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It's raining! It's either an exciting time or a depressing time. When you live in the desert like we do, rain is a wonderful exciting thing. You have to take the kids outside and let them splash in puddles, smell the fresh air, look for rainbows and enjoy this rare moment. If you have a waterproof camera or if it has stopped raining take the camera outside. Let your kids take a few pictures. They see things differently. When you download or develop the pictures, you can re-live your rainy day adventure.

If you have to stay inside because of a thunderstorm or too much rain or the cold, it's time to be creative and use your imagination. A collection of costumes can be a lot of fun. Save older interesting clothes and costumes and let the kids dress up. Maybe they can create a play and act it out. Maybe they will want to be models and have their pictures taken as they pose in their new outfits.
Have the kids make an alphabet book. Give them old magazines that you don't mind being cut up. Take 13 sheets of paper and add a sheet of card-stock for the cover. Fold in the center. Thread a large needle with yarn or string and poke two holes through the fold. Thread the yarn or string through the holes so the ends are on the outside of the fold. Tie the ends together. Write a letter of the alphabet on each page. Have the kids find pictures that start with that letter on the page. If they can't find a picture, they can draw one themselves.
Have the kids make a number book. Make it the same as the alphabet book with 5 or 10 pages. On each page write a number from 1 to 10 or 1 to 20. Have the children draw 5 apples on the 5 page or 10 balloons on the 10 page or whatever objects might be desired. Have the children count the number of objects so they can double check that they have the right amount on each page. Whiteout could be used to remove extra objects that shouldn't be on that page.
Keep art supplies on hand. Crayons and paper are always an old standby. Let the kids be creative and draw whatever they like. If they really want a picture to color, go on-line and search for free coloring pages or clip-art. Draw the picture yourself. Young children aren't going to judge your artistic talents. They tend to enjoy whatever you draw.
Try making a scratch picture. Have the kids color their paper with solid blocks of color. The size and shape of these blocks can vary, but it is best that they cover the whole surface of the paper. Then take a black or dark color crayon and

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