We've all been through those long, rainy weekends that trap us indoors for hours on end.  Two days cooped up in a house watching whatever's on TV can turn the most skilled couch potato into an anxious, restless bundle of nerves.  But rainy weekends don't have to be havens of boredom.  With a little planning, you can equip your house with all of the necessary items to provide entertainment, learning and perhaps even a little bonding over 
the longest of rainy weekends.

Movies

The first thing you need to create is a personal library of movies.  Do not hold yourself (or your family) hostage to what the networks have decided to put on TV on a rainy Saturday afternoon.  Instead, stock up on DVDs (new movies or used!) to utilize on just these occasions.  Make sure you don't just purchase movies that you have already seen a hundred times (although the ability to quote every line in The Princess Bride is an impressive feat, it just may not do the trick on that 5th rainy Sunday of the season).  Branch out and pepper your DVD collection with classics from various genres (think Action and Adventure, Comedy,  Foreign, Musicals, and so on).  If you have kids, make sure to acquire some Animated Favorites too!  And if there is a particular TV show that you and your family love, it doesn't hurt to have a season or two available at your fingertips to pop in when that 7th re-run of Matlock just isn't doing it for you anymore.

Books

Reading is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.  Whether you decide to sit down with the entire family and read something out loud, or whether you tuck yourself into a blanket on the couch and get lost in the pages of your book, it is far more beneficial than staring mindlessly at the TV all weekend long (and don't get me wrong, spending some time staring at the TV is definitely on my agenda...just not the WHOLE weekend!)  Fictional books can transport you into another world and stimulate your imagination, while non-fiction titles can educate you in an area you've been meaning to explore.  And if you choose to make the reading time a group activity; consider audio-books or children's books so that everyone can be involved.  If you or someone in your family has trouble getting into books, have a variety of magazines available as an alternative (choose magazines that aren't 'time sensitive' but can be kept around long-term).  Magazines span all topics, from home & garden to news & general interest.  With both books and magazines, remember once again to amass a collection that covers various genres to prevent boredom with a particular topic.

Games

The third weapon in the 'no boredom' arsenal is games...and I'm not referring to video games.  It is important to have plenty of interactive games that everyone in the household can play.  Games provide an enjoyable way for people to spend time together, and if you have children they can be an educational experience as well.  Whether you choose card games, dice games, or classics such as Trivial Pursuit or Clue, you'll find that playing games with friends or family can be one of the best ways to pass through a rainy weekend day.

Music

Whether you love country or classical, heavy metal or top 40, absorbing some music over a weekend spent indoors can be both therapeutic and invigorating.  Make sure you have plenty of CDs around to pop in and play for yourself or the family.  Sometimes the music will inspire you to lie down and relax for awhile, rejuvenating your mind and body.  Other times, it will get you up on your feet, dancing around and singing into your hairbrush microphone.  Both responses are often much needed in the fast-paced lifestyle we all seem to encounter these days.  So whether you are old school and prefer records, or you're accustomed to housing your musical library on the newest gadget in the consumer electronics world, don't underestimate the need for a large, wide-reaching array of music to get you through your rainy season!

Arts & Crafts

Finally, think about fun projects that you can do on your own or with the family during these indoor weekends.  Whether you have flashes of Picasso in your creations or not, craft projects can be a really fun, satisfying way to pass the time.  There are so many avenues to pursue in this category that you are certain to find something of interest to for your household.  There are pre-packaged painting kits, candle and soap making kits, bead art, scrapbooks, mosaics, woodworking and more.  And if you have kids in the house, there are specific crafts designed just for them.  So take a look around and stock up on a few of these items to provide a creative (and fun!) outlet for your household the next time the rain pours down.