I have a new goal in life.
My goal is to make dinner.
Not just stir, measure, chop and simmer, but do so without someone climbing up my yoga pants designer jeans while someone else knots my pony tail perfectly coiffed hair.
So I’ve started to break out the Pinterest activities right before I begin cooking dinner in hopes of hypnotizing creatively engaging my children with a new activity, giving me a few quiet minutes to try new recipes that they will refuse to eat anyway for us to enjoy.
My first attempt was the race track created by The Mother Huddle.
I would rather you not look at her pictures before mine because she has fantastically creative details like parking spaces and a dashed line in the road.
There were kids climbing on my head. I did the best I could.
I enlisted the teenager to help tape the outline of a track,
gathered the appropriate parties at the start line,
and let them loose.
I cooked dinner to the echo of VROOMS
the twirl of tutus
and the occasional “Moooom, his toe is touching my knee.”
because no activity is THAT good.
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I'm Jessica, 30-something mom to five, four in my arms and one in my heart.
That’s pretty smart!
m.
Twitter: Rsimplelives
It was lots of fun and they had a great time with it.
Oh what a super fun idea!
blueviolet recently posted..I Wish I Would Have Yelled “Cut” Once or Twice!
They loved it and we have kept it up for weeks, much more durable and less expensive than the race tracks in stores.
That is cool!! I really have to go through your boards one of these days. At least the one with all these awesome kid activities
Stephanie recently posted..The first day of Kindergarten and a Pinterest Project
Twitter: supermomboots
Whatever it takes to get a few minutes of peace!! I need to start implementing some of the jewels I’ve found on Pinterest. So far it is just another guilty pleasure!
Amy ~ Eat. Live. Laugh. Shop. recently posted..Truths for Mature Humans.
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Now I know what I’m gonna do tomorrow!!!!!
Minivan Mama recently posted..Rock The Feather
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How cute is that idea.. of course now that my kids are too old to enjoy it.. sighs.
Angel recently posted..TYVM with Kmama.. I.Am.Tired.
This is a great idea!!!!
Leighann recently posted..Have YOU Thanked a Stranger Lately?
LOL. You deserve an award for the best/most humorous use of strike-through in a blog post.
Cute idea too.
Emily Suess recently posted..Vote for Your Favorite Writing Contest Finalist
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Thanks Emily, too bad that wasn\’t a category in your writing contest
.
Loving this activity, and I have kids coming over this weekend so I fully plan on stealing it.
Thanks for including all the pics. They make the post.
Amy Sullivan recently posted..Perfect Detours
Oh they will love you for doing this for them!
Now I really believe in your Mommy Super Powers if you tell me that they actually ate what you cooked for dinner!!!
Very cute idea – and I always say simple is better!
Wow! That is a great idea. I have the same dilemma as you, but Donut is too little to entertain herself right now. If I can hold on a bit longer, one of these days we might be able to enjoy a meal!
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..We Eat Books
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Oh you are in the years of having to hold them on one hip while you try to cook with the other hand. My youngest is still coming out of that phase.
Love this- so, so much!!
Galit Breen recently posted..It’s My SITS Day!
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Cooking dinner means the boys are watching a show and the babies are in a stationary toy of some sort. This seems much more brain worthy!
The part about them not eating it anyway…. ohmygodsotrue!!!
Jamie recently posted..TWOsdays | new link-up!
Twitter: chosenchaos
Seriously, I think the longer it takes to make the less of a chance they are going to eat it.
OH girl, I have a big enough space in my living room. I am SO doing this. BRILLIANT!! So, how was dinner?
Twitter: elainea
Dinner was great because I had five minutes to regain my patience while they played!
i am still sidetracked by the fact that you have a cream sofa
By Word of Mouth Musings recently posted..Niche like Quiche
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Oh my gosh, that couch is a mess. It has barely survived the last few years but we love it so I\’m only saving it to get it redone.
That is such a cute idea! I may have to try that with mine too. Maybe it will let me cook some type of meal for once!
Kimberly recently posted..VlogTalk: Award Winning Dreams
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A fantastic and simple idea, totally brilliant!
So, what was for dinner?
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..Standing Taller
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How cool! I wish we had cool hardwood floors for that! Looks like they had a blast.
Leigh Ann recently posted..How I potty trained twins
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How awesome!! I will have to do that for Dustyn
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GREAT way to keep them entertained!
Ann recently posted..Eggplant and Tomato Ragout
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That’s pretty good! What a great activity, and I think yours looks fabulous! I have a racetrack rug that my son ignores, but I think something that takes up the entire floor might actually entertain him for 15 minutes!
Barbara recently posted..Clear the Roads….
