Dear Imogen,

Our summer was filled with nature trails, swimming and hunting for bugs in princess dresses.  I had such a wonderful time with you in all of our adventures.  

You are so imaginative.  We had to remove a tree in our yard and you were concerned it might be feeling pain.  When I asked you what we should plant in its place you quickly answered a "Magic Beanstalk".  You said we could wait until it grew all the way up into the clouds and then climb to the top.  You described how we might be able to see the whole world.  It made me think of a time when I used to believe in beanstalks or at least believe I would see the whole world.  After you have kids you forget about those things in a way.  You made me realize that I do still dream of seeing the world and I want to see it with you.

One day this summer you came running into the kitchen yelling about how you needed to Go West.  You said you learned that the sun sets there and you must see it.  A couple weeks later your dad had a business trip to California.  You were so upset you couldn't go to see the sun.  That week he sent you a picture of the sunset and it made you smile.  

This summer you have talked a lot about True Love.   You caught me and your dad kissing.  You asked us to "Go ahead and stay in true love and you would be back in a minute."  I hope that we will be able to instill in you an accurate idea of love despite all the "Happily Ever After" messages.  I need you to always know how amazing you are and you deserve to be treated.  

At the end of the summer you turned four.  On the morning of your birthday you jumped into our bed and told us we had to wake up because the sky was awake.  One of your favorite presents was an ant farm.  You spend the mornings observing their behavior.  You make sketches of their tunnels and write messages from the ants for me to read.  These messages are made up entirely of scribbly lines in which I have to interpret.