W. M. Browning Historic Park Revisit

Today we went back to the W. M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park site. It is a creek bed that has deposits of prehistoric items that periodically get washed out from the surrounding banks. If you are lucky, or know where to look you are able to find some prehistoric treasures...so we went on a treasure hunt. 


The first time we went, two summers ago, we didn’t have any instructions on what we were looking for or how to successfully find what we were looking for. We just decided we needed an adventure. It wasn't very successful, but we had fun. 

This year, we were able to go on a field day scheduled by the Rock and Mineral Group with a geologist who was out there helping to direct and advise people and we were given basic instructions on how to approach our treasure hunt.

So instead of spending lots of time guessing, we ventured into the stream with a plan. Everyone was successful this time in finding a few treasures to bring home and enjoy. 

The most surprising thing we found was a little flat rock that I found interesting...I found several and only kept one, well it turned out that it was a type of prehistoric animal tooth plate. 

An interesting thing about hunting is that many times you find things that you throw out because it doesn’t look like anything and then you find out you threw away fossils.

 It takes time and patience to sit and sift through the rocks and sand, but we had fun. Some of our treasures included several types of shark teeth, some petrified wood pieces, and the fish tooth plate. 

Even though we went to find fossils, we also found and examined nature while we were there. Evelyn and I found several dragonfly larvae, a small snake peeking at us while we were sifting around in the sandy bottom of the creek, and many little fish swimming about. 

Noah found blood worms, which are larvae for a type of fly. We found those the last time we went out and immediately went home to look them up to make sure they weren't harmful, because they were a bit creepy. Noah also scooped up a baby crawfish...no, we didn't eat it, it was way too small. 

It is a rather peaceful site. The Creek is called Twenty Mile Creek. I really enjoy just being out there and spending time walking up and down the creek, taking pictures, and enjoying the nature that is surrounding us. It is a very slow moving current and although there are some spots that are deep, for the most part it is an easy shallow place to walk around in. I would caution you to wear shoes and be sure to keep an eye on your younger children because of the deeper areas and the nature. There are snakes in the area. The park itself is not really large so you also have to be aware that if you wander too far you may be trespassing. 

Some of our finds. These were shark teeth, petrified wood, and the flat round one is a type of tooth from a prehistoric fish, and like I said earlier, we through out some things that were likely to be fossils if you know what you are looking for. There is always time for another trip out....

Copperhead Falls

Today's adventure took us to Copperhead Falls in Abbeville Mississippi. Much like the trip to the creek for the fossil hunt except this lovely little outing took us down a back road to an area near a bridge where we parked along the roadside and walked down a steep rocky slope. At the edge before we got to the creek, the kids discovered the remains of something and had to investigate. After a short time, they came to the conclusion that it was definitely not human and it was okay to continue on with our adventure.

I of course had to take a moment to photograph the two beautiful butterflies resting on part of the spine of the dearly departed stinky critter. Moving on, we worked our way down a rather steep, rocky bank that went down. There we noticed several pairs of shoes on the edge of the bank that lead to a pretty little shallow creek that was ankle deep. The stream meandered left and right around several sandy and clay banks with rocks of various sizes intermingled.

As we walked upstream over and around the rocks along the creek bed that was winding left and right  and around corners, the stream wove its way through the wooded landscape going over rocks, under fallen trees and around the sand and clay banks.  Eventually we heard the rushing water of the waterfalls.

Now, I don't want to deceive you  into believing that as we rounded the corner we came across these fabulous rolling falls that you may be imagining. It is Mississippi after all and the landscape is still relatively flat, these are small low falls that were rambling over the rocks in the middle of the creek that created small pools that poured into other pools.

I have to say, that there weren't any areas that I would call particularly deep and I wouldn't say that there was anything at any point that was particularly treacherous, but because of the clay and algae covered rocks, I would warn anyone who might be unsteady or carrying any kind of special electronics like phones or cameras to be a little cautious. There were a couple of times that I lost my footing and almost drowned my camera. But, I digress...

It is a rather beautiful and unique site and I was very happy to experience it. We came across other people enjoying the day and hanging out. We explored the area and kept walking around a few more corners to see just what lay around the next bend. Eventually the creek became too overgrown to continue and we turned around.

