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!

just for you whoknows!

I'll add my name to the sick list. Come out in a bloody cold and sore throat. Have tried to get as much as i can done today because I'm worried I'll feel worse tomorrow and won't get anythin done. Still a heck of a lot to do though!

De-cobweb downstairs done
De-cobweb upstairs done
Put screws back in bath panel done
Declutter under kitchen sink done
Mop kitchen floor thoroughly
Wipe out fridge done
Clean oven done
Deep clean bathroom
Food shop done
Fix branches on tree done
Fill charity bag done
Clean bannister done
Lay out xmas day clothes
Clean laundry away
Tidy boys room
Put wreath back up on the door (windy times) done
Net lights up
Hoover stairs
Dustbins out done
Finish wrapping presents done
Check xmas pud fits in slow cooker done
Make trifle done
Ice the christmas cake
Declutter dining room to make space for bigger table done
Get xmas food out of all their hiding places done
Prep veg
Clean beds for all
Change light bulbs done
Deliver local presents done
Hoover upstairs
Hoover downstairs done
Dust downstairs done
Wash glassware done
Bleach WM

Creeping off to the sofa to watch the soaps and hopefully have a nap. DD is in bed and I've put a DVD on for the boys in the bedroom.

Good evening everyone. all round!

Ooh, well done PA .

Update: sleep deprived, stressed, have lost all sense of humour. Bought a tree that turned out to look like a shapeless shrub and DH doesn't understand why that matters to me. First two sets of lights didn't bloody work. Hadn't got any proper wire to make a wreath (anyone know what one should use to stick the foliage to the underneath bit?).

Xmas should be every other year. I've gone right off it.

Got to put DS2 to bed, then crisis clean the house. Have a mountain of ironing and laundry.

Sorry for the grumbles. I probably just need a good night's sleep.

Evening all.

Ta da:-
Kitchen finished/cleaned
House maintained

The big challenge is keeping kitchen clear as it is now. I have NO clutter in there whatsoever, nothing on worksurfaces bar kettle, toaster and breadbin . i give it a week!

Sorry for lack of personals as am on phone but big welcoming wave to trinity. Hope all poorly people feeling better soon.

Tomorrow i am mainly washing. Toodle pip!

Oh Toffee . This time last year I felt exactly the same, I had to stop myself putting something on FB about how much I hated Christmas because everyone else on there seemed to be having such a smugtastic time and crowing about it. Take it easy, the ironing can wait, just do anything you need for the next few days, have an early night and hopefully it will all seem better in the morning.

I used garden wire to make my wreath (about 10 years ago, bits keep falling off it everytime I close the front door now), I reall ought to do a new one to go with the new front door but CBA.

NickNacks - here, have some of my strepsils, hope it clears up quickly.

SC - same for you, I had the teeth chattering thing on Friday night even though I was tucked up in a 10 tog duvet.

Ice - same snetiment, not sure if Strepsils are actually what you need but glad paracetamol is working

Flying - glad the heating got sorted

Swan - "I wonder where there is not a surface anywhere that is not covered to overflowing with assorted random objects..." - you've been to my house then. Nature truly abhors a vacuum here, no sooner is a surface cleared than a little pile of coins, receipts, random small plastic items appears on it.

Blue - thank you for leading the thread so well this month, you are brave to take it on at such a busy time.

Thanks Whoknows snuggled up with a cup of tea and a mug of Beechams.

