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!

usually just airing - but outside on the line... you know how minus thirty will freeze that bacterial bleugh. quite common to see hockey kit gathering snow.

but i have been known to hose down and hang, which is a pita. or febreze but usually i just wash the washables and tumble it, and the shorts etc can just ming if i haven't got time for them to dry. hockey players are supposed to smell, aren't they?

we did have a great metal rack that was custom-made for airing kit that used to loiter in the basement, but no room here. as long as he's got clean stuff under and it's all dry then i wouldn't fret.

and we always get it professionally cleaned at the end of each season, but i'm guessing they don't do that in uk... nor have giant basements where hockey kit gently airs until required...

lol at your list, ellie. busy lady! but at cleaner...

Final list update.

Ds to school on time success!
rug put back
return furniture to lounge
laundry 2nd load on
bath emptied and ds' kit put into to de-stink
hang kit up to dry
pack ds' stuff for going away
put ds' clothes away
clear bathroom floor in progress
find utility room floor
find study desk half done
find lounge window sill
turf stuff out for charity shop run. one bagful of stuff collected.

Have also done:
training
got ds' hair cut
given ds his lego advent calendar
charged the portable dvd player
charged the ds thingy
not killed the ex despite wanting to
bumped into a mmner unexpected but was nice to catch up.
return rented dvds
--clean window sill
put christmas advent light up

That is about all for me to do list wise. going to sit with a film and some knitting. made the mistake of drinking far too much caffine today. whoops

Problem is if i tried to air it outside it is going to get as wet as if i stuck in bath to soak. Kit currently draining in the shower but no longer stinking the entire house out. Btw don't suppose u know what we can use on ds' glasses to stop them misting up and also how to stop the sweat blinding him?

Appologies to the other fledglings who have no interest in the delights of hockey boys or their disgustingness.

Right must head off and read thread now i am sitting down

Good evening everyone!

All your lists are huge- loving the busy busy excited panicking Flyers dreading looking forward to Christmas.

Watching Grand Designs last night and seeing the beautifully uncluttered house on it has driven me to aspire that 2012 will be the year that I go minimal. Is that possible as a mum of three and full time childminder with a clutterbug husband who does minimal housework? We'll see but a girl can dream.

So tomorrows list.

Up, shower, dress, breakfast everyone
S and S
Empty DW
WM on
School run
Pay for DC's xmas dinners
Bake with mindees
Lunch/naps
HV clinic
Hang up wet washing
What's for dinner?
School run
Go to Christmas fayre
Collect DD's Red book from docs
Shine Sink
Clean kitchen and DW on
Hoover downstairs
Hoover hall, stairs and landing
Clean bannister
15 mins declutter
Bedtime routine

I've been really good at sticking to my 10pm Flylady bedtime apart from tonight so I must get a move on.

Thank you Blue for leading us through December and many many thanks to Darkness for fab eading in November. Goodnight!

Great start everyone! I am the self-proclaimed fairy of not burning out so my list is small although I didn't get in from work till 6.30 (with chips).

So what have I done? Well, I have found my sink and cleaned it so at least that looks respectable.
Also made a couple more Christmas cards, finally got DS to go to sleep. Just need to press a top for DH to wear to work tomorrow, make sandwiches, s&s then bed.
I'll work on that getting to bed babystep later in the month!

can't help you with the glasses. dd2 has to take hers off when it gets below about -10 for the same reason. (she touts them to school in her backpack and puts them on when she's indoors lol) not much use if you're trying to hit a puck with a bit of bent wood though.

apparently there is a spray that can help, but buggered if i can remember what it is... i think someone on here told me about it. some sort of anti fog stuff...

mm, uk outside is a lot different to here for airing purposes!

Evening all. What?s been going on today?

ellie achieved her list ? keeping it short is clearly the way to go!

Isla joined us ? hi! ? and also found her draining board. Enjoy your dishwasher and shiny sink!

Linzer stunned us all with the admission that her house contains 15 Advent calendars . She also found a ski helmet amid the Playmobil. (Oh, and thanks for the Bulletins, which arrived today.)

Toffee was off to A&E ? hope DS1 makes a swift recovery! (Stuff can live on the top of the piano here, but it has to stay off the lid?) She was also attending the wedding of her DS2 and his first love ? aww!

WhoKnows survived the Christmas fair and needed to get her DH on board with morning routines.

Lauren popped in with a list - hope you had a good day.

swan had a good morning but was getting frustrated with the powers that be?

feet is aiming for a de-cluttered December

Fuzzled had her lovely post eaten by MN

Deck was heading off for therapeutic training ? hope it helped - and tackling a large rug.

