Springfield Nature Center

We went for a picnic at the Springfield Nature Center with friends and went for a really long walk (too long for three-year-old boys! ) enjoying more of fall in Missouri. The nature center is a great place to go for some free entertainment and learning experiences.

Then, this evening at home we had this nighttime visitor. I guess the nature center followed us home!

Missouri Travels 2010 Part V--Lake of the Ozarks State Park

Before it gets cold, we were able to squeeze in one last camping trip. Originally, we had a big camping party planned; my mom, brother, sister and her boyfriend, aunt, cousins, my niece and nephews were all supposed to go with us. First, my mom got sick and backed out so that ruled out her, my brother, niece, and nephews. Then, my aunt who must not be able to function without my mother backed out, so there went my aunt and cousins. Fortunately, we could count on my sister and her boyfriend to still go, so since we have a camping-obsessed boy on our hands, we decided to go ahead with our plans. We told Colter we were going, we cleaned up the camper, we packed, and THEN at the last minute my sister backed out too!!!! GRRRRR. That's okay. Who needs a camping party anyway? We had a nice, quiet three-person camping trip and spent some time enjoying the beautiful fall colors WITHOUT my flaky family. So there. :)

COLTER QUOTE OF THE TRIP

Colter to John: "When I was your age, I used to wear a monkey suit and climb in the trees. There was candy in the trees, and I used to pick it."

Fishing from the camper?
Pretty fall leaves!

Handsome Men By a Funky Tree

So many beautiful colors!

Cute Explorer Boy

Today, my husband, our cute explorer boy, and I went explored the local trail. Colter insisted that I document all the items that we found along the way. I took a ton of pictures of random natural objects! Here's a few.

Yay for family walks!

Missouri Travels 2010--Part IV Animal Taming at Compton Ridge

Well, we somehow survived the night in a pop-up camper during a heat wave. The poor pop-up's air conditioner ran all night long, but it survived as well. While waiting for the pool to open at the campground, Compton Ridge in Branson, Missouri, Colter spent some time taming the animals at the playground. He may have a future in the circus, although the gorilla almost got the best of him.

Normally, Compton Ridge is a great place to stay in Branson. It has nice, shady campsites, a couple of pools, a fun playground, and it's close to Silver Dollar City. I just don't really recommend planning a trip when it's over 100 degrees. :) That's the way it worked out for us this time though! It was still fun, but after playing at the playground and swimming in the pool, we headed home to the A.C..

Barn Owl Owlets

A brood of owlets have made themselves at home in my grandparents' machine shed. The owlets are some of the weirdest babies I have ever seen! When my family and I walked into the shed to view the nest, the building was filled with an eerie hissing noise. I actually thought my brother was using some machinery or something, but the echoing hisses were the owlets! To see the birds, we had to climb up a combine and peak into a washtub perched on the rafters (weird place for a washtub) where the mama owl took up residence. As the strange little demon faces peered back at us, the owlets swayed back and forth in some sort of hypnotic dance as they hissed. It was so weird! I'm going to try and get it on video before they leave the nest. Owlets are so cool! Freaky--but cool. :)