Procrastinators Ambling through Advent and Composing Christmas Lists

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

Welcome to our new festive thread ladies! I am sorry we do not have festive smileys to start off with!

Freak - i got to bed at 12.30, then DS2 woke up at 4.45. Not Good.
I was planning a vvv early night tonight but DH came home earlier than expected. A good thing you'd think? No, he's cooking dinner & it's still not ready
I would've had toast and been in bed by now.
Esp as we have his team work meal out tomorrow, which will be fun but not if i'm knackered.

Thurs:

• DS2 to sch & home DONE
• DS1 first day off DONE
• Factory Shop for Christmas bits DONE
• Waitrose for lunch bits DONE
• friend over for lunch DONE & dw on
• wrap presents 'from' DS1 DONE
• new lights up x 2 DONE
• pack bits for party DONE
• SN playgroup party (5-7, could get messy later on ) DONE + DS2 screamfes1t
• DC home & straight to bed DONE + DS2 screamfest2
• early night for me not happening

Fri:

• DS2 ready for sch (last day)
• DH to work
• DS1, DD & me to playgroup we used to go to
• home, lunch, DD nap, general tidy
• DS1 film + popcorn
• DS2 home, unpack bag
• DC tea, bath & bed
• me & DH out for dinner

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; voucher for Nanny
• tidy mantlepiece pre-decorations; Started
• decorations up; Started; More done; Even more done; & even more lol
• string up for cards & put up the ever-growing pile
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• big bathroom blitz really needed; Started
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started

Afternoon.

My 2 have finished school and babysweet has finished nursery until new year. We had friends here this morning, was very nice.

Ahhhh to littlies falling asleep at school, bless.

To do

shower
goad dd's into getting reading/havinf brekkie etc
get babysweet ready
bath babysweet
eat chocolate cake with friend
tidy/clean for an hour started
strip beds and wash started

put wash on
dry washing
put washing away
wash kitchen floor
empty dw
fill dw
wash up

sort parcel to return
take parcel to po
walk - maybe
decide whats for dinner, shop?
budget

If time:

find key off car and cellotape to fob
stick cards up
get DH to get rest of decs out
sort out and put junk remaining decs in loft
tidy xmas tree after dds decorated
ask DH to phone MIL for xmas addresses

Just me then?

DONE

shower
goad dd's into getting reading/having brekkie etc
get babysweet ready
bath babysweet
eat chocolate cake with friend
empty dw
fill dw
wash up
decide what for dinner, buy ingredigents and for sunday
sort and return parcel
walk
try and find house to return parcel to failed
wash kitchen floor

TO DO

tidy/clean for an hour started
strip beds and wash started
put wash on
dry washing
put washing away started

MUST DO

budget
dinner
get clothes, snacks etc ready for exciting early morning trip
get kids decs out of car
drink wine

If time:

find key off car and cellotape to fob
stick cards up/
get DH to get rest of decs out
sort out and put junk remaining decs in loft
tidy xmas tree after dds decorated
ask DH to phone MIL for xmas addresses

Hi Sweet - DS1 has already finished, DS2 finishes round about now, but won't be home on the bus for a bit longer. DD is only nearly 8 months so luckily no appointments/sch runs for her yet :)

Fri:

• DS2 ready for sch (last day) DONE
• DH to work DONE
• DS1, DD & me to playgroup we used to go to DONE
• home, lunch, DD nap, general tidy DONE
• DS1 film + popcorn Doing
• back to Factory Shop to replace incomplete tree DONE
• to church to pay deposit for DS2's party DONE

• DS2 home, unpack bag
• DC tea, bath & bed
• me & DH out for dinner

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; voucher for Nanny
• tidy mantlepiece pre-decorations; Started
• decorations up; Started; More done; Even more done; & even more lol
• string up for cards & put up the ever-growing pile
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• big bathroom blitz really needed; Started
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started

Nativity done - phew! Thought it was going to be cancelled due to the snow but it went ahead and was really cute

Shopping has been delivered and the doting grandparents have gone home!

Just waiting to hear from DH who has had a review at work today, possibly ominous as there have been rumblings about people being let go. Feeling a bit sick and desperately hoping we are worrying about nothing.

Oh Ali hope everything's ok re his work...

