Festive Fledglings Flap Frantically Towards A Calm, Clutter-free Christmas!

[SingToTheSky]

OK so clutter-free is a bit ambitious. But anyway, all welcome to join us for a jolly holiday thread, in which we very loosely follow (or at least half-heartedly mention now and then) the FlyLady system of housekeeping.

I’ll be posting links and reminding us all of various tasks up until Christmas Eve, for those who want to follow the system - and if it’s like previous years there will also be some specific extra missions to help us prepare our homes for Christmas. However, we really are just a bunch of frazzled Mumsnetters who will be very happy to welcome you along for chat whether you follow the system or not! We discuss housework, sure, but a whole lot of other stuff too.

We will also continue with the Keep Calm Corner, in which you’ll find various diverting questions, memes etc.

And finally a huge thank you to Foxes who did a fab job of running the thread for the first time in November! 💐

I have considered making home made fudge for gifts but never seem to get round to it

That should obviously say I CAN'T decorate anything in a pretty way

This is dd Xmas card design

Cute card, foxes! We had some from that scheme for a couple of years, and have received several from friends with children that age.

We made cards for a few years - not for everyone, just the people the boys sent separate cards to (grandparents, aunts and uncles, one set of friends, extra-c teachers). I am terrible at drawing but we got stampers and stickers and used bits of old cards. A good rainy half-term activity (along with the cake and pudding).

I had one friend at primary school who used to send cards made from sugar paper and old cards with glitter stuck on. Her sister (in my sister's class) did the same - their mother was obviously ahead of her time . (Thinking about it, she was uptight middle-class surrounded by people who considered that posh... she'd have been all over MN if it had existed then! Friend would sign my card as from all three of the children.)

Grandad has a sweet tooth (born in 1931) so we would always give him toffee cake caramel shortbread made "by" the boys and my finnish spice biscuits. Extended it the last few years to shortbread, butter tablet and fudge; but while he enjoyed it while it lasted last year I'm not sure he remembered it afterwards or knew who it was from so given that we're not seeing them at all we've decided there's little point this year.

That’s fab Foxes! I’m not very creative either. We made sloe gin and some absolutely lethal vimto wine one year - tested the latter out on a lazy Sunday afternoon pre-DD thinking it was weak, and we both ended up absolutely plastered . I get DD to make cards every year, and this year I’ll be putting some of the homemade Christmas cake in a hamper for relative.

I’m also having a bit of a slow day. I stripped and remade DD’s bed then we decided to get some fresh air so got us all ready. Managed not to LMS at DH when I asked him to help DD with her tights while I was stepping out of the shower and he responded “but I’m ready though”. Exactly. That’s the point . However I did LMS when he could hear me trying to stop DD pulling at me so I could do my hair yet he dared to utter “come on, I’m ready. You’re taking your time”. We had a lovely walk round the harbour and brought back fish and chips. I’ve since cleared the rubbish, hung the laundry up, and managed 5 minutes of tidying downstairs. Have just about reclaimed the hallway. Cuppa now.

Me: must focus on Christmas shopping

Also me: pops into charity shop before catching bus, buys random non Christmas things for Cagletini

😳

Oh well. The jigsaw is going away till next year (I have a few that are a bit too tricky now), might try the game with her (crazy chefs? It’s an orchard toys one which are usually great but I’ve never tried this one) and the seven books (50p each!) are going in the pile to bring out now and then.

Later today I think I’ll try and write a list with DH of everything that still needs doing. Not just presents which TBH is what we tend to focus on first and then neglect the more important stuff!

Work - done

Just eaten lunch as it was only supposed to take a few hours so didn't bring lunch with me.

Going to de people and get flying hard. SOooo much to get done today it is not funny. But as I was only in work as keyholder not working I managed to get a good proportion of the study done that has been on my mind that needed doing. So totally a win win situation for both work and me, and not bothered by the increase time being there.

That's good about work hills 👍

Ta da
Mince pies made
Another LOL on
Decluttered coats in porch (we still have far too many, mainly my fault for owning too many!)

Another power of 3
Tidied ds bedroom so he can get in there later to sleep
Tidied living room
Wrote birthday card for a friend's little boy

Still a lot of mess around...dh has started decluttering the utility room ready to start dismantling cupboards over the next few days. Have found lots of alcohol so will help with decluttering that later 😂

:o at alcohol decluttering. Sadly I am an expert at decluttering all sorts of food lately!

Hills excellent smart use of time there!

DH would definitely get a Paddington stare or worse from me for that up!

I’ve probably forgotten loads from posts I just read - oh yes, I was also going to say gorgeous card design foxes! 😍

I never did a lot of crafty stuff with the Caglets, even at Christmas, I really regret it TBH! I think we made cards and decorations a couple of times but mostly I was just too stressed or busy (busy being stressed 😳) and couldn’t face more mess on top of existing mess. Must, must do better with the little one (and I don’t doubt the older ones will enjoy helping her).

Caglets are watching Arthur Christmas while DH makes burgers, I escaped upstairs for a few minutes peace as Cagletini was in a rice cake related tantrum. DD1 was a bit annoyed earlier that we aren’t doing the tree today, but TBH we are shattered from a broken night (and in my case a late one thanks to DD1 herself!) so it’s tree day tomorrow! At least I got her rainbow tree as promised today, so she’s put that up already in her room ❤️🌈🎄

Evening all,

Just taking advantage of the broadband having stabilised for a bit (been a nightmare for the last couple of days).

