I always forget how lovely spring is in Wales until it shows up again.

On that note, if anyone has the name or anything of someone who handles childcare, I'd love some information. Diana and Dylan are getting into everything, which is fine at home, but it makes shopping of any sort a little bit tricky. So something casual. I'm sure come summertime there will be Hogwarts students who can help out, but until then ...
And it may turn into something more permanent, partial days once in awhile, that sort of thing.

( Private. )

The twins made it through their second Christmas quite easily, and they seemed to enjoy this one a lot more. The wrapping paper was very fun, it seemed. Shiny and colourful and it made noise, it was as good as some of their presents.

Bracer and Imogene also had a beautiful wedding, and it was a beautiful way to spend New Year's Eve.

Other than that, things are nice and quiet here. Lots of trips to the nearby hills when it snows, because Dylan just loves the snow. Diana, ever the girl, finds it boring after about five minutes. She's much like her mother, really. Sometimes, on those days, I miss L

I hope everyone's well. I keep meaning to check up on people, but it always seems to slip away from me.

( Private. )

Diana, Dylan, and Leah have their first birthday party this weekend.

I think it'll be a long day. Not bad, just long.

Graham, I hope you know that your daughter and her mother are welcome to join us, too. I even think Dorothy bothered to make time for it.

( Private. )

I feel like my entire August can be summed up by repeating what was already said by someone else.

That is, that Graham has a seven year old daughter that no one knew about until just the other day.

My head is still reeling from this. A niece, my god, we had no idea. Of course, he has no pictures or anything that he can even show us, so we don't even know what she looks like. I'm sure she's beautiful. Her name is Betha, in case anyone had missed that.

He's just lucky we haven't told our parents yet. Well, at least, I haven't. Dorothy might have, if she wasn't too busy being wrapped up in some questionable MLE employee.

Diana and Dylan are eleven months, almost a year. Diana talks - well, babbles continually, and Dylan is happy to listen to his sister and hand her the toys she apparently wants.
BUT. In a surprising move, Dylan took his first few steps alone the other day. I was on the floor playing with them, and I held out my arms, and he just kind of launched himself at me. Diana still is happy to crawl, but now I've got my hands full making sure that Dylan doesn't bump into anything.

( Private. )

I never thought I would say this, but I think I almost miss summer in London. Just a little. I find it hard to keep track of what everyone is doing when I'm not there to see them often. What I do know is that Dorothy proved us all wrong and not only wrote her exams, but did well enough to get a job in the MLE.
But as for everyone else, I'm at a loss. And I'm sure I've missed important things like babies and weddings, so I really am sorry.

Dylan and Diana are doing well. In a surprising turn, Dylan seems the most curious about walking. I suppose we get to wait and see who moves first in that direction.

( Private. )

I suppose it's a bad sign that the last time I had any time whatsoever to write in my journal, I was sick.

Dylan and Diana keep me run off of my feet. My hands are definitely full with these two, and I'm sure that it'll only get worse from here. They really are quite an active pair, when all is said and done. They had a checkup the other day, and Dylan is doing wonderfully and so is Diana but she has a mild ear infection right now so that's our main concern, dealing with that. Poor dear, she cradles her ear and whines all of the time and you can tell that she's not particularly happy. I feel miserable trying to find someone to sit for us when Diana's so fussy, but if I don't, we won't have groceries and that'll be the least of our problems.
Luckily, Dorothy was free when I needed someone yesterday so she came and took care of them while I ran our errands.

Wales in the springtime is definitely a nice change. I can't wait for sunny days (well, as sunny as we'll get, at least).

( Private. )

Mary, whatever you had is miserable and I don't know how Leah, Dylan, and Diana are fine but I feel awful. It's worse than any hangover I've ever had, Hogwarts or otherwise. (Though that once in seventh year comes close.)

Fletcher if you are not at work right this instant you should come bring me some water. I tried calling for you but it hurt my head too much.

Babies are good. Wales is good. Things are good. Even Dorothy owled.

But flu isn't good.

Wales in the wintertime is just gorgeous, did you all know? It's beautiful, all snowy and isolated and quiet.

You know what I hate right now? Feeling snowed in, isolated, and quiet. God, I miss London sometimes. Even though I know it's better out here.

Dylan and Diana are growing so fast, I don't even know how big they are half of the time. Diana's still a fusspot, but Dylan is quiet and content to just stare for hours. And Fletcher and I both feel pretty lucky that they're so healthy and so happy, generally. Sometimes I wonder about the third

I think we're going to make a little daytrip into London in the next week or so. Never too soon to start seeing where Daddy works, after all. If anyone wants coffee, now is the time. I know I've been terrible at keeping in touch since we moved out, so I know I'm behind on a lot of news.

( Private. )

So. We arrived in America two days ago. Two very, very long days ago.

Diana didn't like travelling, and she's been fussy and whiny since we got here. Which is okay, Dylan's quiet which more than makes up for it. There are weird customs and names for things, and as soon as I say anything in public, people look at me because of our accent. And sure, I'm used to some of it after working in the American office for a few years, but doing it on an occasional basis and having to deal with it constantly are radically different things!

And if I hear someone call trousers 'pants' in public again, I don't even know what I'll do. I keep expecting to see Graham, with the constant discussion of knickers.

The weather's sort of nice. Cold and snowy.

Happy Christmas, everyone.

Well. Diana and Dylan are just over two weeks old. They're still very, very tiny, but I've been spending more and more time with them, since I was released from the hospital a few days back. There's been an almost constant stream of visitors, and it's really nice to see everyone, even if they're mostly here to see Diana and Dylan, not me. My parents have been by multiple times, now, and even Dorothy and Graham found a few minutes to stop by. (Don't lie, though, Graham, I saw you eyeing the Mediwitches more than the babies.)

We still have a lot of work to do. At home last night (they don't like me sleeping over very much), I realized how much I still need to set up in their room (all right, I thought I had more time), how I need to decide who gets which side of the room ... a lot of work, all in all.
At least Fletcher and I decided on No Godparents. Which isn't to say that we don't love you all very much, but we feel it's a little ... negative to name people to take care of them when neither of us have any intention of dying for about eighty years.

Also, how does everyone feel about a quiet get-together once Dylan and Diana are home? I just think it might be nice for everyone to see them face to face and hold them for however long they want.

( Private. )