Us in April

Inside - Us Right Now captures the family and individual stories of our right now.

We are slowly working out how we'd like to renovate our house in a way that works best for everyone.

what my 10 year old taught me about kicking fear to the curb

It was a bright and sunny Sunday morning. With a quick pat of the dogs, the kids piled out the front door and into the car, excited about the prospect of an adventurous morning at the local show.

We eventually found a car park, popped hats onto heads, and walked through the front gates.

We follow the same path each year, wandering through the craft, baking and art exhibitions first, stopping to marvel at the woodcutters, then meander towards the steam engine displays while licking ice creams.

As the morning wears on, we wander through sideshow alley, around the corner to the dodgem cars, and the Ferris Wheel.

I love the Ferris Wheel.

Updating Family Photos

Us Right Now is a monthly series of photos + words, sharing our right now stories.

Since way back in 2009, I have taken regular photos of all the kids. Whether that's the memory keeper in me, or the adult that has no photos from their childhood, I have my big camera or phone at hand all the time. But getting professional photos taken isn't something we've done in the last 8 years (and in all honesty, our last set of "professional" photos were taken at Portrait Place in a room over-stuffed with silly props and a white background.)

Us in January

Us Right Now is about captuing photos of the family unit, and each individual, and embracing their right now as it happens each month. It's the sometimes good bits and sometimes bad bits of life, told with words and photos.

We didn't take a family photo for Christmas Day, so this is the next best thing

We aren't doing well at embracing family meetings, we need to work on this together

We are embracing KIND as our word for 2017, but no one else knows yet

He is happy to be working, but is frustrated by the micromanaging from his boss

He is keen to travel more in 2017, and finally build the deck

She is glad the oven is finally fixed, the freezer is empty of gingerbread apple pies

She is keen to camp more in 2017

He is working hard to keep his anger at bay, even when the noise of the holidays gets too much

He wants to improve his school work and go somewhere fun in 2017

She is missing her friends these holidays, Sophie just doesn't cut it

She wants to improve her times tables, and not share a room with Riley in 2017

He is loving all his Christmas presents, especially the Iron Man action figure

He wants to improve his writing and have a sleep in in 2017

She is loving having the kids home for the holidays, but is way out of routine

She wants to be able to write and improve her speaking in 2017 [as told to Natalie]

(I used this New Years printable from Mumtastic to capture the kids words, and just asked Steve what he wanted from the year.)

Us in September

We are waiting for our camper to return, so we can plan our next camping trip

We are enjoying time spent in the backyard

We are learning new card games

We are family

He is flipping back to day shift this week

{if he still has a job to go to on Wednesday}

He is excited by new opportunities

{and is kind of hoping he doesn't have a job on Wednesday}

She is starting to plan Christmas

{only 111 days to go}

She is dreaming about scrapbooking

{if only the craft room was magically tidy enough to use}

He is getting his homework done in a timely manner

{the reward of a fish tank is a powerful one}

He is already fed up with the dishwasher not working

{I don't blame him, I hate washing dishes, too}

She is finding new friends to play with at school

{but sad that her best friend is always busy}

She is loving reading books

{but terrible about keeping them away from Daisy}

He is allowed to read chapter books at school now

{and was excited to choose a book to buy at the book fair}

He is hopeless at keeping his bedroom clean

{but Natalie is just as bad}

She is a chatterbox

{full of "why"}

She loves to take Daisy to the dog park

{as long as she gets a quick swing and play on the slide before heading home}

This is us, right now in September.

Little Wuppy Worry Puppy

This product was gifted for the purposes of a review

Little Wuppy®

RRP $AU 41.95

Growing up, I would probably have been considered an anxious child. I know I'm certainly an anxious adult! Try as I could to avoid it, I have passed some of that anxiety to my kids. Chloe spent a number of months going through the Headspace program to help with her anxiety, and I'm always investigating ways to support Natalie with her anxiety at the start of each new school year. So when I connected with Linda from Little Wuppy ® in a facebook group, I was eager to see how this product would help Natalie.

