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[ladymuckbeth]

Here we go. More unexpurgated chat about our darling angels, all of whom are gifted and have exceptionally calm and admirably-coping parents.

Will be putting house on market after Xmas which has made me cast a critical eye over the place... And had a child free afternoon at home thanks to the in laws so cracked on with a few superficial jobs, ignoring the big ones like painting the front door and garage door!

Wow tarti - exciting times ahead... so come on, how many hours a week are you glued to Rightmove at this point then?

Lovely Kate that Isla is being so positive about it. I love that she got to have a pink one too :)

Your post-school routine sounds calm and perfect. It's going to take us a while to get back into a rhythm now that they've dropped their nap and I really need to get some separation from DH while he's at home, but hopefully we'll find our feet soon. The dull weather has made it harder and I feel like we're kicking around at home too much - must get out more.

ALL - that's a good point about half-term. I tried to find out online when half-term is, but couldn't find a definitive answer and as it would appear it varies anyway. But we're all either recovering from illness or about to be ill (my turn next - having had a D&V virus yesterday, I now have my signature sore throat which precedes a cold... great) so doesn't look like we'll make it this week anyway.

Hmm several mucky, several... We've had a bit of a reality check though as to what we can afford, especially as the bank insist on including nursery costs in their affordability calculations, which in our case is around £1100 a month. Plus DH is currently on a 2yr contract which obviously is not ideal. So house hunting is not as much fun as when it was completely hypothetical!!

That's bloody annoying re. the nursery costs. They'll be going down soon anyway, won't they? Does that mean you'd be "allowed" a bigger mortgage once the girls started school?

Is there much coming on the market where you're looking? Although things move fairly quickly here, there's still little being put up for sale...

PS: we used a specialist mortgage company who deal with people on contracts (DH is a contractor) - when we were getting our mortgage for that house we pulled out of at the last minute arggghh his contract ended one month after our mortgage application, but there were ways around it. Will PM you their details in case it's of use.

Oh mucky you absolute love, you. Have just seen your pm. Will share with DH and file that info for when we grind into gear in the new year. Thanks so much!

For now I need to make a list of little things we should do before putting this place on the market, to make it more saleable. Am not wasting money and stress on things like doing up kitchen/bathroom but few licks of paint here and there as a minimum.
Any tips from house sellers among you?!

mucky Our after-school routine is definitely working for us, I think the school-run walk helps too as its about 3 miles there so DD1 and DD2 are doing at least 6 miles a day which helps wear them out. Its quite nice just being able to cook in peace, although have found that DD2 (who is constantly starving ) is being a bit of a pain at dinnertimes. We have never ever had an issue with her - she would devour a whole plate full of absolutely anything, but now she is so tired after school she doesn't want to sit and eat a meal, but is still hungry? Basically, she just wants to pick at bits whilst watching a DVD, but that is just not happening!

I always found those first few weeks, months even, after they give up their naps a nightmare! All mine have tended to give them up gradually, otherwise I found that they would be fine the first day, a bit stroppy the next, and by the third they were evil! Even now, if DTrips are tired for some reason then they will quite often fall asleep in front of the telly or something.

Tarti Definitely no experienced house-sellers here, but will try and help :)
Its tricky to get that balance between a bit of quirky-ness here and there, and just a plain boring house. Maybe try and refrain from having everything re-painted magnolia, but obviously nothing too bright; I just mean some nice pastel colours - I know dulux do a lovely range. Then again, I'm sure most people would tell you to do everything magnolia, to play safe.

If you're having viewings in the winter, make sure the house is lovely and warm - if you've got a fire then definitely put it on. Alternatively, if viewings are in the summer then it looks airy and fresh to have windows and doors open.

Think about having your windows cleaned? Always looks nice when they are nice and sparkly!

Good storage systems so that you haven't got clutter anywhere, but so that it isn't all stuffed into cupboards or under beds!

If you've got fabrics that match in your bedrooms (curtains and duvet covers) make sure you've got the ones that match, if that makes sense!

Maybe get some friends and family to come round and criticise your house and ask them what they would / wouldn't like to see if they were viewing it.

Try not to have any doors closed - when they are open then the house flows better.

Make sure there are no funny smells - but don't go the other way and spray loads of dodgy room spray!

All lights on so that it looks lighter and airier!

Sorry if they are a bit crap!
DH has just bought a bit of land to build a few houses on and has said that he is happy for me to do a bit of 'interior designing' I am actually very excited!

Kate - I am in awe of the fact you walk 3 miles each way to do the school run - I am so lazy I don't think I have it in me to do that!

