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! 💐

Apparently lego can go in the dishwasher Foxes but i think i would have to bleach the hell out of it in this case...

Foxes- sending you a massive stiff drink...a bottle of gin...with gold floaty bits in it....
Trantrums are upsetting for all involved. Its good they were happy when you picked them up. You deserve a medal for resucing the lego man.

Zoo- i love the percy pig tree!
Fushia curtains sound nice. I am into fushia at the moment.
Is that room a sunny room?

Sorry to all the Dc on this thread that need to have bloods taken. Its horrible but lovely to hear about such brave children

Hills- lol setting fire to it!

I have shouted, do you want a Christmas tree this year? Yes, then please pick up these things off the floor.
It look 10x worse than when I said it.
Currently I am quite happy the Christmas decorations stay locked up, tidy in a box.

Sing- that cake your friend sent looks delish! That friend is a keeper.
Oh and happy birthday for Monday!

I like the name lindy bop because it reminds me of lindy hop. Is it the really really fast dance?

Ta das
Sorted out another kitchen cupboard.
Put dish rack on the side of the sink.
Hand washed dishes and dried them.
Lol x2
Dw
Kitchen finally looks like a functioning kitchen.

Everyone fed and into bed.

Big 🍒🎄bauble 🖐wave to you all.🎁

Dancing I love the pastel colours in your kitchen. Your pompom tree sounds lovely. For the decluttering/house sorting can you start somewhere that’ll benefit you most? Your bedroom or round your favourite spot in the living room? I always feel better when I’ve got a calm corner to relax in.

Hope you and DD are feeling better soon Hazel.

Those cakes look sooo good Sing.

I love the Peppa Pig tree Zoo and well done on the finishing the decorating.

Foxes that sounds like a shitty day (no pun intended)

Tidy glad you had a good day with the little ones as well as being super productive. for NLYS.

Our decorations usually go up mid December but we are going a bit earlier this year and sorting them this weekend. We have some lovely outdoor light ms on the street and I feel left out . We don’t have anywhere we could easily plug outdoor lights but I do have some battery operated ones. I’m on the look out for a small potted Christmas tree to wrap them round. We did it a few years ago and it looked lovely but I managed to kill the tree . The local supermarket had some but they had sold out by the time I sent DH. Otherwise we have some light up stars for the window, our tree, the new garland and some lights up the bannister. There’s no theme with our tree. It’s all very random
bits and bobs from various places, and in our family we often buy each other a new decoration each year. My DM dropped off a lovely one for me the other day.

I’m proud of myself tonight:
❄️ kitchen cleared after DH cooked including a proper sink shining (photo)
❄️ cleaned DW. It was grim.
❄️ prepped breakfast and lunch for work tomorrow and Friday
❄️ sorted some nursery admin
❄️ Hung up LOL to dry and have tomorrow’s load ready to go.
❄️ DH got our turkey ordered

I know I’ve missed a few other personals I’d thought of but they’d dropped out of my head. Back tomorrow.

Ah forgot photo. No point in shining the sink if you don’t show anyone (DH isn’t interested).

If a sink's clean in the kitchen and no-one cares, does it make a shine?

Evenin all. I can confirm that the cakes were tasty (and yes there are some left in a tub despite the Caglets helping me try them! 😂)

ta da
🦤home ed
🦤stuck dryer on
🦤shower/moisturise (I think I’ve mastered the habit of moisturising after a shower now, my skin definitely feels better for it! Must find some fancy stuff in the sales after Xmas)
🦤quick shop in tesco, including Xmas decorations
🦤went to home ed meet and joined in with graffiti style colouring about mental health, was great fun! And I chatted to other mums.
🦤Xmas shopping online
🦤quick chat to work coach who is very happy for me re: piano pupils!
🦤limped through evening chore wheel, mine was washing up, we didn’t all do stuff at the same time (DH and I both in a lot of pain this evening) but the four chores got done and the Caglets had shower/bath so I’m classing that as a win.
🦤drawing!!! I haven’t for a few weeks but I’ve got back to Drawcember which I got halfway through last year.

That’s about it. I’m not sleepy yet so I’m going to watch an episode of another drama.

Hiya everyone. Hope you’re all doing well today. We’ve had a really good day here. This morning DD and I did some sensory play, which she really enjoyed. We also went to the park on the way to walking the dog, it wasn’t busy at all, she had it all to herself and loved it. We decided against going to soft play or a cafe as I thought it’d be rammed as it’s the first day back, so we’ll probably wait a bit for it to calm down. We finished the day by making our own homemade hot chocolate and watching a Christmas film (Fred Claus) I think we’re going to do that every night until Christmas, so any suggestions for Christmassy films suitable for little ones would be very welcome!.

