Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my Julesey,

I cannot wait to give you the biggest hug in the world tomorrow. You better watch out!!!!!!! I am exercising my hugging muscles!! I will exercise them all the whole plane ride, even if it annoys the people I am sitting with, because I am so excited.

I love you, I love you, I love you,

- E.

Tomorrow...

I'm excited!!!!

Love,

Julia

Archaeology Banana

Dear Mama,

This morning I woke up before Dada. Dada wanted to sleep ten more minutes, so I got myself dressed and started to make my own breakfast!

Yesterday, Annie ran away from me and Nana and ate up worms. And now they're alive in her, so she's going to the vet this morning. Then Annie's coming over for three nights to stay with us. And Dee is coming tomorrow! That will be such fun for Annie... and for us too.

i lllllllllloooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee yyooouuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!

Julia

P.S. This is a photo of a grazing camel in the desert. Munch, munch, munch....

Archaeologist girl!

Hi sweetest little one of the whole world,

I *loved* hearing about the archaeology class that you and Dada did. That's so clever!!! I love how you had to make sketches and fill out forms. Really you should have taken pictures of everything too and used a broom to sweep up your footprints and then your class would have been just like my last month or so! Wonderful.

Well, I am writing you from a super fancy restaurant in Cairo. We took our Arabic teacher here as a thank you for her being so wonderful. And, guess what? I come home in four days. FOUR. That's nothing!! I'm so excited so see you, my dearest one!!!

Well, we have not done much today except for ride northward in a bus and go out to eat. But, I am sending you tremendous amounts of love, and I'll send a couple cute pictures one of my students took, and I'll send all my love!!!

love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, and more!

your Mama

Archaeology Day!

Hi Mama,

Only 4 more whole days! When you get back I'm going to kiss you one hundred million zillion times!

Today at school, Dada came in to IPW and taught us about archaeology. He brought in some artifacts too! I was Dada's field assistant, and I was in charge of laying all the artifacts out and getting ready. And I was also in charge of telling them all about what you found on your dig, like the table for feasting and the baby pig bones and the Egyptian coins around the table. We even saw Roger on our way to school! (That's why we were a little bit late.) He thought it was really funny that we were walking around with all these artifacts. At the archaeology day, the students had 30 questions about what Dada dug up. We also set up a pretend archaeology site called the "KC site". On the site there was glue and envelopes, and there was piece of a heart that was cut out, and a stamp. They had to figure out what the date was when someone left all that trash there. We figured out that it was February 14--Valentine's Day. And everyone had to draw a map of the site and fill out a form. Another student from K-A wanted Dada to put the trowel in his back pocket and make a hole, because Dada said that archaeologists always have holes in their pocket from putting the trowel in wrong. I also dug up a block after Dada left. After that, I made a sketch of what the block looked like. At the end, when we've done all of the sketching, we're going to put it together and make a notebook.

I love you a million zillion meters longer than the universe!

Love,

Julia

How did archaeology class go!?!

Hi my littlest girl,

Sooooo... Was it fun? What did you and Dada talk about? Did he bring in his trowel? Did you talk about Egypt and Taos? Did you tell your friends that you get to do archaeology this summer? I can't wait to hear how it was.

For my part, I think my pharaoh decided to give me a break because today I felt fine. And that was good because it was a super long day... We went to see a huge city built by the weirdest pharaoh ever. His name is Akhenaten, and I'll post some pictures. Isn't he odd looking? And if you look closely you can see that even his wife and daughter looked a bit strange. Glad Akhenaten isn't your father!!

Annndddd, tomorrow is exciting because we drive to Cairo, and that gets me so close to boarding the plane!! 5 days now, but this day is almost over... Now I can count the days on one hand. So exciting!!!!

Well, write and tell me all about archaeology day. I cannot wait to hear about it.

I love, love, love, love, love you!!

- your Mama

Barfy Sunday!!