Really good day today - went to the Horniman museum in the morning, full of natural history exhibits... the girls loved it. Well worth a trip to those not too far away. I also just felt so much better about the fact we went out and did something first thing, so when we got back at about 3pm it felt just fine to stick Winnie the Pooh on for an hour and let them watch it. I'd been feeling guilty about them watching too much tv, but actually realise that if we're out and about doing enough "stuff", then I don't care at all if they watch it in downtime. It worked brilliantly, they were quiet and snuggling into their blankets for an hour while I had a bit of a rest, and then we nipped out again this afternoon. We even had a nutritious meal of roast salmon, sauteed potatoes, carrots and green beans. Whatever next!?

On that front, we also seem to be getting somewhere with the food issues, although we are doing the one thing I hoped I'd never do, which is to use the looming presence of pudding in order to get them to eat their main course. It never used to work when I tried it but now they're a bit older it's getting easier to dangle that particular carrot. It was a massive victory tonight in that Eve actually willingly (well, after a fashion) ate a slice of carrot. She NEVER knowingly eats vegetables, so this felt like a real breakthrough. I'm sure it helps that they had not one snack between lunch and dinner, which felt more normal because we didn't have lunch until about 1/1.30pm. When they were going down for a lunchtime nap I always felt like I wanted to squeeze lunch in earlier at about 12/12.30, so of course after they'd wake from their nap (often having had milk to go down) I would also offer them a piece of fruit or worse on a bad day. I do wonder if most of the problem has simply been that they haven't been hungry enough.

Right, once again they're so shattered they've gone straight to sleep. Amazing. Now I need to turn my focus towards myself - feeling annoyingly fat and in a complete state of disorganisation - time to get sorted on both fronts methinks.

Btw, ALL - loved your holiday pics on FB. C looking so grown up, and the boys still so angelic :) There's a real family resemblance developing between C and the boys too!

Oh mucky you will laugh, I was just saying to DH about the school run and that I'm quite pleased with myself for doing 12 miles a day sometimes - he nearly burst a lung laughing... turns out its 3 miles round trip
But still, I do 6 miles a day sometimes.
DTrips still have quite small legs, so that is my excuse for keeping our buggy - there is no way they would make that trip twice a day!

So pleased to hear how good the girls have been today - sounds like a total breakthrough with E! Maybe it would be worth changing your routine so that it is more similar to todays, and see if it has any effect?
We normally tend to do the same thing really - go out all morning and have lunch out, or come home for lunch, and then a relaxed afternoon.
Definitely amazing that they have gone straight to sleep - a very productive day all round!

Lol Kate! and thanks for the tips x

Agree ALL - C such a big girl and omg the eyelashes on all three! Just gorgeous.

I still think that's bloody good going Kate but LOL at the mistake! Forget the size of the DTrips legs, it would take you FOREVER to do it on foot with 3 three year olds, can you imagine the number of stops to look at leaves, or gawk at an ant, or whatever..? :)

Yes, DH and I are feeling really good about today. The other thing that happened was that he had a great day of job hunting, and also feels positive. Sometimes we can't see the wood for the bloody trees, but of course the problem has been that he's under our bloody feet really so we're all treading water not knowing quite what to do with ourselves!

I thought your house-selling tips were good. I'd be wary of de-personalising it too much and would steer clear of magnolia. I think what people want to see are clearly defined spaces which work - so I'd make sure that each room looked like it was very functional for its supposed purpose. (Although OMG does anyone else have the pet hate of DETESTING it when EAs take pics of a kitchen/diner with plates, knives and forks all laid out on the table with fancy bloody napkins, especially when taken in great big close up with blurry background? Bloody ponces ) I also love to see character in people's homes, and have to admit to being completely won over when I think that the people whose house we're buying have the kind of lifestyle I aspire to. I'm a shallow old bag, I was going to say deep down but I don't think it's that deep since I'm shallow...

Have you got any plans to declutter tarti? Are you moving stuff out? I liked what rattling said about removing all toys and the boys hardly noticing

thank you, they are lovely. Recently realised dd has good lashes too. Wasn't born with them, unlike W. People have commented recently about the family resemblance becoming more obvious but I can't see it yet.

Have you seen 'secret agent' tarti? Phil bloke from location x3 helps tart up houses that aren't selling. Only seen couple of episodes & has been obv stuff really. Would like to think even I, with my slatternly ways, would think of them before selling.

Laughed at your error Kate, but yes, still impressive!

Dp is doing essential maintenance on my laptop. Should be grateful but I'm missing it!

