Babies Born June 2006 #27

Rory: I can give you a stapler... we have about 5... everytime Verity gets new AirFlex school shoes they throw in a complimentary stationery kit which always has a small stapler... we've received about 3 of these kits... i'll bring one over... it hasn't even been used... might help you get-by until you can afford a good quality one. I love that Compact concept :) Itry to make being a cheepskate fun... my way is to make a joke of our Amish lifestyle which compared to all our friends is so simple even though it involves suffering through heat for a few days a year... at least we don't have the huge electricity bills that our friends seem to have. I also often muse on how much money people spend to satisfy egos instead of satisfying needs. This occured to me when someone told me that "wealthy" people shouldn't go to Op Shops... I think it was FIL... anyhow almost in the same breath he told me that they never went to Op Shops when they had a young family because his wife was too proud (DH's mum)... they were exactly they type of family that should have used op shops!!! Crazy huh? And isn't it interesting when you drive through "low socio economic areas" like West Heidelburg and see flashy cars with all the trimmings like mag wheels and the drivers are all wearing expensive sports clothing brands... while we're in a comfortable suburb driving a 10 yo bomb? I think FIL thought that WE shouldn't be using op shops... but what should we spend our money on? Cars and expensive clothing??? We don't need it! Should we need it? I feel abnormal not wanting it (not really LOL)... anyhow Rory: if you want to share info about what you're tossing out and I'll do the same it could be the start of something LOL I'm actually donating a lot of girls clothing ATM because my sister (who always complains of money issues) prefers to dress her DDs in the latest fashions and I know that she doesn't use the stuff I send up to her :( so if you have a little girl you'll be set... you can have bagfuls of clothing! We haven't bought anything new for Niall besides a sleeping bag (which i'm also about to donate I think).

gotta go... screaming kids....

Well hi all - finally found the time to post but it won't be a long one.

Bath: Good to see you back in here it just isn't the same without you! We saw "Night in the museum" last night and it was great! I'm going to buy it on DVD for Aleise when it comes out. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are so great!

Melbourne ladies: Sounds like its wayyy too hot down there why don't you fly up for a visit to Brisvegas? Its only been 26C (max) so far.. a bit of rain here and there too!

Jess: Hope you're recovering well. If it were us finalising the baby factory closure I'd make Matt get the snip! After having a c/s I'm not likely to line up for more surgery!

Well gotta run, taking mum to Spotlight today so I'd better get my glad rags on.. take care all and will make more of an effort for personals next time.

seeya! :D

Rory - PSL about the Rastafarian thing. I have one of those Bob Marley wigs too!!! It is so true about living up to your income. I watched something on TV a while ago that said if you spend 75% of your income, regardless of how much you earn, you will still spend that 75%. I am lucky that I am on paid maternity leave for the whole year, otherwise some things would have had to go. We live to our means and very rarely do we splurge on expensive things. I love Op shops! You can find so many great bargains. We don't use credit cards (only if really necessary) and I am going back to work in July. I still love going out for dinner etc, but its usually only one of us going, one stays home and looks after kids. I would find it really hard not to buy anything as I can't help myself! I don't spend heaps, but I do loving buying the girls and me, new clothes!!!! Have fun decluttering and don't throw out DH, sounds too good to throw out LOL!!!!

Bath - glad to hear you had fun at the beach. Perfect place to be yesterday. As I said to Rory, op shopping is so much fun. Rummaging around, looking for things and some are better than others. PML about the low socio economic areas and cars etc. I bet most of them are up to their eyeballs in debt!!! I use to have friends that did that, just to keep us appearances - how ridiculous. I personally prefer to have friends I like because of who they are, not how much they earn or what they drive. So glad to hear your wound has healed and I can understand why you are tentative about feeding from that side now.

Neeny - would love a bit of rain right now! Have fun at Spotlight - I just got home from their myself getting Chelsea's party invite stuff. Its a trap, I always buy other bits and pieces while I am there. They had good baby food containers for $5.99 for 4.

Off to my aunty and uncles this afternoon for dinner. Also finishing Chelseas invites on their computer (much better than mine!). Hopefully it will rain later and cool down a bit.

Our meet up is during the day isn't it?

Hi to the other Junies and have a great day everyone. :D

Hiya Neeny and Mel :) I'm wandering around in cirlces trying to meet the needs of all the kids who are cranky :( Niall won't nap... maybe he ate too much food this morning? 1/3 cup rice cereal... yesterday he ate almost a whole banana and a 2/3 a cup of apple puree... his weight is down though... probably because of the recent b.feeding problem... also he's become very mobile all of a sudden... starting to crawl forwards instead of backwards... thankfully very slowly though.

