Vamonos!

I had to look it up to be sure I knew the meaning of this Spanish word. I've only heard it in the background when the kids are watching Go Diego, Go! I don't think I had even consciously realized I had heard it in the background until the point at which my 27 month old son used it correctly in a sentence today.

Following lunch, and out of the apparent blue, Dear Son decided he wanted "Turtle," who is his favorite security buddy as of late. I was busy cleaning up the aftermath that occurs after each meal involving my 4 1/2-year-old and 27-month-old children, so I suggested he go to his room to get it himself. I was sure Turtle was in his crib, as he sleeps with him every night. He trotted off to his room and returned a couple minutes later to the kitchen announcing, "I can't reach it!" This was quickly followed by "Sissy help ya?!" "Sissy" was still sitting at the table munching on her lunch (after all, she'd only been sitting there for 45 minutes and every meal takes her at least an hour and a half these days). She told her little brother she would help him, but apparently didn't move quickly enough for him. "C'mon, Sissy!" he said, "Vamanos!"

All of a sudden something clicked in my head. I knew I had heard it before, and I knew it was Spanish. I had a flash bulb memory of Go Diego, Go! playing in the background as I mopped the kitchen floor, changed laundry loads, wrote shopping lists, whatever I can get done in 25 minutes while the kids are glued to the Noggin Network.

I wasn't sure what the word meant, so I had to look it up. Sure enough, Vamonos can be translated into English as "Let's go!"

Apparently the Noggin Network really is "just like pre-school in your living room." At least if your goal is to teach your 27-month-old Spanish.