We may be in our lockdown cages but our wings aren’t clipped! Flapping Fledglings Flying Amicably Through April, thread 2!

[LaneBoy]

Just opening the new thread while I have a chance! All welcome here, join in with the housework chat, the keep calm corner and general ramblings about life in lockdown!
Any of us have been here a long time so we may seem cliquey but it’s never intentional - newbies and returners are always welcome.

Not caught up but just wanted to say hi to very and welcome! :) And yeah, zero minimalism required 😅 frankly I just aspire to being able to see more floor 😳

No minimalism here either . Another recommendation for Orchard Games, we've still got several, we liked Greedy Gorillas, Shopping List, Wild World Lotto but not Bus Stop. We lost a part of one of them and I emailed OG to see if they had spares they said sadly not for that game at the moment but that they would do me one next time they did a production run and sure enough it appeared in the post a few months later . I like word games but DH hates them, he has a really poor vocabulary for someone so intelligent (I think he is undiagnosed dyslexic).

Fluffiest - my mum had a 1960s book called "In Search of Charm" from which I learned how to get out of a car in a mini skirt without showing my knickers (never open the door yourself, let the man walk round and do it for you). Also that if you drop your napkin in a restaurant you don't pick it up, you say "oh dear, I have dropped my napkin" and the man will dash to your aid once again . I did love the book though.

Thanku lane I’m the same. Some days I just think I can’t be bothered to pick everything up off the floor when it’s gonna be the same again tomorrow

Thanks ED I’m having a look now. We are in the shielded group so it might give us something to do over the weeks we have to spend inside!

lane my bedroom has a floor somewhere
Ed we loved shopping list too,and pop to the shops,two by twowhat rubbish?(I think it's called that,a game of what you can recycle) they still play...we had loads of others.im hoarding them in hope playing again with grandchildren❤️

More washing sorted
Nice hot shower and sorted my toenails
Now sat on my bum in big floofy t-shirt/sweatshirt thingy watch call the midwife on netflix(third time we have watched all from start to finish.we on season 4.again)

Tonight's tea-
Little ones-pasta with butterbeans,courgette,cherry toms and pesto.think there's a little d.f cheese left too.yogurt and blueberries to follow

For dd2 I think it will be parsnip and almond cutlets with rosemary.green beans,carrots,and sweet potato wedges with lots salt and pepper and dollop of the pesto.i feel a sweet potato wedge sandwich might hit the spot,esp with some cheese!!

FFS *what rubbish

Thanks to everyone who recommended orchard. There’s some good games there I’ve ordered a few but they also have some downloadable activities co we can do them tomorrow

Welcome Averytiredmom I am another one who would recommend Orchard games. We had quite a lot at school and I had a few.

Played a lot of games with my cousins as big gap between me and my sisters. We were only allowed to watch cowboy films once a week. I don’t remember watching anything else. We didn’t have a tv. My uncle worked three jobs for his large family so he had the television on Saturday afternoons to watch the sport. He read, listened and watched sport. I think he only had one afternoon off and Sunday morning where he took half the family to Mass. When we were teenagers we went to another and took several youngsters with us. Saturday nights the teens were allowed the kitchen ( if they washed up and swept the floor ,sometimes washed) and we played board games but progressed to cards when I was about 14. Learnt most games from my older boy cousin and his mates. Must go.

bower I remember playing with the shopping list games when I was at school, and the tummy ache one. They’ve changed a tad but I’m so excited to play them with the boys!.

All boys are asleep now so I’ve washed up and put a load of laundry in. I’ll put them on the clothes horse to dry. And then I’m off to bed. I might tidy the toys up but they’re going to be used again in the morning🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh yes, Tummy Ache, how could I have forgotten that one!

How many boys do you have? I have three and my best friend has three then I went and had a surprise in more ways then one. My bf helped look after her as I was in the middle of a two year college course. So she felt like she had six brothers. The funny thing was that I had the eldest then bf had one a year younger then my DS2 was about 18 mths younger then her DS2 was about 18 mths younger then my DS3 then hers was 13 months younger. We got some looks when we went out together. Her boys feel quite protective over DD. Her eldestDs1 (2 Dd)and youngest (DS3 x3) have children. I don’t have any grandchildren. I have 🐓 chickens🤣 I work in a Primary school but not at the moment.