Fri:

• DS2 ready for sch (last day) DONE
• DH to work DONE
• DS1, DD & me to playgroup we used to go to DONE
• home, lunch, DD nap, general tidy DONE
• DS1 film + popcorn DONE
• back to Factory Shop to replace incomplete tree DONE
• to church to pay deposit for DS2's party DONE
• DS2 home, unpack bag DONE
• DC tea DONE, bath & bed
• me & DH out for dinner

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; voucher for Nanny; DH still not done his parents ' Checking with his aunt for his mum ideas
• tidy mantlepiece pre-decorations; Started
• decorations up; Started; More done; Even more done; & even more lol
• string up for cards & put up the ever-growing pile
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• big bathroom blitz really needed; Started
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started

Evenin'all. Have staggered through the week, and still have some Xmas shopping to do. Here's my weekend list
Search for silver chain
Buy tree
Decorate
Second batch of cards
Get washing up to date
Tidy up
Present wrap up
Make food plan
On line shop for after Xmas
Filing
Hope the party went well HMHB
Gradually getting cat to use litter tray - thank god.

Ok panic over Things are changing though and he isn't entirely happy, so I think he will look around to see what else might be out there. He has been making noises about starting his own business, which is a bit scary!

JKS what time did you get your dinner last night in the end?

We've two poorly boys again here, inhalers all round I can hear DS1 coughing, coughing now, poor little chap.

Party update people

Welcome SSBaby.
Ali - glad Dh's job is ok. Just what you need before Christmas! DS has a cough too bless. DD snotty. Not pretty.

MulledMammoth - proving you can teach an old cat new tricks

Well the dress arrived on Thursday and FITTED! and looked good. Hurrah.

It was a huge rush to get ready as we had to be there 6.30/7ish. I was so stressed as we were getting a lift and they were waiting in the drive when I wasn't even dressed. I managed to cut my leg on my bracelet cos I was rushing so much trying to put my shoes on. DD was shouting 'mummy I'm AWAKE!' and then was crying as we left so I really felt v v stressed in need of a drink. All this after a really busy day at work too. Hectic madness. Apparently she stopped crying within 5 mins of us leaving.

The party was great. 50 year celebration of where I work. Marquee, champers, dinner, band etc. Really good. Hopefully I didn't make too much of an idiot of myself making all the newbies dance. Bless em.

I do have a slight headache this morning.

Today
Take vits done
Take in some dry cleaning
Toy shop DONE though got to go back
Post dresses back done
Remaining Xmas shopping - mainly for kids/friends
Post present to L Done
Santa train
DS haircut
Make mince pies

Xmas
Wrap presents for kids - started
Presents for CM - bought
Write xmas cards done
Post xmas cards done
Ice Christmas cake
Put up xmas decorations in house
Get some holly and ivy
Check food shop delivery on 23rd and add stuff on
Check what food we want to eat at xmas and buy ingredients
Plan some stuff to do for kids in holidays
Clear areas of doom - started

Probably some other stuff.

HMHB - slight headache here too DH's team meal out last night, too much yummy Chinese food + too much red wine. Plus a shortage of painkillers in the house this morning, not good.

Ali - hope boys are better today? I think we finally ate about 9.15 the other night, far too late for me, added to 2 late nights this week + a carol concert = I'm feeling pretty shattered. Parents here later but apart from Strictly I won't be up late.

I have blitzed the bathroom Decided to go for the more-is-more-flash-wipes approach. The only bit I didn't tackle was the bathroom cabinet although it is tidy but could do with emptying, checking for out of date stuff, and cleaning. Saving it for another day...

Sat:

• up too early with DS2 & hangover DONE
• spare room ready DONE
• laundry; Load 1 in wm
• bathroom; toys in dw + flash wipe attack DONE
• sit down to recover! Doing
• DH taking DS1 to get new sch blazer & maybe some Christmas presents Doing
• DS2 beautifully entertaining DD, sooo cute Doing
• empty decs boxes back in loft
• parents here at some point
• dinner & tidy up
• bath toys back upstairs (possibly culled?)
• DC to bed
• Strictly & bed

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; voucher for Nanny; DH still not done his parents ' Checking with his aunt for his mum ideas
• tidy mantlepiece pre-decorations; Started
• decorations up; nearly finished
• string up for cards & put up the ever-growing pile
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• big bathroom blitz really needed; DONE
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started

HMHB - yay for the dress! Glad you had a good time :)

Even more ill here today, poor DS1 is really poorly so he's under a quilt on the sofa. He is barely eating anything, will only drink milk. Ho hum. I'm not brilliant either, although that might be the almost total absence of sleep due to said poorly boys.

Thanks Ali / JKS - Head not too bad but I don't think I am getting dressed today. If we are luck I might make the mince pies...

Ali sorry to hear your boys are poorly that must be awful.
HMHB only one thing to say - Nux Vom

Search for silver chain DONE
Buy tree DONE
Decorate -Thinking about it
Second batch of cards -as above
Get washing up to date -as above
Tidy up A BIT
Present wrap up
Make food plan
On line shop for after Xmas
Filing

So -got a bit done. Also finished xmas shopping.
Settling down for strictly now. well in a bit.
Cat still being good.

