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!

Merry Christmas one and all!

DS gave me a brilliant present and slept right through the night, waking at a civilised(!) 6am. He's now playing with a noisy book to wake up grandparents!

Hope you all have a brilliant day and really hope it goes well for you and DD3 PA

Merry Christmas everyone! How exciting, PA!!

Well, not really flying as such, but everything for Christmas lunch has been prepped, just waiting for my DSs to wake up. (Lovely, lovely boys, giving mummy a relaxed start to Christmas Day !!!)

Stockings with Santa presents waiting to be opened, mince pie and sherry eaten and drunk by 'santa' last night, carrots, reindeer dust and bowl of water nibbled, scattered, and drunk.

About to go up and wake everyone up - I want to start Christmas!!!!! .

Merry Christmas to you all! DS2 opened his stocking with his granny watching. She said she hasn't watched a child opening his stocking since I was a little girl and it was lovely! (DS2 seems to have forgotten his scepticism about whether Father Christmas really exists).

Today I just have to concentrate on not having any until the Christmas meal is on the table - then I can relax.

DH woke up with a hangover thanks to a very nice Christmas Eve party we attended last night. He's cursing himself now. Lots of coffee is in order for him, I think.

PA - sounds like there'll be some celebrations in your household today!

Off to beautify myself for the day ahead now. This could take some time...

Happy Christmas!

Morning, Merry Christmas everyone (again!).

All the immediate family / Santa present opening is done, turkey is in the oven, pot of tea made. I told DS he could get up at 7, and he duly got up at 7.03, couldn't find his stocking at first and was a bit worried, but found it soon enough. Had to wake DD up. All very happy.

I went to bed far too late but slept really well, having been wide awake for hours the previous two nights because of my long Xmas eve todo list, it was worth the effort though, there's nothing like a shiny sink on Christmas morning .

Blimey this thread is busy. FC brought me and ds new calendars and diarys. I have already put January's plans into my diary and on his calendar

Things are terribly calm in this house this morning. Most odd. I had to wake ds up. Last night i discovered mum had beaten me to the FC evidence trail. Apparently she had a ball. They never did anything like that for us preferring for us to use our imagination. I think she is enjoying having ds about this year, it's her first without any living parents. And tbh i was just glad it was done overtired

Right ds is off training in a bit yeah I know but it's by his specific request and means he is out of house whilst lunch is being cooked. Lots of coffee to raise the masses.

Have fabulous days.

Morning all. Merry christmas. Round 1 of presents done at ours. Rounds 2 and 3 and both gps later. Dh and dd are making sausage sandwiches for all ( well sausages for me) then getting dressed up and out of here.

I can hear the hoover though, DH mustn't have listened to u bitchy i'll go and rectify. Have a great day everyone

Happy Christmas everyone.

Up at stupid o'clock. Dinner nearly ready. Dc's ridiculously happy/ spoilt. Bucks Fizz flowing.

Have a fantastic day!

Not a bad day. DS sat through and ate bits of two courses so not too shabby.

Step-DM driving me up the wall but only 42 hours or so to go...

Wonderful day! Everyone loves their presents, lovely meal went very well, no arguments, tired children and tired parents! Off to my mims tomorrow so will have a quick run around tomorrow morning but we want to take the boys out over the fields to ride their new bikes so flying may get bumped! :)

Merry Christmas to all you gorgeous flyers! You're all wonderful and I'm so thankful to have 'met' you on this thread. Xxx

Nice day here too, my parents have just gone home, DCs are getting into their PJs to watch Strictly. Christmas dinner went like clockwork, it's the first time I have done it for about 5 years so I was a bit nervous, but a combination of decluttered kitchen, Delia and Jamie got us through. I am going to put some notes and my recipes in a folder to put away with the other Christmas stuff for next year.

My house that was so tidy 24 hours ago looks as though a hurricane has swept through the ground floor depositing bits of lego everywhere but never mind.

lego here too Whoknows

Glad to hear the Fledglings are having lovely times.

I am taking the excutive decision that whilst tomo might be good for some to fly there should be no pressure thus anyone intent on babystepping will have to find them themselves. I intend to pop back tomo and round up.

Blue can't remember when you are back but as I am ds free as of tomo I will happily finish leading the thread til the end of the month so you can continue your family time. saving you the time it takes to summarise this gobby lot

Ds has just gone to bed. I have one present left to make which is needed for deliverying tomo. I am knackered but going to crack on with some knitting whilst watching tv. May the peaceful times continue tomo.