ALL : I have chickens. The pips have arrived. I had a phone call tonight so nipped up to collect them. It was a surprise because I didn’t know what was in the box until I let them out. They are making quite a bit of noise he he! I shall have to try and get a photo and learn how to put it on here.

It has been a bit of a strange day not all as planned.

Ta da
S&S
Cat fed
Chickens fed
Me fed
DH fed
Sitting room window dusted. I still have Easter tree and a big bunny and the cross in the window
All surfaces dusted.
Floor vacuumed
Logs in - DH
Decluttered a small pile of magazines. Thought I had done these but stuffed under the sofa. Recipes out😉Zoo

Bed made
LoL
Anti procrastination - made myself feel physically ill because I knew
I had to phone the vet. Anyway at 2 pm avoiding lunch break I phoned and instead of going tomorrow they had an appointment this afternoon. So cat has had bloods again. She has put on some weight which is brilliant. So they are going to check kidneys too. She is such a sweet natured cat and DD started crying when I told her on my birthday that cat wasn’t well. She is about 19.

Favourite cake pre DFree - Napoleons or Lamingtons mmm must make some.

Favourite game
Probably ahhh my memory I can’t remember what it is called. Various ages can play. DD beat everyone including bf and bf husband, us and DS1. Will have to come back and tell you.

I was thrilled when I found the proper old illustration version of tummy ache in a charity shop. I’d completely forgotten about the game but seeing it made me remember it very fondly :)

I loved the shopping list game which the Caglets had, been very tempted to buy some but she’s only 2.5 so I might just try making a simpler one first. Any excuse to draw stuff (I haven’t actually drawn just for myself for about six weeks). I’ve been trying to make something else today but I need a Stanley knife and obviously that is the kind of thing that is never around when you need it because the house is a mess! 😳🤦‍♀️

ta da
🤔supervised a bit of learning - motivation mega low from all of us today, in particular maths with DD1 was like pulling teeth
🤔chatted on the phone with two people - one completely unexpected which was lovely
🤔tried some new activities with Cagletini (beads on pipe cleaners were a hit!)
🤔sorted out some clothes from the charity bag for someone to collect tomorrow, they need them for a family they’re supporting who can’t get clothes for their toddler. Had hoped to get into the cupboard to look through a bit more but too many BRCs in the way (for newbies - this means Box of Random Crap)
🤔started making activity thing and continued previous one a bit (clearly can’t just finish one thing before starting another )
🤔downloaded some free console games and had a bit of family fun rediscovering old iPad games
🤔did my workout
🤔felt sorry for self due to achy post-workout knees
🤔persuaded Caglets to try a Joe Wicks video
🤔booked FaceTime “meeting” with support worker tomorrow

Just checking in before I get too far behind on the thread.

Few ta Das:
✅ S & s
✅ ironed work tunics which I’d forgotten about
✅ LOL
✅ interesting chat with a senior colleague about areas I’m interested in progressing in. I’ve been meaning to catch her for a chat (think I mentioned it previously - there’s a promotion coming up but in an area I’m not that interested in, and wanted to find out whether it would mean giving up the aspects of the job I most enjoy. I’m leaning toward snot going for it). The chat was cut short but she approached me so it felt promising.
✅ it’s pay day 🎉 so did the monthly budgeting, savings transfer etc. Must spend less on food this month, my waistline and bank balance are pleading with me.

Welcome Tired, good to have you on board.

Bower hope the chickens are settling well.

Waves to Foxes, Chic, Zoo, Megiddo, Hazel, SC, ED, Lisette, Happiness, Lane, Fluffiest, Cineraria, We3 and stressy. Hope I’ve got you all, apologies if not.

We don’t have many board games although I loved them as a child so Im looking forward to building a collection with DD. She loves playing pairs (and actually beats me and DH regularly). DH and I sometimes play scrabble once she’s in bed, and Monoploy sometimes comes out at family gatherings, though one of my sisters is banned. Now, off to look at orchard games...

