Calling all steppers old and new, fancy joining me ready for the September thread

[CatsInChaos]

Come and sign in here ready for September and the return to school.

Where we attempt Flylady babysteps or whatever we can get done!

Where are you all? Zoo, Carrots, bessie, Adora, Scout, Camper and any newcomers who would like to join.

No real plan, bessie, just a renewed spirit.

Scout I hope you and Mr Scout had a nice anniversary

It's been a busy day here in Chez Adora, had a handy man come round to fix the leaking pipe, it had split below the cut off. Luckily it's an outside tap so no water damage. Then I went into town and did shopping, picked up DCs, home to tidy up and sort out as a new estate agent is taking pics tomorrow. All rooms are now spotless and I'm whacked! DW is on for the second time this evening and all I have to do in the morning is vacuum, make beds and tidy up anything the dogs have wrecked overnight. DD1's BF is doing extremely well, he's home from hospital and can walk but is off school. One lucky kid.

I'm on the school run in the morning, so packed lunches are all done.

First post from my phone -- will it work?

Seems to have worked fine.

I'm taking a break

Estate agent has been, before she arrived (at 11) I did the following

Breakfast for family -OH did the school run
Packed family off to school
WM on
Let gardener in
My breakfast
Vacuumed upstairs
Hung washing outside
Put outside cushions back on patio furniture
Wiped bathrooms
Wiped kitchen surfaces again
Shined kitchen sinks
Swept then vacuumed kitchen
Made beds, DD's had been stripped because one of them wet last night
Vacuumed downstairs
Emptied DW
Re-filled DW
Stuffed dirty clothes in to WM to hide them
Odd bit of here and there between jobs

Then my ironing lady, who OH has just hired to help keep the house under control as well as ironing, arrived and said "so, where shall I start" I almost laughed. Anyway, she's doing a couple of afternoons a week now so when something needs doing, or delivering, or whatever, I'm not stuffed in terms of collecting DDs or keeping appointments.

Not having a car available to me has helped me increase my activity levels but hasn't done much for being at home. Whenever we go to groups the length of time out has increased 2 to 3 times. We've been going to a new group on Tuesdays. The activity/group is an hour long but I need to leave about an hour for us to get there because it's about a mile away, no direct route from here to there and down then hill then up again (mostly up) so if Toddler walks the entire way (which he does) it takes AGES to get there. Then it's another hour or so home. But, like last week, we went via Tesco so added at least 1/2 mile to our trip and increased our time. We left around 12:30 and didn't get in until after 4:30.

I do feel like I haven't done anything this afternoon (though I know I have).

I know what you mean Scout , having a car cuts so much time off errands and activities.

Tonightn I'm looking up dog aggression, think I have a problem brewing with the Pirate and Houdini, both females and Pirate is becoming aggressive. So, tomorrow it's the vets and then find someone to talk to. A friend uses a former police dog trainer for her dogs, I may speak to him or see what the vet says.

Well, being carless means more walking and suddenly Toddler's walking miles (instead of asking to be carried or for a ride/push). Today we went to Tesco just to go for a walk and had a drink, did a bit of shopping and walked back via the playground. Even though the swimming pool is closer than the grocery store I'll probably still take the stroller tomorrow swimming takes it out of the poor boy and he usually just wants to sit and be quiet and eat-- on the way home.

Guess what? I've been congratulated on doing, I'm going to quote here,

A fantastic job

The estate agent who came back to re-do photos was talking about how much clutter I've banished now I just have to keep the place clear and clean.

DDs have lost three very large plastic crates, they will go through and chuck out over the next couple of weeks. OH yesterday mentioned buying even more plastic crates to pack for moving, if we ever sell. He then said "we won't need to unpack them" so I'm thinking if we don't need to unpack it we don't need to take it with us!

Washed all four dogs this afternoon, Teddy Bear won - I was soaked, luckily it was a warm afternoon. Only 24 degrees, but warm enough to use the hose pipe on them.

Well done adora! It will be so much easier to keep clean now there is less clutter. My living room is a breeze to clean atm, as there are hardly any toys in there. Unfortunately, they are all piled up in the dining room!

I did make a start on tidying it the other day, I filled a box with baby toys that neither of the girls play with anymore (unless they see them!)

The next problem is that I am still unable to part with any baby stuff "just in case" I am almost 40 & we can't afford another DC, so I know it's not going to happen, but I'm not ready to part with anything yet - which is starting to drive DH potty!

I am not right so not much done today. Stuff still accomplished but not the amount I hoped for.

Scout I hope you feel better soon.

I've kinda had a day off, ha ha. Washing the dogs gave me a back ache so I had a nice hot bubble bath and other than a bit of laundry, bit of baking, and general tidying then dinner and DW, have taken it easy. Needed to get a few things and had to squeez in a rush trip into town before the school run.

