July's Fledgling Flyers : The dc's drive us round the bend, the school holidays descend, our sanity we will lend, and flying will be our friend

[elliepac]

Welcome to the July 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 July 1st.

Hello - still here! Collapsed in heap on Thursday night after feeling like I'd been walking ALL day - reckon I must have done at least 10 miles with 2 school runs and trip to osteopath. Oh well - back MUCH better now. Nothing like some ultrasound, acupunture, massage & manipulation to sort it out. Friday was really busy as well + really tired so nothing done here for 2 days but my sink is still clear of dishes and pretty clean and I did manage to wash the bath while I was in it on Thursday

Will be at home this weekend for a change. DH working both days so we can't go far as no car. Swimming at 12 then I'll start having a sort out after lunch.

Back when I've got a plan

Woah! Quiet day today! Nothing to round-up! Hope that means everyone has had a lovely day enjoying some family time!

Had a rather busy day today, mentally and physically. DH and I had quite a serious chat about relationship stuff. Been together 15 years but relationships are hard work aren't they? Having had a bit of a trough over the last couple of months as opposed to a peak but had a good 'clear the air' talk this morning and am hoping that it might be the start of an improvement. So...mentally exhausting morning followed by Tesco, town and running after DC's this afternoon.

On a positive note, DD is spending her first night in a big girl bed! Purchased a Peppa Pig toddler bed this afternoon, DH went apopleptic trying to put it together and I had nightmare visions of her still being up and running around her room at 11. Going to bed is the one thing she has always done well. SHe may chatter to herself to a bit but is no hassle at all so have been putting it off...and off...and off. Anyway, equipped with Peppa Pig bed, bedding and toy off she went. And while she refused to lie down for a story or a song, when I left her I didn't hear a peep afterwards. I watched her through a crack in the door and she 'read' her book to herself for a while and is now soundly asleep! Am very proud of her.

Not proud of myself however as house is a pigsty. BF and DC's came with us for our mooch round town and then back here for a cuppa so no flying whatsoever then. Then had to go to Argos to get another stairgate for DD's room and a Peppa Pig zipperobe (her bedroom is so small that we are taking out the big wardrobe and chest of drawers and just leaving her with the bed and zipperobe), so no flying there either. Then moved stuff in the kitchen to make tea and snuggled down with DS and watched a movie. So no flying there either. Big plan involved DH taking DC' to his sis tomorrow morning when I will sweep through the house, cleaning everything in my wake!

Have a good evening everyone! Am going to watch Casualty now so will step post first thing in morning.

Morning everyone,

Today's babystep is the eleven commandments.

Have a good day everyone!

I did a post earlier - where did it go? Oh well, here goes again...

Did the flylady crisis cleaning thingy yesterday - 15 mins in each room. I have just received a timer that I'd ordered online a few days ago, so I used that. The system worked really well: after an hour I had a shiny, clear sink, a tidy kitchen hotspot, tidy videos/cds in the sitting room (and I would like to know where all the cds go that are not in their cases and nowhere to be found), hoovered floors and a swished and swiped bathroom. I still had piles of clean washing to put away and another wet load in the machine, but at least the downstairs looked presentable for today's visitors (friends at 12 and more at 2).

Have also started my control journal. Have written the pages out in rough and will amend them as necessary until I have a system that works. DH thinks this is all hilarious, but he seems to like the results.

Droit - glad your back is feeling better.

Ellie - happy to hear you cleared the air with DH. Hope it lasts. Yes, relationships do need regular check-ups, which is tricky when you have DC. Glad to hear you had a flying-free day, ending up watching a film with DS - much better than housework.

Morning all

MrsDinky Why thank you for the respect camping I am good at, and very organized, housework, not so good.

NickofTime Glad your dd's op all went well and she is feeling ok.

I am really liking being on this thread it is giving me lots of focus and incentive, the house is definately looking better.

No flying here yesterday, very busy day, mostly taken up with a huge round trip to visit our new puppy can't wait to bring him home, he is beyond gorgeous

Very busy couple of days coming up as am off on my terrifing party filled nightmare of a holiday on Tuesday.