We came across lots of different types of native plant species and some invasives growing along the bank also. A huge beautiful Green Dragon(Arisaema dracontium)-a relative of Jack-in-the-Pulpit-was standing tall right at the entrance with a beautiful group of berries still green at this point.

The intoxicating smell of kudzu flowers was amazing. It was probably my favorite smell along the way...a whole lot better than the decayed critter near the roadside entrance that the kids took an interest in and had to examine to figure out what it was. There was also beautiful orange spotted jewelweed(Impatiens capensis) lining the banks with their little spotted orange flowers dancing on the breeze.

One of the kids noticed a tree that had either berries or some type of seed pod that looked like they could have been mulberries, but I wasn't sure because our mulberry tree at home has already fruited sometime in May and it seemed late to me.

There were quite a few critters to see also, snakes, dragonflies, damsel flies, butterflies, minnows, frogs, and algae in different colors. The snakes were harmless water snakes, but it is always important to maintain a safe distance and give them their space. The small snake in the water had just caught a snack and was on it's way to find a safe place to eat it.

The kids played at the falls for a while longer and eventually we headed back toward the car. It was a great day and a great place to explore. We will definitely be back occasionally to enjoy this space hopefully seasonally so that we can see it at different times of the year to watch the changes of the season within the space.

Birthdays: Evelyn Turns Seven

A little tribute to our favorite little girl in the whole world. Our Evelyn, smart, sweet, spunky, and adventurous.

She's got a style all her own. Born into a world of boy, she has paved her own path that has blended a world of knights and swords, and dragons and mud with the world of rainbows, and princess, and fairy, and glitter galore.

The fairytale story dynamic didn't change that much, she just added a whole new dimension to the story.




She still lives very much in the world of play hard and get dirty, just in beautiful dresses and the world of pink and purple. She is lively and loving, tough and tender.


Always ready for the next adventure and to explore.

She can run and dance and twirl with a ribbon and play with her babies and in one instant is ready for the world of swords and everything boy in the next.



She is the perfect mix of princess and tomboy. She might seem girly, but she will not be out done by the boys and will always fight to come out on top.




There is never a dull moment with our little girl. Full of adventure and mischief, a twinkle in her eye, and a smile that can melt your heart. 

Review: Kupp

The kupp’ was created by Kate Oliver, the founder of  Katesplace. She came up with the kupp as a tool to help her young boys learn accountability and responsibility. Each of her children their very own glass in a different color and put them in charge of their cup and all of the responsibilities that came with it, including setting the table, washing, and putting it away. She quickly discovered that she had a cleaner kitchen and her family consumed less plastic. As a result, the Kupp’ was born...it is a six-ounce glass with a colorful silicone sleeve designed just for kids.

The Facts

• The kupp’ is a six-ounce glass outfitted with a colorful silicone sleeve. It’s designed for kids ages 3-10.
• The firm grip and silicon sleeve helps to protect the glass from damage while providing a safe, toxic free vessel to drink from.
• The kupp’ comes in four vibrant colors that represent the environment: blue for water, green for earth, orange for the sun, and red for warmth.
• The kupp’ is the perfect serving size for children, and allows them to become more conscious of waste and consumption.
• The kupp’ is made in the USA using imported glass, and all materials are sourced from environmentally friendly manufacturers that adhere to EU and US regulations.
• All glass is recyclable, certified lead and cadmium free, and is made from a pure soda-lime formula. It is also dishwasher safe!
• The grip-friendly silicon sleeve is BPA/BPS free and made with medical and food grade silicon to prevent damage. The sleeve does not have to be removed when washing, which makes cleaning your Kupp’ very simple.
• The adorable kupp’ is designed to resemble a smile so kids are naturally attracted to it!
• The retail price of the kupp’ is $16.99 each.