Ah, missed the lovely That. I’m useless.

And clearly I meant Monopoly

bower I have 3 boys. I don’t think I’ll be having anymore (I mean I can’t considering I’m not doing any baby making). But if I did I think I’d like another boy, I really enjoy having boys. I think I’d rather chickens than another child though

lane the shopping list game has changed since I remember it, the list is on a tablet now!.

I’m going stir crazy inside lol. We are shielded so we can’t go for our walks. I am getting cabin fever now.

That is why I just mention a few at a time. I can never remember everyone.

I have spent the last hour trying to remember find the name of Thant board game. I kept thinking M... Marathon but know that was a Snickers sweet. Eventually I find it selling on eBay for £57 😳 DH has just said “ flog it” it says age 8 but DD could play it at five and beating adults. She was shrewd. BF’s DH gave her a couple of tiles and when she announced she had won he didn’t believe her until he checked her board.
It is called Mandarin.

Welcome tiredmom 👋 I decluttered a lot when I started flying but we are still nowhere near minimalist.

I was also going to say I collect kids that 😂. We always get a fridge magnet everywhere we go so I guess we collect them. I also like owls so have a lot of owl things but that's mainly because other people buy me them.

We love board games. DC favourites are probably cluedo and beat the parents (we played both of these this evening actually) they also like dobble, uno, chess, monopoly, word search game, scrabble and loads more. DS3 loves snakes and ladders and frustration. We also have orchard games but rarely use them tbh. If we're playing with adults we usually play cards against humanity. We don't have a trivial pursuit game so I think that's what I'll get next. They always get a new board game each at Xmas and birthdays. I don't really know any card games other than solitaire, switch and snap.

House is still tidy. Somehow managing to stay on top of it around schoolwork. Today's ta-da's
✔️ breakfast for everyone (cereal)
✔️ Dishes done, beds made, DC dressed
✔️hoover
✔️ LOL
✔️ I got bathed and dressed while DC did Joe wickes
✔️ bit of school work
✔️ went for a walk
✔️ made lunch (either omelette or dippers and tater tots depending who was eating it oh and veggie sausage sarnie for DS1)
✔️ DC played hide and seek while I cleaned up from lunch
✔️ more school work
✔️ made ants on a log for DC snack
✔️ uploaded school work for teachers
✔️ made dinner (keema curry and rice & veggie version for DS1)
✔️ dishes, clean tables, hoover, ironing
✔️ another LOL
✔️ bath and bed for small 2
✔️ played board games with big 2
And now they're in bed so I can relax 😴

Oh just remembered another game the kids love Labyrinth.

I can't ever remember all of my replies either. I think things as I'm going down the posts and by the time I get to the bottom 💨 they've gone.

I wanted four but DH said three was plenty. It was a bit of a surprise even my GP said she was puzzled as I conceived really early in my cycle.Not only that I was on the pill and DH worked away for three weeks at a time! Never say never! I was convinced I was having another boy and had a name picked out for him.She is an absolute joy. She was the sweetest little girl everyone loved her. She skipped along with blond ringlet curls bouncy as she went. She was a bit moody as a teen but not bad really. Her friends were all a bit alternative and I just love them visiting. It will be a year next month since I have seen her😪

*KTC I have been down and it is all quiet. The pips are sleeping in cardboard boxes for the time being. I‘ll keep them separate for a few days then let then in one evening. They are bandies like the other one, Gladys.

We3
I used to often do that and ended up with too many on the fridge.
I also collected unusual ones like a frog with wobbly legs. I put them in a large biscuit tin and played Kim’s game using them in Nurture Group the kids always wanted to play it after the holidays because they knew I would have new ones. I have about twenty in the tin. We covered them with a cloth and we started with remembering three to start with. They loved playing games because not many parents bothered. It taught them lots of things other than how to play the game.

Welcome averytiredmom I wish I could go minimalist, but it will never happen with living with others! I also don't think I could go that extreme, but trying to avoid buying more stuff for my house.