Hi little cutie,

I did get pharaoh's revenge, and that's why I didn't write last night!! At dinner I began to feel a little weird, so (luckily) I didn't eat much, but later when I got back to my room I threw up a bunch. It was very gross!! So, today I haven't eaten much at all--though I just finished having a kind of soup called "bird's tongue soup". Isn't that weird?! Luckily there are no birds tongues involved, it's just the shape of the noodles. (at least I hope so!!)

Hey, so I love hearing that you're writing down your dreams. Maybe when I come back I can start up my books again, and we can each have our journals... I'd love that! I can also show you journals that I kept every day when you were just a tiny baby. You were so cute!!!

And, your new clothes sound great. You'll have to send pictures of you in them. Orrrr... Maybe I'll just come home in 6 DAYS and see them for myself!!!! How does that sound?!? I cannot wait. This has been so long, and I've missed you so much!!!

Well, be sure to tell me about your and Dada's archaeology day at school. That'll be exciting to think of you two in front of the class together. And then you get to actually see archaeology this summer. To do it even! We will have such fun all together this summer. I can't wait!!!

love, love, love,

your Mama

p.s. The picture is of the really old, really gaudy church that we visited on Barfy Sunday. Maybe it was all the pink and green swirls that got me feeling queasy?

p.p.s. I don't know why they call it pharaoh's revenge... Maybe because all the king's tombs were opened by archaeologists, and so the kings get their revenge by making the archaeologists feel gross?

Coming Home Soon...

Dear Mama,

I am so sorry you got sick! Do you really have Pharaoh's Revenge? If you do, what does that mean?

I went to MaiMai and Baba's this weekend, and on the train, I started to write down my dreams, just like you used to in your journal. When I was at MaiMai and Baba's I watched the movie Emma--you would have loved it. And on Sunday, MaiMai took me to get new clothes. I bought a sweater, pants, a shirt, cozy pants, jeans and hiking shorts.

Today we have to make things for the archaeology class that Dada and I have to teach at my school tomorrow. Do you have any ideas? We think we're going to show some pictures of you in Egypt.

I love you a thousand meters longer than the universe PLUS a hundred thousand million chameleon tongues long!

Seven more days! One week! Yippee!

Bye,

Julia

I love your smile!!

Hi peanut,

I loved those pics of you at Alice's Teacup & I still can't get over your cute missing-a-toothy smile! I cannot, cannot, cannot wait to see you! It is only about a week now!!!!!! 7-6-5-4-3-2-1-OOOOPPP!

So, Dada told me how happy your teachers were to have you in their class, and how sweet and helpful you are to the other kids. It made me really proud (of course, I am already proud. You are so wonderful!! I love you so much!! Did you know that? Surely not!).

Are you at the Barn now? What play is Baba rehearsing? Is it another funny one where he gets to tell jokes and sing? Maybe when I come back we can go see it together. I loved his other plays.

Well, I am sitting by an open window overlooking the Nile, and it is super pretty. My room is very big and has silly things like a big lamp with lights shaped like flames and a big axe sticking up in the middle. It's very funny! Also, from my balcony I can hear frogs croaking. It's very rare that I get to hear frogs, so this is really nice!

Will you write and tell me about what you all are doing?? I'd love to know. As for me, I visited a temple today, but we're going to see churches tomorrow. One of them had bright pink and green swirly columns. You'd think it was quite something--like a popsickle!!

O.k., I love you dearest one. I'm posting two cute pics of you....

Love, love, love,

your Mama

Alice's Teacup and Sonya's Coffee mug

Dear Mama,

Yesterday, I went to the parent-teacher conference with Dada. I did not go in the room with the teachers, but they told Dada that I was very nice to the other kids in the school. Then we went to go get the mug that I made for Sonya--it was very beautiful. Then we went to Alice's Teacup and met Nana. I had cinnamon apricot tea. EVERYONE loved my tea, but I liked it better with sugar. There was no milk in it. It tasted really good. 

Then we went to Sonya's and I gave her the mug. We stayed for a while and played games about drawing. Then we went back to Nana's apartment and played beauty saloon. 

Well, I better say "bye" now, because I've got to go to MaiMai and Baba's to see Baba rehearse a play. 

