June's Fledgling Flyers:"two flyers are "blooming marvellously" : here come the rest doing their flaming best"

[elliepac]

Welcome to the June edition of the Fledgling Flyers where we are going to attempt to restore order in our houses, chatting as we go.

Here you can do any of the following:

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering

For those who are curious, these are the Babysteps, which we all hope will restore order in our homes and make our lives a little bit easier with lots of support (and chat, and wine, and a little more chat )

So please come and join us, old and new, from June 1st.

Done:

• clean kitchen
• hoover downstairs
• mop kitchen floor
• swish and swipe bathroom

To do

• 15 minutes in DS's room
• tidy utility area (H seems to have made a start on that last night)
• hoover upstairs

I was getting on quite well with my morning routine and looking forward to making a start on the living room when an urgent job arrived, abruptly interrupting my flying. I did manage to put all the dry washing away - but have just remembered there's another load in the machine...

swan Much empathy wrt driving text. I thought I had mine done and dusted but needed to retake it in the USA, after not having driven for around a decade. Most frighteningly, the test involved parallel parking (which hadn't been introduced in the UK when I sat my test there).

Chairmum It's wonderful that DD is sleeping so well - I used to find (still do, sometimes) that as soon as I'd sorted out one DC's sleeping, one of the others then started waking up. But it does get easier as they get older.

SC I don't think I could cope with everything that you've described; luckily I don't usually get asked to do much more than bake the occasional cake (and got away with delegating it to DH this time round!), although the school English lessons can involve quite a lot of preparation sometimes (you may have missed my Henry VIII saga!).
I may need to pick your brains about the L'Oreal btw as even DH has noticed my grey hairs so I think it may be time to do something about them...

More work has just arrived; I suspect flying is doomed until September. I feel your pain SC, as DD1 breaks up for nine weeks on Friday (which may as well be Wednesday since they finish several hours earlier, i.e. mid-morning, on Thursday and at 8.15 am on Friday).

Time for lunch now; I may contemplate writing a list then as I feel v. disorganised at the moment.

Linzer well at least in the hols there is:
no uniform
no ironing (well not for kids in this house)
licence to slack off...in the name of benign neglect child supervision

On the other hand, I was considering putting children into a holiday drama club for one week from 10-4, as they did it two years ago and are begging to go again

done
menu plan walk and shop with ds2 (luckily dr says wrist is sprain not break)
exercise

it is scorching here, beautiful but not the weather to be walking far

benign neglect

license (sp)

todo
laundry away
lunch for ds2
laundry hang out
bedroom hoover still
hoover playroom
take more clothes to recycling
pot up purchases from fete in compost
supper? make from ingredients -fishcakes
make jelly with ds2
write thankyous with ds2
book plane tickets now know test date
take photos to develop
try installing dd's digital camera on computer (not much hope of success but may look at instructions tentatively)

Right, list:

Unpack shopping
Hang out washing
Ironing
DD1 piano practice
Send confirmation to hotel
Pick up DD2 and DS (NB somehow take bike and balance bike for them to ride home)
DD2 piano practice
Class end-of-year party (suspect it is too late to e-mail now to let organiser know we will be there )
DC to bed at decent hour
Work

swan No school uniform here and I very rarely iron anything for the DC. You have inspired me to think of some other positive aspects, though:
-No homework
-No insisting on daily piano practice
-Can let DDs have lie-in (DS permitting)
-Only DD1 will be at home for entire 9 weeks (Kindergarten open for longer in summer)
You were right with practice the first time btw (practise is the verb)

Done - school run, gym, shopping and unpacking, tidying, washing (1st and 2nd lots to iron/put away, 3rd lot on line, 4th lot in the machine).

To do - complete washing, sweep floors, Ballet/Beavers run, tea etc

I like the school holidays because no making packed lunches, no rushing around to get out of the house in the morning, no walking miles carrying bookbags, lunchboxes etc.

Like SC am a bit at the volume of school activities in the run-up.

Better go, catch up later

Ah that makes sense

Evening. another quick flying visit...

