Jake at 5

Dear Jakey Bear,

Today marks your 5th birthday, and also a whole year of your life spent in America. What a massive year it has been for all of us, but you have taken to your new life here like a duck to water. I think part of it is your love for Nana and Papa's house (and the tractor, and the dogs, and the constant supply of food and juice they have going there), where we lived for the first 6 months of this adventure. It was such a great move from a small house in rainy Leeds where you had to share your room with your sister to having your own room, plenty of space to play and then a whole summer's worth of outdoor play and swimming in the lake.

I love how much of an outdoor kid you remain. As winter recedes and the days get warmer, more often than not you ask to go out on your four wheeler or scooter in our front yard when we get home, and when presented with the choice of going home and relaxing or heading to the park after school last week, I was delighted when you chose the latter. Even though you're only 5, I can't wait to show you all of the outdoor fun that your new country has to offer you, including adventures in our brand new canoe!

The big change that we've seen in you this year is how you've grown socially. When we decided to move to America, we wanted to give you an extra year of play and time to learn how to be around other kids more, and boy have you learned that well! We had your birthday party yesterday and it was delightful to watch you disappear in the bouncy castle with your buddies, playing fun games and being right in the thick of the friendships. A lot of kids love to hang out with you because you are a sweet and friendly kid, and it made my heart swell with pride that it was your voice that I heard telling everyone not to fight and to play nicely with each other. Please be that voice of reason and calmness with your friends as you grow older.

Yours was also the voice that I heard telling your friends to be careful around your sister, and yours were the arms that gave her a massive hug later that day. I know at times you get frustrated by Sophie, mainly because she loves you more than anything and just wants to be near you (and to play with your toys all the time!), but you are also the kindest big brother there is to her. You are so careful to be quiet around her room when she's sleeping, and you pull her around in her wagon, much to her squealing delight. Even though she can't talk yet, you have great fun squawking at her across the table and in the back seat of the car, and as soon as she gets some more words, she'll become even more fun as a play mate.

We do so many fun things together, from T-ball to art to tickle fights to racing around outside, but my favorite activity is, and I think always will be, sharing stories with you. You have such a fantastic concentration for books, and whether its a doggie story or a fact book all about trucks or dinosaurs, you make reading to you so much fun with your comments and observations. You're also starting to learn to read a few words, and it's adorable watching you pick out letters and words that you know. I don't know if you know that we know you spend a good half hour after we kiss and hug you good night reading your books and playing with your blocks in bed - we will never stop you from doing this as it's one of the cutest things you do.

This year promises to be another big one. You start Kindergarten in the fall, and while I know that Mrs Gina has done an amazing job of getting you ready for school and that you're a big confident kid, there's a small part of me that worries for you going into a school that goes all the way up to 8th grade. I know you'll be fine, and you'll make friends and learn so many fun and interesting things, and we will do everything we can, as we always do, to make your life a success.

Lots of love as always,

Daddy