Managing the mayhem in March, Babysteps - Part Two

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Welcome to part 2 of babysteps through March.

We are aiming for a more tidy, organised and less cluttered home one babystep at a time.

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My dmum has a tiny little zip up bag that she takes with her when we eat out and go to cafes which, over the 11 years of her having grandchildren, has acquired a large number of small wind up toys, alongside bendy men etc.

My absolute favourite is the wind up caterpillar It is aged now (about 10yo) and still going.

Babystep 22 - sort out your Control Journal

Thanks for the link again bessie. My control journal is a lot of bits of paper stuck to the inside of our big larder corner cupboard door. I will go and have a good look at it.

Ta Das:
washed and dressed to shoes
ds's lunch and snacks made
dcs to school
Twilight walked

I seem to have ground to a halt. I ache all over and have no idea why. It's as if I have been to a hard going exercise class but I haven't. Even my finger joints are sore. Any suggestions what is wrong/how to fix it?

Pointy stick very much required please

Ta Dahs for today:

Toddler & I up and dressed to shoes
Last night's dishes washed up
Breakfast dishes washed up
Swimming bag packed
Picnic lunch packed
Tires on the stroller pumped up
Train track built in the way
Train tickets for Saturday purchased
Three Guiding emails sent

To Do:
Calpol Toddler before swimming & picnic (so he can enjoy himself)
Swimming & Picnic
Hang up wet swimming stuff
Wash up slow cooker
Guiding emails (still need to do a few more)
Wash down stove and wall
Dry sheets
Remake bed
Wrap & freeze chicken (we bulk-buy some meats now because it's cheaper, but I just need to wrap it up and freeze it since the packages are too big for one meal to just pop it as-is into the freezer)
Start charging camera batteries (in preparation for Saturday)
Make list of everything needed for Saturday
Finish emergency contact list (for Saturday)
Email finished contact list to our home contct (for Saturday)

My friend I'm supposed to be meeting up with this afternoon (a non-mum friend from my "previous life") is poorly this morning (dodgy tummy) so might not make her meeting in my town and therefore not able to meet for coffee. Though, given everything I hope to accomplish today, it might be a bit of a blessing.

Wow! Go Scout! That is a fab list

carrots do you think you could be coming down with something? Aches like I'd been over doing it in aerobics was EXACTLY how I felt when I came down with the flu a couple of years ago.

Sorry scout posted too soon. An very impressed by the list, what are you doing on Saturday?

I'm off to get lunch & swimming bags prepped.

bessie I am fighting off a cold so that may be what is doing it. I have gradually got myself warmed up and moving and squeezed myself into the tiny space which is called our ensuite and cleaned the floor on my hands and knees. I had to take a q tip to the gap at the bottom of our shower door as it was full of fluff and I couldn't get it out. I have to admit that I felt very silly while I did it but it was very satisfying to get it all out [bleurgh!]

I did the tiles on the lower half of the wall as well and it is all lovely and sparkly now. Yay!

Ta Dahs:

Calpol Toddler before swimming & picnic (so he can enjoy himself)
Swimming & Picnic
Hang up wet swimming stuff
Wash up slow cooker
Guiding emails (still need to do a few more) Did a few, need one or two more
Wash down stove and wall
Dry sheets
Remake bed
Wrap & freeze chicken (we bulk-buy some meats now because it's cheaper, but I just need to wrap it up and freeze it since the packages are too big for one meal to just pop it as-is into the freezer)
Start charging camera batteries (in preparation for Saturday)
Make list of everything needed for Saturday
Finish emergency contact list (for Saturday)
Email finished contact list to our home contct (for Saturday)
Uploaded pictures from picnic/playground

Having a ten minute break then will go off to the kitchen.

bessie, I'm taking my Seniors into London on Saturday. That means a lot of paperwork. MrScout is going as my second adult and since it's a long day (about 13 hours) Toddler will be going with us, too. So I have all of the normal Guiding stuff I need to take (paperwork, lunch, etc) AND a day's worth of stuff for Toddler (nappies, drinks, snacks, etc). But because there's so much stuff to remember unit stuff and personal/toddler stuff if I don't make a list and pack tomorrow I might forget something.

Scout that sounds very exciting. What are you planning to do in London? I used to take teenagers down for a week when I was still teaching and we had a great time. We did get chauffered everywhere by our coach drivers though so that made it much easier.

Ta Das:
loaded dw
cleaned worktops
had a shower
put a wash on
cleaned the ensuite loo thoroughly
remembered to eat some lunch
chatted to a good friend on the phone for ages

Ta Dahs:

Wash up slow cooker
Guiding emails (still need to do a few more) (might be done now)
Wash down stove and wall
Dry sheets
Remake bed
Wrap & freeze chicken (we bulk-buy some meats now because it's cheaper, but I just need to wrap it up and freeze it since the packages are too big for one meal to just pop it as-is into the freezer)
Start charging camera batteries (in preparation for Saturday)
Make list of everything needed for Saturday -- I've started this but don't feel I can say it's complete
Take Trash Out

We're going to do the self-guided Harry Potter Tour. So, go around London and see some places that were in the eight movies. We're going to have a picnic lunch and a pizza dinner and do a little shopping. We're also doing a Promise Ceremony at Platform 9 3/4. Busy day!