Job application -check and send done
washing 2 load
morning routine done
Last nights routine done this morning
Ring office done
Pop into office done
Shop - I want an iron on transfer pen got and got training shorts in sale so very chuffed
lego pile of doom ignoring
folding done - even paired socks
ironing
Discover lounge discovered the bit that needed discovering to recieve inherited fabric that needs to be sorted this week...

Right going to get car washed and various bits and bobs done. before considering getting the iron out this evening... hoping it does actually rain tonight just for some relief from the heat.

forgive me fairy, for my house is a state. and mil arrives on thursday!

apols for being awol, have taken a short mn break as there was SO much going on in rl. have been doing the bare minimum around the house, with fairly dire consequences (sink ok, but... )

we also took a short trip to montana, and landed officially as permanent residents of canada on the way back (just in time for canada day on thurs! ) we didn't ever really think it would happen because of dd2's issues, but after 4 years our waiting and wondering is over!

right, back to business, i'm off work this week, so am working hard to get everything 'house' back under control. don't think i burned out, exactly, just got a bit overwhelmed! so, no list for today, just attempting to restore a bit of order - tidying, not cleaning.

the good thing is, the spare room is still clutter-free lol...

waves to all!

Gosh you have all been so busy!!

Today I have done little flying so to make myself feel better I have accomplished:-

dc up
ds for trial session at montesorri (he kept telling them that this was not the way they did that at his nursery) but said he enjoyed it and is booked in again next week!
Dd play and stay
everyone to yuccyd's for lunch
home for naps
visit in laws dh birthday
went to dinner with inlaws (dmil moaning about how dirty and shoddy it was!! It dh birthday just eat up and don't moan! We only went for brill playpark for dc)
now chilling in front of box!
No mission
no made bed
no washing
dw loaded

I'm gonna wave to you all brilliant flyers and busy people and I will be back for list posting in morning!

Warning - this post may contain swearing.

Bloody Hell what a day - they say things come in threes, lets hope this lot lasts me the year.

1. Awoke at 2am with hideous griping, cramping stomach which eventually exploded (sorry if TMI) at about 6.30am. DH had to get DC up and off to school whilst I stayed close to a toilet all day and tried to sleep

1. Went to pick up DS from pre-school at 3pm (luckily in the car as didn't think a 20 min walk would be wise in my frail condition) to be told he had just fallen and seemed to have a sore arm. As he rarely complains and the walk to the car was making him cry because it hurt his arm I knew it was serious. Arranged for DD to go to a friend's and spent next 4 hours in A&E. He is now tucked up in bed with a temporary cast and an appointment at the fracture clinic tomorrow morning. He was very brave but sobbed his heart out at one point when the shock had worn off but before they would give him any painkillers - I just sobbed too

1. Eventually got back to car with now perky, chatty DS (pain killers are great ) to find it had a flat battery. DH and DD trailed out with jump leads and we all got home by about 8.30pm

I should be knackered but feel too wired to sleep ATM.

Tomorrow is another day.

Evening all!
feetheart I hope you have a better day tomorrow and the arm is OK?

I'm glad I did a proper tidy on Friday as won't have time for much this week - am out every night!! This stage of the school year is too hectic!

And I don't want to complain about the weather but it's too hot to sleep I end up on the settee with the back door open

Right, off to bed, sleepy head!

Have just finished my evening routine after putting the kids to bed. I was determined to be organised tomorrow morning, so: ironed DS1's school shirts, tumble-dried wet washing (did it too late to put outside - wasteful, I know), washed up, dried up, put away and made my sink SHINY , washed kitchen floor, prepared lunchboxes, put bottles of water in freezer, polished shoes, laid clothes and hats out ready for tomorrow, packed DS2's swimming stuff, prepared school bags and marked Kumon maths. Phew.

Haven't had time to do any missions. Today was an INSET day and the boys had friends round, so spent the day with four boys (and a friend). No work was done. No housework either. The Flylady routines still require a certain amount of time, no matter what she says, and sometimes we just don't have it.

