Perhaps it's the fact that we are Southern Californians usually deprived of that amazing wetness falling from the sky, but we have been having a very unusually wet winter and we are not sad about it! We have been loving the rain, and all that green wild flourishing that comes with it. We have three little ones, and with the rain can come energetic, restless kiddos who can get a little crazy (and therefore making us a bit crazy) when stuck indoors. Here are some of our favorite things we've been doing this season in the rain:

• Get outside! On many days, we have just embraced the wetness and let our kids run around in the rain, splash in the puddles, and get completely wet. Our yard is in transition and has been mostly dirt, and now with all the rain it has become a complete mud pit. When we know we have the time to take care of the mess, we let them go out and dig and make a complete muddy mess of themselves. Sometimes things like this can feel overwhelming for me when I think of the potential mess, but I just remember, their only a warm bath away from being squeaky clean again, so I try to let go and just let them go for it.
• The library. Here in our neck of the woods, we have a really great library system that is not enjoyed nearly as much as it should be. Free, amazing books at your fingertips! Our library has such a wonderful children section and I usually let the kids browse and then pick out a big stack of books to check out. And I grab a handful of books for myself as well. Not only is this a fun outing that keeps them busy, but then you have a nice stack of books to read together while we cozy up on the couch under a blanket.
• Coffee shop date. We try to be sparing about when we spoil our kids with a fun coffee shop treat so that when we do have a chance to go, it feels really special. Rainy days are a good time to throw them in the car and head to our favorite coffee shop and spoil them with a fun little drink or treat to share.
• Barnes and Noble. With the convenience of Amazon and other online retailers, we have to say that there is just something so wonderfully enjoyable for us about still going to the local bookshop. We love used book stores, but we also love driving down the road to the closest Barnes and Noble. All of us, included the kiddos, could spend hours here getting lost in the wonder of the written page.
• Art. Sometimes rainy days are the best days to get lost in an afternoon of drawing, painting, clay sculpting, or the like. Watercolors are great for indoor because they aren't as messy an acrylic or other paint choices but they keep my kids sitting painting for quite a bit. Last month we discovered that they love it if I draw a picture for them with ink and then they get to paint it with watercolors.