Ta Das;

🌺 Excess shoes put away from out of the living room.

🌺 Decorative plate thrown away since it was damaged (didn't realise until today)

🌺 Cleared off desk. I found papers dated 2013 that needed to be either filed or thrown out! I think they were papers I wasn't sure if we would need them. I emptied 3 shelves and hope they stay that way.

🌺 Thoroughly cleaned living room, including desk. Was very dusty and neglected. Think there's still a little more to do, but that can be done another day.

🌺 Swept and mopped main parts of the house.

🌺 4 LOLs, including towels. Only one load left.

🌺 Cleaned Keurig.

🌺 Hand washed some dishes and wiped counters.

🌺 Put clean laundry away, set aside ironing.

We love playing games in our family!

♠️ Newmarket.

♠️ Boggle.

♠️ Monopoly Empire.

♠️ Mysterium.

♠️ UNO Attack.

♠️ Phase 10.

👋 Hello everyone!

Thanku we3 and hazel. Minimalism isn’t for me I don’t think..maybe when the kids are older. But I quite like clutter.

bower I’ll definitely never say never, but not for a long time now. There’s 16 months between my first 2 and then 13 months between my 2nd. So I want to give my body a bit of a break. DS3 is 8 month now, I’ve never got this far without being pregnant again!. I also don’t have a man, so will wait until that comes along too (if it ever does). Your DD sounds lovely, I bet it was a shock after having boys, I couldn’t imagine a girl now. I’m so sorry it’s been so long since you saw her.

DS3 is teething so he’s been waking up in the nights crying. All 3 are in the same room too and he’s waking his brothers up, so now all 3 are in my bed watching Ben and holly. I might move DS3 into my room for the time being, until he’s through the teething, but I think I’ll miss these cuddles with the big 2.

I have 5. Four boys and then dd is middle child. Less than 12 years between number 1 and number 5! So yeah we are definitely not minimalist!
I have one child who hoards things and another who spends all day moving things around the house!

Ooh yes labyrinth is a fab game, DS asked to play this morning. We have the anniversary edition with special powers on some of the non-item cards. They’re underneath so perhaps if you were careful you could add them yourself actually 🤔 pics enclosed in case anyone fancies jazzing up their copy with a sharpie!

Also here’s a pic of the announcement I just sent via Alexa to the bedrooms to wake DD1 and DH up! (Starting home ed at 9 is defo the biggest struggle of the timetable! Although while typing DD1 has emerged from her dungeon!)

ta da since I woke up just after 5 and couldn’t get back to sleep
🥰yoga
🥰game with DS
🥰toddler in clean nappy and breakfasted
🥰rinsed new Tupperware ready for making trail mix later
🥰watched first 45 mins of Twelfth Night as it expires tomorrow - hadn’t realised it has another of my fave actors in it (Oliver Chris), great so far! I can’t concentrate on Shakespeare for long though :o
🥰put second layer of jelly on top of what I made last night (using up half a leftover packet)
🥰put a quick wash on - someone is collecting toddler clothes just after 12 and although they are clean they’d been packed away for ages so I figured I’d refresh them

Launch pad

Anti procrastination day! I can think of several things I should do for that 😳

💜💜💜 kcc 💙💙💙

Today’s uploads:

• maths joke 🙄
• a rather lovely poster I saw on FB, by someone called Emma Paxton
• Lion King reenactment 😅

Today’s question: Do you have favourite pieces of clothing? What kind of things do you feel happiest in and has it changed during lockdown?

I’m pretty boring myself. I hate clothes shopping mainly because I am really fussy about textures - I can rule out 90% of a shop just by a quick glance 😳 I just live in jeggings (literally bought the same ones in different colours) and t-shirts, Primark type stuff with TV logos or whatever. And zip up hoodies and trainers. I spend a lot of time in jammies! I would love to be someone who made more effort but I’m just not 😳

I do love my gym leggings though, they are from a lovely website that specialise in them and are super comfy so I’m trying to wear them when I exercise! They have a galaxy sort of print (as in space, not chocolate 😂)