Just watching Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder on Channel 4 and suddenly feeling great about the house. Poor man.

very quick FLY past as I am neeeeed of sleep!
nicknacks hope cold is better soon
toffee I love the idea of only having Christmas every other year! Seriously though do make sure you get some rest. Christmas tree buying can be stressful (remind me to tell you the story of the year I got yelled abuse at by passing stranger whilst in the middle of Christmas tree purchase choosing/ negotiations!) Hope you feel brighter in the morninng.
pa helloooo Hope sick bug passes quickly. It is a nightmare when it strikes through them all isnt it? I remember one especially fun night where 4 dds were taking it in turns to throw up every 1/2 hour all night whilst dh and I were also coming down with it....grim!

well, last day at work today. Was hoping for calm quiet day but it turned into a bit of a nightmare! Still, at least I'm done now till after Christmas hoorah!
Have to hit the shops tomorrow for last few bits and pieces. Am hoping it wont be too horrendous...then must assess state of the house and rescua as needed!
BBtomorrow

Ta da!
Strip beds & wash sheets
Defrost casserole steak
Boys to CM
Bank
Lush - grr forgot lids!
Try and find replacement present for step-MIL (got something at least!)
Sainsburys
Garden centre
Wrap DH's presents
Sort presents by which house they need to go to...
Hoover
Dust
Laundry away
Get casserole on
Wash DH's cycling stuff
Check packing list
DH to get suitcases from loft
Start packing??

Didn't manage the hotspots, and will do the beds in a moment, but have done everything else as well as ironing, various phone calls and getting the boys to make birthday cards for my mum...

The cold seems to be regrouping, but at least I can sit down once we finally get into the car tomorrow!! Back in a bit with round-up/links...

OK, so what?s everyone else been doing?

ChitChat had a busy day yesterday and was out today. Hope it all goes/went well.

Flying was having boiler troubles ? glad you got it sorted out.

Swan had a CBA morning and locals and distants in her nightie? She also had glitter on the stairs and an attack of surface-itis. We suffer from that too! Glad you had a good day.

TrinityRhino declared her intention of joining us soon - the more the merrier!

WhoKnows has made a cushion and some chilli jelly.

SC waved feebly from the sofa. Poor you, that?s no fun. I prescribe more hot toddy!

Ice wasn?t feeling well either but was able to do stuff thanks to the wonders of paracetamol.

PA has all her family together . Sorry to hear about the bug though.

StNicks is also under the weather. She?s definitely making progress with that list all the same!

Toffee was feeling tired and stressed. ((Hugs)) Hope you feel better in the morning.

Ellie has a clean, finished, clutter-free kitchen! Congratulations!!

OFM has finished work for Christmas. Sorry it was a tough day.

**
Links:
Babystep, which seems just to be a plug for the Fat Fairy?s Control Journal that you can buy?

Mission: Make up the bed.
*

We?re off on our travels tomorrow, though I?ll try to pop back in and wish everyone a happy Christmas nearer the time?

Thanks for taking on the rest of the thread!

Night all.

Toffee my wreath is a mixture of polystyrene circle that dd painted green and a pound shop offering. I still need to add real foliage. Is it OASIS you mean? the foam stuff when flower arranging?
I have not done the ironing. There is a ginormous pile in front room.
Our Xmas tree leans strangely.
StNick I think you must have done everything! Don't worry about mopping floor. Hope sore throat better soon
Blue enjoy the holidays!
OFM I remember that Xmas you mentioned - did you knit lovely sock monkeys for all as well as doing so much else? And I remember Ruby's bracing response about what children deserve etc. Lst year I had to drag a Xmas tree back 2 miles on foot (?)from some place called the Xmas Forest, and dd blackmailed me into buying one which was too large and heavy. Dh was away (or maybe he was just at work and the car boot ws stuck. It was a via dolorosa I shall never forget - I don't know quite what possessed me Hence this year's slightly more CBA approach

done
dd had a lovely afternoon with her friends; they did a play with an avenging angel which they invented - only marred by ds2 getting very upset that he wasn't in it (well they gave him the part of turning the lights on and off)
ds2 and dh then went to football match at 8pm, which was great success
read chapter about Hengist and Horsa [Anglo Saxons]to ds1 from Our Island Story (wonder if it is all rubbish) still it hit the spot in that he listened
read story to dd who was in a sulk again
had brief argument with Dh about Xmas present opening times
refined plans for Xmas menus

o posted responses to more people but it has vanished. sorry.

