Dear Daddy,

I went to school today, even though it's 'Thanksgiving' but of course, Mummy and most people here dont 'do' it. We celebrated at school though, and ate cornbread (like REAL Americans!!)

After school we went to Tesco's and Nana got me a plane for my collection. Then we had dinner at Nana's house. Tonight we're sleeping at Grandads and Nana Jo's as Mummy felt like driving 30miles to our new house at 7pm and then 30miles back again at 8am was a bit silly. So to save money, wear on our car and the environment we are having a sleepover at Grandads.

Here I am this morning playing with my Duplo bricks.

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today it was my 'lunch day' at school. I always eat really slowly so Mummy has to wait for me HA! After school we went to the Shopette and Mummy got me a pre-school activity book. I LOVE those things. After she puts Molly to bed Mummy comes and sits in bed with me and we do activities from the book. I'm getting very good at them. We did look at the dot-to-dot book that you sent me, but it's a bit too complicated for me. It will have to wait until I'm a bit older.

Daddy, I hope you have a nice Thanksgiving day. I wish you were here so we could spend the day together. I miss you. I often sing my 'I miss Daddy' song when I think no one is listening.

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today I went to school, it was fun. Then after Mummy collected me we went to base and went to see the ladies in the WIC office. I am 39.5inches tall and 39lbs! I have grown so much!

Here I am eating my yogurt raisins with a pair of play scissors.Earlier today I did try and cut Molly's nose off with these scissors but it didn't work!

It's rainy and cold here Daddy, not like Arizona at all! 

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

We're gradually getting settled into our new house and I LOVE it! I have found all of my old toys and it's nice to have everything that is mine back again - even things like the blankets on my bed! Mummy even found my other 'This' so now, I have both 'This' blankets back! The only thing missing from our lovely house is you Daddy. We are counting down the weeks until we see you again! On Thursday we had to pick up our internet router box from the post office and I told the lady in line behind us 'My Daddy is gone'.

Here I am with Harriet this morning playing in the circus tent that Mummy got me from Ikea!

Here I am again, Mummy says im gorgeous! I tend to agree!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Sorry I haven't written for a while. Things have been a little bit crazy. We got the keys to our new house on Tuesday, we moved some stuff over on Wednesday, more stuff on Thursday and our beds and stuff on Friday. On Friday night we stayed at the new house. Harriet stayed too. We spent all weekend there and sorted out boxes and unpacked. It was SO SO SOOOO fun to see all my toys and books. It was nice to see all your things too as it helped me to understand that you WILL be coming back and our new house is the house you will be coming back to! I even found my 'frog toilet' and was really over joyed!

It was really strange to unpack my dresser and see the drawers still full of the clothes and stuff.

Anyway Daddy, we didnt have Internet at the new house and we've been SO SO busy that I just didnt get a chance to update you.

We miss you SO SO much. Mummy has found it a bit difficult to unpack all your things, that smell of you. She misses you very, very much.

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

sorry for missing so many days. We have been busy! I have had a hard week. I suddenly became very tearful and upset. I cried a LOT at school. I miss you SO much and I'm so confused about why you left me. I have become very worried that Mummy is going to leave me too, that's why I get upset at school. Mummy has been very sad. It hurts her heart to see me so sad.

Anyway, on Friday Nana picked me up from school because Mummy and Molly went to sign a new contract for our new house! I'm SO excited to get our own house! We get the keys on Tuesday and will hopefully be sleeping there on Friday or Saturday night!

Today its Guy Fawkes night, everyone has fireworks! We had our own bonfire and watched other peoples fireworks from the meadow!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

This morning we went to Hatfield forest! We had a great time walking around and looking for acorns. Mummy even got me a cookie from the shop! We came home and had lunch and Molly had a nap, then we went out looking for sloes, so Mummy and Jo could make Sloe Gin. We couldn't find many...ok, we couldn't find ANY haha!

Here I am this morning at the forest, stroking some moss!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Sorry I haven't written for a few days. we've been busy. Yesterday we spent the day with Nana (first Mummy drove to base to check the mail and speak to the lady about our new house. On the way home I vomited in my car seat and made it smell HORRIBLE) Today we went to look at the fishies and Christmas decorations at Scotsdales and then went to a special sandwich shop to get my favourite food in the whole wide world - A HAM SANDWICH!!!

We are getting ready for Halloween. On Thursday I helped mummy make bat and pumpkin shaped biscuits and we decorated them!

Just for fun, here is Molly's Halloween photo from last year - are you scared?