The car has been smelly recently, clean and shiny but a bit musty. I've been looking for something the DDs may have left in there, you know the type of thing. Snack stuffed under the seat, discarded school sock in the door etc. Eventualy today I found the source of the pong. We had lunch out last Saturday and brought home a doggy bag with steak and fish. OH said he would give it to the dogs. I should know by now, my OH is a disgusting creature so I need to check that he's dealt with things. It was under the rug he keeps in the boot, to stop the boot getting dirty poking with an extra pointy stick might help

DDs made a huge mess decorating shop bought cup cakes. They did a half decent job of tidying up after themselves so I don't mind. I've decided to buy a few things in to give myself breathing space in terms of school snacks. I need to sort through my cupboards and freezers to make sure I use stuff up and I keep getting waylaid by day to day things. Tomorrow I have to be home in the morning, handyman is collecting a piece of furniture, and so I plan to make a start then.

Other than that, where is everybody??

No work for me today, but am taking both girls to the hairdressers this morning - it will be DD2s first trip & am a bit worried she won't sit still!

Bribe her, if she's a big girl and sits still she gets a treat.

I'm about to get cracking on the contents of kitchen cupboards, I may be some time

She's only 17m, would bribery work yet? "Later" seems to still be an alien concept to her, everything is NOW! She was quite good, a bit wriggly, but no tears & seemed to enjoy it (especially the lollipop afterwards!) DD1 was very well behaved & helpful too, so I have no complaints!

I must clear out my kitchen cupboards, I'm not sure I've done them since the kitchen was fitted! (nearly 5 years ago)

Ah, I forgot she was so young, glad it went well.

I've done 1cupboard, breakfast cereals and snacks etc. I've put it off partly because of avoiding the being reminded of the last woman I had helping here. She turned very aggressive and quite nasty, but she's not here now. Anyway, I found numerous pots and jars where she'd put things like 3 raisins in a pot, 5 peanuts in another etc. the cupboard is half empty now. I'll start on the next one in a minute.

AAAhhhh, Mondays, how I love and loathe thee.

I'm with you there Scout.

DDs are in school, OH has just left for work and the dogs and housework can wait until I've had a bubble bath.

What's up at Chez Scout?

Your old cleaner sounds mental adora

I decided to ask DH to wipe out the kitchen cupboards this week (I thought I would ease him in gently before getting him to scrub the loos) - I wonder how many he'll manage?

Work tomorrow. I'd better go to bed.

She started off fine bessie, then went kinda Pyscho when she wanted to work closer to home, instead of just saying "I'm resigning" we had a week of her screaming, literally, about the devil and his fornications and she finally decided she couldn't work for me any longer because I wasn't embracing her newly rediscovered belief in God and so she couldn't save my soul. Can you see why I've been putting off delving into the cupboards? I can laugh about it now but at the time I was what is she screeching? She was quite lucid the following week when I met her to do the official paperwork for resigning. She'd started another job with less travelling too.

I'll catch up tomorrow, need to get back to dinner now, roast sausages 'n' taters with salad. Nearly cooked but I need to prep the salad.

Toddler's going through a phase of not allowing me on the computer much without him interfering helping. I really miss the pep talks and posting lists and support.

My sympthasise Scout

Hey all!

I know, a blast from the past, right?

Well, we've a busy couple of months here with Lol turning 3, Muddles turning 1 and me turning.....a year older!!!

But I'm back! We have ramped up our schedule abit so I need to be even more organised with different bags for things and different events going on. Lol has started ballet dance lessons on a Thursday and I have just started up a Beaver Colony, so that has wiped out our Thursdays as we already do a group in the morning! And we've started going to a pre- pre-school toddler group at what will be her school on a Wednesday so there's that added. And I've found a group that runs on a Friday that me and Muddles can go to on our own as Lol is in Nursery/pre-school!!! Add this to Tots on a Monday and a standing playdate on a Tuesday and we have a busy old week!!!!

So, I need to get organised and Flying again ASAP!

Ta da;
up and dressed
breakfast
Lol to Pre-school
Drs app for me
Mums and Tots - me and Muddles
Orange rang
HSBC rang
Muddles for nap
Tea for me and MrCamper sorted - slow cooker pork sweet and sour

To Do;
Bathroom RR
Kitchen RR
Find the black cable MrCamper has lost
Living room RR
Clean fridge
Hoover
Wash up
Lunch for me and Muddles
2 pattern sets on friends scarf for b'day

Right, off to do!!!!

I am exhausted just reading your list! Happy Birthday to the littlies - DD1 is 4 next week so we have the GP coming round for birthday cake - must sort out the dining room

My word, that schedule is ramped up, isn't it? Congrats on all the birthdays.

I spent yesterday de-moulding the washing machine. I've been forgetting to remove the draw after each use, doh! And the service washes have been too few and far between. OH is away next week so I plan to take advantage of free evenings and organise a few more things. Kitchen cupboards are done, I need to tidy my wardrobe. It's all open shelves so too easy to look cluttered even though it's not over full. Then I'll tackle to crates that I removed to the garage, I can get rid of stuff without being watched. It's difficult because he's a bit of a hoarder, DDs are copying him and I'm a reformed hoarder, kinda like a born again minimalist.