I love yyyooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Julia

It is nine days!!!

Hi little poet-of-my-heart,

You write such wonderful poems!! They make my heart swell with love for you!! Your poem is exactly how I feel. I am counting down every day and half day and few hours until I see you!!! And, I have to say that Dada told me today about what you two are thinking about for your birthday. I love the fancy potluck idea!! Is it true that you all might wear fancy costumes too? How fun would that be? And that you'll use Sweet Pea's napkins and candles? I love it!

And are you off to Mai-Mai and Baba's this weekend? Give them a big hug from me! I bet it feels like forever to them since they were in Egypt. You can tell them that I am going to Abydos tomorrow. They were there when they were in Egypt and even ran into a friend of mine and Dada's by accident!

Well, so I am leaving Luxor and this cafe tomorrow, but I will try to stay in good touch. Last year we stayed at a very fancy hotel in Sohag with gorgeous views out onto the Nile. I'll send you two pics I found on the internet so that you can picture where I'll be for the next two nights.

I love you, little girl! You make me super happy!!!!!

love, love, love,

your Mama

Silly days with Mama

Dear Mama,

I was writing a poem about you coming home. Would you like to hear it? Yes? Here we go...

Mama's Coming Home Soon, by JFM

Very exciting,

Special.

Running home,

Hugging me tight,

Coming on a plane.

Nine days,

Eight days,

Seven days,

Six days,

Five days,

Four days,

Three days,

Two days,

One day...

Oop! Here she is!

Hot as a lion!

Hi littlest cutie,

I laughed when I heard about your mollasas cookies, because one of my favorite students (who is a bit odd, it must be admitted), just poured mollasas all over his computer by accident. How did that happen, you might ask? I don't know. Just more proof that he's a funny weird person!

O.k. first for your questions. 1. It is indeed hot as a lion!! That's an excellent way to describe it. Today, our tomb day, was super duper hot, and we were spending the day climbing way deep down underground where it was even hotter (don't ask me why, you'd think it would be cooler underground). When the wind blew today it felt like a hairdryer! I'm sure that is exactly how the inside of a lion feels (though I hope I never find out). 2. The showers in Luxor are a BIG improvement over the ones at the dig house as they mostly stay the same temperature. Dada wouldn't like my shower so much because the showerhead slides down all the time, so that it's just right on top of my head. For Dada it'd be only showering on his chest! 3. The cafes are really nothing to get excited about compared to New York, but compared to the oasis they are wonderful. I can connect to the computer in a cafe called "snack time"opposite a really beautiful temple. The cafe has very little atmosphere, but it has wonderful milkshakes, and normally I don't care about milkshakes, but after so long in Egypt, they taste pretty darn good!! 4. I haven't seen any mummies lately, but we'll see loads of baboon mummies in a few days. Isn't that silly??

So, is it true that you and Dada are going into your school to talk about archaeology? That's so cool!! Are you studying archaeology in school? That's so fun!! And tell about what movies you made! Will you teach me how to make movies too?

Well, cutest girl, tomorrow I am going to the temple of a cow goddess who is famous for liking to dance a whole lot. So, if I see any dancing cows tomorrow, I will say hello for you!!!

I love you, dearest one. Send me your news. And I'll see you soon (only ten days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

love, love, love,

- E.

My New Puppet

Dear Mama,

Tonight we made molasses cookies, because we are giving them to my Family Annex teachers tomorrow. Actually, the cookies aren't done yet, so Dada has to make them after I go to bed. 

And we're SO close to finishing Ronia. Ronia and Birk are falling in love and they're becoming like Matt and Lovis. Matt and Lovis are Ronia's mother and father. Ronia and Birk just got back from the bear's cave, just in time for winter. We're going to try to finish the book tonight.

Today in school I had Wellness and we dribbled the ball to the line and then we came back. And in Español I learned a new elephant song. AND I had Technology--we made movies in technology.

