Saturday morning cartoons

Today is Saturday and the day is coming to a close. Just wanted to drop a note about what we did this Saturday. Saturdays are happy days as I do not have to wake up at 6 am, although we have a new puppy and he decided to start to whine at 6 am. I think he is on our weekday schedule and must learn the 'sleep in rules' of our weekends! (Here is a picture of Koby with our new puppy, Shadow).
(Solan, Aidan, Sara, and new puppy).

The boys woke up around 7 and popped in a Diego dvd (Diego is Dora the Explorers, cousin). We have a t.v. but we can only use it to watch dvd's. Saturday morning cartoons were big to me, watching the Smurfs or School House Rocks. Our boys like Zoboomafoo and Diego, which is dubbed in Spanish.

After breakfast the boys started homework. Aidan is working on writing his name in cursive. His teacher says he is behind the other kids since he still prints and can only write is first name. Children here have two first names and two last names. So at least it is perfectly natural to everyone here that our boys have two last names. He is also working on the digestive system. I have to laugh that 5 years olds are learning the digestive system and have tests. He was very excited to tell me where food goes that doesn't go to our blood. "Poop is the yucky parts of food we don't need, Mom!"

As for Solan, he is learning the food chain and had to draw an example of it, which for him consisted of grass, an impala, and a lion. He also has religion class and Friday's lesson was, "Ways to love the Bible". For homework he had to draw how people show they love the Bible. When I looked at what he had drawn, it was two people with white shirts, name tags, and back packs. Can you guess? I asked him to explain what his picture was and he said, "Well Mom, the Mormons really love the Bible, they walk all over Trujillo with it". I had to chuckle, here we are missionaries but he had drawn a picture of Mormon missionaries. Hats off to the Mormons-my kid sees your witness, but maybe we should let Solan know how Catholics show their love for the Bible.

Later in the day I had a great skype conversation with a good friend from college. I love how connected we can be to people across an ocean. We miss you all and it is sad to not see our family and friends for regular life activities, but I am thankful that we can just log in and talk to friends as if we were in their living room.

While I was on the computer, Solan and Aidan were playing with friends.
Solan is trying to teach some friends how to skateboard. He received a skateboard from Santa and really has enjoyed it. When we go to Lima, there is skate park that Bart and Solan always go to. Yes, Bart still skates.

Here is Aidan playing Tinker Toys with some of his friends. Solan and Aidan's grandparents' home recently burned down. A few things were found in the ashes, among them were Bart's old Tinker Toys. Now kids here will enjoy them.

I asked Solan and Aidan some questions, here are their responses.

What is your favorite thing about living in Peru?
Solan-Climbing mountains. going on vacation, and playing with Anahi, our neighbor.
Aidan-Going to the pool with his preschool class.

What do you miss about the United States?
Solan misses all the grass and all the forests.
Aidan misses Katie and his superman shirt.

What would you like to tell people back home about Peru?
Solan-That we miss them and there are lizards all around here.
Aidan-That there are lots of rats (One time a rat came into the church during mass and I guess that impacted him).

What is your favorite Spanish word?
Solan-salchipapa (that is a hotdog with fries).
Aidan-Superman (he says it with a Spanish accent).