Saturday taking down the Christmas tree
Today was another busy Saturday. Daddy went to work and got out of helping me to take down the Christmas tree. The children were very excited and wanted to do it as quickly as possible. After leaving them alone for a few minutes, when I returned they were sat laughing with the tree on its side. I was not amused and went to get myself a drink and then found the tree like this.

I am not sure why they plugged the lights in before lifting the tree on to the settee, or why they had put it this position but the stress started here.
Taking the tree down with my children was as much fun as putting it up, not fun at all. Why does such an easy task have to be so such a mission? We now have more baubles and decorations smashed. I am glad that we are now dechristmassed. That’s not a word but I like it. Though I have just noticed a card on the bookcase.
So after taking down the decorations, I had planned on cuddling up and watching a film. My daughter wanted to watch the animated version of the BFG. They both love the other version. My 7 year old refused to watch it insisting that he just wanted to watch Paw Patrol. I put on the film as I was curious to watch it and my daughter was happy to see it.
We started to watch the film, both children were still playing, not helped by my son’s reluctance to sit down quietly. This ended with me watching the film alone and the kids upstairs playing with the train set. As it finished they returned carrying train track saying they needed a larger area to play. Consequently, we have a train track downstairs tonight.
I have learnt over the last few days that I now need to be adding Alt tags to my photos and working on my SEO. I am now slowly getting my head around Yoast SEO. However, it is now taking me hours to go back through about 100 posts to add meta descriptions, SLUGs, keyphrases and alt tags. If you are a new blogger like me, have a look at Yoast as the sooner you work on SEO or Search Engine Optimisation the better. I feel I am wasting hours going back over my blog. I am just hoping that the hard work pays off.
A day that could have been relaxing and nice quality time was stressful and full of me telling the kids off. From refusing to watch the film to bringing down the train set, to demanding toast and drink and me trying to sort out my blog. The jumping on the furniture and the frequent changes of clothes.
I might have made the last two days harder for myself by banning the iPod and Ipad, but I wanted some quality time with them. At least the train set is getting played with. All the toys get forgotten when they are playing Minecraft and Roblox.
So tomorrow is the last day before going back to school. The uniforms are all ironed but I need to clean both their shoes and check their reading books. It could be a busy day, as well as trying to update the SEO on more posts. Both of them seem to be happy about going back to school on Monday. They both like their teachers but are not always happy with things the other children do and say.
Our 7 year old has just come downstairs crying about how he has had a bad dream. Daddy took him back upstairs and calmed him down.
Anyway, I am now going to go, we are watching ‘Man of Steel’. I am now going to get some rest ready for a busy day tomorrow and the stress and hard work of being mum.
For more, see, Saturday like mourning and the elves, https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2018/12/22/two-elves-still-watching-children/




15 Comments
jenanita01
Will adding those things really make a difference? I have heard of this before, but obviosly not grasped the importance of doing it…
Just muddling through life
I think it is all related to your blog being found on the internet easier. I’m doing rubbish right now with my key word which does not help. If you are getting loads of visitors from search engines you are maybe ok..or if you are happy with visitors mainly from the word press reader or Facebook. It is a lot of work, the alt text on photos helps with pinterest and again helps makes them searchable on Google.
jenanita01
Can I ask where you found this fountain of info, as I need to get my head around it!
Just muddling through life
Google yoast SEO and have a look at SEO, sorry I should have put a link in my post.. Yes it is alot to get your head around. X
jenanita01
I have tried to handle SEO before and gave up. It might just be the proverbial straw!
Just muddling through life
it is a lot of work, I am trying to get my head around it.
Just muddling through life
the other bit of advice is back links… so having links to other posts..
jenanita01
That is something I always forget!
Just muddling through life
I’m going back through and adding them, I’ve only just learnt about needing them.
jenanita01
We need more hours in the day!
Just muddling through life
Yes we definitely do!
galwaygirlabroad
Great advice! I’m pretty new to blogging too and never knew that it was important to do that! Also loved the story about taking down the Christmas tree! 🙂
Just muddling through life
Thankyou, yes it’s alot of work going back and doing it retrospectively.
susielindau
I went through and added alt tags to thousands of posts with hardly any difference. But if someone pins a photo, it’s what comes up in the pin which is important!
Sounds like a productive day!
Just muddling through life
Yes a lot of work and still going. I was told by a lady in America that I need the alt text to help pinterest… a lot of work for you thousands of posts,.. wow