How hot is it there? As hot as inside a lion? Or as hot as fire? And how are your showers? Do they still go hot-cold-hot-cold?? And what are the cafes like there? And what are the mummies like there? (Not meaning YOU, mummy!)

I love you around the world ten hundred million zillion trillion fillion chameleon times and back!

Love,

Julia

11 days now!!

Hi cutie,

I can't believe I get to see you so soon!! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!! I want to do a dance and jump around, but maybe I won't. I think that the Egyptians already think that foreigners are strange without any singing or dancing on my part.

How are you, sweet girl? Did you have school today or was there another blizzard? I'd love pictures of the third snowman...

And how was everyone?? I saw that Morgan's birthday party is the day I come back, but I think that I will be coming in later. I'll look that up and tell you guys.

Well, not much news over here. Today was a day off, which was very necessary, and I didn't even visit a temple on my day off. Mostly I read for school and for pleasure (but the fun book wasn't so great). I also did tons of laundry in the sink. So, pretty low key. Tomorrow we go to see a bunch of tombs where people drew pictures of what they wanted in their afterlife and all the gods they thought they might meet in the afterlife. I wouldn't want to meet some of them!!

I'll send a picture to show you what I mean.

Meanwhile, I adore you. I cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot wait to see you. Also, I am super excited that we're all going to New Mexico together. This will be your third time, I think!!

I love you, peanut, longer than an anteater's tongue (and that's long!!!)

love, love, love,

your Mama

Hi cupcake cutie of my heart

(Here is a picture that I love of you and Dada and me)...

Here I am again in the same cafe as yesterday, but now it is only 12 more days until I see you. 12!!! I almost have 12 fingers on my hands (though I'm glad that I don't). I am thrilled it is so soon--over the full moon (and have you seen the full moon lately? I think of you every time I see it!).

Well, tell about how you've been... Busy, it sounds, with parties!! I'm glad that Clare and Blake liked their bowl. I'm sure that Mai-Mai will like her cat bowl as well! (hee hee).

Over here we saw two temples today, and it was REALLY hot at 9:00 a.m. (can you imagine?) for the first one. So some of the students were getting grumpy about the heat. But the second temple was shady and they felt better. And tomorrow is a day off--no temples, no tombs, no anything. But I think I might still go see a temple, anyway! Ah well. I'd rather see you, my girl!!

I love you, sweetest one. I can not wait to give you 1,000 million hugs.

love, love, love,

your Mama

p.s. Here are a couple of dumb jokes for you:

Q. What did King Tut say when he got scared?

A: I want my mummy!!

Q: What Egyptian dog king died young?

A: King Mutt.

(o.k., those are really dumb, but what they are really saying is: I LOVE YOU.

Franny's Cupcake Surprise

Dear Mama,

Claire and Blake loved my bowl that I made for them of Starling, their cat. After brunch, we went to Fran's birthday party. We made beautiful cupcakes and everyone had one! And today, I got to see Nana's new apartment. It was very tiny, but it has a lot of light in the morning. And there are spices stuck in the closet on the wall--how silly is that! Annie loves the new apartment too, because it's close to Central Park.

I'm soooooooooooo excited--13 more days until you're coming home! Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiipppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Love,

Julia

My best girl who I love longer than an iguana tongue!!

Hi sweet girl of my heart!!

It is March 1 today, which means that I see you in 13 days. 13 days is no time at all!! (I mean, compared to two months). I can't wait! I want to scoop you up and give you 5,000 hugs and kisses and read books at night and play monopoly and go to cafes and write poetry and do all of the things together that make us happy!! Won't it be lovely!?

So tell. I heard that your fabulous cupcakes were a HUGE hit at Fran's party! Dada said that everyone loved them! And how is your Monday?? Is it fun to be back at school and ACT?

As for me, I am in a cafe looking out at Luxor temple. Today we went to Luxor Temple and Karnak temple, which are two of the biggest temples in Egypt--and we did both of them. Then I ate lunch and fell into the deepest sleep ever--then woke up and realized I had to go upstairs and talk to the students about yet another temple... So I am templed out. Too bad we have to see 3 tomorrow (we might make it just 2).

