17 March 2009

Maple Woods Nature Preserve in Gladstone, MO










D thinks this first picture of Woodjie sticking out his tongue, flapping his arms and laughing upon our arrival is extremely frightening. Are you scared? (I think he's cute but maybe I'm biased.) As we started out, someone needed to learn the hard way that the trails are uneven and we probably shouldn't run on them. The next pic is of Dad and Girlie on the trail. Of course, little S gave me a great big smile after I put the camera away. Do you see how hot and tired Elf and Emperor are? Elf would like you to admire the next picture of his victorious climb up the rock, as well as the following picture which is of course entirely unposed. Then, it's time to strap the children into the van and go home! Woodjie fell asleep on the drive back.

16 comments:

  1. I think the first one of Woodjie is Cute! That is Pure Toddler right there!

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  2. Fun pictures! You can tell you were all having a fun day. I would have fallen asleep on the drive home as well. :)

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  3. You got some great shots! Woodjie is just a cute blond bundle. No scariness there! Seeing all of your short sleeves makes me ready for spring. We have more than a month before we can head outside without all the jacket fuss.

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  4. Oh my, it looks like Elf and Emperor have just learned the meaning of the word, "Strenuous!"

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  5. Thanks, Shelly! I think it's cute, but since I know it bothers D, I have loaded it as our background pic and stuck the AOL icon on his tongue.

    Kathy, I'm surprised Woodjie lasted as long as he did on this walk... because I was tired, too!

    Sue, I'm sure we're not over the cold weather yet, but we had a warm snap. :]

    Julie, we didn't walk more than a mile, but it's rocky and bumpy and curvy... and hot work!

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  6. Interesting photos. Woodjie looks like he's going to lick his shirt in the first photo and Elf(?) in the fourth photo looks like he's choking himself. Silly kids.

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  7. Awwwww I love all the photos! The kids look adorable.

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  8. That looks like a fantastic day out! Thanks for sharing your family album. Your kids are so cute. Where were the big boys? At school? Or hiding from the camera :)

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  9. DF, Elf is really, really thirsty, not choking himself LOL! They're still silly kids, though.

    Thanks for the compliment, Chris!

    Yes, Tracey, the older boys are off at school. :]

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  10. It looks as if you had great fun. Love your photos! (I don't know whether you retrace your steps, but I left you a comment on your Pharaoh post)

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  11. Ah, the ups and downs of life... the joys and the "extremely frightening" bits [smile].

    ~Luke

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  12. Thanks, Miekie!

    Luke, you thought that pic was scary? Must be a guy thing.

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  13. Ah, such great pictures. I have so many fond memories of hiking with our little guys. We also have five children. Three boys and 2 girls and the boys are the oldest. We have albums full of climbing on rocks and taking what I call "The Peter Pan Stance" It's a combination of I can too fly and watch how brave I am. Course, the older the get, the higher the pile of rocks! :) ..till it gets to be real mountains..and that's when Mom finally gets scared!

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  14. I think the first one is lovely - a photo of joy and discovery

    the "I am king of the woods" shot reminds me of my son - he was always posing that way in photos

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  15. Those are GREAT!!

    Where's momma?

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  16. LOL Betty, I can't imagine the rocks turning to mountains! My little ones are still... little. :]

    Thanks, Dianne! D hates the pic, but I think it's cute, too. He also has a big squeal when he goes somewhere new if he is enjoying himself. Bet your son had a blast in the woods... there aren't that many here, you know, and they are just different out where you live. AND we have no mica rock, everything seems to be made of sandstone or limestone-type crumbly rocks. :]

    Lisa, you know someone had to take the pics! That's me. One hand on the camera, and one on Woodjie.

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Non-troll comments always welcome! :)

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