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!

God the inside of the first book says it was on Jackanory in 1968 I wasn't even alive then. My copy was publish in '83 and is falling apart it has been that well read.

Those bloody smilies are back .

Ta da list:-
Cleaned, tidied, mopped and swept entire downstairs
Cleaned bathroom
Put out rubbish
Got takeaway for dinner
Shined sink
Got dressed to shoes

Ok, i'm lying. The only bit i did was takeaway and got dressed. Cleaner did the rest. I am not rich in the slightest but the £15 i pay her every week is worth it's weight in gold to come home on a Friday night and have a clean, if still horrendously cluttered house. Bizarrely, having a cleaner actually makes me clean more. I actually have time to do other stuff like washing and ironing because the basics are already done.

I cannot contribute to the morning routine discussion because we don't have one unless you count random shouting which happens routinely. We fly by the seat of our pants in the morning chez moi. I have tried to convince myself it can change but it can't.

decktheice glad the appointment went well. I had 2 of mine out and it wasn't that bad.

chitchat welcome . That's my only contribution to this thread, chit chat. Nothing worthwhile .

Am posting on phone and have memory like a sieve so no more personals am afraid. I am going to collapse in a heap and catch up with The Walking Dead.

Big waves to all.

decktheice i used to love gobbolino the witches cat. We had it on tape from a series called 'Storytellers' i think. It was my
favourite story when i was a child.

well, I remember Gobbolino the Witch's Cat (his sister was called Sootica) and the Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse (Uncle Pedar???). I was obsessed by both of them, and they were terribly sad in parts...
I also remember Littlenose being read on Jackanory with a Scottish accent, so I must have been around when it was first in favour. My children are not interested in either series

tada
mulled wine supplies (none of this instant mulled wine in bottles - for shame) taken to school for someone else to serve as I've manned the stall for six years and can't face it any more - going Go Karting instead tomorrow
wrapped 70 presents for PTA gift stall

despite my best intentions my whole day has been taken up rushing around for Fayre, the house is a mess again, I spent part of the day in tears writing emails to DH. He writes very nice ones back I'll say that for him, he is a different fellow in the office

Dh has bought me a coffee percolator for £10! I am excited as the cleaning lady broke the charity shop one which cost £5

Glad you had your sleep Toffee

I am bored. Dc's are having a sleepover in ds's room and dh has a friend over so I have brought myself to the bed, armed with chocolate, wine and the laptop.

Just for all you witches cat fans . Just listened to the whole story and was immediately about 6 years old, being tucked up by my dad, listening to this. Bearing in mind dad died over 10 years ago it brings a little tear to my eye, in a nice way.

Am going to randomly lurk around mn now.

anyone?

I wouldn't say no, ellie (do I ever say no to alcohol? ). It would follow on quite nicely from the Sekt and sherry I have already had. (DH got the job, so I am forced to celebrate.)

wine follows on quite nicely from anything...Well done to DH, I shall pour another glass for me to celebrate .

In that case, I'll have another glass too ellie - wouldn't want you to be drinking alone. Cheers!

Sheesh, today's been nuts - kids party at m house, so VERY minimal FLYing! Going to watch iplayer and drink in front of the woodburner with DH now - but will shine my sink before I go to bed. And actually, I did manage to clear up after the party straight away and forced encouraged dh and boys to help

Tomorrow I will write our weeky menu plan
get some work done
make a plan for my next university assignment
shop for sunday when we have a big family lunch at ours
And I will get out of bed and get dressed. This still mystifies me (not very easy to shone your sink from your bed unless your house is REALLY tiny?!?), but I Will Obey.

Oh, and re the TV discussion - we don't have a TV licence, only a TV for DVDs. My kids are too young to work it themselves (and I'm not going to teach them) so = total control over TV viewing. Simples

Wow, looks like everyone has been doing really well - have only quickly scanned the thread as it has grown a lot since my last post!

Have not got much done today at all, only the washing up in fact! That'll teach me to go around shouting about all the stuff I've got done eh?

Went into town Christmas shopping with the M & FIL, very stressful and largely unsuccessful!

Dining table is still clear though :)

Linzer well done to DH. I will raise my glass of JD and coke to him.

I am also celebrating as I got my job also. It has changed from this morning from a class teacher to a PPA cover teacher but its still teaching and will be at least a term of work. I waiting on more info on Monday and in the meantime I'm celebrating with takeaway and a little drink.

Have done no flying today and tomorrow I am going away for the evening with DH to lincolnshire and then Lincoln Christmas market on sunday followed by a concert on Sunday evening so I really need to pull my finger out tomorrow morning.

No time to catch up with more personnals as I'm off to bed but I have read everyones updates and will be back tomorrow.

Fantastic MC I am so pleased for you.

must go to bed now...just been browsing JL after falling asleep in dd's bed...my own stories always send me into a deep sleep
Dh has printed off a map of Go-Kart area for me!

Round up time?

swan has been busy avoiding the Christmas Fair. Enjoy the go-karting, and your new percolator!

Toffee had a lovely wedding party, got both boys to school and did the morning routines. :) Going back to bed also sounds like an excellent idea ? don?t be about it. Enjoy your night out!

Linzer had a hectic day and was then celebrating her DH?s new job. Cheers!

Lauren also had a post eaten and was glad it?s Friday.

MC was getting ready for her interview ? hope it went well. Oh, just saw your later post ? yay! Congratulations!

ChitChatting joined us - with a name like that you ought to fit right in here? Cleaning and decorating at the same time can?t be easy so don?t be too hard on yourself!

Fuzzled had a case of the nesbits. As Toffee said, focus on the positive ? babysteps and all that jazz. Hope DS napped for you.

