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[August 07] |
I think Lydia just learned an important lesson: Daddy is always right.
We were eating breakfast when the mail arrived this morning. Including her Hogwarts letter. Just like I'd told her. I can't believe she's eleven already. Seems like just yesterday we were meeting her for the first time.
Thanks to everyone who made it to their birthday party, by the way. The girls had a fantastic time.
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[July 27] |
Warded Private:
Andy and Lydia seem to be adjusting well to all the changes around here, thankfully. I was worried that they wouldn't and that I've somehow ruined all of this by rushing into this relationship with Heidi, but Lydia loves her new room, and I think Andy just loves having someone else to hang out with aside from me and Lydia, even though Fiona's time is mostly taken up by Lydia.
I love it here. It's not only being able to wake up next to Heidi every day, although that part is really nice too. This whole village, and her house and the yard, it feels like home already. I've already met some of the neighbours and everyone's very friendly, always saying hello if they see us out for a walk with Rudy. Here's hoping everything continues to go well. I think this is going to be good for all of us.
A very happy birthday to Miss Fiona Wagner! Who received her Hogwarts owl this morning, much to everyone's delight. Lydia is extremely anxious for her own, and I have a feeling she is starting to worry that she won't actually get one on her birthday on the 7th. Andrew is most excited, I think, about the prospect of both girls leaving for Hogwarts at the end of the summer. I'm having a hard time not bursting his bubble by telling him that they will probably continue at RLA instead even though I sort of want Lydia to experience.
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[July 14] |
Heidi and I are leaving for our holiday tomorrow. 11 days in Italy. It's been a long time since I last went to Italy. I'm incredibly grateful to have magic (when am I not, though?). It makes travelling from city to city so much easier and faster than having to drive a car, take a bus or train or aeroplane. We're leaving tomorrow morning, arriving in Naples almost instantly. I think I'm most excited about Pompeii. And this surprise that I have for Heidi but I can't write about that We'll be back late on the 25th. Lydia and Andrew are going to visit their mum's family while we're gone. They don't get to see that side as often as we'd all like.
Addie & Boyd: We'll drop Rudy off before we leave. Tomorrow morning around 9 am?
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[June 21] |
I didn't always appreciate my father when I was growing up. I get the feeling that most teenagers don't. After a certain age, their fathers become more embarrassing than anything else. I hope this won't happen with my children, but since I spent several of my teenage years resenting my father and wishing he would leave me alone (while at the same time wishing he wouldn't), I'm trying to prepare myself now.
Anyway, I remember not always liking my father. I loved him, but he worked a lot, and he wasn't always there when we were growing up. I didn't realise it at the time, but he sacrificed a lot so that we'd be comfortable financially while my mother stayed home with us. It wasn't until I became a father that I really understood. When Lydia was born, I was still an Auror, and even though the war had ended three months before, we were still incredibly busy. Tracking down any Death Eaters who had slipped away, testifying in trials, it all kept me away from home more than I'd ever wanted to. Growing up, I remember hating how my father was away so much, and I remember telling myself that I'd do things differently once I was a father. And then I came home from work after being gone for a few days, and I couldn't get Lydia to sleep, but her mother managed it in less than five minutes. It was a wake-up call, and I finally understood what it had been like for my father. I could look back at everything and see the little things. He was never as openly emotional and affectionate as our mother - still isn't - but he still wrote regularly while we were away at Hogwarts. He would give me tickets to Quidditch matches, and sometimes he could come with, sometimes he couldn't, but he always asked me about it later. I never hated him, but I guess I never understood him. We have a much better relationship now that I can see everything from a father's perspective. I know what it's like to not be there as often as I'd like, to miss first steps and first words.
Father's Day always makes me feel extremely grateful for my children, and for my own father, of course, for giving me a good model to follow, even though I didn't appreciate it when we were younger. There were times I wished he was around more, but he was always there when it really counted. As for my kids, I don't know if I've always managed to be there when they really needed me, and I can't be but I hope that they'll understand one day. It isn't easy doing this on my own, and to look at them and see these well-rounded, well-adjusted, smart, funny, helpful, kind people looking back at me... honestly, that's the best gift I could ever get. I'm a lucky man.
Of course, breakfast in bed, homemade cards and cookies in a hand-painted container are all very nice, too.
Warded to Sam & Boyd:
Happy Father's Day.
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[June 11] |
Warded to Sam, Boyd, Addie, Heidi, Meredith:
I found one of Lydia's notebooks with the name 'Sean' (also: 'Sean Aubrey'; 'Lydia Aubrey') all over it, with a lot of hearts.
She hasn't spoken to me since I discovered it. Says I should mind my own business. In my defence, it was sitting right on the dining room table.
What do I do? She might have had other crushes before, but I've never found this much evidence all over her notebook.
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[May 29] |
Warded to Heidi:
I have a few minutes of free time while the kids are picking out a movie for us to watch tonight, so I thought I'd write to you before I forget. Do you know when James gets those couple of weeks with Fiona over the summer? I was thinking that I could send Andrew and Lydia somewhere while Fiona's gone, and then we could take a little holiday too.
Or I could just take all of us somewhere? It's not weird that I'm already I thought about trying to make this a surprise, but I'd rather have your input.
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[May 21] |
Warded to RLA Faculty/Staff:
Sorry about all of the fuss today. I'm fine, and there is absolutely no need to panic, nor is there any need for rumours on anyone's part, so if you overhear anyone talking about me, please put an end to it right away. I am not in trouble, no one is dead or dying, and everything is going to be fine. I'll be back tomorrow, and before you ask, no, you do not get to know the real story. This is a private matter, and I would deeply appreciate it if no one asked about it. In fact, I'd appreciate it if everyone stopped talking about it at all.
Warded to Meredith, Sam, Boyd & Addie:
I'll keep this short, since I'm probably not supposed to be talking to any of you about what is going on, but I think that by now, the Ministry knows this is all a load of shit anyway. It appears someone claims I've been given love potions, and they've given me the antidote, but they'll be keeping me to make sure I don't consume anything that might be spiked. Crazy, isn't it? You'd think I'd know if something I was eating or drinking was spiked with a potion. I was an Auror, for God's sake.
Warded to Heidi:
Are you all right?
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[May 12] |
Warded to Sam Turpin:
Can you watch the kids tonight? I've got a late meeting at the school tonight about our security measures and the kids miss their Uncle Sammy.
Now how can you say no? Insert evil laugh here.
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[May 02] |
Happy anniversary to us.
My wife was six months pregnant with Lydia when we received word of the battle at Hogwarts. The last nine months had been terrible for us, but she always said that those hours I was away were the worst of them all, more so than all the time I spent in the Ministry after it fell to the Death Eaters. I've been in a lot of difficult situations as an Auror, but that was the worst at least as far as being an Auror goes because her death was. I don't quite have the words to explain what that was like, but it's something I'll never forget.
I'm taking the kids (and the dog) to the memorial in Hogsmeade today. Boyd, Addie, you two going to be around? We might stop by.
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[April 26] |
I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Williamson family.
( cut for picture )
His name is Rudy. Yes, that's right. I finally gave in and got us a dog.
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