Right what have you all been up to!

I hope you and DD feel better soon hazel!

Ooh well done on getting the room sorted zoo it sounds lovely!. I love the tree!. Sorry that your DD’s blood tests didn’t go the way she wanted it to.

I love the joke sing! That cake looks amazing

wooly I love the sound of butter bean gratin.

I’m sorry about the tantrum foxes that sounds really difficult. Sorry that your day was generally a bit shit! I hope tomorrow’s better.

Your decorations sound right up my alley merry

Sorry about all the stress hills but at least the builders finishing is a win!

Beautiful sink up!

ta da
✨Let ddog out for wee
✨Made breakfast
✨Washed up
✨Fed ddog
✨Made beds
✨Sensory play
✨Wiped table down
✨Took ddog for walk
✨Made lunch
✨Washed up
✨Cleaned dishing table and chairs
✨Hoovered under table
✨Made tea
✨Made hot chocolate with DD
✨Washed up and wiped kitchen down
✨Shined sink
✨Walked ddog
✨Bathed DD and put her to bed
✨Tidied up toys
✨Let ddog our for wee

Right that’s another drama finished (I planned to watch four over lockdown - think it was 16 episodes total - over four weeks and yay I did it 😂) - I can feel myself getting into mindless scrolling mode now so I’m going to brush my teeth and try and sleep!

The people in the flat below me seem to be having some sort of party, they’ve woke DD up with singing and music and she can’t go back to sleep😡. The dog won’t stop barking at the noise so I’ve gave up on sleep and we’re in the living room watching tv. Wish me luck for a very grumpy child tomorrow

hills ore covid they took bloods couple times,but do have a peadiatric nurse

Sherin hope you got more sleep,how ridiculous
Xmas films-polar Xpress is probably top for littlies.
Elf?

We have a stash Xmas films.will dig out and add to the list in a bit!

Didn't get to sleep til lateso add in insomnia,I'm wrecked already!

Think as I have TAF zoom meet at130,then straight into camhs anxiety group for dd2(will miss a bit of that) I might have to run at chores and pop in 20 minute power nap this morning

*sherin my two love Arthur Christmas!

Zoo I have envy, we have ALWAYS had to go to the hospital for bloods.

This morning is brought to you by the phrases "I don't want to" and "too early" however currently running late so also brought to you by the words Fuckin hell. Is it the weekend yet?

Sherin* Arthur Christmas
Muppet Xmas carol
The snowman
Snowman and snowdog
(There's a father Xmas one by same one who did the snowman,can't remember the name!)

Other Xmas films I'm not sure which are suitable tho
Miracle on 34 street
Home alone
Jack frost
Jingle all the way
Deck the halls(probably not age appropriate)

Tada
Cats fed
Harpic lav
Wash on
Clean kitchen surfaces
Sweep floor
Wake dd2 for meds
Write out (yet again) amended timetable for D's
Breakfasts
Wash up

Best crack on....

Googled it
Raymond Briggs father xmas

Morning all. Despite someone coming to fix the boiler last night it has gone AGAIN so I am cold and grumpy.

We have to watch Elf, Arthur Christmas, Nightmare Before Christmas and Rise of the Guardians every Christmas! It is law. But the latter two might be too scary. Also love the muppets Christmas Carol of course. Never actually seen polar express!

Right need to get DS up and started on his work, he has a lot to do today as we might go back to the home ed thing tomorrow.

Sherin- hope you all got some sleep. Silly upstairs neighbours.

Hills- 🤦‍♀️

Sing- oh no, hope your heating gets fixed.

Zoo- hope you get a nap today.

Foxes- good film

We woke up 30mins earlier...but still.make it to school late. Kids whinging and refusing to get dressed. I want to crawl back to bed or stuff my face with chocolate. Need find school boots for my lil fraggles, online or in shops.
🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Mad 40minute clean..

Tada
Quick tidy front room
Drag everything out from under sink
Reorganise and tidy
Put away neatly
Scrub sink
Empty bins
Empty and scrub 2littertrays
Wake D's as dd2 "forgot" was more interested in play on her phone when got upstairs
Make him quick brekkie(he's due English lesson 920 so Weetabix,banana and yogurt as quick to scoff.will need more in a bit mind!)