Oh and Jess I didn't realise you had your tubes tied!? Good grief, I had it in my mind you went in for something else... back pain? I skim read a lot of posts recently... but geeze what a thing to miss! I'm so sorry... let us know how you get along, there must be a lot of feelings to deal with something like that.

ok... back to the hard slog... bring on the rain.

Jess- hope your feeling better today. i remember a long time ago you saying you were getting it done.
Nickel- there are a couple of Sydney siders u could meet up with um CeeCee, Karen, Dee78 and give it another 3months or so and i'll most likely be joining you! we had real estate come around yesterday to look at the house, they will get back to us with costs etc on putting it on the market. we are not going to offically do anything though until dh job is locked in.
If the Meet up at Rory's is Friday DAY i could go there straight from my playgroup which finishes at 12.00

where has jaspen gotten to these days? Anyway Happy 7months Samuel for toady!

4th hot day in a row. yesterday was about 37 i think, today feels very similar, when is there a cool change suppose to come?
Im feeding my neighbours cat & fish atm and thismorning noticed one of the fishy's has passed on...... should i text her?? should i try and get it out?? its one of those wall tanks so even pretty hard to feed them dunno how id go getting the fish out. It is encased in this little bubble or something ive neever seen such a thing... very weird.... the animals must be fretting cause the cat spewed all over the house the first day (i rang and told them)

Uh oh Nic... sounds like you've got your hands full with the neighbour's pets! If you could work out how to get the dead fish out I'm sure it would be a good idea... otherwise bacteria levels will increase in the water and threaten the others.... never heard of a bubble enclosing the fish though...that's an odd one although dead things do emit gases... maybe they've become locked in somehow. I'd sms them too. Oh and hey it's starting to rain here! :) check out the BOM site Nic... sure helps deal with mugginess when you can actually see relief in sight!

Niall finally went to sleep after nearly 2 hours of on/off crying... he's never done that before... DH wanted to rock him but I said I'd just sit beside him on the floor next to his cot and soothe him... gave him some water which helped... dimmed the room a bit which also helped... eventually he self settled when I started folding clothes.

DH is still wandering around in his cotton dressing gown LOL he's been so good with the kids today... hasn't raised his voice even though I have with Verity when she has been cheeky. I gave him a hug for being the better parent today... he's also done the washing... I think these holidays he has developed a fuller appreciation of the grueling nature of looking after 3 kids, especially when they are hot and tired. DH loves the heat which is why he is able to cope better than I am.

Yeah, where are you Jaspen??? Miss you! Happy 7 months Samuel :)

Well it was DH birthday yesterday, he turned 39 and we're having family over tonight for a BBQ, so can't be long. I made him a choc mud cake with profiteroles on top with a Grand Marnier and custard filling, will put a pic up later in the week. I took Cody and Wyatt to the docs yesterday for the conjuntivitis and had to get antibiotic drops so they're on the mend now. Ok have to go and finish getting ready.

hugs xoxo

Oh yummo Amanda! It's been ages since I've had profiteroles... how good would the Grand Mariner be! Sounds scrumptious! Looking forward to seeing the piccy :)

Cool change has arrived... *sigh* not as much rain as expected... fingers crossed for storms tonight as forecast.

Hi Girls, sounds like everyone is travelling well.
I am trying really hard to cathc your decluttering bug rory & Bath but just cant seem to do it. We have a rent inspection on Monday so maybe tomorrow when Ia m getting ready for that it will be a good time to start. Mind you since I have been on Maternity leave it was my goal to sort out my teaching stuff which I have finally finished and feel so much better for it.

Living to your means: Since DH and I have been together we have always managed to adjust what we earned to how we lived. When we first moved in together we were both students working parttime and we still managed to make ends meet. For as long as we have had joint bank accounts though we have always put a small portion of what we earned into savings, I try and put a minimum of 10% of our total earnings away into savings. I am budget crazy I very carefully work out what we earn and what our priorities for spending are- we dont live a flashy lifestyle but always make an effort to 'treat' ourselves to something once a month, be it dinner out, movies etc.

Amanda- Your DH birthday cake sounds just divine. I had a Queen Silvia cake for my bday and it was just delicious.........oh so chocolatey. Ihope your DH had a wonderful day.

I think Jaspen might still be away on her holiday, from what I remember they were going to the US and Canada for a holiday for maybe about 7 weeks (I think)

Anyway better go, we are off to my cousins engagement party tonight

Bath a stapler would be fantastic! I will keep my box of op shop stuff until you come so you can have a rummage - I gave Simone a leather handbag I bought but never used the other day, so I would rather the stuff go to a friend than the oppy.