Bird was feeling mystified by the ways of the Fat Fairy (the FlyLady) but got some good explanations ? thanks everyone! Not many of us have houses covered in post-it notes either?

OFM was having a hectic day ? hope you and DD1 are feeling better now.

MC spent the morning in the woods with excitable children and has an interview tomorrow ? good luck!

Republic also joined us ? welcome aboard!

Donkey was finding her dining table ? hope you got to enjoy eating at it!

NickNacks found us after a mild panic and was dreaming of Grand Designs style minimalism ? I just know I could never live that way!

Madwoman has a freshly painted house and was looking for her doormat? and discussed stinky hockey kits with Deck.

DWM has achieved a small list ? way to go!

As for me, I?ve done 3000 words, an Aldi shop, hoovered (which Word wanted to correct to hovered - maybe more fun!), cooked tea and had a friend over for a chat. So I?ll drop the links and go to bed!

Missions ? we get 2 in the run up to Christmas. Wiping remotes is a good one though, will have to see how long it lasts?

Baby step: Get dressed to shoes ? this is controversial and most of us ignore at least the shoes part!

Friday is de-clutter your purse (ie handbag) and car day, and date night.

I've tidied kitchen (took me two hours, that can't be right...
cleaned out fridge
put out recycling
food compost
words with dh - evenings are not going well atm. The last straw was the pile of PTA stuff in the kitchen needing to be wrapped. And no bread in the breadbin etc etc...dd had a tantrum over a fish finger etc etc
supper made
piano lesson x 2 - only two more lessons to go and dd is taking over from ds2 YAY! he is a nightmare to get to piano lesson. Dd shows promise Also I am suspending my own piano lessons as it is too stressful expensive and have now just about reached grade 2 level from zero 2 years ago, so can retire gracefully...

However, ds2 did lots of homework when prodded so I think he just needs to be taken in hand give up piano and may apply himself if its a routine.

whoknows ds2 gets up very early here, but we've always had no telly in the morning. Dh is definitely a cheery lark, and he doesn't even drink coffee! Ds2 would watch telly all day if we let him Once the telly goes on it is usually quite impossible to get him to school so we learnt the hard way to never put it on except in emergencies. School is only two mins away and he knows it, so leaves no margin at all.
I think the routine is the key, as you say, they will completely accept something as long as it happens every day..

DS1 survived his half day at school and then managed to walk all around town for late-night Christmas shopping . He has a spectacular bruise spreading up his foot and his toe is shockingly painful if anyone bumps it, but he seems to have adjusted pretty quickly to hobbling around.

We all enjoyed the wedding party . I made a wedding cake (actually, half of it was fake - icing laid over a round cake tin - and the other half was a shop-bought cake which I iced and decorated with two figures: a queen and a king). A friend and her three children came round to be guests. All the children kept giggling, particularly the bride. After the brief service (DH officiated), we had a party tea, took wedding photos and then the happy couple drove away in a cardboard car .

Have just finished washing up all the party stuff and our evening dinner plates and am off to bed now. I never seem to manage to get to bed before midnight.

Morning all,

Not as much opportunity for FLYing today as DD1 is at home. One of the secondary schools is holding an open day so all the children in her class who want to go (14 out of the 20, I think) have got the day off. It doesn't start until 10 am so I'm going to have to be superproductive in the next hour (and also somehow get DD1 for a test she has next week; she's not keen) as we've got quite a hectic afternoon ahead of us - English lesson (actually, that's before lunch), followed by DD1's dyslexia lesson, followed by a visit to a friend. Also have a friend of DD2's here for lunch, and must not forget to pick up DS.

DH has an assessment centre interview for a new job at work this morning, so left even earlier than usual (before 7 am) so that he had time to prepare. For about the first time ever, he stayed up later than me preparing his presentation - although was feeling more nervous about the role plays, etc. Rather him than me - I'm quite happy hiding behind my computer at home, with no meetings to go to, no annual reviews, no projects I'm expected to get involved in, etc. and only interacting with other people via e-mail or occasionally phone. (Before I start to sound like a complete hermit, I must stress that this is only when I'm working; I do enjoy spending time with friends outside work!)

swan We've banned TV on weekday mornings here too, as we just don't have the time and can never get the DC to switch it off. I'm struggling to get DD1 to watch less TV as it is. Talking of which, must get her off the computer and encourage her to start revising.

Morning all!! I did write a post last night before bed with personals on and everything and now it's vanished

I don't have time to rewrite it either, DP arrived back this morning and managed to make the house look like a bombs hit in the hour he was here before work, so I have his mess to tidy up and his washing to do, plus mindee turning up any minute! But at least its Friday after all!