Anyway, I will send a picture of one of the temples we went to. It has statues of giant kings out front, and I'll show a picture of how large one is (look at the size of the foot compared to the size of the boy).

I adore you, peanut!!! Write and catch me up!!

love, love, love,

your Mama

p.s. I love your snowman!!! You and Dada are super clever!

snaggletooth in the snow!

Hi cutest girl ever,

I LOVED your latest series of blogs. You look so cute with your new smile!! And I love your poems and the cat dish and the cup cakes. The cat picture made me laugh. Maybe you should make one for Mai-Mai for the next birthday?! Or one with geese on it!! That would be really funny!! So, did you get any more snow days?? Cutest girl, I will write you a long email tomorrow, but right now I have to run to catch up with my group of students. Now we're in Luxor, though, so I'll have access to email every day. I love you, sweetest peanut!!!

Love, love, love,

your Mama

p.s. Hug that Dada for me!! And yourself!!!

Fran's birthday...

Dear Mama,

Last night I went to a dinner party at new Maya's house. All the grown-ups were witches and Courtney was there. Maya was the queen and me and Courtney were the princesses. We all made our own pizzas. And the couch was a couch, a bed, and a giant trampoline. It was great.

This morning we baked cupcakes for Fran's birthday party. And some of them said "F", "R", "A" and "N" and the others have sprinkles. We are bringing 14 cupcakes for all the guests. 

Now we've got to say "bye" because now we're going to brunch with Claire and Blake and Nana.

I love you like a chameleon's tongue! I am so excited you are coming back so soon. Just in three weeks!

Love,

Julia

PS - I went to the Met with Maimai and Baba yesterday and they bought me a great Egypt pen (see below).

Snow Things

Dear Mama,

On Friday (yesterday), I built a snowman with Dada. We  built a mustache, a scarf and a walking stick. We were there to see it fall over at least. One of the people who took pictures of it sent it to the New York Times, but today we didn't see it in the newspaper. We also made a igloo and I went in it because it was very strong. I was the repair shop person for the igloo, which means I'd fill in all the little holes. And I also held up parts during construction.

I hope that you don't get eaten up by the statue of the crocodile! Tell me if it is big. What was the temple like? Do you still have ice in your water? I miss you a looooooooot!

I love you a hundred meters than the universe!

Love, 

Julia

Starling...

Dear Mama,

Last week I made a bowl with Nana for Starling, which is Claire and Blake's cat. I'm going to give it to them tomorrow at brunch. I also made a mug for Sonya with her two cats on it, but we haven't picked it up yet from Paint-Your-Own-Pottery.

Love, 

Julia

Monopoly

Dear Mama,

On Thursday I beat Dada at Monopoly. Dada had to pay me ALL his money and he had no money left! 

Love,

Julia

Two more poems...

Rainbow, by JFM

Red as a strawberry,

Purple as a grape,

Orange as an orange,

Green as a lime,

Yellow as a banana,

Blue as the sky.

After rain,

Half circle.

Rainbows are beautiful!

Mom's Birthday, by JFM

Colorful cake.

Pink, orange, blue.

Brown, yellow, chocolate cake.

Warm and smooth.

40th birthday.

100th day of School

Dear Mama,

Today, it was PJ's birthday! PJ is too lucky because his birthday's on the 100th day of school, which was today also. I had a red velvet cupcake for his birthday. And we had to make a list of hundred things that we wanted. Maya wanted 100 toy mermaids, Courtney and PJ wanted 100 sisters and brothers, Lucas wanted 100 moms, Isobel wanted 100 flowers, William want 100 tile-makers, and I wanted 100 butterflies. Me and William are going to make more stuff at paint-your-own-pottery. My teachers loved loved loved the box we made for them (the one that me and William made). 