Happy Christmas!

Lego here too.

An absolutely lovely day here. Ds literally cried with happiness when he got his ipod touch bless him. Dd has gone to bed with that many teddy's, i am not sure where she fits in her bed. Mum has just left and i snuggled on sofa with ds to watch film, although he has now fallen asleep.

There is stuff everywhere but that is tomorrow's (or possibly Tuesday's) problem. Tomorrow is a relaxed family day. Our bf's are popping round for a couple of hours but they are the kind of friends who will make their own cup of tea and who couldn't give a shit if we ate all still in our pj's .

we've had a relaxed day too. Dd built her own Sylvanian set this year, a bit of a breakthrough...Ds2 sat mesmerised whilst trains went round and round him, and the two sons played Nerf gun fights in the park for about two hours after lunch. Nerg gun to my surprise was a star present, chosen by Dh.

Just watched Dr Who, short break followed by Downton. Perfect end to day.

Church was lovely, lots of people-watching as well as praying . Lots to think about. Left dh and one son behind to lay the table

Whoknows Lunch was not a Delia special this year - I don't think I followed her instructions at all, and served combination of one flavour packet stuffing/one homemade, and Waitrose bread sauce and cranberry sauce to save energy washingup [they were horrid - my bread sauce is much much nicer - that serves me right!) But Dh and children declared it delicious so and children were thrilled by the sight of the Xmas pudding on fire flambe. I will be looking closely at her suggestions for how to use up the rest of the Turkey though!

Dh has been hard at work all day building Lego, Hornby track extensions, and in a good humour, except when trying to connect a computer link to a Karaoke game set he had misguidedly bought dd from Nonna. I warned him not to buy it! I had a lovely two hours washing up to Radio 3 Horrible Histories Concert in Albert Hall. Kitchen was not very clean or decluttered this morning, entirely my fault, and was quickly tipped into Armageddon by Xmas cooking, so I really enjoyed pottering around sorting it out...making Turkey stock, washing up, clearing out fridge again...to lovely music.

Also wrote all Xmas cards to neighbours and delivered them with ds1. Finally

Lovely day here too. I am really pleased that everyone seems to have had a lovely day.

Nicely relaxed and all DCs very happy all day. All DCs had got together and got us the very best present ever! I cried and cried when we opened it! They got a book made up with photos of the family with encouraging Bible verses for what lies ahead and personal thanks from them to us. It is truly the most wonderful thing they could possibly done and i am weepy again just thinking about it!
DD3 unsurprisingly said "yes" and is on cloud 9, flashing an absolutely gorgeous ring. It wont be for another 3 years before I become the mother-in-law, so I have told DSILTB (Dear Son-in-law-to-be) that I am on mumsnet to learn how to be the MIL from hell!! He said I needed bother, it would probably come naturally! - I think he fits it too well already!

Happy Boxing day everyone. I hope the contentment continues for everyone.

Well, sadly it wasn't a really relaxing day for me. DSM (Dear Step Mum) slept in in the morning until DF went to wake her at 9.30am as we'd wanted to start opening presents early so DS could do some before his nap and calm down after it. As it turned out, he got so wound up that he only managed 3 presents. We tried just hugging him so he could watch us open ours, but DSM kept trying to shove presents at him so gave up and put him down for a nap. She then spent the rest of the day trying to get him to stop putting toys in his mouth (dangerous, unhygienic etc!) so he got frustrated and I got wound up. Didn't say anything as I don't want to upset DF, but DH noticed and gave me lots of hugs - he was getting too!

Otherwise, it was a nice day. DH cooked (my turn today!) and DS even ate turkey and boiled potatoes, but we drew the line at gravy and roast veg, so he had beans!

About to go grab a shower so I can dress and do lunch prep - slow cooker stew with puff pastry discs and yorkshire puds. And the usual veg.