Feetheart - that day was just so dreadful that it must turn into a hilarious family story one day. Probably too recent to be funny yet. You poor thing. Hope your stomach is better soon and that your son is OK (painkillers for both of you ).

MrsDinky - that's awful about the school changing the teacher after preparing your child for someone else. Not fair at all. Do you know anyone who has had this teacher? If you could find out anything particularly good about her/him (kind/gives rewards/funny, etc), maybe you could drop it into conversation with yr DC to paint a positive picture. But it's really not fair that you should have to be doing all this. I'd be cross too.

Everyone is so busy! I can't keep up with all the lists. Off to bed now. Night all.

Good morning everyone

feetheart so sorry what a day! Hope you are feeling better and ds arm is not giving him too much gyp.
toffee brill evening routine. Like the water bottle freezing. Brill idea.
missb totally agree about lack of sleep ! I feel like that ghecko in advert. Hopping around going hot hot hot

right after yesterdays appauling flying I'm list posting

get up, washed, dressed to flipflops
strip master bed
wm
dw empty
dc to swimming
dc music and movement
home for lunch.

I'm gonna come back and have afternoon
list too.

Have good morning

Just a thought on thread title.... Don't think it's quite there...

July will be busy, dcs will make us dizzy and we will try not to get into a tizzy!!

Any ideas

Morning all,

I'm not sure whether ellie is around to post today's links, so I'll do them just in case.

Today's babystep is to check our calendars to see what's coming up next month. This helps to prevent the last-minute panic I often experience when I turn over the calendar and discover it's someone's birthday on the 1st (it's DD2's birthday on the 1st July, but she's not likely to let me forget about it!).

And today's mission is here.

No time to do a round-up I'm afraid, as I have to start work, but I'll try to come back later on this morning to catch up and post my list.

Aaaaaaaaaaah, what a few days! Firstly I must offer my apologies for going awol yesterday and sunday evening. As I am going to rant in a minute, I hope you will all understand and not hate me!

Had the most fabulous weekend away at the caravan by the sea with gorgeous weather, visits to the beach and general relaxed loveliness. Had a heart in mouth moment when I let DS (nearly 7) to the playground on his own with DN (12) but he was so proud that I'd let him go (it was within shouting distance and I did check on him every 10 mins without him knowing!). I know you've got to give them some independence at some point but I hate it . Wrapped in cotton wool forever my two! Got back home to a DH with toothache who had therefore not done any of the cleaning he had promised to and was stroppy and irritable into the bargain. I know I should have sympathy but I didn't . He had day off yesterday and promised to tidy up, do washing etc so I could get on with makring when I got home from work...he didn't. Again, know I should have had sympathy...but didn't. So came home, planning to blitz the marking and had to blitz the house and take DS to Beavers and cook tea etc. etc. Anyhow, he went to emergency dentist and turns out when he had a tooth out a couple of months ago they left a bit in and now he has to have a litany of treatment to sort it out.....then and only then did I manage to show a bit of sympathy . Was therfore up till half 11 marking last night and back up again at 5. Then it turns out that DS is poorly today, high temp, pale, very tired so have stayed at home with him! Rant over, for now .

If the last few days(and crapheap of a house) has taught me anything is that I need to keep up my routines even over this busy period or I will rapidly descend into chaos and spend the first two weeks of my holiday rectifying it.

I will carry on as leader next month as everyone seems happy for that to happen and I probably need the motivation! Still need to think of a thread title...come on nettie that's your domain .

I can't remember who said it but I am also fed up of things going on end of term. I've got my school's stuff to remember along with DS's school and seeing as he leaving and going up to junior school (aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh, can't cope with that thought, he's just a baby!) there are even more things than usual.

linzer a massive thank you for doing the steps for the last few days. Sorry for being rubbish!

RIght, I suppose I had better make the most of the unexpected day off and crack on with some marking and cleaning. Have a good day everyone.