A former teacher, and anxiety sufferer, Linda combined her love of drawing and sausage dogs to create Little Wuppy® to support children in their anxious moments. Being able to talk about issues can help, and having a friend small enough to pop into a pocket or school bag is a great idea.

Natalie has had her Little Wuppy® for a couple of months now, so I asked her to tell me what she thought of it. In her words

I like that the back is comfy like a blanket. And it's my own personal secret teddy. I also like that I can tell her stuff when I'm sad or hurt. I told her when I hurt my ankle, and when my friends were fighting.

Each Little Wuppy® is hand-made in Melbourne, and comes with adoption certificate, kennel and stickers, and calico carry bag.

Lily the Little Wuppy® is currently sitting beside Natalie's bed, taking whispers in the dark and hiding them from the world. School holidays are fast approaching, Natalie's most anxious time (attending vacation care), so Lily is sure to be tucked into school bag or pocket for support.

For more ideas to support anxious kids, read this guest post from Ellen Jackson of Potential Psychology.

Linking up with Kylie Purtell for ibot.

Us in August

Each month, I take photos of my family, and each individual member. I do this for selfish reasons - because no photos exist from my childhood, because I'm getting old and forgetful, because I love having the images. I also hope that when they're grown up, these memories will serve as a sort of time capsule, a reminder that they lived a life every day that was worth photographing. It's a messy-hair-no-one-is-looking-at-the-camera reminder of a life lived every day.

We are counting down to a camping adventure in the not too distant future

[We are all tired and in need of a change of scene]

We are all enjoying the time spent outside

[even when there's arguments over who's turn it is to scoop]

He is changing rosters again this week

[back to days for a short while]

He is enjoying his morning walks with the dog

[even if she does confuse 3am for 5am]

She is already making Christmas plans

[only 144 sleeps]

She is eager to finish sewing a quilt

[only 2 blocks and the binding to do]

He is trying hard to complete homework each week

[there's a fish tank in it for him, if he keeps it up all term]

He walks the dog each evening

[and scores a few pokemon on the way]

She wants to learn to cook more evening meals

[or bake cakes and slices, anything that gets her in the kitchen]

She hates watching "boys shows" on tv

[and is happiest in the evening with a movie or book in her room]

He needs to practise his handwriting for school

[but hates the repetition of writing the same thing over and over]

He still loves to watch Minecraft videos on YouTube

[and dreams of having parents who understand what he's talking about]

She has finally learnt to be gentle with Daisy

[but still loves on her a little bit too hard]

She talks about her friends at daycare endlessly

[but still has a bit of separation anxiety in the mornings]

written as part of #blogginggroove challenge 1 from ProBlogger.

Us in July

We are still getting used to a house with a big dog

We are dreaming of a camping adventure

We are in need of meal time inspiration

We are learning to play card games

He is working nights for the foreseeable future

and he's not very happy about it

He's itching to work on the new car

but as with all things money holds him back

She is rethinking goals for the year

and trying to embrace her word again

She is trying to find time to craft

but always gets distracted by stuff

He got consistent grades on his school report

but every teacher says he needs better management skills

He's in Melbourne for the second week of school holidays

it's quiet without him

She seems to be getting a little emotional lately

like puberty is on it's way

She is eager to learn to cook

but not so eager to clean her room

He is counting down to his birthday

(it's 3 months away)

He's a little bored of playing with girls

(it's only been 1 days since Douglas left)

She finally started talking to to her teachers at daycare this week

(hopefully she keeps it up this week)