To do
S+s
Tidy hall
Clear and clean dining table
Final decisions on Presents
Decide today's meals
Laundry mountains...

As well as walk in lil zoo for 11 and field two zoom meets that will fill 1.30-4(sobs)

Sing it ALWAYS happens when it's bloody freezing too.i remember mine packing up when it snowed..I had pack zoolets off to dd1 as could see breath indoors.i had stay here as couldn't take cats and was eternally popular with hot water bottles under blankets with cats on top of me!!
Hope it gets sorted quickly!

Cheers zoo they’re sending someone today again. This could be super late again, but no way of knowing, so I’ve cancelled yoga 😑 as it clashes with nursery pick up. I am pretty knackered anyway, and I suppose at least this way I don’t have to defrost my legs 😂 (my gym leggings are not full length). So the new plan is to hibernate until my psych appt later. Just really hope they can properly fix the boiler this time. 🤬

Morning all,

Didn't get round to posting yesterday, busy day. This morning it is so wet and cold I'm working at home and have had to put the heating back on already. Just having a quick break.

Sing - from yesterday's KCC - loved the Lidl Donkey! I also love a bit of Pentatonix and have quite a few of their tracks on my Christmas playlist. I was searching Spotify for acapella music when I found this - not Christmassy but good fun even if you're not a scientist .

Ooh cool thanks! I will watch that later. Currently watching a plague documentary with DS (mainly because Dr Xand presents it and I love him 😳😍) - it’s really interesting although all the lice/flea talk is making me want to boil wash my entire house 😂

Exciting news that someone from the HA is also coming tomorrow to survey our kitchen about taking a cupboard out for a dishwasher!!!

🎄❄️🎁 Thursday 3rd December 🎁❄️🎄

Zone - 1 - hallway and dining room

Daily Focus - errand day. Or errand afternoon cos I’m late sorry 😳

Today’s Mission - spend 15 minutes decluttering the entrance of your home - shoes etc.

Today’s Holiday Mission - this seems to be on #3 still? I guess I’ve got confused due to the time difference 🤦🏻‍♀️

✈️ FLIGHT PLAN ✈️

🎄❄️🎁 The Keep Calm Corner Advent Calendar 🎁❄️🎄

Since we are discussing Festive Movies and sharing recommendations 😍 I’m also wondering are there any TV show Christmas episodes you watch as a tradition? We love Vicar of Dibley and we absolutely must watch the original Christmas Special (the one with several lunches) every year, several times usually! It was on DVD so we’d often end up watching the easter bunny one too 😂 we also watch the Christmas Mr Bean. There are lots of festive episodes of things like Big Bang Theory and Friends too of course but TBH we watch those throughout the year as they are our go-to shows!

🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

Morning. Sorry I have been AWOL. I have been trying to catch up with threads.

Not much flying here. My sink isn’t as shiny as yours up. Looks lovely. I have trouble with tea stains.

Builder finishing that job today. Yeah. Wish joiner would come and get the door done.

Ta Das so far today.
Washed shower tray. After my shower.
Made bed.
Addressing cards that I have made. It is going a bit slow as I should have got the envelopes then measured the cards. Some are not convention sizes or shapes. Must make note for next time.
I always do the abroad ones first. Then Scotland then church then local. I am going to try and get them all done today and posted then I can tick that off the list.
Most Lakeland shops are now open and have some good deals. Thanks to all your previous advice we have bought DS3 one from Lakeland. He couldn’t decide earlier so it will be a surprise.
DS1 has. Some pate and chutney pack and some ginger chocolates and going to buy some Nordic walking socks. DS2 has gone on a diet so not sure what we are getting him. DD has had enough money according to DH.

Be back later.

Hi Bower, well done on the cards, I have bought mine but not started them yet.

I have finished work for the day, I had hoped to make a trip into town but it is hammering down, so I really don't feel like it. I think I should crack on with some chores.

Heavy rain here too ed I had already decided to get a cab to the appointment (I’ll get the bus back though as at least I’m not worrying about timings) but not sure when to book it because of rain and school run traffic! I think I’ll ring now and hope I’m allowed in the waiting room with my kindle.

Bower hi 🎄👋 I was thinking earlier I hadn’t seen your name!

I’ve been very unproductive other than getting DS through more work, but I had my work marked already by my tutor. She gave loads of really good feedback and I don’t have too many additions so should be able to do that in the next few days. Yay!!!

Right must go. Ugh. Weather. Why is there weather? 😩