Goal - 3 debts paid by Christmas

Triggles

Hmmm... let's see.. what did I get done today...


- go to MIL's

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yep
- get haircuts for boys and myself

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yep
- go to Asda and pick up a couple items

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yep
- laundry (at least 2 loads)

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yep
- clean kitchen

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not completely
- clean living room

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a bit
- hoover

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oops
- dust

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not a chance
- finish putting up christmas decorations

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nope
- drink about 90 cups of coffee (5 am seems to come earlier each day, doesn't it?)

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yep
- work on paperwork

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sigh..nope
- update budget spreadsheet

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argh nope

But on the bright side, it was a pretty good day, all in all. A little bit less stressful than most days have been recently. Friend of DD's is trainee tattoo artist (he's really quite good from what we've seen) and is going to do a tattoo for DH for free as he would like the practice whilst he is still under supervision from the shop owner. Very MSE, eh? :cool: DH is pleased. And I'm pleased because (and this is a silly reason, but all the same) the friend offered DH an appointment time RIGHT at school run time, but DH asked for a later time so he could be available to assist with school pickup (so one of us can stay home with DS3 and not drag him out in the cold weather). Yay! It's a little thing, but it means a lot to me that he thought of it.

Nice chickens on sale 1/2 price at Sains - bought a very good sized one for about £3. Cooked it today, and had hot chicken sandwiches for tea. We'll be making chicken curry tomorrow night, and then on Monday it will be chicken soup with dumplings (and crusty bread if I walk up to the bakery during the day).

Anyway, feeling a bit more myself today. Whew. Still stressed, but feeling like a small reprieve, which was desperately needed. If I can have a decent day tomorrow as well, I think I can get through this next week. Not a lot of stuff next week as far as appointments, but the week after is packed with stuff, so I need to get as many things done as I can this week, as I won't have the time next week.

maman

Triggles wrote: »

Anyway, feeling a bit more myself today. Whew. Still stressed, but feeling like a small reprieve, which was desperately needed. If I can have a decent day tomorrow as well, I think I can get through this next week. Not a lot of stuff next week as far as appointments, but the week after is packed with stuff, so I need to get as many things done as I can this week, as I won't have the time next week.

Wow! That was quite a list of chores you got through on Saturday triggles. Hope today was good for you.

Triggles

Sunday and Monday not so good. Can feel the pressure building again. I think I want one of those big life-size punch'em dummies. Work out my frustrations on them! :rotfl:

I did get some sorting on my paperwork done yesterday, although not as much as I'd like. Today DS2 was home ill, and we ended up taking him in to the surgery (as well as DS3 as it was baby clinic and he was due for immunisation). Took almost 2 hours to get everything done. Boys were cranky, DH was cranky, I was cranky. But on the plus side, it snowed just a little - again, positively, it was very pretty! :cool: On the negative side, I could strap on ice-skates and SKATE around our drive and the streets around here. Sooooo much slippery ice!!!! If only I owned a pair of shoes with golf cleats.

Two weeks until the school is out of session for the Christmas holiday. I can't wait. Honestly, I am just looking forward to it. DS2 is so exhausted and off kilter by the time he is done with school each day, I'm just looking forward to some low key days for all of us.

Tomorrow's tasks:

- do free bingo games
- finish sorting budget paperwork
- update budget spreadsheet (again - seems like this is becoming a daily thing LOL)
- school run (am & pm)
- minimum 2 loads of laundry
- ironing (small pile)
- boneless pork rashers (like boneless pork ribs) slow-cooked in bbq sauce and served with rice for tea
- sweep kitchen/dining room and mop both before bedtime
- clean up kitchen (seems like this is a daily thing too - oh wait, it is!)
- make sure all clean clothes are put away

DH had his free tattoo today and was well pleased. Family still being stressful, even though we thought we had sorted it once. Argh. Sorely tempted to tell them not to bother visiting at Christmas if it's going to be tense and uncomfortable. Life is too short, you know? sigh

Oh, actually getting sleepy. Off to sleep for the night. Will post more tomorrow with rest of list. Hoping to get Christmas cards finished tomorrow as well, so can post them Thursday.

maman

Triggles wrote: »

Oh, actually getting sleepy. Off to sleep for the night. Will post more tomorrow with rest of list.

:eek::eek::eek:What there's more!!

I think you'll all be glad to see the end of term. I think all children find their first term at full-time school tiring and your DS2 is particularly young for his year group isn't he? Sorry to hear he's poorly.

