Festive building work, house moving and fledglings flying. Gotta be the December thread.

[CantSee4Looking]

Morning

It's December. Are you ready for this?
festive cleaning, decluttering and then the required throwing about of sparkly stuff in the name of the holidays? No? Yeah neither are the rest of us. But let's do this.

So we sorta follow the Fat fairy and her fly lady system. We have adapted to suit lifestyles and sometimes roll our eyes at the fluffiness of the website but we do:
1. 15mins decluttering
2. Missions and Zones
3. have a naughty corner bar but someone else can decorate it this year

All the links can be found from the launch pad

But as it is the 1st of December It is babystep 1. This one looks easy. Shine your sink.

missions are here

The zone is zone 1 which is the porch, dining room and hallway. 15minutes folks, 15 minutes. get that decluttering done.

Tuesday is planning day

And just for the crazy people Christmas missions are here

the 1st Christmas mission

Oh yeah, the disclaimers:
long running thread, regulars been here years so can seem clicky, we're not. Newbies are always welcome we just as you to be respectful

Really? Oh bollocks.

Love the sound of hurdy gurdy man, SC!

Glad you had such a good day, WhoKnows - sounds great.

I have solved the dilemma of the fact that DS1 wanted chocolate cake and DS2 wanted trifle for Christmas day pudding by overcooking and then breaking the cake. Mixed the pieces with tinned fruit, covered it with jelly and will serve with ice cream instead of custard and cream. Hey presto, everyone happy. (Well, except DH who will say it needs sherry!)

Apart from that, went to the park with a friend and her DC, who then came over for lunch - DS2 rode his bike again with only a few crashes. Just got to work on the steering now!

Have also made up the spare room and extracted all kinds of junk to put heaven knows where!

Thursday's Links

Launch pad
babystep
mission
Christmas mission
Thursday is errand day

Right as tomo is Christmas eve (and thus Christmas is some house holds) I shall NOT be posting any links tomo. IF you are crazy enough to want the links you will find them through the launch pad. Hope all the fledglings have a lovely time!

Well, lots to do today, so I am going to limit my screen time as well as that of the DCs. I would just like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and say a special thanks to Cantsee for running the thread in such a busy month and with all the difficulties building work brings .

Hi folks :)

Had a crappy few days, but looking forward to going to my mum's later when DH finishes work.

Should probably pack now.

Just popping in to say Merry Christmas as I don't think I've posted all December

I'm all set for Christmas and we're going to DP's sisters tomorrow. We've been given bonkers amount of presents for Meerkitten so her little head is going to pop! I plan to hold our presents back as it is just too much. It is lovely how excited family and friends are about her though.

I'm doing as well as I can with housework but it is hard when you have a baby that won't nap! Still if I focus on the positives I do keep on top of washing and washing up and I even managed to get on top of living room paperwork clutter at start of month but dining room table is my nemesis since Meerkitten arrived, I just cannot keep on top of it!

I haven't managed to catch up with the thread but it is my new years resolution to start doing some flying and keep up next year.

I did read the thread early in the month and particularly enjoyed the Christmas linens discussion/comments! No Christmas linen or even tablecloths or napkins of any description here!

I'm looking forward to my first happy Christmas in five years but also getting some last minute nerves. Meerkitten somehow makes everything seem possible though, if that isn't too soppy

Lots of love to you all and a very Merry Christmas!

Enjoy your Christmas with Meerkitten, Dogs.

Just popping in to wish you all a very happy Christmas. I'm not feeling in the slightest bit festive, but luckily none of that has rubbed off on DS2 who has decided to believe in Santa again and is all excited about tomorrow. He's even left out snacks for the reindeer and a small wrapped present for Santa am really hoping it's chocolate.

I was working up until this afternoon, so haven't had time to do anything to prepare, apart from wrapping presents. I haven't even put our cards up . Meanwhile, DH has done our Xmas shop at Aldi (saving loads of money), sorted out a broken boiler (it always seems to break just before Christmas ) and a burst tyre, as well as looking after the boys. He even tidied up DS2's messy bedroom today.

Am just waiting for DS2 to fall asleep so I can fill the stockings (ho ho ho) and then I'm going to bed myself.

Good luck with the Christmas stuff tomorrow everyone.

Santa's just been here, we definitely go back into believing mode when it gets to Christmas Eve, the DCs were in a right lather of excitement by bedtime. We spent the day tracking Santa on the NORAD website, which DS loves, being a geography nut. DD set a trap for Santa by tying a bell to the inside of her sticking, same as last year but I spotted it when I went in to say goodnight and she let me take it off again. Poor Santa!

Thanks Toffee sounds like your DH has really come through for you over Christmas. Sorry to hear that you aren't feeling festive but I guess working so late would make it hard. I hope you manage to enjoy Christmas.

Whoknows I love your DD's ingenuity and determination over Santa! I just used to try and fail to stay awake long enough.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmas lovely Fledglings!

Big feathery waves to everyone in the coop, lurking around, or hovering on the edge!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Christmas.

Hope you all have lovely days!

Despite being a cynical thing, ds was ricocheting around the rooms until gone 1am this morning. Crash through with excitement at 9:30am. He has wilfully employed Granddad into teaching him cribbage. And starting to calm down.

toffee hope you feel a bit more christmassy today
Whoknows smart dd and good spot!
Dogsbum awww have a lovely Christmas with Meerkitten
Fuzzpig Hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas and enjoy your festive board games
SC love the Christmas tree
Ellie my old friend, have a fucking marvellous christmas!
And for everyone else - I hope that this Christmas is everything you hope it to be.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Have had a lovely and mainly relaxed day here.