DBro + his GF are coming for dinner & the night too, bit last minute but they are planning to stay in a B&B so less work for me.

Drama here earlier - a Porsche smashed into the wall opposite my house, the 2 blokes were fine, wall was not & a tree they must have actually driven through Fire engine, police car, ambulance, v exciting. DS1 missed it all as he was out with DH. DS2 & DD liked it though.

Sat:

• up too early with DS2 & hangover DONE
• spare room ready DONE
• laundry; Load 1 on airer & Load 2 in wm
• bathroom; toys in dw + flash wipe attack DONE
• sit down to recover! DONE
• DH taking DS1 to get new sch blazer & maybe some Christmas presents DONE
• DS2 beautifully entertaining DD, sooo cute DONE
• empty decs boxes back in loft Not done
• parents here at some point DONE
• DC dinner & tidy up DONE
• bath toys back upstairs (possibly culled?) DONE
• DC to bed
• Strictly & bed

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; voucher for NannyDONE; DH still not done his parents ' Checking with his aunt for his mum ideas
• tidy mantlepiece pre-decorations; DONE
• decorations up; DONE
• string up for cards & put up the ever-growing pile DONE
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started

I did manage to make tea (lasagne) but didn't make any mince pies or do anything on list. Oh well . Night all.

Some progress here today, didn't make the mince pies but we have tackled some of the wrapping, the cheese is purchased (yum) and all the cards are written and posted.
MIL, step-FIL and great-MIL here for lunch tomorrow because it is MIL's birthday. Need to do a bit of housework in the morning because it was the week between cleanings this week, and I have a lovely lump of pig to roast, but we bought a birthday cake. Had planned to make one but with the various ills it hadn't happened.

Boys seem (touches wood) a bit better. DS1 ate fruit all day and has drunk fluids so much better than yesterday. Just fed T, hoping for a few hours solid sleep now!

Morning all.

I was in bed by 7 last night and got up at 830! after a long day out with my girls. I'm currently mntting while DH takes girls swimming.

I'll be back later with a list maybe

Hello hello.
So glad the dress arrived hmhb

Had another not much sleep night friday, felt awful yesterday. Went ice skating and for a couple of drinks yesterday afternoon/eve, the rest of them went out afterwards but I came home at 8.30, straight into the bath (where I fell asleep until a cat fell in on top of me) then to bed. Had 10 hours sleep last night

Am on a roll today, got loads done
cleaned bathroom
cleaned mould patches off bathroom ceiling/coving
bleached shower curtain
mopped bathroom floor
cleaned kitchen
mopped kitchen floor
hoovered downstairs
2 loads of washing
dusted whole house
put away some clean washing
sorted through jewelery box
de-moulded round my bedroom window
replaced bay decoration on fireplace with fresh bay
online banking

hmm doesn't look that much

Think I'm going to sort/tidy my chest of drawers and maybe tackle the ironing mountain.

And also think I may have cystitis [ouch]

at all this talk of sleep. too late with family last night & up too early with DS2, again.
Never mind tonight is early night & DH can get up first tomorrow. (despite him having a long work day, meanie that i am).

Left today:

• eat roast
• walk round block
• DC bath & bed
• early night

Mon:

• DH up first
• breakfast & tidy up
• DH to work
• everyone dressed
• soft play to meet friends (maybe madness....)
• home for lunch & DD nap
• round corner for Christmas fair type thingie
• tea & tidy up
• DC to bed
• early night (DH away)

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; DH still not done his parents ' Checking with his aunt for his mum ideas - no reply from her, has she gone away already?
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started

Ali - I don't blame you not making a birthday cake at this time of year. Cooking is knackering. I just made mince pies and am thinking we will buy another lot of them as its v tiring.

SweetSanta - that is a great sleep.

Freakoid - sleeping in the bath is high risk in your house! Hope the cat didn't get wet.

List
Take vits
Take in some dry cleaning
Toy shop DONE though got to go back
Remaining Xmas shopping - mainly for kids/friends
Make mince pies done

Xmas
Wrap presents for kids - started
Presents for CM - bought
Write xmas cards done
Post xmas cards done
Ice Christmas cake
Put up xmas decorations in house Done Some
Get some holly and ivy done
Check food shop delivery on 23rd and add stuff on
Check what food we want to eat at xmas and buy ingredients
Plan some stuff to do for kids in holidays
Clear areas of doom - started

Probably some other stuff.