Later that day, Dada and I both had very bad days. Dada had to give a lecture and he didn't think he did a very good job. All the students were looking at the time and looking bored. Dada felt pretty dumb. And at ACT, Sydney and I had a fight. It was mostly my fault. Mason and Logan were the captains, and Sydney was a cat. And so, Sydney wanted to be on their team right away. And I wanted to show her one more thing, so I grabbed onto her arm. She made a promise I could show her one more thing, and then she could go. But then when I let her go, snap, she was off with the other group. And that got me mad. And so, when I brought a cat in and Sydney brought a horse and a bunny in, she gave me the bunny and I snatched it from her, because I got so mad at her. And then she said she'd tell my dad. And I was so mad I said, "You don't have to tell him, I'll tell him myself!"

After that, me and Dada went to Spoonbread to cheer ourselves up. And then when we got home, we played Monopoly. I was winning and then Dada got some more money. I had 14 properties and Dada only had five properties! We're going to keep playing it tomorrow. We're both feeling a little bit better now, even though I'm still mad at Sydney.

Only 20 days until you're coming home--yippee!!!! I love you a billion... a trillion meters longer than the universe.

Love you,

Julia

PS - Last night Dada bumped his hip and now there's a big bruise. I hope he gets better.

PSS - When I look up on the bars on the top of my bed, I see one of your eyes, your hair, and your face. It reminds me of you!

PSSS - I also painted my toenails to remind me of you, and I hope you still have your toenail polish on.

Photos of Zeno (and me) from brunch on Sunday...

Coming toward you....

Hi My Girl,

It sounds like you had a very fun day yesterday! And how exciting that you've got a working record player. Now you guys have to promise to keep it working until I get home. (remember last year?). Oh boy, I cannot wait to get back to you!! Tomorrow at 6:00 we have breakfast and then we're on the bus by 7:00 and 7 hours later we'll be in the Nile Valley. Our hotel, if I remember from last year, has a pool on its roof where you can swim outdoors. If it was in NYC you could only ice skate outdoors, but here we could sun tan or even burn to a crisp. Anyway, I'll try to find an internet place that evening and write to you.

And you? How are you, sweetest one? Was it fun to be back at school? How is your Spanish? Dada said you're a fantastic reader in English now. I can't wait for you to read me bed time stories at night. It would make me so happy! Well, by my count it is only 20 days until I see you, and that is only like flashing up all of your fingers twice. Nothing at all!

I will keep counting the days, and each day it will be less.

I adore you cutie. Give that Dada of yours a huge hug and have him hug you back too!

Love you sooooooooooo much,

your Mama

p.s. The picture is of Luxor, where I go tomorrow. Then, the next night I'll be in Aswan...

Missed it...

Dear Mama,

Yesterday, we looked for a record player but we had no luck with the first three stores, but at the fourth store we had luck. So then, we came home and listened to lots of records while we baked our banana bread and zucchini pie for the brunch today. My favorite record is still Cat Stevens. We also went to Bleecker Street yesterday and had chicken soup at the Figaro Cafe and I wrote the best poem. Here it is:

Antarctica, by JFM

I went to Antarctica,

Cold as a breeze,

And then, I started to sneeze.

The breeze was so cold,

I started to freeze!

And now no one knows what happened to me.

Except the one who ate me, of course.

Today we had the brunch and Paul and Lara gave me "The Golden Compass" book. And we gave them "The Gruffalo" and some bottles from when I was little. Paige also brought me a party canon from Chinatown. We shot the party canon from the roof and it exploded and shot confetti really far out onto the street. And on our way to Mira's later on we found a lot of the confetti on the street. Also, after the brunch, Zoe and Brian stayed a little bit longer, and so I made a potion and they washed their hands with soap in the potion. It also cured boo-boos. We also listened to lots of records and me and Brian were the DJs.

Then, we missed Ovi's birthday (because it was actually on Saturday) and Dada canceled the pizza party because we thought we'd be at the birthday party too late. But there wasn't any birthday party today!

Well, it's nighttime so I better get to sleep.

I love you a hundred chameleon tongues longer than the universe. (Chameleon tongues are so long!)

Julia

(Some images of the poet deep in thought, composing Antarctica, in the Figaro Cafe...)