Neeny I went to Spotlight today too! Only it wrecked my new "no buy" policy - I bought some scrapbooking pages (50% Christmas stock) and a pattern and material for an apron - one of those with a frilly skirt and little ruffles on the shoulders! Bath you would love it - very "Leave it to Beaver"

Nickers I am happy for the meet up to be Friday during the day - those who don't want to drink can always take a bottle home with them.

Mel you asked the other day how the menu planning was going? Well I have decided to do a weekly scour of our local supermarkets (there are 4 at our local shopping centre) for discounted bargains and use that to for the basis of my menu for the week. I will then top up what I need from my usual supermarket and NQR the next day. So it is a "plan" of sorts, but rather than specify what to eat on what day and then shop for it, my menu will be dictated by what I find (once again, the inner hunter-gatherer emerges!)

This method still leaves plenty of scope for mad recipie collecting and cataloging, cause when you find discounted cream cheese you need a recipie that uses it.

Amanda, I can't wait to see your cake!! I am on a weight loss health kick ATM so I can only look at yummy stuff now!

Ali - have fun at the party!!

Better go - bag of rats is manky. Gotta go read the riot act :whip: (JK!!)

Rory: ROFL that apron pattern sounds lovely... I'll have to have a look at that too.... I make my own aprons, simple as. Just plain ones though. The last one I made was from this piece of fabric that DH and I found at the back of his mum's linen press... made circa 1955 I reckon... it features illustrations of all the gentle arts: boxing, duck shooting, fox hunting, fishing, **** fighting and cricket! I'll have to take a piccy of it... it's a real conversation starter once our guests pass the observation test and notice what's printed on it! LOL It was probably originally intened as fabric for a boys bedroom curtains.

I've got a bag of rats beside me here too... I can tell he needs to do a poo ... I wish he'd just get it over and done with so i can have a shower... he generally does one around this time of day and that's the signal for me to have a shower cos he joins me.

Ice cream beckons....

ETA: oh and that method of menu planning is pretty much what I've been doing for the past 3 years... prior to that it was more haphazard and involved more convenience food as I studied and worked... but this method is far more economical. Once you have a few basics in the cupboard (spices etc) you can make a meal for next to nothing from scratch with whatevers cheapest/in season.

ETA again: I also meant to say goodluck with your decluttering too Ali! remember do it in baby steps... just choose a corner of a room to start with.... or a place like under the bed which is my focus ATM. I'm also worried about accumulating too much clutter when I embark on teaching studies! I've seen teacher student friends with ROOMS of teaching aides and materials! gulp!

hey, just lurking, too hot for much else... spent the day cleaning, ducluttered my lounge room :D only the rest of the house to go now...

Nic - I'm in Castle Hill.
Nickel - would be interested in a meet, but not until kids are back at school, took all 3 to the powerhouse museum yesterday, I have no desire to go so far afield with all 3again in a hurry.
Jess - hope the pain has eased, thinking of you.
Bath - mmmmmmmmmm icecream, what flavour?
All this decluttering, I should be inspired, I think I had better take the Christmas tree down, hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Karen, my SIL came to visit and took down our chrissy tree, otherwise it would've stayed up for a while yet... When DH and his dad lived together, it used to stay up all year rounfd, and just get a 2 min dust for chrissy!!

Where is everyone today?? Im just having a relaxing day at home, boys ave justgone to bed, and Anneliese is just having a feed before she goes to bed too... then maybe i can read my new book fo 5 mins straight without kids at me!!

Much more comfy day here...

For your party Rory, i my get DH to take the kids to daycare and just catch the train out your way with Anneliese, then he can pick the boys up from daycare, and me up later on. That way i can have a glass of wine and not have to worry about driving - Im not allowed to have anything to drink and then drive (After DH's best mate died from DUI) What time from and til is it going to be??

oh and

Welcome back IK!!!

Been reading the posts, just not having an opportunity to reply!
Got back yesterday and as soon as I got in I started baby-proofing...everything is either blocked off or on top of a table for now. Got heaps of work to do, but I can get it done without DP here to make a further mess of it! It's only been a day without him, but I'll probably start feeling his absence in two days - being that that is when he'd normally be back from strike team duties...and he'll be gone for another 11 days!
Visited the fire station this morning and it's pretty busy with crew deployments. We didn't send postcards this trip because, with all the public holidays, we would have beaten all the cards back. So, instead, we got a NZ Fire Service calendar...the girls at the station will love it!
Did some shopping to get some fresh food in the house and now I"m surfing eBay for Tupperware. I'm sick of cheapo storage that chips, doesn't seal, can't take the microwave etc. DP seemed to be ok with this idea, even though he knows TW isn't cheap. But he also hates (more than I do) dodgy storage containers. Plus, it will all stack nicely in our poxy pantry and make it look tidier. I am SO tempted to get the huge sets for about $150...a lot of money, but after buying a few smaller sets, I'd have spent that anyway! Oh, and looking for TW is SO much fun, I"ve decided!
Next Friday, I'm in! I'll drive and visit my cousin in Fitzroy on the way back - she just got engaged and I haven't seen her for weeks. What time? Dress code? What are we bringing? Should I see if I have time this week to try some of my Jamie Oliver recipes? I'm not very domestic in that way, but I'm willing to make a start!
Great news - I'm packing away all my 'bigger' clothes and storing them for the next pregnancy! Now I just also got to pack my winter clothes so that my summer stuff can breathe in there...
Nickel - I am SO glad you came back to us, don't you go nowhere, ya hear? It's great that the job ending was a good conclusion for both parties.
OK, gonna try to put this climbing monkey into the portacot so I can sort out this house some more (he is actually trying to climb walls...as in, using them to stand up...).
Will do more personals later, but I"m not going to attempt to do retrospective personals! Except...
Simone - thanks!