Ready for an early night just watching Bones then i'm off to bed, ahhh beeeddddd

Left today:

• eat roast DONE
• walk round block DONE (frrreezing)
• DC bath & bed DONE
• early night soon

Mon:

• DH up first
• breakfast & tidy up
• DH to work
• everyone dressed
• soft play to meet friends (maybe madness....)
• home for lunch & DD nap
• round corner for Christmas fair type thingie
• tea & tidy up
• DC to bed
• early night (DH away)

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; DH still not done his parents ' Checking with his aunt for his mum ideas - no reply from her, has she gone away already?
• put cards up as they come Doing
• check any last changes to shopping order coming Tues evening
• get spare room ready for PIL (coming Thurs or Fri)
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started
• blitz downstairs loo

Morning all Had nearly 'enough' sleep last night, shame both boys were up early - mostly because DH didn't get up to DS2 quickly enough, grr.

Mon:

• DH up first DONE
• breakfast DONE & tidy up
• DH to work DONE
• everyone dressed DONE
• soft play to meet friends (maybe madness....)
• home for lunch & DD nap
• round corner for Christmas fair type thingie
• tea & tidy up
• DC to bed
• early night (DH away)

Christmas:

• last few presents to buy; DH still not done his parents ' Checking with his aunt for his mum ideas - no reply from her, has she gone away already?
• put cards up as they come; Doing
• check any last changes to shopping order coming Tues evening
• get spare room ready for PIL (coming Fri)
• what else?

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom;
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes; Bought 1 to test no good, need to keep looking
• sort iPhoto on laptop... no luck yet
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• fill out Organised Mum calendar; Started
• blitz downstairs loo

Morning peeps.
Nasty chest infection laying me low, woke up 3am on Saturday night gasping for air feeling like I had a skewer through my chest bone. . Anyway, on the bright side, no school run today, can just chill out ("chill" being the operative word!) and hopefully better in time for the festivities starting on Friday. Just need to chip away at a few jobs at home - the ironing, clean bedding fall asleep in front of Nanny McPhee with the DC etc.

Two gifts to buy - BIL and SIL, and my sister.... Otherwise, bar some fresh fruit and veg, juice and milk etc we are sorted.

Oh yes, except for the turkey. DH is in charge and I have no means of independently checking taking over the arrangements. I have absolutely no news as to:
a) whether a turkey is in fact on its way/has our name on it
b) when we might get it, and how
c) even roughly how big it it is......
d) as a result of c) whether I have a roasting pan big enough....

Luckily the nice lady at Waitrose said they get a special delivery of unreserved turkeys first thing on 23rd December for just this eventuality!!!! So I have a back up plan at least.

Today:

• Up, showered and dressed
• DC to school
• General tidy, make beds etc
• Fill/Run/Empty DW emptied
• Washing one load First load in
• Hoovering
• Ironing
• Strip and change beds one set in WM
• Order printer ink
• Pop into pub to check table for Xmas Eve
• Bathrooms
• On line banking/budget
• Chickens
• Dog
• Reading and homework with DC
• Make dinner

One off things this week/soon:

• Audio books for DC
• Work out outfit for 70's party
• DH?s tax return
• Window locks - chased
• Cash back for old mobiles?
• Musical instrument lessons for DS?
• Music downloads with vouchers doing
• Holiday Summer 2012 - insurance and car hire, pay deposit end Jan
• Booze run to France
• Call about tennis lesson
• Addresses onto computer
• Piano practice
• Time Machine for Mac to set up
• Choose photos for the wall
• Work out parental controls on Mac and Sky
• Life insurance to finalise
• Set up weather station
• Register with Anthony Nolan Trust
• Choose two outdoor lights
• Need Microwave and hard drive and camera
• Investigate beekeeping
• Study - major sort needed

Christmas

Decide venue DONE - at ours (as usual!)
Establish numbers DONE
Detailed food/shopping list just last fresh bits needed
Christmas Eve plan DONE - going out for dinner
Presents - list mostly complete, tot up what not ordered DONE
Cards and stamps to buy DONE
Wrapping paper and tags DONE
DC lists/letter to Santa DONE
Christmas Cinema trip Booked

I feel so ill
Didn't sleep last night due to high temp and needing to wee every 5 minutes. Feel like i need gas and air just to do a wee. Blood in it and everything. Have just spoken to gp and he is going to do me a prescription for an antibiotic, hopefully will be faxed through to my local pharmacy asap.

Was doing my ironing but felt too ill [anyoldexcuse]

Still have to make 2 presents and only have tomorrow to do it so hoping I feel a bit better then.

woe is me woe is me
(but at least my house is clean after yesterdays cleanathon)

Hope you feel better soon too anon