Deck survived the hospital appointment and had a great list.

ellie got dressed and had a takeaway ? sounds good to me?

Bird survived a kids? party and definitely deserves

Donkey - sorry Christmas shopping was so stressful. Glad your table?s still clear though. :)

There was also lots of discussion of treasured children?s books and TV before school (or not).

I?ve spent the day working while DH has been looking after the boys ? very nice! Or I thought so, anyway? Routines got done again, which is also good, and I think we?ve now just about finished the Christmas shopping.

Here?s to jobs, parties and getting through the week. Hic!

Better do the links:

Babystep 3 ? Keep doing what you?re doing, but don?t go into that Big Tent!!

No mission because it?s the weekend.

Saturday is Family Fun Day

WOOO MC that's great - here's a celebratory
Right, programme finished but seriously lacking energy to clear the sink - it's only about 5 items to wash, 10 to put away, but I'm sleeeeepy...

Congratulations, MC! And to your DH, Linzer!

Ellie - that's a lovely memory you have just revisited of your Dad .

Well, didn't get out because none of the mums I know best were going in the end, plus we ended up with a houseful of four boys and DH was begging me not to leave him alone. I spent the early part of the evening bargaining with three 12-year olds, who think they are 16, over what scary film they would be allowed to watch. No to '28 Days Later' and to 'The Mist', but eventually agreed to 'Insidious', a supernatural thriller which I wouldn't watch if you paid me, but they loved it and said it was genuinely scary (a good thing, apparently ). I wish this scary-film phase would pass - it's very wearing.

Anyway, DH and I finally managed to herd them up to the bedroom and into their respective beds and I have turned the lights out, but there is no let up to the chatting and giggling yet. I have no idea when I will get to bed as I refuse to go to sleep before they do. Have just been picking popcorn off the sofa and carpet. How on earth did it end up all over the sitting-room floor? They must have been throwing it around. They are feral.

At least I can have a little MN browse whilst I'm waiting for them to fall asleep...

It has gone quiet up there....

ooooo, mc, well done!
i have been out all day, so an inauspicious start to dec flying. however, i am in tomorrow morning, and will be continuing to put the house to rights. i found the door mat and am restoring order room by room so that it is manageable.

i am also about to crack open a bottle of and sit down in front of the grinch with pizza. must be december. that said, all of the local sparks, brownies, guides etc etc are in the town christmas parade tomorrow, and so we are all supposed to be dressed as who-people. soooooo, i had better find out what they look like, i suppose, as i've got less than 24 hours to come up with three costumes.

you gotta love preparation, eh?

Good morning everyone! Thanks for that update, Blue.

I think the worst part of decorating and trying to decorate and getting things clean at the same time is that I don't have any cupboards/ appropriate wardrobes for everything, which means that I am livingout of boxes and in constant chaos .

So I really need to put lots of energy into decorating, I want to have a nice house for Christmas - or at least as nice as I have time to get it. Right now I've got bare plaster walls in almost the whole of the house!!!! Finishing the spare room means I can empty 1 other room at a time, decorate it, then find some suitable furniture.

I've downsized homes (were renting, have purchased) so I REALLY need to declutter.

So today, babystep 1 - shining my sink. Off I go!!!!

PS - Toffee - you are soooo brave! DS1 is only 4 so I have a little while to go before sleepovers start but the thought terrifies me!!!

Wow you lot can chat! Just scanned the thread as am rushing around but congratulations mc -that's what I was looking for news on! And thanks for the round up blue

Over the next week or so rl will be getting in the way of MN :-( so I'll be lurking and posting lists, but there may be a distinct lack of personals as I'm always on my bloody phone!

Better go got work in an hour!

Will try to BBL

No time to catch up properly now as I'm supposed to be working (have sent DH out to do the weekly food shop while I do so, and am keeping my fingers crossed that the DC will continue to play together nicely - I can't hear them atm, which I hope is a good sign) but just wanted to say congratulations to MC on the job - great news.

Morning all. House still full of boys, but it's nice - there's a happy buzz and it's lovely to see DS1 so jolly. We are dispatching them to their own homes in 15 minutes, then I'm off to have my hair done . No Flying this morning!

Chitchat - I find sleepovers with older children fine, in spite of the inevitable bedtime battles and overexcitedness. I think managing younger children is much harder, to be honest. Provided DS1 and his friends have a scary DVD, pizza and popcorn, they are basically happy and want to be left alone. Younger children need more supervision and intervention, which is tiring.

Lauren - hope you have a good day at work.

Linzer - am sending happy play vibes to your DC...

Hey everyone! I'vse got loads done this morning, and dh and i wrote a lovely list to tick off for the rest of the day. Biggest challenge today is finding a way to use a load of crusts cut off sandwiches yesterday... I WILL NOT throw away food!

Right, super quick post!

Ta da:
Sorted out bags of clothing that DD is growing into
Put some washing in

To do:
Washing up from nlast night (I know, bad start)
General tidy in kitchen
Put away clean laundry
Find somewhere for all these clothes to live!

Have a nice Saturday everyone!

abird Can you make them into breadcrumbs and then freeze them for use in other recipes (toppings for pasta dishes, etc.)? I hate throwing food away too and have a freezer full of tiny pots of leftovers.

Toffee Glad to hear everyone's so happy. Enjoy the hairdresser's!

ChitChatting DS started going on/having sleepovers at around 4 and DD2 wasn't much older. We're trying to limit them atm, however, as DD2 (in particular) is so tired and grumpy the next day that it just isn't worth it. DS was desperate to have someone come and stay last night, but we said that 7 pm was too late to ring anyone up - as a compromise, we let them all sleep in the same bed instead (and they actually slept quite well).