Welcome home IK!
Just using today as a starter for try to move around a bit more. Pain is still there (today more than yesterday, Pat kicked me last night!) have decided to try and walk into town in a couple more days. Just resting atm...heading around to see a friend in 10 mins.

Jess - take it easy! I know it's not the same, but when my mum had a partial hysterectomy, she would cry out in pain when the car went over a bump - if you don't have to, then try not to move much!
Ok, I've made my first eBay Tupperware purchase. I'm watching several hundred items...DP is going to kill me...right before he realises what a good idea it all is ;)

Hi all

Well its starting to get hotter up here too now although I don't think its more than 32 today! Feel for you guys down Melb way who are sweating it out!

Jess: Hope you're recovering well. Nice to get friends to come and visit when you're not well.

Simone: I started taking the tree down yesterday and just got the bottom half to put away now (still in the lounge room). LOL at your hubby and his dad having it up all year round!

Amanda: Happy birthday to your hubby! Hope he enjoyed his cake - sounds like something you'd get out of some fancy patesserie!

IK: Sounds like you're super organised with baby proofing your place. We've just started. Even though Aleise still slides along her back or belly most of the time she travels quite a distance! We bought a gate barrier for the study/lounge area as we have 2 very steep stairs that lead into the study. I am bidding on Ebay too atm - trying to get a deodourising nappy bucket and it closes 7.30pm (6.30pm Qld time) so hopefully will win that - retails new for $75 and current bid is $32.

Update: Well Aleise seems to be sitting by herself quite well now and I timed it today at 5 mins! I got some photos on the digi camera and will upload later - high time I changed my ticker too! She's also teething and it looks like there could be 3 or 4 coming out at the one time (even though she hasn't got any yet). Matt and I went to the movies Friday night and she cried for 2.1/2 hours and Mum had no idea how to make her stop! I told her she should've rang me (as we left earlier for a cofffee) and I could've let her know about the bonjella. Aleise hates rusks and doesn't like the teething rings much either! Oh well got a good year of this to look forward to I think!
She also said "Mama" (only once) and "Yeah" yesterday. No more F words thank goodness (and yes I have started saying Flat Duck instead! not that I swear much anyway) She will be 7 months tomorrow - gee I can't believe its been that long! Our bubbas are getting so big!

Well can't think of much else to write. Take care all and will check in again soon.

ETA: whoops! Sorry Jess and Neeny... missed your posts... reading now :)


WooHoo IK's home safely! :) ah yes, all your stuff is about to embark on the upward migration as you begin to child-proof your home... stuff will have to be placed higher and higher and you'll soon run out of high places to store things and decluttering will become the bane of your existence. if you buy new storage cupboards I recommend that are lockable. Alternatively barracade areas of your home eg the kitchen so that you don't have to raise everything. Oh and check that your bookshelves can't tip forward easily because little ones tend to try to climb them... i live in fear of this happening here and there's not much we can do about it because I can't imagine the owners wouldn't be happy about us putting holes in the walls to brace them back. Yep, TupperWare is the best... never never never buy Willow brand food storage containers like I mistakenly did... I now scour Savers for secondhand TupperWare which I bring home and soak in Milton overnight then blast in the dishwasher.

