So we are back. The trip home was extremely smooth (aside from the fact that we once again almost missed our flight), as the kids were just stellar all the way back.
We have settled into our at-home routines, and all is well. Normal anyway - Will is swamped with schoolwork, Grace's nose is runny, and the kids spend most of their time together either dressed up like fairies or fighting.
Here are some snippets of conversations that have taken place since we have been back:
Lara (on the way back from the airport): Bobo, tell me about Spain!
John: Well, I liked the castles and the caves best. We went up in the castle and it was really dark and Daddy used his iphone to light up the stairs and on the way back down Gwrampa used his iphone but it wasn't bright enough so I used my camwra and that was good.
Grace (unsolicited): I liked the (incomprehensible toddler speak).
Me: What did you like Grace?
Grace: I liked the (incomprehensible toddler speak).
Me: I'm not sure what you are saying Grace.
Grace: I LIKED THE WALLS.
Me (grasping at straws): Oh, you liked all the old walls?
Grace (as clear as a bell): I LIKED THE WALLS AT THE ALAHAMBRA.
Lara (almost peeing herself at the cuteness): Oh!
Grace: Auntie Ah, I have an owie on my knee.
Will (later): And to think that we just carried her around like a sack of potatoes.
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Grace (upon new arrival at home after 10 days away): I have to go pee.
Me: So go pee.
Grace: Oh!....Where the toilet?
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John: My new swimming teacher is my best swimming teacher ever!
Me: What do you like about her?
John: Well, I like that she doesn't yell at me all the time...
Me: Anything else?
John: I like the way she looks.
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Grace (as I am buckling her into her car seat): Mommy, you just hurted myself!
John: You shouldn't say "myself" Gwace, that's wrong. You should say-
Grace: Aaow?
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John: Mummy, my Spanish teacher almost never cawls on me to tell her what day it is in Spanish.
Me: Do you mean your French teacher?
John: Yeah, she never cawls on me to tell her what day it is.
Me: Do you know what day it is?
John: Yes! It is Jeudi today.
Me: Ummmmmm, yes that is true.......how did you know that today is Jeudi?
John: Weeelllllllll, it's almost always Jeudi when we have French.
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Me (to Will): I've just noticed that our toilet paper says "uscented bathroom tissue"...that means that there are people who use scented toilet paper. It's like there's a whole 'nother world out there.
Will: Yeah, Republicans.
Me: What, they're the ones using scented bathroom tissue?
Will: I'm pretty sure.