Morning all, sorry to go AWOL but RL has taken over - just the usual mad busy-ness that is the end of term with Sports Days, Leaving Do's (DD's Deputy Head after 27 yrs ), fracture clinic (DS's plaster off after only 2 weeks - huge hurrah ), settling in visits to 'big' school, etc, etc. I feel run ragged, the house is a tip and next week will be almost as busy and MUCH more emotional as DS leaves his lovely pre-school and our connection with them will be severed after 4 years. Not sure how he will be but I will be a blubbering wreck

Had hoped for a lie-in today as we were out late at the River Festival in Bedford last night. Everyone else still fast asleep but my tooth decided to play up so I came down for pills and need something to distract me until they work (in pain emoticon needed ) so I'll think about a list for today:

• Sort out photos for 'Thank you' present for DS's wonderful keyworker
• Print and laminate signs for Boot Sale next Sunday and repair wind-blown banners
• Morning routine (not done in full for most of the week and its not long )
• Card for friend and think of witty, cheap present - possibly vouchers for home-made cake throughout the year
• Make picnic from yesterday's leftovers
• Kite-flying birthday picnic
• Feed family with something at some point
• Ironing in front of TV
• Bed by 10.30pm

Poo, wanted a short, and possibly acheivable(!), list. Better get started.
Have a good day everyone.

Good morning - coffee is brewing for those who need it.

Didn't get as much done as I would have liked yesterday but all of the washing is done and the kitchen is clean(ish). Had found the dining table tilll DH came home from work (somewhere after 1am) and covered it again

Another day at home today so today I need to
get the rest of the washing dry
ironing
vacuum throughout
make beds
tidy lounge (15 mins)
put Scalextric together for DS, leave for 10 mins and take it down again
put washing away

Breakfast first though -have a good day everyone

Morning everyone!

Thanks for the coffee dwm, much needed, on 3rd cup!

DH has taken the DC's out to his sis's so this is my tidy up time but have decided to have 15 mins to myself...no screaming, arguing, tv etc. Have a big list to do today:-

Empty DD's room of wardrobe and chest of drawers, bagging clothes for recycling in the process.
Transferral of some toys from living room to DD's room
Nick toffeefudge's 15 min per room theory across whole house
washing ad infinitum
go to soft play to put down depost for DS bday party
cook roast dinner

That will do I think...anything else will be a bonus...have kind of decided that am just going to try and maintain relative tidiness until hols start and then will give everything a proper clean before we go away.

dwm DS has a scalextric which works on exactly the same process of yours...out once in a blue moon and the swiftly put away again! .

wtwtw puppies are so cute aren't they . Glad you are enjoying the thread and the consequent house improvement

feetheart life does sound very busy! Mine is exactly the same at the minute. Fab news that Ds's cast if off though!

toffeefudge am nicking your crisis cleaning approach today. I haven't even told DH about the whole flylady thing because he would laugh at me so much .

Have a good day everyone!

Evening everyone!

Not as much as hoped for today really but not to worry.

Empty DD's room of wardrobe and chest of drawers, bagging clothes for recycling in the process. halfdone
Transferral of some toys from living room to DD's room done
Nick toffeefudge's 15 min per room theory across whole house notdone
washing ad infinitum enoughfortomorrow
go to soft play to put down depost for DS bday party done
cook roast dinner wentoutinstead

NOt great, but the important things were done!

4 days to go until school holidays! I think they are going to be the longest 4 days in history . Plus tomorrow is ds's beavers fun night at the local campsite avec bbq etc. so won't get in until late! Night out for leaving do on Tuesday, DS Leavers Assembly on Thursday and so on!

Hope everyone has had a good weekend! Am not going to do a round-up as such as I did one this morning .

Steps coming up!

Today's babystep is inspiration. More fat fairy schmaltz for you .

The mission for today is here.

Have a good monday everyone!

Hi Ellie. All a bit quiet around here, isnt it?

Firstly, on a seerious note, well done for having the "chat" with DH. Its not easy, is it, but worth working at, too. Good luck, hope it all looks up soon.