Do you ever manage a little time to yourself to get out and perhaps go for a walk (or a slide:))? I know your DH is sometimes at home during the day, could he give you a break? I sometimes think being a SAHM isn't everything it's cracked up to be as even going to work can be a break.

I do hope you can have a fun and restful Christmas without stress from family. You have put in so much time and effort with the planning you deserve that.

I managed my first bit of Christmas shopping today. In our family we decided (DD1's idea really) to stop buying for adults a few years ago. (I may have told you this already) so I only have children's gifts to buy except for a few friends. I had a list for DGD2 and everything was available in our local Argos:j, so I reserved them on line and collected them this afternoon. I know exactly what I want for a few nieces and nephews so I'll get that sorted this week. OH bought our Christmas tree. It's a small rooted one which should last a few years (the last one did but it's looking a bit straggly now). He's also done all the cards for his (huge) family and overseas friends as they need posting this week. That just leaves me to do my family and friends here which I'll also try to do this week. OH does wrapping and I've got the decorating and food to sort. There's only going to be 4 of us for Christmas lunch this year (DD2 has her own in-laws staying) so that won't be too arduous. Also we generally have a big family party (30+) people but that's not happening this year (it's a sad story why not and I'll explain sometime), we're going out to eat instead. So all in all quite an easy time here.

I, too should be in bed! Talk soon.

Triggles

I meant to get back on and finish my list, but life intruded again. LOL

Anyway, it's been hectic around here, to say the least, but at least I've gotten a few basics done today:
- washing up done
- dry laundry folded
- another load of laundry washing now
- entryway tidied
- kitchen tidied
- hoovering in living room
- wiped down DS3's playpen
- working on last of Christmas cards for the states
- plus the usuals of getting both boys up, feeding them, dressing them, packing up DS2's school lunch, and doing school run

maman - DH is home during the day, but generally he's sleeping during the week as he works nights. He's usually willing to get up if need be - like for an appointment or something like that. He's going to stay up for a bit on Wednesday so I can go meet a friend for coffee in the morning without any children along, so I do have a nice break to look forward to. Looks like you have most of your Christmas shopping all organised. We're pretty much done, just a gift for MIL to purchase still.

Huge family rift going on right now. Won't go into details, but suffice it to say that it's going to make Christmas a bit messy. sigh. Just don't understand why people can't be adults.

maman

Sorry, hadn't realised that OH worked permanent nights, I thought it was more varied shiftwork. Good news that you're meeting your friend for coffee, you need something to look forward to.

Yes, our Christmas shopping is coming along fine although we don't have that much to do thank goodness. Ordered DGD1's present today on-line. I'll buy her a few small bits as well to open on Christmas day but that should be easy enough to do as I'm having a day in London on 22nd. It's not really for shopping (meeting friends for a theatre trip) but we'll go up earlier and get any last minute bits that I can't get around here.

Families eh! Keeping the peace can be such a strain especially at this time of the year when expectations are so high.

We've got a couple of potentially fraught occasions coming up when I'll try to just smile sweetly and hope they'll be over soon. This may sound petty but our DGD2 desperately needs to learn to use cutlery. My OH is appalled by it as she can't use a knife and fork properly and he feels that DD2 is letting her down by making excuses rather than teaching her consistently. He had a word about it (brave man:)) and DD said 'Oh, she's only young' but she's 9 years old at the end of this month. We have a meal out with them on 19th (celebrating DD1's birthday) so hopefully it won't put too much strain. My OH is a very mild mannered, easy-going person but he just hates bad manners. DGD1's manners are impeccable. She's older now but they always have been. DD1 and DD2 have completely different parenting styles and it's DD1's that mirror ours. DD2 gives in too easily IMO. But I don't like tension. Who does?

I don't know where all that came from:), thanks for listening.

Have a good weekend.

Triggles

Yes, it is difficult with family I think. We're still finding ourselves explaining things regarding DS2 to MIL, as she sometimes I think forgets his limitations. He's 4yo and has a lot of difficulty with cutlery due to special needs. We try to encourage him to use the proper cutlery, but he really struggles with a fork and a knife is simply beyond him right now. But it hopefully will come eventually. I know we run into differences in parenting styles in our family as well. We have to take different approaches with DS2 often, and I know occasionally it gets some raised eyebrows, but that's life. I think we just try to get through the holidays with the least amount of trauma involved, don't we all?