I've seen a few of those ALL and I agree - it's all really obvious. From memory, those that were difficult to sell were for really good reasons and I have to say I'm a big believer that if you've got a good example of your type of house, in a decent area and at a good price - it will go. Houses shift around here relatively easily at the moment but then you get some people who get greedy and think they can shove the price up and it'll still go, but they're still sitting there months later.

Today there was a young couple with a baby. Every time Phil told them something needed doing the woman whined that she'd told her partner it needed doing. He, the lorry driver with long hours. She, home alone with 1 small baby. Deweeding the gravel outside the front, cleaning the kitchen, picking dog poo up in the garden.... not rocket science.

Once we get our building work done we're going to have to make a real effort to bear `saleable' in mind in case we ever do. Not sure houses here move that fast, certainly not very local to us. Despite the prices being pretty cheap, I suppose we have high volumes of similar houses in a not very good area.

Ha - dp has just been reading aibu thread titles to me . Luckily he's managed to delete cookies to multiples (Not that he'd read that knowing I post)

No houses not flying off the shelves in our neighbourhood either ALL - it's not v desirable hence our desire to move!! Two on our road have been up for sale for a while although one is overpriced and the other a dump.
I do exactly the same mucky as in, they have impeccable taste and an enviable lifestyle = I want the house. Must bear that in mind re. ours.
We are not too bad for clutter other than day to day stuff which can and will be shoved in the attic when the time comes to appear presentable. Need to paint front door and garage door. Colour? Black? Navy blue? Sure there have been whole threads on this...

Congrats in your successful day mucky. I would NOT cope at all with DH being at home, seriously, even the weekends are a stretch . You're doing really well.

PS thanks ALL I will get the Phil prog on series record. I love a bit of Phil actually, remember having an extremely rude dream about him when I was pregnant.

LOL. I love a bit of Phil too, although not when he's being henpecked by that ghastly Kirstie bint.

I think black's good for a front door. I hear you SO MUCH on pissing yourself laughing re. trying to create the impression of an aspirational lifestyle at home

If only one could rent the allusion of style and grandeur?

pillar box red us a great colour but failing that Black is a good door colour. Ours is wood amongst a sea of white uPVc.

I quite like the Phil n kirstie combo tho I can't really work K out.

Took our 3 in for nursery photos today. Glad I was there cos the photographer asked if I wanted her birthmark airbrushed away .

I think a nice navy colour would be absolutely lovely Tarti !
I have a little thing for Phil too - I think its because he's always so sweet.

ALL I can't believe the photographer asked you that! You should have made a total fuss and asked for complimentary photos

You are fab you lot.

Can't believe that ALL how offensive and ridiculous.

Glad it wasn't just me. Tbf, he seemed a bit embarrassed to ask but said lots of people do ask for airbrushing. Poor dd, I wish it wasn't there either but it is & it's part of her for now .

Took them on the bus to town today & went to a museum / for lunch - first time with all 3 without buggy & it was lovely. We all had to prod ds2 to keep him awake on the way home, and ds1 fell off the seat when the driver braked rather harshly but they did really well!

Hi everyone, I've been following you but it's been ages since I've had a chance to get on here to post, so will not be able to catch up on everything. Lots has been happening with everyone!

Mucky I'm really pleased you had such a good holiday and from the photos it did look fab. Would definitely be interested in details for next year as I can just about envisage being brave enough to fly with them then. What a frustration about the planning permission and architect shenanigans though, you must find it hard to summon up the energy and enthusiasm to start again. Where's your thinking at just now? Did your neighbour have anything to do with it failing last time or was it all the council's objections?

Well done with braving the bed situation and it sounds tempting fate as though it is working out for you. Are the girls getting used to dropping their naps? I so love my 2 hours off during the day that I still get, but I guess I will eventually embrace the idea of it disappearing.

The work prospects sound interesting too. Does this lady think she might be able to make an introduction for you?

Tarti my thoughts on front door colour are that personally I always like a slightly unusual choice but that may well be bad advice when trying to sell. Our front door is a dark purple colour with shiny silver door knocker, letter box etc and I think it looks good while not being run of the mill. If you have silver coloured door furniture I always rather admire the chic colours you see in some parts of London like pale greens, biscuit colours and greys. If you have brass then that works really well with glossy black, navy blue etc.

On selling tips I think Kate has covered them really well, but I would endorse the idea of making sure it looks as nice as possible from the front, ie kerb appeal. Weed the garden, sweep the path, clean the windows and front door, cut the hedge, keep bins out of the way if possible, clean the car too if you have a driveway.