Went to church this morning with Verity... gearing up for all the kids to be Christened this Easter. What I love about this church is that the reverend often includes information about other religons: "oh and Jewish/Catholic/Lutheran people do it this way..." etc. So it fits in with my "mere Christian" beliefs rather than narrowly following a set doctrine.... it's a Uniting Church offically... but very inclusive. There's a play space set up for kids too beside the pews... today this little girl, proably about 16 months old broke loose and toddled past the reverend over the dias as he gave his sermon, squealing with delight but there were no frowns... just understanding smiles at the mum who was a bit embarrassed. Also, Verity is going to have her own mentor, a lovely, perfectly 'normal' woman who will make herself available if Verity has any personal issues in her life of a spiritual nature. I know this might all sound a bit "full on" to some people. It's hard to talk about personal spirituality without sounding like a "religous nut" but I thought I might as well mention all this as it's going to be a bit of a focus for our family for the first 1/4 of the year. Don't worry, i'm not going to start writing sermons LOL

Karen: Icecream: vanilla and chocolate, two sccops in a waffle cone. I also made a Chrissy cake flavoured icecream recently which was a massive hit with everyone... I've toyed with the idea of owning an ice cream maker... but can't really justify the expense as usual... hand stirring isn't too arduous... going to try to make another flavour soon... got heaps of frangelico, might make some with that and some chopped hazelnuts.

DH and Wade napping... Niall sleeping too (Verity rocked him to sleep in the pram)... have dug out my French Women Don't get Fat book... going to make something from that... not sure what at this stage...

Oh and Yes! Much more comfortable weather-wise today... lovin' it!

Howdy girls! I have had a relatively productive day today abut I can't believe it is already nearly dinner time. I got up late (7.30am) and gave Flynn his brekky (2 vitabrits with apple puree, no less!) before treating myself to brekky at my fave cafe (I had corn fritters with bacon, oven roasted tomatoes and avocado and a "virgin suprise" - cranberry juice with OJ on top so it is layered like a ****tail - yum!) Then I went to a free yoga class in the park and took Flynn to visit my parents before heading home for lunch. After lunch I sewed the hems on three muslin wraps I made for a GF's baby (due in March - can't wait!!) and now DH and I are trying to solve the Riddle of the Baby Gates! We figure any baby gates put in place are going to be there for a few years so he is looking for an elegant (clever elegant, not the attractive elegant) solution to the problem. Luckily moving everything to a high spot isn't so much an issue in our place as trying to block off the top and bottom of our stairs....

Bath - I soooooo agree on the Willow plastic - it sucks! I bought a heap a few years ago and ditched most of it when DH decided he wanted to store stuff in glass or ceramic, but I have a few bits left which are all warped - maybe they should be next to go in the decluttering?? Oh and the mentor for Verity sounds good - while I don't have a religious bone in my body I can really see the value in girls (and boys) being hooked up with a responsible adult who can "be there" to talk about things that the child may not walk to discuss with their parents.

Neeny, is the nappy bucket one of those that had little cartridges for the bags, so they are all sealed? They look pretty cool! I am settling for a deorderiser tablet in the bottom of our bucket ATM.

Oooouch, Jess, thinking of you ;). Try to lie still and get the other kids to help out maybe?

IK, good luck on the tupperware purchases - see if you can find one of the ice cube trays with the covers - they are great for baby food.

Karen, outings with multiples is one thing I am not looking forward to!!

Simone, that sounds like a plan. I am happy for people to rock up whenever and stay to whenever.

We should prolly (there is is, got that "prolly" from you Simone;) ) sort out catering girls - I have heaps of cakes recipies I want to try....

Just updated ticker finally!

Does anyone know how to make it work on emails?? Hit a brick wall there!

rory: Yeppers its the Tomee Tippee bucket - if I don't win it I could use a deodourising tablet (what kind do you use?).

Better go and tidy up now *sigh* work is never done!

Child-proof gates: Don't buy the ones you commonly see in stores, most are crap...especially the ones that rely on spring loaded systems that are meant to hold the gate in place... they are easily dislodged as the child gets older as they yank on them quite vigorously. If I was you I'd get that clever DH of yours to construct ones from scratch. We Hired A Hubby that made one consisting of a frame with sheet masonite either side so there is no foothold. It's held up with strong hinges to a square post and another post with the bolt. I am just able to step over mine too which saves the hassle of swinging it open every 5 minutes but DH can't as easily but he's not in the kitchen as frequently as I am. Anyhow it's basically as sturdy as half a door... I'm going to paint it a colour to match the kitchen. If we have to move house it won't be too hard to remove and fill in the screw holes either. Most important thing is that it's sturdy... little kids are often stronger than you give them credit for especially if they are throwing a wobbly because they can't get in.

:

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Jess - take it easy! I know it's not the same, but when my mum had a partial hysterectomy, she would cry out in pain when the car went over a bump - if you don't have to, then try not to move much!

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I hear you with that IK! DH has been getting told if he hits one more bump...he's dead!

There's one spot that if anything touches, I go through the roof!