The Review

We were given the opportunity to test out kupp Brand cups Through Moms Meet. These are really cute little glass cups with a silicone wrapper on the outside. Upon opening the shipping box, there was a whole bunch of excitement and squeals...the kids loved them, and could not wait to try them out!
They each chose out the color that they wanted, we sat down and I explained that these were their cups, they were to take responsibility for them, use them, keep them clean, and make sure that they were put either in a safe area on the kitchen counter or put away when not in use. I have to say at first glance these made me a little nervous to hand over to my children.  I understand the concept and the idea of responsibility and independent growth, but to hand over glass to my wild bunch was a little daunting to me. I hovered for a day or two especially with my four year old, but even she has really been very good at making sure that her cup is put away safely.

It has been just over a week, and I am happy and proud to say that we have not lost one cup so far. Even though they are glass, they have held up to my children...I am almost sure that at least two have fallen on the floor and not broken. The children have been extra careful to make sure that they are not left around where the toddler can reach it.

It really has helped with many of the concepts that Kate has created these cups for. The kids are not wasting water bottles meant for car trips and outings, we have eliminated the use of disposable cups, they have taken responsibility for their own cup and have taken very good care of it because they love them. Instead of constantly asking me to get them something to drink they have taken the initive to find their own cup and get their own water and sometimes milk or juice. These little glasses are a great tool to begin fostering some responsibility and independence in your little one.

We have really enjoyed trying these kupp cups out and highly recommend them if you are ready for your little ones to begin to grow into big kids. They are so much easier to clean than all the sippy cups with the lids, stoppers, straws, and other parts that seem to never get completely cleaned...and the kids can clean these up themselves, which is an even bigger bonus.


Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet Blogger. I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my Blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Moms Meet, May Media Group LLC, or the manufacturer.

School: Another Year begins

Summer is coming to an end for the year and a new school year is now underway and in full swing. We typically wait until after Labor day in order to give a couple weeks extra to planning and preparing for our year.

This year we have hit a big milestone. We have a Highschool Freshman! Nathan is beginning his 9th grade year. Seton worked out okay for last year so we went ahead and ordered his books again for this year. Even though getting Nathan to actually do the required school work; it was really nice to have more accountability on his end to get assignments complete on a time schedule and have to be more responsible for his own work that is partially graded by the Seton staff.
The other nice thing was having back up when needed, teachers that could help and counsel if needed, and best of all we will have complete transcripts for his highschool education if he chooses to pursue a college education.
He will be taking the advance courses for college bound students. Last week his box of books came in and we went through them...it was really funny to see the look on his face when he saw the size of the books. This year will be Algebra, Physical Science, English, Spanish, Vocabulary, Geography, Spanish, and Religion. Last year he ended his year with a high A/B average in his subjects even thought we had to persuade him quite a lot and quite often to get the assignments complete...I think it was worth it in the end. This year school will be accompanied with an existing part-time job that he is really enjoying. I love that he is also getting real life experience as part of his education.


Noah is beginning the 4th grade this year! I look at him and think how in the world is that possible...he just looks so small and yet he will be nine soon. I have been so excited with his progress and change over the year.
We began with him struggling to read and having difficulty with even simple books...now he is reading novels on his own some even above his reading level. I'm not sure if he is truly ready for some of it, but he is reading and enjoying reading so...I say way to go!







Jacob will be starting 1st grade. Like Noah he had some difficulty grasping the reading thing, but I think that when this year gets started he will handle it like a champ. It is very difficult to get him to keep still for more than 5 minutes at a time and he is a very active child.
Breaks and lots of Physical activity are absolutely necessary for this kid. He is quick to grasp things and I think that this year will be a great year of discovery for him.

Evelyn...Oh Evelyn...She is something else. Last month she told me that she was ready to learn her EBD's...and she had a reason to say "EBD's". E is the first letter in her name so it is only right that the Alphabet start that way too.
So this year we will learn the alphabet and maybe, just maybe, they will no longer be EBD's but it is really cute. I'm guessing we can add some numbers in too.









Benjamin will be hitting a milestone of his own...It is truly not one that he will like, but it is time to move forward. He and I are going to wean...It is a sad time in one way because it is just one more thing that signles the end of the baby years...he's growing up.
He has nursed the longest of all the kids and I honestly never thought that I would ever do this for this long, but every child is different and has different needs.






So our adventure continues another year of growing learning and loving as a family the way God intended...I truly love this life we have no matter how crazy it gets sometimes every day is special and we have made some wonderful memories with our children and family.