Sounds great Scout!

Ta Das:
picked up dcs from school
took dd and friend to activity
took ds to park
posted ebay parcel
hoovered out car
fed dogs

Now just off to pick up the girls again!

I feel like I am running a marathon today!

More Ta Dahs:

Wash down stove and wall
Remake bed
Start charging camera batteries (in preparation for Saturday)
Make list of everything needed for Saturday (I think I've remembered everything but I reserve the right to add to it!)
Put away trains

Still To Do:
Wash up (have to wait until MrScout gets home/eats before I'll attempt it)
Wash down stove (it's still hot from cooking and I'll just have to heat it up again in a few minutes)
Restock diaper bag

sounds like an exciting trip scout! I would also have lists of lists (and possibly a spreadsheet) for such an outing!

Ta Das

• all the usual stuff
• took DD2 swimming
• had my parents round so they could 'experience' bath/bed time ready for their babysitting duties next weekend.
• DH had washed up/shined sink/cleaned hob before he went to the pub
• made reward chart for tomorrow
• had a bath
• applied face pack
• looked at next sale - I don't know why I bother, I can never find anything to buy

To Do

• wash face pack off
• write a note for DH asking him to bring stuff in from TD when he gets in

Babystep 23 - add an afternoon routine to your CJ.

bessie, you should see me when I go to camp. My lists and spreadsheets have lists and spreadsheets! I start months in advance for camp. It's scary.

Ta Dahs:
Toddler breakfasted
Last night's pan washed up
New train track pattern set up through living room
Camera Battery 1 on to charge
Nappy bag ready to go for today
Books packed up to show friend (meeting today)

To Dos:
Calpol Toddler before soft play (not sure about this -- we'll see how he goes)
Dress Toddler and I to shoes
Bank
Soft Play with big kid friends
Tesco (top up of picnic lunch stuff for tomorrow)
Stock diaper bag for tomorrow (have full list of stuff to ensure I have, including extra nappies, two sets of emergency clothes, snacks, drinks, tissues, Calpol, etc)
Prep as much of tomorrow's lunch stuff as possible (including making sandwiches, packing fruit & drinks up, etc)
Pack up Seniors' paperwork, maps, tickets, Promise Badge (for ceremony), tour guide, etc
Charge camera battery 2
Charge phone
Make sure everything's in camera bag (camera, lenses, Toddler's camera, spare batteries, map, emergency change, etc)
Wash down stove & wall with degreaser (didn't do it yesterday)
Clear out car (currently housing two bags and a box of crafts from Seniors and I don't want it on show at the station carpark)
Take out trash & recycling
Bath Toddler
Wash up today's dishes and pots
What's for dinner? -- Spag bol
Clean up toys before bed
Get to bed early (must meet at train by 8 a.m. tomorrow!)

I'm sure there's more but my actual written down list is in the kitchen (and I am not).

I have followed your lead and written a huge list Scout although it is not as huge are yours.

carrots, I often find I have running to do lists but have found the last fews I more often than not don't do them. So putting everything down here, even the routine/daily jobs (such as washing up, which does get put on my paper to do list daily), I'm more likely to do them.

So far the only Ta Dahs I have are:

Calpol Toddler before soft play (not sure about this we'll see how he goes) Didn't need it in the end
Dress Toddler and I to shoes
Bank
Soft Play with big kid friends
Charge camera battery 2

We've only been home a few minutes but Toddler's down for a nap. I'm going to make some soup and play for a few minutes then off to do more of my list.

Scout thank you for reminding me to charge the camera battery for tomorrow. I need to empty the memory on the camera too.

Ta Dahs:

Calpol Toddler before soft play (not sure about this we'll see how he goes)--
Dress Toddler and I to shoes
Bank
Soft Play with big kid friends
Tesco (top up of picnic lunch stuff for tomorrow)
Stock diaper bag for tomorrow (have full list of stuff to ensure I have, including extra nappies, two sets of emergency clothes, snacks, drinks, tissues, Calpol, etc)
Prep as much of tomorrow's lunch stuff as possible (including making sandwiches, packing fruit & drinks up, etc)
Pack up Seniors' paperwork, maps, tickets, Promise Badge (for ceremony), tour guide, etc
Charge camera battery 2
Charge phone
Make sure everything's in camera bag (camera, lenses, Toddler's camera, spare batteries, map, emergency change, etc)
Wash down stove & wall with degreaser (didn't do it yesterday)
Clear out car (currently housing two bags and a box of crafts from Seniors and I don't want it on show at the station carpark)
Take out trash & recycling
Bath Toddler
Wash up today's dishes and pots -- half done but dishes/pots still being utilized
What's for dinner? Spag bol--
Clean up toys before bed
Get to bed early (must meet at train by 8 a.m. tomorrow!)

Well done Scout - that is a lot achieved today.

That's not including the stupid amount of time I've spent on SS finances. Blurgh.

I am debating whether I bake a home made sponge for tomorrow for the one child I know won't like the sponge with jam in it or whether I just leave it.

Personally, and perhaps I'm mean, I'd leave it and tell the kid to eat aroud the jam. Unless, of course, that child is your own then I'd say make a separate sponge.