Amanda: your 4 boys are waiting for you to describe yourself to me so I can add your image to the avatar I've started! DH and Verity have gone to the cricket tonight and after the boys go to bed I'd love to relax and finish your av :) What I need to know is: Hair colour and length and style. Skin tone: pale or tanned. Clothing preferences. Jewelry/glasses? if you can think of anything else don't be afraid to ask! :)

Righto girls - I am all set to REALY flylady tomorrow - the house is in reasonable order and I have my MASTER LIST OF JOBS printed. Wanna see? Thought I would put it here so I can be honest with you and let you know if I pull it off:

First there is the timetable for the week:

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Monday: Weekly Home Blessing
1.Weekly Home Blessing Hour
Clean out fridge
Change sheets
Empty all the trash
Vacuum/sweep all rooms
Mop kitchen and upstairs bathroom
Clean mirrors and doors
2.Zone Cleaning Chores

Tuesday: Work Day at Office

Wednesday: Zone Clean, Mothers Group, Shop Cruise, and Work at Home
1. Finish Zone Cleaning Chores
2. Mothers Group
3. Shop Cruise (optional) OR Menu plan
4. Work in evening

Thursday: Partial Desk Time and Grocery Shop
1. Remainder Weekly Cleaning
2. Supermarket/Market shop
3. Work in evening

Friday: Paperwork, Misc. and Work Day at Home
1. File papers and cull/toss magazines
2. Clean out handbags
3. Mend clothes and polish shoes
4. Clean out car
5. Council work
6. Work at home

Then there are the weekly tasks to be completed:

WEEKLY TASKS

Kitchen: Clean out refrigerator, Tidy pantry,Wash splash backs,Wipe down stovetop, Sweep and dust, Wash floor

Living Room: Dust furniture and sills, Sweep floor, Vacuum carpet,Tidy DVDs and books, Cull/toss old magazines

Dining Room and Family Room :Dust furniture, fireplace and sills, Wash dining table, Sweep floor

Master Bedroom: Clean Mirror, Dust, Sweep floor , Change sheets

Downstairs Bathroom: Polish mirror, Wash hand basin, Wipe down bath, Clean toilet, Change hand towel, Mop floor

Upstairs Bathroom: Polish mirror, wash hand basin and bench, Clean toilet, Change hand towel, Wipe floor

Flynn's Room : Dust furniture,Tidy clothes and drawers, Sort outgrown clothes, Vacuum

Study : Clear desk, Dust, Filing, Dust printer and weights machine

If I can do this for a week I will treat myself to a full body massage at my local yoga centre!!! If I can manage it for a month I will have a house which is cleaner than my mum's!!!!!!!

Rory - you just made my head hurt real bad...I have a house that is probably a 5th the size of yours and my place would take about 3 weeks of what you have planned for a couple of days! But with DP gone, it is a distinct possibility I could get it under control in about a week...
Jess - ouchies! Do the threats help his driving any? I know the shrieking helped mine with my mum!
Bathsheba - thanks for the tip about the gates. I can see it would be better to have something the child can't see through to the other side of, much like a puppy. A view is a bit tantalising! I'll get DP to construct some when he gets back - he was going to make a bed rail as well, he's a bit handy like that. Might ask him to make a wall around where we keep the kitchen bins, under a bench...Oscar is into the bins now, so I'd better be there!
BBL

hi all,
Rory - that sounds amazing.. I may use your list for a base for mine! Thanks!!!!

IK - glad you trip was great, and Oscar is so much fun!

Baths - I think your Christening sounds wonderful - (I'm at my Mums house and she asked what I was doing on the PC so I told her about this site and read out your post to her - she said you sound "loverly" he hee)...

Jess - awwww.... ouch... huge hugs to you darling...

Oh, and Baths is right about the things falling from walls, my friends 2 yo pulled a chest of draws down on herself and was 2mm from losing an eye but is now unfortunately permanently disfigured, so sad... hopefully plastic surgery will help when she is older?

Hello to everyone I forgotten...

Me: I'm still on vacation (yes, I've been here for one month now!) just having fun with the folks, DH is back at work... Ally went swimming in the nuddy at Yamba beach today - she loves beeing in the nude! She can almost sit as well... so proud!
Look forward to chatting soon.
luv to all
CC

Happy 6 months to Ally!!! Sorry I missed it yesterday!
I've decided, after nearly bidding on an automatic bin, that I'll look for a wooden bin with a recycling section. Reason - looks nicer, but more importantly, with the two sections, and being timber, it will be a sturdy unit that will withstand Oscar trying to stand using it and it can be fixed to the wall (like sliding it down onto bolts so that it's easily removed by an adult). I've found one for $88 in Geelong and was thinking of checking out the local timber furniture shops around here to compare prices before driving out there. Just happens that I may have the opportunity to be near Geelong in the next week to visit a family friend of DP's who had a baby not long ago...two birds...a stone...hmmm...

Hi girls - geez one I miss 1 day and so much to catch up on!!!

