It is a Pinterest-worthy photo of a Pinterest-inspired activity: a holiday-themed sensory bin, baby and toddler playing harmoniously while sun streams onto clean hardwood floors. What the photo doesn't show is the half-hour it took me to set up the bin while the girls were sleeping, the fact that it only entertained them for about ten minutes, the soaking wet outfits that had to be changed afterwards along with dozens of little foam hearts to lay out to dry. The next afternoon, while Celia finished her nap, Ellie played with the dirty dishes in my kitchen sink for half an hour: no planning or extra clean-up required, no Pinterest-worthy pictures taken. Sometimes, I am realizing, simple and spontaneous is just as good, perhaps even best.