'll just click for him - possibly when the sides of the cot come off.

Today I need to:
WAH job
DW empty when finished
Bathmats
Clean ensuite properly (shower already done when I was in it )
Hoover UNDER my bed (not done for months )

That'll do me I think. I find shorter lists easier to deal with and then feel virtuous about doing the extras

Hopefully catch up with everyone tonight!

Morning all,

Didn't have a great day yesterday (mainly annoyances due to English lessons), but it's onwards and upwards today. I've just been out for coffee with DH as he has a meeting here in town this morning, so that's helped to cheer me up a bit.

Another short so hopefully manageable list:

Washing
Write more Christmas cards
Plan tomorrow's school English lessons (despite wondering why I bother)
15 min decluttering
Invoices

Quick list before school run

Finish laundry
Post airmail cards
Deliver local cards
Hv clinic
Make cards with mindee
Tidy kitchen
Pop to sainsbury's for thank you cards
Bins out
Dcs to school in party clothes
Sort nativity costumes

Morning all,

Good day yesterday, hoovered downstairs, cleaned both ovens and microwave and finally decluttered my tupperware box drawer (been on my to-do list since Septmeber. So I think my kitchen can face Christmas. Also lined up 3 Ocado orders to take me through to Christmas and managed a few more cards (got the DCs to wrap their presents for teachers too).

Work this morning, then DD's Nativity play this afternoon. I have come down with a streaming cold in the last 24 hours so don't feel much like any of it, but never mind, DH had it at the weekend, just hoping the DCs don't pick it up.

See you later

Thanks for the roundup Blue :)

Happy birthday to Lauren's DD :o No idea where the time is going, DS was 2 last friday and DD is 16 weeks already, when did that happen?!

Fuzzled - am in sympathy over the bad night, I am of the mindset that it's always easy when they're ready and there's no point battling stuff, just go with the flow... it has worked for me so far!

Hope everyone else is ok.

Sadly my momentum has being well and truely muffled by having a not wonderful night with DD and both children having been up since 6.30 :( Then just as DD settled for a nap, the plumbers arrived to fix the boiler so I couldn't get anything done then and she woke up just as they left
Haven't even had a chance to look at CJ yet, so can't note down a proper list yet...
Some bits I have done:
dishwasher on
washing machine on
everybody dressed and breakfasted
made one bed

Hope everyone has a good day, I'll hopefully be back later :)