We’ve had a very wet spring here in the Colorado Rockies. It’s rained and rained and snowed and rained. My boys love to be outside, no matter the weather. But when it’s hovering in the 40s and wet, it feels really cold to me, and even my two boys get chilled more quickly than usual.

That said, things go more smoothly in our house if everyone gets outside every day. We all need to move our bodies, and the fresh air and sunshine are good for us all. So what do we do when it rains day after day?

We head outside and play in the rain, of course. My boys love splashing in puddles. They make waterfalls by blockading the water that flows through our trenches (our Post-2013 Flood efforts to keep the water out of our house) and then letting it all flow out at once.

They create water diversions and trenches of their own using shovels, rocks, buckets, and whatever other items they call into service. They catch the water pouring out of the rain gutters in various containers as well as in their hands. In short, they have a great time making up games to play in the pouring rain.

If you want to stay outside in the rain for an extended period of time (or just keep your kids every day shoes relatively mud free) good gear is helpful: a pair of rain boots and, perhaps, a water-resistant jacket – depending on how cold or warm it is in your area. But it doesn’t take much to make heading outdoors in any weather a fun adventure.

What are your favorite ways to get moving on a rainy day?