Arrgh.... I have been mostly succeeding at the dont waste time on computer thing. But I have read through and have no idea what people have been up to Missing the fab round ups that give the old knackered brain a chance

I hope people are well and that flying is starting to become more habit then plugging away.

List is short today:
Txt coach - been awol
LEGO - stupid fooking lego will finally be done if i can find all the sodding instructions
Washing
Lounge - more of
Recycling into correct containers
Sticker chart for ds.
Morning routine done
School run done

right - sticker chart and computer set to update....

Ellie - you have all my sympathy re untidy house on your return. I had the same thing when I came back from a week away at my Mum's a few weeks back. My DH had been unwell and when not unwell he'd been at work, so I couldn't complain (too much).

Re: DH's illnesses - My DH still reminds me of the time he took to his bed with a mystery illness and I refused to even buy him a Lucozade from the corner shop because I claimed I was too busy (I was looking after my own - very demanding! - 3-year-old DS and childminding at the time, so I had good reason to say this). It seemed to me DH was always being ill and I was never allowed to take to my bed if I was ill, so I just felt furious with him. It turned out he was on the verge of pneumonia! When I finally relented and called a doctor out, they gave him all manner of inhalers and special pumps and I felt rather chastened. Needless to say, I have never been allowed to forget this.

Then again, I can remind my DH of the time I hobbled to school on one leg, using the pushchair as a crutch, because I had such a huge swollen bruise on my other leg, but DH said he could't stay at home to help me. When I arrived at school, the mums took one look at me and whisked me off to casualty, where I was told to go to bed for three days or risk gangrene and an operation(turned out the bruise was a haematoma - nasty). DH had to return pronto from a conference.

Ah, the joys of married life!

Finally back to post my list, but I only have half an hour left before DD1 gets home so suspect I won't get v. far.

Work done
Hang out washing done
Empty DW done
Rest of morning routine
15 min decluttering in living room
Mission

A man has just been to check our boiler and I was so embarrassed at the state of the room (which will be a small bathroom at some point but is just a storage room at the moment). I'd completely forgotten he was coming and it took me a good five minutes to get all the boxes and other stuff out so that he could actually get to the boiler. He was already huffing and puffing after climbing the two flights of stairs and complaining that the boiler wasn't in the cellar where it would be nice and cool, and I don't think the state of the room improved his mood!

ellie Good to see you back! at lovely weekend, but can just imagine how you felt when you got back - sorry to hear about DS too.

Toffee I find it extremely hard to show any sympathy for DH when he's ill because he can just go to bed and not worry about anything! I OTOH have to struggle on no matter what; DH will look after the DC if I'm ill at the weekend, but I'm stuck if I inconveniently manage to fall ill during the week.

Nettie Will you make it three thread titles in a row?

Nice and sunny here today, so perfect weather for the Kindergarten summer party. I wouldn't want it to get any hotter though - DH is off to Turkey for a couple of days and not looking forward to the heat.

dem i promise there will be a round-up tonight for your tired brain . Will try and make it fab!

I don't think my round-ups have been quite as fab as yours, ellie.

tbh dont think my brain has even really been reading the thread. i think perhaps only my eyes have

Last batch of lego kit checklists printed. Off to laminate and then checkoff what i have got in the kits. Will be back later when i have to trawl throw lego buy a brick fascility. AIBU to hide the lego until we move in about 1 1/2 to 2 months?

Anybody who makes time to do a round-up about cleaning is fab linzer and that most definitely includes you...in fact you are fab.

So far on my unexpected day off I have managed to:-

Snuggle up to DSand watch a movie
washing on line
wm on
dw on
overflow washing up done
quick scoot round downstairs
S/S bathroom.

All of this motivated by the fact that the mother rang up and announced she was popping round to see poorly DS (nick i feel your pain )

This afternoon I am mainly going to mark to try and make-up for what I gave missed over the last couple of days and to allow me time to watch eastenders and holby city tonight .

Have a good afternoon everyone.

BTW linzer finally got round to getting a postcard at the W/E so it shall be winging it's way to DD shortly .