Fingers crossed I don't explode today. Just counting down the hours...

morning all. Glad to hear most had pleasant days yesterday.
flying hang in there!
mixed day here yesterday!! But on the whole was successful and dc have declared it a "brilliant Christmas!"
DDs 3 and 4 were trying to get up from 2am Christmas morning cue lots of trips to their room to utter stark warnings about Father Christmas not arriving...finally gave in at 6am after about only 2 hours un-broken sleep
however stocking and present openeing went well, followed by Christmas breakfast (with litres of coffee!) then Church which was also lovely...although Dc were not in particularly quiet mood LOL
Home for coffee and getting dinner underway...all good...untill...
DS1 threw a toy in the lounge as he was looking for something which hit and smashed the new 3 week old TV [fschock] So, for years we have had V old, from-the-arc type TV...then when DH unexpectedly got some overpaid tax back a few weeks ago we decided to join the 21st century and bought lovely(though not mega£££) new TV....aaaarrrrrgggghhh. DD1 became immediately hysterical at the thought of missing Christmas special Doctor Who , Dh launched into melt down mode,dd2 proclaimed Christmas to be ruined, dds3 and 4 began wailing and ds1 went and barricaded himself in his room (ds2 however siezed the opportunity to eat his own body weight in chocolate coins!)
however in an amazing display of very uncharacteristic patience (after a 5 min sob in my room!) I went and comforted all distraught DC...told them it was only a TV(arrrggghh) and that no-one was hurt and we shouldnt let it spoil Christmas...persuaded ds1 to come back downstairs, and re-assured dd1 we would sort out even more ancient small TV to watch Dr Who on later....phew!
Dh mellowed eventually and all proceeded fairly well!
However after weeks of sorting, cleaning,planning and preparing house now looks like a scene of total devastation......
DC all very overtired and grumpy....and I have hidden away in bedroom for 1/2 hour of peace!
think lots of fresh air is needed this afternoon...although did drag all out for nice long dog walk yesterday afternoon...
right, may have to venture back of bedroom...would actually really like a nap already...

PA that book sounds lovely... I am almost weepy for you at the thought of it...
sounds a lovely day.

Glad to hear you have all survived Christmas Day relatively unscathed. OFM - well done on salvaging the Christmas spirit when it was all falling apart! And after only two hours' sleep too. So sorry about the television. Is it ruined or can it be mended? That is such a shame.

Flying - that sounds like a very trying day! How many hours left til DSM leaves?

PA - what a magical Christmas. The book sounds wonderful. Your DC must have put so much effort into it. And I'm glad to hear your DD's answer was 'yes' (phew!).

Swan - that sounds like a lovely day . I almost bought the Waitrose bread sauce, but they'd run out. Sounds like a had a lucky escape.

Ellie - glad your day went so well too. Enjoy your relaxed family day today.

IceCold - hope the scarf is finished by now and that you can finally relax a bit more today.

Making, Flying, StNicks - sounds like you all had a fab day

All I can say is that I'm so relieved it's all over. Christmas Day went pretty well, but I did feel as if I was stage managing the whole thing and trying to keep everyone happy, which gets exhausting after a while. I have just booked myself a slot of free time this morning as a reward .

MIL and DM - chalk and cheese - managed to get on fairly well, but the conversation and activities needed redirecting sometimes to keep them both happy. It would have helped if DH hadn't retreated back to bed with a hangover before lunch. DC loved their stockings and all their presents, of course, and didn't protest once that we were having a computer-free day. Had to take DM to minor-injuries first thing (round the corner from us, luckily) as she had felt fluey in the night and had woken up with a swollen, infected finger, so we were worried she had blood poisoning. A kind neighbour of mine, who's a nurse, felt that it warranted professional attention. We took a box of chocolates to give the nurse and she was delighted. We were the only ones there. The nurse did something very painful to Mum's finger (poor thing!), then dosed it in Iodine and wrapped it in a huge bandage, which meant she was off washing-up duties for the foreseeable future.

I asked the nurse what sort of visits they usually received on Christmas Day and she said she had once had a mother bring in her small son, complaining that he wasn't enjoying Christmas Day!

I spent several very happy hours hiding in the kitchen, listening to Radio 4 whilst I cooked. Hadn't been able to buy a Christmas tablecloth (Waitrose gave me a 'Happy Birthday' tablecloth instead ), but found that a clean white sheet did the job very nicely!

Swan - afraid I used a Schwartz packet mix for the bread sauce . Couldn't cope with yet another thing to make.

Spent at least two hours in the afternoon helping DS2 to build a Lego house out of a kit we'd bought him. Then had to tackle a Meccano car this morning, which is really not my cup of tea. I'm quite proud that I did it!