To do:
Both missions (they both need doing and may extend light fitting dusting to rest of house)
Washing and drying laundry washing on
Wash up/ dry pots washed
S&s bathroom (I need to get into this habit)
Put laundry away when dry
Playgroup this afternoon
Park this morning (take dog)
Hoover later

Toffee brave ds! and I remember my sister and I playing weddings - sadly there was never a groom (or cake , we just used it as an excuse to wear frilly white dresses and raid dressing up box.

done
bad morning getting ds2 to school; he was in a complete state of dopey craziness, not upset or tantruming BUT just refusing to brush teeth, resisting all attempts at organisation. In the end I lost my temper and told him to walk to school by himself - whereupon he joined another family group and talked to them at top volume all the way to school - the shame Learned helplessness is getting worse - he just goes round in circles not getting ready...and screaming if you ask him to stop what he's doing...So I have to try harder my patience had really run out this morning.

todo
wrap lots of PTA presents for Fair
buy mulled wine supplies for Fair
print off directions for Go kart place
John Lewis order
rubbish outside in yard
buy more underwear for ds1 and for ME! where have all the pants gone?

rescuing all over the house, but I won't think about that now or my brain will explode

Have you tried the picture card prompt sheets for him to tick off Swan? We have two sets here one for morning routine stuff and one for evening/bedtime stuff. Ds feel in control but can easily see what needs to be done so the fact he doesnt remember is negated. Also the ability to say. have you done everything on the list? Have you forgotten anything helps. As does the banning to his room for a whole afternoon afterschool -bedtime if he lies about doing anything. I can't be doing with the aggression that spouts from him if he lies and is caught lying. Especially as he is a terrible liar.

Running late. Bollocks. Hospital appointment today. will see what happens when i know what state i will be in after it.

Morning all

My lesson is planned, my clothes are chosen and laid out and my nerves are jangling but I don't have to be there until 1pm so I have a couple of hours.

I have already fought my way around sainsburys for a few essentials. I only wanted about 5 things and spent £70 although mainly on clothes (For me ) as I realised yesterday I have no long sleeve tops at all. Also bought some lovely snuggly pjs and some shoes, whoops.

Now to grab a shower and revise my notes that I made after my last interview. The head from that was really helpful with suggestions for key words so that should help. Also need to do a bit of tidying round and I might go and clean out my car as per flylady. It certainly needs it

Toffee glad DS's toe isn't causing him too many problems
Linzer good luck to DH re job this morning. Hope it goes well for him.
Swan hope your day gets better and you manage to de-stress a little whilst DC are at school.
Lauren My DH is like that. Drives me mad. I love him to bits but it really mades a difference when he is away.

Right best get on. Be back this evening

xposts

Decktheice hope the hospital appointment goes ok for you

Deck I know I know
We had a very funny "prompt" list he loves reading out, just some of the things are just sooo Elementary. Do a pee before school. Wash Your Hands. Brush Your teeth. And he has decided teeth brushing is for wimps, and generally pretends he has done it when he hasn't. And loo is upstairs to complicate matters

Anyway, I am feeling better now!

Cross fingers for hosp appt, and buy yourself a big slice of cake afterwards.

Good morning everyone, could I please join you? I've been receiving Fly Lady emails (grouped ones, so not as bad) but haven't properly followed the baby steps to get the routines established and I just can't seem to keep things maintained. BUT.... the house is currently a tip, and I have to do some sanding and painting upstairs so babysteps for Monday, I think.

Today I need to do a Crisis Clean!!!

• 1 hour crisis clean - 15 mins kitchen, 15 mins dining room (ironing room!), 15 mins kitchen, 15 mins rest.

• Upstairs to do some decorating.

• Lunch

Then while waiting for paint to dry, hopefully will have time for some more crisis cleaning before I pick DS1 up from school. Mind you I have to try to juggle the cleaning / decorating with DS2 lurking.....

On computer, but no personals as am determined to finish checking my work email ^^ and then get on with stuff. I really don't want to, but I'm back at work next week so I need to try to get the house into some semblance of order. Hopefully will catch up later tonight as I chill.

List yesterday didn't go so well. I managed the kitchen, the shopping and the buying stuff, but failed on the living room - although I did manage to tidy DS's toys more sensibly, so all the cuddly's are in one crate, and the hard plastic are in another.

