Keeping the Littles Busy (And off the ceiling..)

We've all been there. The little ones have massive amounts of freakish energy and you just don't.. You'd try just about anything to get them quietly busy and off of one another. Here are some of my ways of keeping my monkeys from climbing the ceiling or tearing down the house.

Yea, I know sugar doesn't make kids hyper but it was sooo cute!

1. Breakout the B. toys YouHue or other non-toxic markers.. instant temporary tattoos. They're non-toxic so I don't worry about them having some kind of crazy reaction and they wash off.
2. Take step 1 and create instant living canvas.. I let them color in my back piece that isn't finished yet. It's like mommy is one big coloring page.
3. Play the statue game, taking turns modeling whatever pose they choose and they can't make a sound.
4. Turn a deep plastic container and soft rope into a pull car (oh yea!)
5. Pull out every pot & pan and several cooking utensils. Even my 7 year old still wants to play "restaurant".
6. Take food boxes from mac n' cheese, cereal, etc and glue all the ends shut.. cooler than the average "play food" from the store.. and it's recyclable! (High five for being green!)

All of these things are in addition to the normal toys, games, and other stuff we randomly do and there is more but you get the idea.  More than anything, take a moment to just be with them. Even f you're super tired. Let them color on you (I promise they will be interested), style your hair, or just snuggled with a book. Now tell me.. what are your ways? I love hearing from you!!