It's been a full-on shopping day today. There was a craft/farmers market in our town so we went along to that this morning and it was lovely. Then off to nearest big town for more Christmas shopping. Both were busy but not overcrowded - last time I went to big town a few months ago I felt a bit nervous as not many were wearing masks in the shopping centre, but more or less everyone was today and altogether it just felt like a normal busy Saturday afternoon. Then I popped back into our town again for some dinner when we got back (it's only 1/2 a mile to the shops).

Just managed to finish Sainsburys order for tomorrow, done 2xLOL and going to decorate the Christmas tree while Strictly is on.

KCC - I am crafty and like baking but we don't really have many people to give things to - small families. Also I'm a little bit worried always that my things might not be good enough. So mostly we just make for our own use. I will dig out some photos when I'm on my phone. I make chutney, pickled onions, sloe gin, cranberry gin on one occasion and sometimes sweets and biscuits. Also quite handy at homemade decorations. I used to make cards pre-DC, and made our wedding invitations, but never seem to have time any more.

Aaaand on a much less fun note it looks like tonight’s task is nit combing everyone. FFS. 🤬

Hiya everyone, I saw this meme today and it really made me laugh, it sums up my day😂. We went for a walk over the woodlands earlier, the kids did a scavenger hunt and we did some some prints with the things they found when we got home. Now we’re watching Mickey’s once upon a Christmas and the big 2 are having a cup of tea and feeling very grown up about it😂

Thank you sing 😊, I second the advice of layering the sheets with a waterproof sheet. I hope the childcare bubble works out for you. I love DD’s rainbow tree, sorry about the nits!

Thank you bower 😊, I hope you can work your Christmas plans out. I haven’t even begun to think about it as it’s so much stress.

Aww thank you zoo

Thank you that 😊, sorry about isolating DC. Luckily we haven’t had to isolate yet, but I hope you can make it to the end of term.

hills sorry about the bubble burst too, it sounds very frustrating!. But it is good that there’s no need for him to isolate.

Oh thank you wooly enjoy your Christmas tree day!. Them baubles sound amazing, I might have to get some!. There’s a few houses round here that have put lots of decorations up, it’s nice this year there’s much more decorations than usual. I love the frog!

I find it difficult to catch up on my phone foxes it takes me ages! I hope you enjoy your new desk. Christmas jumper week sounds crazy! I don’t think I’d be able to control myself and I’d end up buying 5!. Thanks for letting us know about the angel delight, I’ll get some for the kids they’ll love it!. I love the Christmas card.

Thanks ED it sounds like you had a lovely day with your friends! Sounds like you’ve had a lovely shopping day!

Thank you for my welcome up I hope you enjoy your days off!. I’d have LMS both times!

Thank you dancing

Happy birthday to your DS1 merry I hope he’s had a lovely day. Glad to hear the interview went well! It’s lovely to hear about your crafty stories

KCC I’m not crafty at all! If it comes to homemade presents the most I could do is make some biscuits for everyone!

Haven’t done much today, but will post ta da’s later

merry good luck for Ds with Cambridge. I was there for a conference 20 years ago - I wandered past 'The Cambridge Biscuit Conference' going on at Selwyn and realised my own one was much less enticing! Biscuits not as good but to be fair the focus was on 18th century history...

I'm intrigued with the frog pattern Glittery. Am moving into my own small office now,c was ds's old bedroom. It needs to be painted too but I'm going to do it slowly over Christmas.

isaw your meme ties perfectly with sing's previous post. Shhhh don't tell MC - she's at the start of it all....

That's a great tree sing K-Pop fan?

Indeed she is tinselette TBH so am I now! And DS as well. That poster is one of about a gazillion of various groups 😂 she’s also painted some logo/album designs on her walls. Most of her Christmas presents are related too, just realised I don’t think one set of photo cards of some girl group have arrived yet 🤔

We are all a bit tired and grumpy although enjoying the movie. Will be watching strictly as soon as it’s over!

isawthat I bought 2 new Xmas jumpers for her and she has another one that's not an actual Xmas jumper but it's red so figured she could wear that if she needs another - plus they are finishing a day early now so only 4 needed! People were doing jumper swaps but unfortunately nobody had any in the size dd needs.

Oh no sing that's not what you need!

My final ta das of the day
Go for Xmas drive to the next village to show the kids the lights there
Got fish and chips on the way back
Cleaned up dinner things
Dh hoovered upstairs
Rotated dishwasher again
Washing hung up
Washing put away

The kids are having a sleepover in ds bedroom (they do this most weekends now!) , they have been told they can play quietly for a while but I'm not sure they understand the concept 😂

Up was it you who recommended bramble gin? I finally got myself some and it's lovely so thank you!

isawthat I like the meme by the way! So true! Although today my dc watched the Grinch which was actually quite good!

Oh is that the recent animated one? I watched that on my birthday one year :o and Pentatonix sing in it I think which makes me happy too. I think it’s great, I don’t like the original version TBH.

Love the meme isaw :o

It’s funny though isn’t it how there’s so much pressure to enjoy their childhoods that we end up too knackered/self doubting to enjoy it 🤔 something to think about.

Yes that was me Foxes, glad you like it. And now you’ve inspired me to pour one while I catch up on the thread

sing yep the recent one, I don't like the other version either. I do like reading the Grinch to the dc though, they love all the Dr Seuss books. I always get a little bit emotional when I read the bit about Christmas meaning a little bit more , because I'm a complete and utter softie nowadays

Cheers up! 🥃

It's not Peppa's Christmas that was the problem in our house but Thomas the Tank engine . DS loved him dearly but he and his engine friends bored me silly. Gin - my workplace has commissioned a special celebratory gin to commemorate a workplace milestone - apparently pre-sale ordering for staff and associates has been brisk, shall we say ? Not that it's been a difficult year in 2020, oh no...