Story highlights The 9-year-olds were left home alone periodically for at least five months, officials say

Ramen noodles only food found in home, according to a police officer

The home had no operable telephone

(CNN) A pair of 9-year-olds in New Hampshire who were left alone for days at a time over five months in their family's apartment with just ramen noodles to eat and no operable telephone are now safely in the care of their parents, according to a court affidavit.

The twins' uncle, who had been entrusted to care for them, has been charged with endangering a child, according to Michael Valentine, Hillsborough County assistant attorney. The charge is a misdemeanor.

Giobari Atura told police he agreed to watch his brother and sister-in-law's twin boys while the couple traveled to Nigeria in July, but instead of moving into the apartment, Atura said he checked on the children three days a week.

The children told officials who were called to the home that they would "wake for school on their own, get ready for school, get on the bus and eat breakfast and lunch at school," according to the affidavit.

Atura said he told the children to call him if they needed anything such as food or "help with their homework," but because the phone in the apartment wasn't operable, he instructed them to use a neighbor's phone.