She loves on Daisy way too much

but Daisy takes it with good grace

Us Right Now

Sunday, May 1st us right now If you've been a reader here for awhile, you know that at the start of each month, I take a family photo of everyone together, and individually. If we've got visitors here (usually my mum), I include them, and every few months I convince Chloe to send me a photo too. It's a way of capturing photos of everyone regularly, and sharing snippets of their right now. If you're happy sharing photos of everyone, great, but if not, maybe get creative with the photo you take - a photo from behind, or shoe photos can still share your right now.

we are all in need of a camping weekend

but it will be awhile before we can do it, our camp trailer needs some repairs

we are all in need of new runners

we'll be shopping this week

he got some news at work on Friday

he'll be moving back to night shift from June

he's been helping his sister with some yard work

and loving the chance to take Douglas with him

she has opted not to go to ProBlogger this year

but is heading away for a craft retreat in June

she is finding time to read books again

and always looking for more recommendations
 

he has taken over cooking dinner on Friday nights

but needs to remember to start earlier

he got good reports from teachers at parent teacher interviews

just needs to remember to make some better choices

she is excelling at all her school lessons

but needs to do her homework and return it to school

she is devouring all the books on the shelf

{her teacher has promised a prize for those who read the most}

his best subject at school is maths

{in a maths-confused family}

he needs to become more organised

he often forgets to return homework and library books

she doesn't cry when I drop her at daycare

and even spoke to her teacher last week

she is a threenager in the making

{the tantrums are endless some days!}

What's happening in your right now?

{you're welcome to link up any post you have written today}

An InLinkz Link-up

Dear Natalie, today you are nine

Dear Natalie

today, you are nine.

Your big cheeky smile morphs into tears or yelling at the drop of a hat these days, as hormones start to turn you into a tweenager. Good lord, how will survive two of you?

You are such a great little helper, to Sophie and Riley, and play well with both of them. You have your moments with Douglas, because he's older, sometimes you play well, sometimes you don't.

Dad is still your hero, as he should be. You always worry about him coming home from work late, and tell him what's happening in Home and Away the second he walks through the door.

Your best friend is still Kaete, even though you're in different classrooms again. And you can't wait to try out her new swimming pool next weekend.

You and I looked for the International Space Station last weekend as it crossed over our skies. You were fascinated at the idea of stars having names, and you're counting down to tomorrow night when we can try looking for Jupiter. I think you've got a new interest.

You love craft, and reading books, and playing minecraft, and watching youtube videos of no-idea-what.

You love riding your bike, and camping, and walking along the beach (and you've been known to sing "The Pina Colada Song" with Riley in random moments.)

You have grown so much in the last year, with so much learning and growth in front of you.

Enjoy nine.

Happy birthday, Natalie.

Us Right Now

Each month I take a family photo, and individual photos of each family member, and share snippets of our right now.

We haven't spent much time together this past month, with Steve working big hours, so we need to find some time this month to just spend together without life pressure. We might try a games night next week, or a BBQ in the backyard with lots of food.

He is grateful he has the skills to repair the car

but annoyed that he can't do it tomorrow

He has enjoyed the challenges of working lots in February

but is looking forward to his normal routine again

She is desperate for a haircut

{you can tell it's time by the tufty bits of hair sticking out the sides}

She's still hopeless at sticking to goals

but managed to sew something last week

She has made friends already

but got sick just a few days after she arrived

She is loving her classes

but has lots of homework each night

He has been better about using his school diary this term

but still "doesn't have homework" most nights

He is excited to visit his brothers at Easter time

{but needs to pull his head in if he actually wants to go}

She wants a watch for her birthday

{lucky for her I know exactly where to shop}

She is loving school

but desperately does not want to do netball for winter sports

He loves mum coming to school for sight word practise

but gets distracted easily while mum is there

He was so excited to finally be big enough for scouts

but didn't enjoy his visit, and decided not to return

She spends most days getting around without a nappy

but hasn't totally mastered toilet training

She strings together 4 word sentences now

{but can still sometimes be difficult to understand, which frustrates her}

When was the last time you took a family photo?

linking up with Essentially Jess