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today we stayed with Nana while Mummy went to the dentist. While she was on base she checked the mail and picked up the box that you mailed to us!

I was SO excited! I LOVE all the things you sent to me. Mummy read me 3 of the Clifford books for my bedtime story! Thankyou SO much Daddy!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today I carved the pumpkin that we got yesterday! Mummy helped me. I REFUSED to put my hand inside, I had to use a spoon instead!



 Here it is, all finished, do you like it? Tonight we are going to put a candle inside it!!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today we went to the Pumpkin Patch. Harriet came. It was really fun! Mummy let me pick a pumpkin for Molly and I and one for George too! I got to push the wheelbarrow! Now I keep asking Mummy 'when are we going back to the pumpkin patch'. I did this last year. I made sure to ask at least 5 times a day until Christmas, I think I might do that again this year too.

After the pumpkin patch we went to eat lunch at Niel and Linda's house, it was really yummy!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Sorry I haven't written for a few days, things have been hectic. At school we have been doing lots of Halloween things. I made a 'stained glass pumpkin' a ghost (shown here). Mummy wanted to take a picture of me WITH the ghost, but I just didn't want that at all. So she took a picture of me separately.

I miss you Daddy,

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

It's really started to get cold here now. For the last 2 days we have had ice on our car in the morning! Mummy is having to try and find all of my long sleeved things as really I seem to just have lots of shorts and t-shirts from when we lived in 'Merica. Grandma sent us a whole package of clothes! Here is Molly in her sleep suit. It's a bit big as Molly is only small (not big like me) but she is still able to wear it and Mummy said it will just last her a long time. 

 At the weekends I help Grandad fix the house. Yesterday and today we have been laying the floor in the two living rooms. It's made of Ash trees. We have to lay the boards down, match them up and then screw them down. I help by passing Grandad the screws and I keep him entertained with my stories. I like helping!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today at school I did lots of painting. Mummy is accumulating a huge box of all my art work. When you come home you can look at everything I have done!

Molly also drew a picture today - she did NOT want Mummy to take a photo though (as you can see). Everyday at around 4pm she starts getting really tired and fussy. She just stands at Mummy's legs saying 'up, up, up' as Mummy cooks dinner. When you come home you can pick her 'up, up, up'

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Yesterday Grandad took me to school. Mummy's car was getting fixed so I rode in his truck! It was so fun! After school I went to Nana's house and played with Harriet as she was at home because she had a cold.

Today I had a lovely morning at school. I did leaf prints and painting. I'm learning LOTS of new songs too!

Here is Molly cheesin' for you. She misses you SO much.

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

It's getting really autumnal here. The skies are cloudy and it's damp and getting darker earlier. The clocks go back soon too.

Yesterday we went to Cambridge to go shopping. We went on the Park and Ride bus. I LOVED it but Mummy wasnt so sure. It was very crowded and we had to wait a LONG time for the bus to take us home.

Here I am this afternoon playing in the sand while Molly naps.

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

It's been a good few days at school. Yesterday when Mummy picked me up I was in different clothes. My teacher told her how id blocked the sink up in the bathroom and drenched myself in water. I found it very fun, but Mummy says it was 'very naughty'. 

Today Mummy picked me up early from school. I was NOT happy about this. I cried and cried as I had to leave my friends. I HATE it when she picks me up early! We went to the base for Mummy to see the dentist. It was VERY boring and me and Molly had to wait in the car with Nana for over an hour - Ugh! BORING!

Here is Molly yesterday in my old Halloween outfit. It's too small for me now, but Molly likes it!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

A few weeks ago mummy got me a jar of caterpillars that I checked on everyday and watched them turn into chrysalis and then two days ago they changed into butterflies. This morning it was time to let them go. I got a bit emotional as I didn't quite understand that I couldn't keep them forever.

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today was another really hot day! we played outside a lot! Nana Jo even got the trampoline out for us! I also went to play in the river for a while with Mummy and Molly.

Here we are in the sun on the trampoline!

Love Sam xxx

Dear Daddy,

Today was SO hot. The hottest October day since records began if you must know! Mummy took out the paddling pool and blew it up, I filled it with the hose and it was just like being back in 'Merica. I really enjoyed playing in the freezing water.

Mummy weighed me today, I have put on 5lbs since being here and eating all the yummy English food. I now weigh 37lbs!! almost as much as you Daddy!! Molly has also put on weight, but only 1.5lbs. She weighs 20lbs and 12oz!

Here she is yesterday talking to you!

Love Sam xxx