Did anyone watch 'The Gruffalo's Child'? We watched it before 'Dr Who' and thought it was enchanting.

Off to have lunch with MIL today. I would really rather not go, especially as she is cooking pork, which she always overcooks (and never does any crackling ). And DH and I will have to keep the conversation on safe ground between the two mothers again. As well as stop the children shrieking and running around in her tiny flat, which they always do (and it disturbs the other residents). But MIL really wants to cook for us all, so we have to go.

After that, I will have done my duties and can flop a bit.

But right now, I'm going online to see if I can spend some of my Next voucher money .

Oops, change of plan. DS1 ill and still in bed, so DM is staying at home to look after him. She's happy because she's not feeling great either and didn't want to go to MIL's anyway. DH now thinks he had the same bug yesterday, not a hangover - at least, that's his story .

Morning all,

PA - aww, what lovley thoughtful DCs you have

OFM - oh no about the TV, well done for being supermum and holding it all together

Swan - I hate bread sauce, so my parents brought that and the stuffing, which just needed heating through.

Toffee- we put on The Gruffalo's Child, but the DCs wandered off after a couple of minutes and just left me and my mum watching it, I have to say I didn't really enjoy it, the book is so lovely but I am the sort of person who never likes TV/film versions of books that I love (and I don't like Robbie Coltrane).

Ice - hope you got your knitting done. I managed a couple of hours of crochet in front of Downton later, but it's not a present, so no pressure (I'm doing cushions for the sofa), hope you got your knitting done

Flying - oh dear, Christmas Day with really little ones is a bit fraught isn't it, I remeber it well, they are all out of routine, not really sure what;s going on, lots of stuff everywhere. Don't explode!

Ellie - Aww to DS crying with happiness. Sweet!

We're off to the ILs today, but in no rush (it's about 2 hours away, so staying for a couple of days), really need to go and pack.

Just been outside, the local hunt meets near our house on Boxing Day, so we went to watch that, it isn't something that any of us are into at all really, but still interesting to see. Better go, DCs are whinging about the Sky box not working....

Well, I managed to avoid the undercooked pork and survive the anaemic, hard parsnips at my MILs and am now back home with a slice of cake and a cup of tea. More importantly, I told DH I had to have some time on my own or I would explode, so he has taken over childcare duties downstairs whilst I enjoy some peace and quiet.

DS1 is feeling a bit better. He and mum were tucked up on the sofa together watching highlights of Harry Potter when we arrived home.

No plans for tomorrow. I think we all need to have a day without planning anything.

WhoKnows - I hope you have a better meal than me at your ILs today .

Ta da list:
finish knitting scarf
wrapping 4 presents
find box of stuff to go to ex's house
sort out stuff toys/books/etc for ds to take with him
pack clothes for ds
Drop ds off with his dad
avoid traffic and get lost in some very pretty countryside
take a long nap
make nice plans for tomo

To do list:
eat some food ate too much yesterday and couldnt face any earlier
confirm plans for tomo
go to sleep nice and early.

I have to admit i am glad christmas is now over and i am going to try to sleep off the effects of not having slept and get things back to normal a bit. Looking forward to 2012. Here's to a new approach to life!

Toffee on past form that's unlikely.....

OFM we have just been and bought a new tv today after DH nagging for months to get a flat screen one. There is nothing at all wrong with our old one except it's not flat screen. If it would be of use to you, you can happily have our bush 28inch one. We'll even deliver it for you. Don't feel you have to and if you have sorted one out that's fine but it's a decent size and works fine and may tide you over. Let me know

Sorry, no time to catch up individually, but I have read all your posts over the last few days - glad to hear that most of you had a lovely Christmas.

We've just finished three days of present opening here. We always split the Christmas presents between the 24th and the 25th as it's traditional to open your presents on Christmas Eve in Austria, and it was DD1's 10th birthday today so there were yet more presents to open.

We're having a day out in Shrewsbury tomorrow to meet up with my BF and her family, who are over from Germany; it's two hours away by train, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be an uneventful journey (but am not holding my breath, as there always seems to be some kind of delay). We were delayed by over an hour on the way here from the airport due to flooding on the line, having to return to the previous station and waiting ages in the cold and wind for the replacement bus to turn up; the most frustrating thing was that we'd only been about five minutes from the last stop (our destination).

Will try to pop in again before we fly back on the 31st. Hope everyone has had a lovely relaxing Boxing Day.