In two weeks' time, Dora's going to be eight. My god, do I feel old. How can I have an eight year old daughter? Three more years and she's going to be getting her Hogwarts letter. Three more years and MY HOUSE IS MINE AGAIN
I feel like I need a retirement fund. HAH Or something along those lines. How can she be nearly that old?

We'll be having a party, of course. I know the 15th is a Sunday, is the Saturday better for anyone? I'm sure Dora wouldn't mind getting her presents a day earlier, see. Something tells me she'd be okay with that. And we'd love a big turnout - especially since I'm threatening to skip next year's party and just save for a big tenth birthday. She's not impressed with the idea, though.

( Private. )

So. Almost Christmastime, again. Who knew a year could go by so fast?

Dora's gotten it into her head that her hair should match the Christmas trees.

( Private. )

SOMEONE. ANYONE. ANYONE.

I am this close to yanking my hair out by the roots. Dora was an angel through being two and three, and now. Now.

NOW SHE WON'T STOP THROWING TANTRUMS.

This one was because I asked her to please, dear, stop making your hair turn purple, Mummy likes it brown.

What did I do to deserve this?

Don't answer that.

So I've been thinking, now, for awhile. Because I can, clearly, and because Dora entertains herself most of the time. It's sort of blessing, having a seven-year-old. She can do nearly everything for herself ... minus cleaning up. That's one thing she can't do to save her life. I'm sort of suspecting that's Ted's influence on her, but of course, you never heard me say a word about that. Between the two of them ... well, if I didn't know a few cleaning spells, then I'm pretty positive that we'd be living in a veritable pigsty.

All that aside. And since Dora is seven.
I think it's time for another baby. This one turned out all right, if a little ... multi-coloured, at times.
So! I hope our babysitters don't mind a second charge, maybe. If things turn out, that is.

So, I need to know. Are there any teenagers (or adults, really, for that matter) who are very much not busy on New Year's Eve and feel up to a little babysitting?

I only ask because yours truly, for the first time in years, has an actual date somewhere and I'd really rather not turn Dora into a third wheel. Sure, it's only the Ministry Ball, but I think my wedding was the last time I wore makeup.

So. Any takers? She's an absolute angel, I promise. And she's mostly learned to control the hair thing. Most of the time.

Okay, here's the deal. No more excuses - for anyone, got that?

I know people are busy. So instead of inviting anyone over for dinner again, I'm going to invite everyone at once to a dinner party and then we'll go from there, all right? You'd better all book it off - and not necessarily for my sake, but for the sake of Dora, who is getting whiny that she hasn't seen anyone recently.

November 5th. Got that? That's more than enough time to book off a single evening! It's generous, really. And if anyone says no, they had better have the most fantastic reason possible.

And you're all invited. And by 'you all', that means anyone who's been invited here before. Because Ted never sees any of you anymore, so you might as well all come along and have fun. But tell me if you'll be showing up and bringing someone. I need to know how much work I have to do.

I suppose I've lost track of time, haven't I? It's quite nearly December already, and I've barely even started my Christmas shopping - never mind anything else.

I keep forgetting that Dora's two years and three months old. She talks just because she knows that she can, and she's learned more than she should have. For example, the fact that Mommy sleeps with Silencing Charms, but that you can wake her by jumping on her. Right, things like that. She certainly means well - after all, she's right hungry in the morning - but I think that I'm going to teach her to make her own cereal next.

So, November. Nearly December, as I said.
Who would be interested in a small Christmas party? Not like the one that the Ministry gives for New Year's, or whatnot - something much less formal, and far more interesting, even. Hestia, Everild, anyone? The invitation's open to anyone who doesn't mind a toddler demanding attention or a party in a house that's not quite the Malfoy resident.

Apparently our little toddler with the immune system of steel finally lost.
In other words, Dora's rather ill with some sort of flu.

She's taking to it miserably. I've been up for the past two nights almost straight, trying to keep her settled and comfortable. Her fever's something ridiculous, but I'm reluctant to bring her anywhere because it's no doubt just a basic bout of the flu. And all kids get the flu.


And I'm hoping my headache is from lack of sleep, and not the beginnings of the flu.

There are still two weeks of summer hols left, right? Or something similar?

Please, please tell me that there is at least one student from Hogwarts who's bored and could use a Galleon or two. Please.

Because if so, I could really use a babysitter. Dora's a fairly placid toddler. Usually.

Any takers? Any at all? Just for a few afternoons.

All the wireless is talking about are attacks in London, but they're saying nothing more, not wanting to 'panic' us. Of course we're panicked, we have no idea about what's really happening at all.

Ted was supposed to be home hours ago and I haven't heard from him or seen him or heard any news, period. Did anyone see him?

Oh Merlin, I hope he'll be all right. I want to go check, but I can't take Dora with me - nor can I leave her here alone.