Today I want to:

• Empty dishwasher
• Lay away DS's washing from yesterday
• 3 lots of washing
• Do the living room postponed from yesterday.
• Go shopping AGAIN to get all the stuff I missed
• Visit local town to pick up alterations and engraved thing - may be put off until tomorrow... I'll have to see how DS goes after shopping.
• Wipe the lampshades. Think I'll need a damp cloth for these as they're all rounded glass things and I honestly don't think I've done them since before I was pregnant
• Make a menu for next week

Hopefully I'll get it done today, but not holding out much hope as I have a severe case of the nesbits and DH is on his work Christmas pissup meal so DS is all mine today.

Right, wish me luck folks. I'm going to pray that DS manages to nap himself today.

MC - am sending good luck vibes in your direction today. Let us know how the interview went.

Deck - hope hospital appt goes ok.

Linzer - I'll join you in hiding behind the computer and avoiding meetings, reviews, etc. I've done all that and hated it. DH feels the same and is very happy not to have to bother with any of it at the moment.

Lauren - sounds like you have a busy day lined up with your mindees. Grr to your messy DH!

Fuzzled - don't be so down on yourself! You should be focusing on what you did achieve yesterday, not what you didn't get round to. It sounds as if you did loads and are maybe expecting too much of yourself. Doesn't Flylady say you are never behind or something? Hope your DS naps today and gives you a bit of time.

Chitchattingelf - welcome to the thread. I love the crisis clean. I find using a timer and swapping rooms every 15 minutes or so really helps me focus.

Swan - I have used lists for my two as well, but they are most useful for reminding me what needs doing! Luckily, DS1 was eager to get to school this morning and seems to have adjusted very well to hobbling everywhere. His eagerness was nothing to do with schoolwork, naturally, but the result of him being in love. (I really can't keep up with my boys' love lives at the moment!). I love the image of you and your sister playing weddings. I think DS rather likes the pretty dresses too, actually .

No telly in the morning in this house either. It was causing too many arguments and delays. I have started putting story audio CDs on during breakfast and that seems to have a lovely, calming effect. Listening to the Mog stories at the moment and some delightful stories about Littlenose, a boy who lives in Neanderthal times.

Well, have managed to get both boys to school and to do all my morning routines . DH is ill and in bed, which means I can dash around without bumping into him all the time (or, worse, having him comment on what I'm doing - a big drawback of having him home all the time).

DS2 is with his childminder after school today, so I have a nice long stretch of time to get things done. Think I'll try to do some online Xmas shopping .

done
wrapped half of PTA presents for Fayre
s & s

Thank you Toffee!

1 hour of crisis clean has barely made a dent though, there's sooooo much to be done!!!!

Just stopping for some lunch with DS2 who has been as good as gold today.

I've almost finished sanding the floor, and need to at least give it one coat so that it doesn't get scuffed again before I can do any more crisis cleaning. (Had to do a trip to hardware store as I didn't have course enough sandpaper at home . One day I will learn to be prepared!!) But I can't paint once DS1 comes home from school because he wants so much to help me, which wreaks absolute havoc .

toffee god that takes me back. I used to love the littlenose books when I was a kid. Him and his wollymamoth friend. adventures galore.

Lovely to see the christmas emoticons!

Hospital appointment was ok apart from the specialist who spoke like a spitfire. It fired my brain. Will be getting rid of the pesky wisedom tooth that has been plaguing me under a GA. But day surgery so not too bad. Just got to wait for a day now and hope it doesn't plague me too much in the mean time.

Ta Da
Hospital appointment
Ikea

To do
Put load of washing on
go training
feck all.

I am liking today.

*date not day.

Oh, Deck, fancy you knowing the Littlenose books by John Grant! I had never heard of them until I stumbled across an audio CD of them in the library. They are enchanting and such a welcome relief from the 'Horrid Henry' books which my DS wanted read to him every night . Actually, having read the link, I realise there are lots more. Ooo, goodie! I can order some and read Littlenose stories to DS every night for weeks .

Sorry you are having wisdom tooth trouble, Deck. It's really horrible. Hope the appointment comes through sharpish.

Chitchat - focus on what you've achieved, not how much there is left to be done. Flylady says it didn't get like this in a day and you aren't going to sort it out in a day either (or something like that).

Instead of online Xmas shopping, I'm ashamed to confess that I sneaked back to bed after my last post. Realised that I wasn't feeling too great, but had been too busy to notice. Plus I keep going to bed too late, which is my own fault. Anyway, I slept for two hours, which really helped.

Going out to the pub tonight with DS2's class mums. It's becoming a regular event every month or so and they are a really nice bunch.

Right, going to do some shopping now...

Still got 2 of them. Littlenose; and Littlenose the marksmen. They are published under Jackanory. I have a feeling mum got them from a charity shop/book sale. Also loved Gobblino the witches cat. Couple in that series. Agree they are a lovely change from the Horrid Henry shite stuff the kids of today seem to love.