ALL I also reckon you did the right thing in postponing the building work. If you feel relieved having done it, it's definitely the right thing to have done. Sorry the holiday wasn't exactly free of aggravation though and hope you got something relaxing out of it in the end. Agree that the photos of your three on FB were lovely, they are so bonny and C is looking so grown up! She's not quite one yet is she? It looked as though she is happy standing - is she far off walking?

Kate it's great to hear that Isla has taken well to the cast so far and let's hope that keeps up. The house building project sounds exciting - how many houses will it be?

LVB I have told you already but to say publicly the jewellery I got from you for my friend went down VERY well and looks fab. Everyone if you have a lady to buy for for Christmas, give LVB's stuff a look! I think my friend really enjoyed her birthday and I certainly enjoyed going over to celebrate with her - there were some very amusing costumes on show.

How's the driving going? Are you going in for your test soon?

Chesti, how is the settling in going at nursery? It is really difficult at the start because they obviously seem quite unsettled and unhappy at being handed over but if the staff are good then this will only be momentary before they forget all about it, and by my experience it won't be long before they complain about having to stay at home rather than going to nursery!

My two are going through a slightly hurtful phase of much preferring Daddy to Mummy and though they are fine when it's just me and them, they leave me for dust when Daddy's around. I suppose I should capitalise on it and let him get on with them while I go and have a cup of tea!

We are off to the O2 tonight to see Muse (can't wait!) and have my sister's wedding tomorrow. This would be the event where she has refused to cater for my children at all and only grudgingly included them in the invitation. I am torn between wanting them to behave like monsters and make a point that way, or wanting them to be unbelievably cute and adorable. I guess it would be easier for me if it were the latter but it is tempting to load them up with sugar and let them loose [hangry]

Happy Half Term everyone!

Hello Cerub !
Firstly - purple front door? Lets just say that DH and I will be having words about the colour of our front door tonight Purple and silver just sounds bloody amazing!
I think I made a hasty decision when I suggested navy Tarti - like Cerub said, I think it depends on the house and your location. There are lots of lovely pastel colours round here at the moment, especially duck egg blues, but on other houses darker 'original' colours look better. Not that that has really helped!

Cerub I totally know what you mean about DT's behaviour and the wedding. I have the same issue with my sister (who I absolutely love to bits btw) but I know that she makes comments (about DD2's behaviour and that DTrips are hyper sometimes) to other family. But it just pisses me off because we live 2 hours away, and my DD's absolutely adore my sisters DC and so when they come to stay my girls just go crazy! DTrips do go hyper because they are so happy to see their cousins, and usually end up running around the house screaming and laughing. Yes, DD2 does get a bit silly with all the excitement, but that is just her! But I would just love my sister to see my girls normally because they act totally different, but DSis seems to think they are just constantly hyperactive children. Anyway, I know exactly what you mean because in a way you want them to be totally good as gold so that you can just be smug all day and drop comments about how 'beautifully behaved' they are. OTOH it would be amusing if they were just crazy all day so that at least it gives them something to talk about!

Honestly, count your blessings for the 'Daddy' obsession - it works best at weekends where you can say 'wouldn't you rather daddy changes your nappy/puts your shoes on/puts you to bed/ feeds you dinner/ takes you to the supermarket'.

Oooh, a lot of the new builds around here have those pastel colour doors. I thought they were just primed when we first saw them . I prefer a nice strong colour though the pale green ones have grown on me. Deep purple sounds good.

Thanks for the comments Cerubina. The hol was lovely. Whatever else happens, seeing the children / grandparents enjoying each others company so much makes it all worthwhile with the benefit of hindsight.Dd is walking. She took her first steps a few weeks ago but hasn't really progressed much from there, other than gaining confidence. She much prefers speed crawling for now unless out to impress, then puts her `look at me walking, aren't I clever' face on, and applauds herself .

Hope the wedding has been OK and your two have impressed in whichever way was your goal

As part of our relaxing bedtime routine, dp stands the boys on his shoulders & whizzes them around / pretends to be Tigger & J has started grabbing the moon from the sky & putting it into his cot to sleep with him. Unfortunately I only discovered this after dropping Thomas Tank on Moon & breaking it . Luckily J managed to get Moon back into shape with a bit of squidging. Have learned my lesson & remembered to check where Moon is & if I've inadvertently covered its face with the blankets / about to drop an engine on it. I love our earnest discussions about an imaginary object! Strange child

ALL Until I got to the end of your post, I was wondering whether I had completely missed something, Re: the Moon!

Cerub I am desperate to hear how the wedding went and whether your DC were crazy and ran screaming around the place like small feral animals little angels, ha ha ha! Can't wait to hear which of the behaviours you encouraged! [hwink] [hgrin]
Lots of smileys - will blame excess consumption of wine!