IK - so glad to hear you back, we missed you! Go the Tupperware, its great and I love the lifetime guarantee. My GF mum had some of the old orange coloured stuff and a lid cracked (it would have to be 20+ years old!) and they gave a new container! The initial outlay is worth it. My aunty had the consultant come out and do her pantry and I am so jealous! It looks amazing. Oscar is coming along in leaps and bounds - my little possum is only just starting to master rolling from tummy to back LOL!!!

Rory - we will have to rename you "superwoman"! I don't think I could ever get all that stuff done and my place isn't very big. Hope it goes well and I like the idea of the reward at the end. Good idea about the shopping. I find if I don't make my menu plan before I go shopping, I always forget stuff or buy too much stuff but I can understand about buying stuff on special etc. NQR is great for that.

Jess - glad to hear you on the improve. Make sure DH and kids look after you well. Lots of chocolate should help LOL!!!

Neeny - hope you get the nappy bin. I borrowed one from a friend and it was great. PML about the Flat Duck!!! Might have to use that myself!

Bath - the icecream sounds divine! On new years eve, I bought a tub of low fat icecream and gave the kids some honeycomb squares and maltesers, they had to bash them in a bag with a rolling pin (boy did they have fun doing that!) and then tip them into the icecream and each had a turn mixing. They loved doing it and the icecream was beautiful. Not something you'd do all the time, but a fun treat for them. Cold Rock icecream shop sells so many different variations with Ferrero Rochers, Strawberry Freddos, gummy bears etc. LOL about the you delivering sermons - I certainly don't mind you talking about religious stuff (I am not religious), I find it quiet interesting and I might learn something to!

CC - enjoy your break, it sounds like such a beautiful place. I think all kids love being nude, but, hey who wouldn't, much cooler LOL?

Ali - I could use some of your budget tips. DH and I are hopeless at saving. I really applaud those that can stick to a budget. Hope you had a great night at the engagement party.

We went to my aunty's place last night for dinner and didn't get home until 1am! Then had a kids party at 12pm today, so been a busy couple of days. Got home today at about 4pm and did some cleaning, washing etc. I hadn't done much over the weekend in terms of cleaning so it needed to be done. Marley is eating her solids so well now. We have progressed to pumpkin and zucchini and she loves it. Might start to increase it. She is having 3-4 large cubes. Still not doing much else, just rolling from back to tummy ocassionally.

Sorry to anyone I missed, there was so much to catch up on!

Looking forward to meet on Friday, just let me know what you need me to bring.

Bath did you want me to email you about my details?

hugs xoxo

Rory: Love it! I'm with CeeCee: gonna refer to that list of yours too! I was actually cleaning underneath our toilet on New Year's Eve and thinking of how Karen was dismayed as it was the one of the first tasks FlyLady gave that day LOL somehow this whole thing has really captured my imagination ... how funny is it that a thousand women world wide could be cleaning underneath their toilets at the same time because of this FlyLady phenomenom ROFL One issue she needs to respond to though is cleaning whilst looking after young children at the same time... it poses a very challenging problem.

CeeCee: *blush* hehe thanks for once I'm speechless! ROFL loooove Yamba!

IK: Yes! give lots of thought toward bin management! LOL it is a very enticing region of the house for babies and toddlers... the novelty takes aaaages to wear off... and you also may find yourself constantly wondering whether Little Darling has put such-and-such in the bin because you can't find it anywhere. Dummies can also often be found in there.

ok... DH home from the cricket... he has also managed to settle Niall for the night... so this is me off to bed to read the last bit of my book... nighty night Junies...

ETA: Amanda! yes! :)

ETA again: Whoops! Sorry Mel... missed your post... reading now :)

Ok Bath sorry it was so late, but I've sent it now, thanks for doing this for me.

hugs xoxo

Amanda: No probs... just checking for it now :)

ETA: Got it! Excellent... should be ready by tomorrow... if you have any other thoughts on what you would like just let me know :)

ETA: Mel: Thanks for also assuring me that you know I'm not a religious nut just because i said i go to church... it's amazing how many people give you sideways glances these days if you mention that. I don't adhere to any particular doctrine... it's just that I've found it to be a good source of mental stimulation.... and it doesn't cost much ... and it's peaceful... and it's a springboard for good conversations between Verity and myself... and I'm getting to know my neighbours and feel a part of my community for the first time since i was in primary school! Also: Love your icecream additions! The possibilities are endless hey! LOL I'm thinking you could almost make little individual "treasure hunt" ice creams with all sort of lollies hidden/mixed in!

Bath - sounds like you've found a good church, I too do not relate to belonging to a particular denomination (i attend an anglican church), as we are all Christian. Our local churches are starting to do more things together such as Christmas carols, which is good. The icecream sounds divine, I love hazelnuts. Lol @the toilet.I actually did it the other day too.