Thank goodness it's almost the weekend. I am utterly exhausted and have tons of appointments and just stuff going on next week. I'm tired just thinking about it. And have to go to the dentist to have that tooth fixed. eeeeeeeeeeeek

Triggles

Well, it's late and I'm tired. But a quick note. May actually see the bottom of the washing pile yet - did 2 loads today, and will get through another 2 tomorrow if I start them right away in the morning. Then, of course, I will have the huge pile of ironing.

DS2 needs to bring a pair of pajamas to wear for the school nativity. Fine. But of course this means ironing a pair that fit and look decent. So the search is on.... :rotfl:

All this cold means the heater has been running quite a bit. Have to say we've at least been good about wearing jumpers and dressing warm so we don't have to keep the heater quite so high, but I'm still anticipating an ugly bill in a few months. Last quarter's bill just came and wasn't too horribly bad. Roughly £240 total for gas & electric for the quarter.

Not very MSE, but sent Christmas cards to the states to a few friends. I know it's cheaper (free) to send an nice email, but seems almost "too" cheap, if that makes sense. I did whittle the list down to a bare minimum though. Still have to finish the UK cards and send them.

We're having to use more petrol lately, as DS2 is not doing well in walking to school, so we've had to use the car more for the school run. It's an expense, but a necessary one.

I think we need to start wrapping presents this week, or we won't get it done in time!!! :eek: Nothing is wrapped yet!! And need to buy MIL her present as well.

Better wander off to sleep. 5am comes early.

Triggles

Oooooh, it's been a "bang head on wall" day today. LOL

But have done:
- washing up
- 3 loads of laundry (and oh my how strategically we hang the laundry so it will all dry!! :rotfl:)
- 90 minutes of ironing (this SOUNDS impressive, but I am dreadful at ironing and it takes me forever! ) .. it was a HUGE pile though
- sorted DS2's "nice pajamas" to wear for the school nativity

Okay. I am debating cancelling and rescheduling my dentist appointment for tomorrow. The only time I can go to DS2's nativity is tomorrow morning, which clashes with my dental appointment. I do NOT want to miss his first nativity. He will KNOW if I'm not there and be very upset. The dentist can wait, right? It's nothing urgent. A broken tooth that I have had for a couple months, and it's not hurting at all. It wouldn't have been an issue if the scheduling for the nativity hadn't gone wonky, but there you go. These things happen.

I may actually get to the ASD support meeting on Tuesday as well. Didn't think I'd be able to make it, but with schedule rearranging, it's a definite possibility. :cool: So fingers crossed. I'll have to bring DS3 along, but that's okay.

Family drama threatening to derail me entirely. I expect this kind of nonsense from MY family - it's the way they operate. Annoying, but never surprising anymore. This is why it's nice that they're all abroad, as I don't have to deal with it quite so frequently. THIS is DH's family, however, and it's really been the first upheaval of this type. Personally I know this never would have happened when DH's dad was still alive (he passed away within the last couple years). He hated family squabbles and would flat out tell people "sort it .. now" and that would be it. He had no tolerance for that type of nonsense. He's not here now (god, I miss him - he was so often the voice of reason and in this situation would have simply laid down the law) and so it's spiralling out of control. DH wants to get it sorted but the other person is rather unreasonable and everyone is tiptoeing around that person as they have a nasty temper. It truly aggravates me when one person can hold a whole family apart simply because they are unwilling to admit they are wrong or discuss a problem. I don't see it getting sorted this side of Christmas either. And I rather feel that this person has been unpleasant enough that I don't want to see them over the holidays, as I've had enough. I realise that's not helping the situation, but honestly I just have had enough of the nastiness and spiteful nonsense. Why should our holidays be ruined over this? sigh....

Mulling over Christmas dinner. We have a frozen turkey, although we usually have beef. Trying to decide if we should save the turkey and have it for New Years and have beef as usual, or eat the turkey on Christmas. It's just us and DD's family this year, as DS1 and his family are staying at their house to start their own holiday traditions now that their little one (our grandson) is 4 yrs old.

LOL - Can hear DS2 singing E-I-E-I-O up in his room. Wouldn't be nearly so funny if it weren't for the fact that it's actually Christmas music playing up in his room, so not quite sure where that song is coming from!! :rotfl:

maman

No time for a long post but you MUST go to the nativity tomorrow and hopeflly DH will go as well. Call the dentist and reschedule and :mad: to annoying family!