Have a lovely trip Blue and thank you for looking after us this month!!!!!

I am still up. Still awake (paracetamol and coffee) and trying very hard to get a christmas present made. CBA and it isn't doing quite what i want it to do. However, another occupant of the house has just had a nosey and says I am being a bit perfectionist about it and it looks lovely so going to try to focus and just finished the bloody thing. Hopefully won't take too long as feel like death. Still have 2 other presents to finish too. and I have lost one. Bugger. Ah well as it was a stocking filler it is not a major problem and will turn up eventually.

Right must go drink my coffee and get back to work.

Toffee The one time I tried to make my own Advent wreath (a total disaster), I vaguely remember wrapping the foliage round the underneath bit - not sure if your foliage would be "wrappable" though. There are get-togethers here where everyone makes their own wreath, but I've decided it's far less effort to buy a ?7 one from Lidl (which looks much better than anything I could ever make, in any case).

Blue Have a good trip and thanks for leading us!

We're off later today as well, as soon as DH is home from work (hopefully mid-afternoon). We're driving to Munich today as our flight is at 9 am tomorrow, and it would have meant leaving here in the middle of the night otherwise (plus snow is always a factor to be taken into consideration at this time of year). The DDs are going to have to miss the last day of school tomorrow, but I decided it was worth it if it means we can get back to the UK for Christmas. At least the fact that they're still at school (and DS at kindergarten) today means I can get all the last-minute preparations done in peace and without too much stress, I hope.

Morning all! DD doesn't appear to appreciate the concept of holiday so is up at 6am regardless .

Today is an organising day plus lots of washing. The house is actually the most organised it has ever been before Christmas ( a combination of flying, cleaner and finishing work in plenty of time). It is not perfect and it never will be but everything is relative so to speak so I am quite pleased. It is a home not a show home.

To do list:-

washing
ironing
putting away
write list for food shop/menu plan
routines
vacuum
cinema this afternoon with Mum and DC's
Toys r us this evening to get lego (the one thing DS has asked for and the one thing he hasn't got)

Linzer and Blue have safe and happy trips and a particular thank you to blue for leading us so well this month.

justonemore i have not sent a single Christmas card. They are sat under the xmas tree waiting to be written where in all honesty they will probably stay. Don't know why I even bother buying them tbh .

toffee hope you are feeling a bit more positive this moring. Fwiw I have decided that I am going to sort the washing into essential and non essential so all stuff like workwear/uniform can wait until after Christmas and shall be placed in a washing basket in our room.

Better get on. Have a good day everyone.

Hi all
I just had to post something because I'm feeling so sorry for myself. DD2 still regularly wakes up in the night, when she doesn't dd1 will wake up in the earliest hours of the morning.... I just cannot take it anymore!!! WAaaaaah Had such a bad night last night and there is no escaping this, another day with the children and trying to get things done ahead of me... wa wa waaaaah!
'More Ribena' says dd2, so off I go!
Sorry, just had to whinge somewhere.

Good morning!

Oh my goodness, you are all poorly!! Hope you have all had a great nights sleep and have woken feeling better and able to face the day with Christmas gusto!!

I am very impressed that no-one has been sick here overnight. YAY!! Perhaps, just perhaps we have all finished!
OFM - Sick bugs are the worst with loads of littlies, arent they? We used to live in a 4 storey house and once I had them on 3 different floors trying to keep them apart to stop it spreading, but then they simultaneously all vomited. I just did not know where to turn.

Not even going to pretend to be thinking about doing loads of housework today. I am too busy doing Christmas preparations today. I plan on doing my maun food shopping today and start some wrapping.

mahhoooooooosive waves to everyone. A little confused with some festive names, not sure if you are newbies or oldies being festive, so waves to you all.