I have to disagree with you about the next four days though. They are going to be the quickest in history. I have too much to do before Friday. I am requesting another 48 hours slotted in somewhere .... Pleeeaaaase!
I have to organise the paperwork - consent forms/medical forms/special request forms/ sleeping arrangements/ group arrangements/ catering supply lists/ tents into van/ coach lists etc, etc. for 150 young people who are heading off for a 5 day trip in AUgust. I can feel a headache coming on from just thinking about it!

Never ending washing, drying, shopping (x3 because I kept forgetting "urgent" things!) and dishwasher this weekend. It seems endless.
Early morning tomorrow, DS is off to a school trip to Thorpe Park, so an early morning dash for the first boat.

Apologies for lack of personal messages, Comp is playing up and if I scroll I seem to lose what I have typed, so darent do it again!

Back to Mrs Positive Attitude, Horrible crabby Mrs Snapdragon has made a hasty exit!

Better be off, DH has just phoned from a mile away requesting a cold drink on the top in the kitchen when he appears in 2 minutes time! He's been out on his bike (surprise, surprise!!)

Hellllooooo everyone - hope you are all OK

Just diving in and out ....

Mahoosive apologies for disappearing so suddenly. Travelling for a bit and now back preparing for hoardes of visitors. Then travelling again.

Sorry - no time to catch up with everyone individually but wishing you all good luck with end of term activities (those of you who are UK-based anyway) and see you in a week or so. (And will definitely be back to run September thread unless anyone else would like to do it.)

Happy Flying and Happy Holidays!!!!

am back, have read through, sieve brain though so am going to chuck ds into bed and will catch up after an early night.

Hope all are well.

just popping in - haven't gone anywhere, just busy! dd2 eye healing well (i think) but mil leaves tomorrow so am trying to be sociable and not spend too long on computer!

then sil arrives on thurs - so a couple of days to catch up on house stuff. have ironed and laundered today, but feel a bit behind. am looking forward to the next couple of days so that i can blitz a few things, will feel better then!

wtwtw -oooooooo, puppies. i love puppies! what flavour?

linzer - if you're lurking, the postcards arrived on friday thank you - dc's very excited and have been planning lots of return mail!

Managed to hide lots of clutter in our bedroom today, so house looked respectable when visitors arrived. (Getting into bed might be tricky tonight, though).

Did my evening routine tonight. It is really useful having a list to focus on, especially when tired. And it means that I know I will be organised tomorrow morning.

Both boys have friends over tomorrrow. Am looking after DS2 and his friend after nursery from 12 - 3, then bringing DS1 and his friend back home for tea after school.

Into the final week of term now. Lots of things to organise before Friday, especially cards and presents for the teachers, all of whom have been lovely this year.

WWTW - very excited for you about the puppy! Had a terrible craving for a Cocker Spaniel puppy a few weeks ago, after visiting fellow mum with a spaniel. Came to my senses eventually because we simply don't have the space here - but I would think about it again if we ever moved somewhere more dog-friendly.

Goodnight all.

Right, DS has full day at pre-school so my last chance to get a good run at things before they break up. Here goes with the list (some rather similar to yesterday's again

• DC and DH up and out with minimal fuss
• Morning routine
• Banners repaired and up for Boot Sale on Sunday
• Posters round to shops
• Bank
• 5 mins Room Rescue in every room
• 15 mins in every room
• Hoover living room, hall and stairs
• Mop kitchen floor
• Continue to sort out photos for 'Thank you' present for DS's wonderful keyworker - at this rate she is going to get an IOU on Wednesday
• Write letter to pre-school for them to give to OFSTED when they come about how brilliantly they coped when DS broke his leg last year (and his wrist this year )
• Trip to Bookers and Asda for Yr 6 Leavers Party goodies
• Help put up gazebo for Yr 6 Leavers Party
• Feed DC
• DS back to swimming lessons - he is very excited as he thought he would have to miss 4-6 weeks
• More ironing in front of TV
• Collapse into bed at decent time

Looks a LOT, wonder how much I will get done - bets anyone?