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That is very cool…Of course I’d have to do it in my kitchen and that’s where I am cooking! LOL. But I can definately see how this would be a HIT!!! So cute and you did a great job as usual
Kir recently posted..REMEMBERED: Ready for Their Close Up
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I get upset when people’s toes touch my knees too.
Klz recently posted..The Continuation Of The Human Race
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Oh that is so very cool. When they are a bit older you can start with duct tape purse making!
tracy recently posted..Visiting the Zoo for the 451st Time…
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I forgot about the purse making, the things we can do with tape.
Look at you go smart Mama!!!
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation recently posted..Black Kite Giveaway
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Well, at least it worked, right?! CUTE photographs!!
Twitter: MyPixieBlog
That idea is brilliant. As is Julie’s whole let’s-actually-do-stuff-from-Pinterest. If only I wasn’t so lazy!
Megan (Best of Fates) recently posted..Do You Have Male Genitalia? Be My Friend.
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What a great idea! I am stalking your Pinterest ideas, because they’re that good!!
Twitter: angelaamman
Thanks Angela, if only some of them were my own
.
This whole attempt to actually do stuff from Pinterest and then blogging about them has me feeling all at once excited and overwhelmed. So far, I’ve only tackled cooking new recipes. Which I then forgot to photograph and link up with Julie. ::Le sigh::
But still… cooking I can do. Actual activities? Terrify the bejeesus out of me. But this was a great idea, and relatively simple!
Maybe there’s hope for my Pinterest projects after all.
Kristin @ What She Said recently posted..Off the Market
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Hey Jessica. How about leading the race track to the kitchen, so they can help you as they park their cars.
Alice recently posted..Solutions to Debt Problems
I think I\’m better off leading it away from the kitchen, they are always at my feet when I cook.
I love this! I’m trying this soon.
I’ll try anything to be able to cook in peace!
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Brilliant!
Natasha recently posted..where I talk about dentistry
I saw this on pintrest-what an a genius idea! And who cares if you don’t have all of the little details- yours is quick, practical and still an amazing idea
Emmy recently posted..Ten Things to Smile About
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What an awesome idea!!! I usually shoo them away and turn on SpongeBob while I’m trying to make dinner
Runnermom-jen recently posted..I Miss Summer
What a simple, but GENIUS idea!! The weather has been good enough still that I’m able to throw the older boys outside to play so I just have to deal with the baby. But when the weather turns sour, you can bet your bottom dollar I’m going to try this!
Hopes@Staying Afloat! recently posted..The Blogging Bible for Newbies
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That’s awesome! I love that you can do it instead of the race track rugs. We might have to do that in the toy room!
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I think you did a phenomenal job and that you are an amazing mom.
Great photos, too!
liz recently posted..It’s a Good Thing She’s Cute
Aww, thanks Liz.
this is such a cute idea!!
Ruthie Hart recently posted..Love
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That is SO cool… In the interest of time (an not having NEARLY enough of it) I have been resisting Pinterest… I am also resisting cooking dinner – but that is a completely different tangent to go off on for another time
Kate F. recently posted..A Life Lesson in the Art of Prioritization
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Pinterest can help you with dinner too. My time spent there has been well worth it, I have found so much good stuff.
Love it and I loved that Dora twirled! Girl power!
Erica recently posted..Baby Toes and More
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Wow what a great idea! I need to start paying more attention to the pins people put up. I’m a passive pinner currently. I completely know what you mean though. I would love to cook for the sake of cooking not for the pressure of getting it done “now!” because people are hungry and having them not eat it anyway!
Marta recently posted..Let’s Talk About the Serious Stuff: Self Worth
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What an awesome idea!!! My two children would love that! Good luck with the supper cooking!
Lynn
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Genius.
My mom used to just park us on the back patio with a tupperware of water and paint brushes and tell my sister and me to paint the concrete.
I like your race track better.
julie gardner recently posted..Today call me unlocked.
Painting the concrete is genius. Too bad Pinterest wasn\’t around back then, your mom would have been a hit.
You are a great momma!
Lady Jennie recently posted..Buckwheat Galettes
Excellent idea! Way to go, mom.
P.S. I heart Pinterest. But I think you already knew that.
Tonya recently posted..Patience, Confidence, Remembrance & Sanctuary
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Yep, YOU were the creator of my addiction
.
What a pretty cool idea! And here I was using that tape to tie my kids to the chairs all these years! LOL!
Jackie recently posted..Eating bon-bons & ending reality tv
What an excellent way to let the kids have fun, while you get to do what you love. Simple ideas can go far just some tape, a maze, then there few favorite toys. Awesome