Morning! Im joining the poorly gang today! Just a list dump I'm on my phone! I'll be back later to catch up

Clean out both rabbit hutches
Finish wrapping last of presents, rewrap the ones DD and mindee attacked from Under tree
Deep clean kitchen
All of this weeks bedroom missions
Dust DD room
Put DD laundry away
Dog to vets
Deep clean bathroom

Better get dressed I can hear DD waking up! BBL with personals

I am on one this morning .

Ta da:-
Washing up
Downstairs tidied
Washing x 1 done
Drier on
Food shop list written

Am about to hit the ironing with some of pa's Christmas gusto

Back later!

Justonemore Come and whinge!! Its knackering, isnt it and you probably think it will last forever, but it won't!! (hugs)) for this morning and take a deep breath. Can you have a little sit down during the day and enjoy some tv time without feeling guilty.

Feeling a bit more hopeful today - thanks for all nice, positive thoughts sent my way everyone. Didn't have proper sleep (DS1 ill with stomach ache, then DS2 coughing again), but had some, so am feeling a bit more human.

Ellie- essential and non-essential washing - yes, I'm doing that, but there seems to be an awful lot of 'essentials' and I don't know where to hide the huge pile of non-essentials! I'm inspired by your clutter-free kitchen and aiming to do the same myself later today.

Linzer - I wish I'd gone for a £7 Lidl wreath now, although my wreath does look lovely. But it will fall apart if anyone closes the front door too hard .

Justone - I'm so sorry you are having a rough time. It's so hard to get anything done with small children. A friend of mine with three children, the youngest still in nappies and currently with D&V, said she hasn't even thought about Xmas yet as she's just getting through each day, coping with nappy changes and DC's demands. No magic solution, I'm afraid (apart from help from other people, if available) except not to expect too much from yourself.

PA hope the sick bug is all gone by Xmas Day. Am laughing at the thought of DC being sick on four floors, though it can't have been at all funny at the time!

Lauren - you are looking very organised!

justone I hear you. no sleep. too tired to finish project last night. couldn't relax enough to sleep. Ended up doing some serious thinking and life sorting. Result is i am happier but incredibly grumpy

pa lovely to have you back.

Ellie you trying for the flying gold star today?

Right list:
find the piece of batting i couldn't find last night
Quilt project
Machine attach edging (once edging strip made and miles ironed)
Finish sorting the bathroom
Ring dentist!
Landing
Sort ds' kit
Ds to training
Keep smiling and try not to be too emotionally overtired.

life is good, it is so much better then it was 6 months ago, 3months ago even. It will get better still.

Btw I fucking love you guys. Thanks for kicking my ass and helping me declutter the physical space, its helping with the emotional decluttering. Can't believe you have been on my journey through dealing with hell. Not sure how much you know, knew or remember of the dark days.

Arses Music has died :( 15hrs of music used up :o ah well least can plug straight in and recharge even if it slows function down to almost non existant

Catch you later going to get up and try to get going. Coffee, vein, direct connection. lol

X-post Good luck toffee. May the power of 15mins be with you.

[just when my kids were your kids' age I remember crying with tiredness before Christmas, and just overwhelmed by all the things I was "expected" by Society to do. One cousin thought it very strange when I gave her 4 dried prunes from a deli as a treat...I had childcare but it departed on holiday from the 2nd December - it was all a nightmare and Dh kept saying "I don't understand why you didn't organise this earlier" in a most aggravating way. And in the end ds1 threw up on Xmas day! So I suspect things can only get better.
Luckily sadly, this year there are no relatives around to celebrate Xmas with, so we don't have to clean the house! Hurrah. And lovely dearest aunt has invited us to Boxing Day lunch as all her children have gone abroad for Xmas to escape stress

My mum used to wrap 50 presents at this time of year ( I had 35 first cousins uncles/aunts) I don't know how she did it. Our presents were wrapped at last minute with wallpaper on Xmas morning, but that was fine! And we had lovely stockings too.