Waves to everyone and promises that one day I will have time to mention people again

Good morning everyone,

I feel like I haven't been here for ages (and my house says as much) Our 24hr Relay for Life went brill. Did bit extra walking due to some late members of team and kids slept in tent and I didn't sleep at all. Managed minimal house rescue yest before collapsing in heap. Today I need a list

dc breakfasted and dressed
ds to Montessori final settling in session
dd to stay and play
pick ds up
have lunch
pick dh up
all to cinema to see Toy Story 3 ds reward for getting lotsa stars on his chart
drop dh back at work
home for dinner and tidying!!
Not a lotta flying planned

hope you all have fab day. Bbl

Right list:

Finish all embroidery patches.
sort out arrangement.
Stitch together.

Doesnt seem a lot but i know that the first one is likely to take most if not all of today and probably some of tomorrow.

FLy lady loves decluttering and looking around it is the USPs and UFOs that are causing a lot of clutter, the toys some more and the least amount is caused by paperwork and normal stuff. So the plan is to get decluttering of most of the UFO's and USPs that I have got in already. I have 3 projects i want to do for christmas presents but I need to reduce some existing first. Target date : End of August to get USPs and UFOs done.

USP/UFO list:
knitted cardigian
crochet blanket x2
patchwork blanket
Cross stitch christmas decorations
cross stitch christmas present (that was supposed tto be for birthday present but never got round to it )
Patchwork table cloth
finishing off of chickens - eyes and backs plus 4 found that need sewing
skirts x 2
Curtains x2 pairs
Pinifore dress x1

More then plenty not likely to get all done as knitting is slow work for me. so will see but have targeted the large ufo's and USP plus the almost done so quick to finish off ones.

clearing computer for special techs to look at friday deadline

Am beginning to feel a bit more in control of the house again. Am following my morning routine at the moment, then will do a quick tidy up of both DS's bedrooms as they have friends over later. Have just realised that I have to collect DS2 and his friend at 11.30, not 12 because they are coming home for lunch - thank goodness I realised that and didn't leave them waiting for half an hour. That wouldn't be a very good start.

OK, back to morning routine and tidying. Am enjoying the novelty of the timer and the control journal. It makes a dull thing (housework) slightly more bearable.

best laid plans and all that. I am crisis cleaning. Dont ask, its dire. just taking a lunch break. This house will shine under the clutter. Not ideal and not up to the high standards of fly lady but as long as you cant physically draw in the dust and can walk across the floor it will do.

Will have to ask for a favour on sewing the patches. Need to get them finished by the end of tomorrow really but needs must and I must discover the house. Right coffee and bakes tatty in mircowave so i can eat. Hope you are all having productive day! At least ds has been promised a treat out for tea so there is no cooking

Just checking in before heading out:

done
front end lounge discovered
3 loads washing
3/4 kitchen discovered
dw loaded
frutility 15mins burst done
change ds' bedding
tea out
make jelly

right off to change, shove ds nicely into bed and go training. Hope all are well. read through with hot drink later...

Aargh, been out for the evening and have just remembered that DD's new teacher is coming for her home visit at 9am tomorrow.

nooooooooooooo, i've just finished work, mak - at least leave the wine, cheese and biscuits out until i get home!

but thanks to your earlier post, i'm just about to put a baked potato in the microwave... i've been putting off lunch, but that will be just the ticket!

back later - can't think about flying on an empty stomach!

Morning everyone,

SOrry I didn't get on last night. Got back quite late from DS's Beavers fun night and by the time I had got DC's to bed etc. it was quite late and I was pooped. Lots of fun was had though culminating in singing round the campfire!

mak I would have loved wine, cheese and biscuits, please put them back out tonight. You are doing brilliantly at the o, putting the rest of us to shame with your decluttering!

mrsd good luck with the home visit, hope you managed to get the front room tidy!

toffeefudge how is the morning routine going? Well Done on getting back on track!

nettie well don on Relay for Life! How was Toy Story 3, can't wait to take DS to see it .

feetheart A humongous list yesterday..how did it go?

nick lots of visitors at the moment! Hope you are managing to keep up! .

Big waves to everyone else. Tis all very quiet around here at the moment but I suspect that is due to busy end of term madness, I know I am bogged down with it! Have now got the perennial what to get teacher question going around in my head. To be fair she has been fantastic and DS has made loads of progress this year so want to get her something nice.

Loads to do at work today, am decluttering a la fat fairy and doing my desk and filing cabinets!

Have a good day everyone!