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Lillabo Play Mat

Wito loves the movie Cars. Yes, we all know this…I sound like a broken record over here in regards to that movie, but the boy is obsessed. (And the obsession has lasted for over two years. At least he’s consistent!)

We’ve been collecting the Cars diecast cars for a couple of years now, and not a day goes by that Wito doesn’t choose to reenact some scene from the movie with the appropriate vehicles. The problem? He reenacts the scenes on our living room sofa.

Lately, he’s been creating a scene on each side of the sofa, which leaves us absolutely no place to sit. I’ve tried squeezing into the space between scenes, but am immediately reprimanded. “MOM, YOU ARE SITTING ON RADIATOR SPRINGS!!!” and “MOM, YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THE PISTON CUP RACE CARS. PLEASE MOVE!” are phrases I hear way too often around these parts.

We had to do something to regain rightful ownership of the sofa immediately. Thank God for Ikea. We found this Lillabo Play Mat at our local store ($9.99, folks! Cheap!) and he is completely enamored with it. Radiator Springs on the left, Piston Cup raceway on the right, and since it sits on the floor, we have won our sofa back. My arse is victorious.

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14 comments
  1. Ali

    December 17, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Awesome. And in case you didn’t know Cars 2 is coming out Summer 2011. My son has also been obsessed and I’m sure there will be a whole onset of new cars, characters and places oh my! I’ve been mentally preparing myself! ;)
    Ali

  2. Andrea

    December 17, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    SO glad I am not alone in this! My son has the same obsession but he at least uses his bedroom floor. Me thinks he would highly enjoy a play mat like that!

  3. whoorl

    December 17, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    Ali,

    We’ve watched the Cars 2 Trailer, oh, ELEVENTY BILLION TIMES.

    Also, we live about 20 miles from this upcoming attraction:

    http://bit.ly/gDHymu

    We are counting the days.

  4. Jessica

    December 17, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    I have a similar one for my 2 year old. I assume he will use it much more when he’s a little bit older and a more mature imagination. I love the Cars cars, but I have been unsuccessful in finding Sally. Actually, I’m pretty sure I’ve never found her on the shelf and I’m wondering if they even made her!

  5. am'ti b

    December 17, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    man i love ikea!

  6. Michelle

    December 17, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    Filing this away for future nephews! Whoorl, love your hair! Where did you guys get that rug underneath Wito’s playmat? Sorry for the randomness : ) So much gorgeous all in one spot!

  7. cj4

    December 17, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    Fantastic. Also, not for nuthin, but “lillabo” actually translates to “little village” or “little nest.” Perfect.

    “Radiator Fjädring” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, though.

  8. Linda

    December 17, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    My 4 year old is obsessed with Cars too and he also does the sofa staging. I’m sitting on Tex now –not fun. I’ll check out IKEA (like I need an excuse ha!). We also watch the Cars 2 trailer over and over and over and my son flaps his arms around in excitement every time. Does Wito like “Mater’s Tall Tales” too? If I have to announce Mater the Greater one more time…

    Cute play mat, thanks for sharing!

  9. whoorl

    December 17, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    Oh yes, Linda. He loves Mater’s Tall Tales! In fact, I bought all the Tall Tales episodes on our iPad before our road trip to Santa Fe over Thanksgiving. I’m pretty sure that’s why we didn’t hear a peep out of him for several hours at a time. :)

  10. MelissaOklahoma

    December 18, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Yeah for regaining your couch back!
    And fabulous rug! Please give us a house tour!!!

  11. martymankins

    December 18, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    That reminds me of the Hot Wheels and Matchbox playsets I had as a kid.

  12. Rene R.

    December 20, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    My little brother had almost the exact same mat when he was 6 (That was in the early 90’s) haha its great reminds me of christmas with my family I love it!

  13. Julie {Angry Julie Monday}

    December 20, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    I may brave that evil place this week to get that mat. I think it would be a great gift for the Angry Kid.

  14. Camels & Chocolate

    December 24, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    My godson (also four) is equally obsessed with Cars and when my sister started dating Richard Petty’s grandson a year ago, my godson’s dad was starstruck–not because Richard is a world-famous NASCAR driver but because he voiced one of the characters in Cars!