Lovely picture, SC.

And back to earth with a bump.

Although tomo is Boxing day there are links, you can chose to do them as not as you wish and fits with your family plans.

Launch pad
babystep 26
Saturday is family fun day
There are no missions because it is the weekend.

We are very much back to earth with a bump tomo as my car needs discovering in time for ds to take his trip for his second christmas. I also need new batteries for the tv remote as the poor thing is getting a battering

Beautiful photo, SC. Is that your home? It looks gorgeous.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas Day. All went well in the Toffee household, thankfully. The boys were really lovely - enjoyed opening their presents and were genuinely pleased and grateful for them. MIL also seemed to have a happy day with us.

Am wide awake now because I had a nap on the bed with two snuggly cats a while earlier. It gave me the energy to pack and finish tidying the house before our journey to my Mum's tomorrow morning. Am looking forward to eating a Xmas lunch I won't have to cook .

We're travelling today too, but not till this afternoon, so packing hasn't started yet. Everything went well yesterday, I feel a bit mixed about Christmas Day and don't terribly enjoy it for some reason that I can't put a finger on (love everything up to and including Chtistmas Eve, but not the big day itself).

Safe journeys to the both of you!

Slow day here and most of the to do list has been thrown out of the window. Looking forwards to getting a grip on the chaos in the house tomo. Hopefully sleep will happen tonight.

Hello everyone, sorry it's a bit late, but "Merry Christmas" to you all, you are a lovely bunch.

Hope you enjoy Meerkittens first Christmas Dogs

That's a lovely pic SC

Can't can you just drink lots of to keep out the cold from lack of radiator?!

Sorry yesterday was a bit flat for you Who, hope today felt better

and everyone else I've missed.

We were hosting Christmas this year and thanks to M&S the cooking went very smoothly. The kitchen was spotless before bed, everything cleaned and put away and the dining room nice and tidy too. Quite a surreal feeling... Mount Washmore on the other hand...

I'm not making any unachieveble New Years resolutions this year, instead I'm going to try to make decluttering a priority and be really focused on ruthless chucking out.

I've been on this thread for about 18 months now, and I just wanted to say what a lovely bunch you all are, how supportive and accepting everyone is. Looking forward to 2016 with you.

Sorry I've been MIA. moved house last week, go back to work after a year's mat leave next week and am drowning argh.
Hope everyone had a lovely Xmas.

Happy Boxing Day everyone!

Despite being a slightly strange Christmas Day without the children...it was one of the loveliest I have had in a long time (caveat being I missed the dc's dearly but there was nothing I could do about that). Had the most gorgeous time with DP and his dc's. Got spoilt rotten and spent most of it in a blissful state of slightly drunk. Without wanting to sound like a soppy shite...because I am not a soppy shite....it is amazing to finally be in a relationship which makes me truly happy and valued. (I make myself vomit sometimes if that helps). Xmas day part 2 happened today with the return home and pick up of dc's. 2nd xmas lunch cooked and i think i actually popped whilst eating it. Tomorrow is xmas day part 3. Dc's main pressie from dp and I are actually bikes but this they do not know. They are at dp's because i wanted him to be there when they got them. They are in a state of blissful ignorance and have no idea so they will be super surprised. Also tomorrow will be the first time all 4 of our dc's will have been together so fingers crossed for that.

I hope all the various travelling has gone well and you all have had fabulous family time.

sc your house looks gorgeous.

can'tsee I did have a fucking good xmas...see soppy shite bit above.

grey I wholeheartedly agree, been here more or less since the inception and although i go through phases of being utterly shite at posting these ladies are my friends and agony aunts and I luffs them (you being included in that).

Now pondering on the wisdom of wine. Dd placed in bed as she was about to hit meltdown with tiredness stage. Ds gone to bedroom to play various computer games and i am in front of tv. Wine seems like a good idea but possibly should not considering quantity consumed yesterday

I actually fixed the radiator. It was a trapped air issue so easy to fix in one respect a pain in another as it is always a tucked away hard to reach radiator that is the most full of air.

Grey it has been lovely having you here.

Scatty it is hard not to be drowning this time of year with all the chaos it brings let alone a recent house move. Just take it simply. Focus on progress and a little bit each day. Don't try to take on too much in one go. It will be ok. But do come and seek an ear to listen if you need it. There are many wise fledglings on this thread not me, i'm the one with attitude but the others are. They have a whole wealth of tips and tricks and kind words for those in need.

Nearly forgot. Ellie good luck tomo and gladyou had a good one.

Right Linkie poos.

27th December. - yep had a minor moment and forgot that actually this was a sunday
So as such there are no missions - YAY!
Sunday is renew your spirit day - so basically christmassy stuff counts as flying. Oh yes this is going to be easy.
babystep

And of course for those who wish it there is a sneak peak to next weeks missions on the launch pad

Thanks can't see.

It's been so long since I've lived in complete chaos that I'm finding it awful now. Hubby is decorating our bedroom today while I take the kids out and we get our furniture on Tuesday which I'm so excited about as it means I can put clothes away yay.