IK - tupperware is great and cheaper on ebay, make sure you know your prices tho.

Jess - I hope the pain eases soon, huge hugs to you.

Hi to everyone else, Nathan is trying to attack computer, so better go.

Morning all, kids are in daycare (DH at home, so still one kiddie her i spose :p) so just having a relaxing day...

Not going to try and catch up now, going to head out and do something productive - spent the weekend cleaning (cleaned out the kitchen cupboards, over, sink, fridge and deep freezer, and fly-ladied my lounge. Cleaned both kids rooms out (although you wouldnt know that by the boys room, they trashed it last night after i put them to bed...) Did 8 loads of washing (have to put them away today) scrubbed out the whole bathroom and mopped all the floor. Next weekend im going thru the garage (we have about half a house worth of boxes) and i will prolly be salvo-ing half of it, i will post if before i give stuff away, then you ladies are welcome to it :) I may do that today while its nice and cool... apparently meant to get hot again by the end of the week. Got freezing last night! Not much to go in my house now before it looks much nicer...And DH ven did the kitchen last night after i cooked dinner :)

Thanks, Karen - I've seen some of the auctions that I'm sure are over-inflated prices! One auction I won had some used stuff (four pieces) and that was $14 incl postage, another is two modular mates mini rectangle (7.5 cups) for $18 all up. I hope it's a set of two, cos that's what the ad suggested! I've seen those same rectangles go for about $15 each for just one, so I hope it is for two! Some of the things I think I'd be better off hosting a party here. But I spoke to DP last night and for now I'm not allowed to buy any more, especially as he's going through some intense self-discovery and doesn't want to be distracted by the thought that I'm spending money we're not earning! Therefore, I'm not allowed to think about the timber bin for now, either! He can make one, though, with his lathe and other bits and pieces, I suppose. Food for thought.
Meanwhile, as the timber bin is a way off and we need a new bin, I might try to find one of those with a sliding opening on top - if Oscar brings it down, the rubbish will stay in until I can get to it to right it! I just don't have the surface space to put it on a bench.
Much cooler today - the house has finally caught up with the weather and it's not muggy in here anymore.
So, DP is having an amazing time and the lady, Carol, who facilitates the personal development stuff, keeps telling him how great Oscar is - she only met Oscar for all of 5 minutes and was very taken with him. She told DP that Oscar is very wise and that we need to nurture his spirituality - Bath, was your post timely or what? DP's not spiritual (well, he may be after this!), but I feel spiritual connection to people, animals, plants and earth and would like to pass it on to Oscar. I was brought up in a Baptist environment, so I know it's not for me! I was also raised in a Catholic environment (dad's Irish, mum's some sort of self-proclaimed 'evangelical Christian'...for all the good it does her a lot of the time!), so the spirituality of my life has never been far from my mind. DP had the opposite - no religious education at all. I want to be careful that Oscar doesn't get the whole 'hellfire' thing, or that people can be 'evil', cos that's not helpful. I don't think he could go too wrong with the 'good egg' theory - there are good eggs and there are bad eggs, and the bad eggs are outweighed by the good eggs out there. It was great, though, that someone I admire thinks Oscar has some sort of constructive potential so soon!
Ok, back to this house and tidying it...
ETA Simone - great to have DH on board with you! Still, he can't rest on his laurels...he's got to keep up the good work till it becomes a matter of course ;)

Happy 7 months Aleise!
Not much happening here, just been washing & cleaning & weeding.
just signed up to flylady see how it goes!
Bath- do you thinkk you would be able to update my avater, my arm is getting a bit tired now Nixon is so heavy maybe its time he sat on the ground lol!

Rory- what time are we going to yours Friday? will have to get your addy. if its around lunch time i will come straight from heidleberg when i finish there at midday.

hello to everyone else hope your enjoying your day.

Happy 7 months Aleise, I love your new ticker pic as well Neeny hasn't it been a warm one up here again today.

Rory how's the cleaning coming today, your such an organised person, I was only just saying to DH that when Kailen and Lockie are back to school I'll have 3 whole days that the house will actually stay semi clean and not look like a bomb has gone off.

IK glad that you got back safe and sound.

Hello to everyone else I'm just having a bit of a vauge day today, can't seem to motivate myself to do much of anything. I envy you girls doing all your fly ladying, like I said I maybe more organised once the boys are at school. I'll have to start getting the stuff Kailen needs from his school book list soon. I want to know what kids in yr 2 need a calculator for, I never got one until the start of high school and now Kailen is in year 2 and only 7 this year and needs one, where's using their brains instead of a calculator (OK got that off my chest). Will be lurking for a while.

ETA Just put the pics of the cake on my site.

hugs xoxo