Category Archives: Family Fun

Father’s Day Weekend
















The two of them worked together to run the bow drill.

They had smoke coming from the friction several times.











Please share.

Taxco Mexican Grill

Eating out is a special treat for our large family.  It isn’t cheap to take 8 people to a restaurant these days, especially since some of our kids (are older than 12 years and) are charged adult prices.  We have jumped from paying for 2 adult plates and 6 kid plates when they were younger to paying for 5 adult plates and 3 kid plates today when eating out.  That is a huge change.

We have also noticed prices in general increasing over the last several years, from food, fuel, clothing, travel, etc.  As costs have gone up, we have become more picky about quality, costs, and the whole experience.  We usually combine eating out with something special to enjoy, like a field trip, or a drive to see a new town, or new location to sight see, or a visit to a lake or the ocean, or for special celebrations such as birthdays.

Taxco Mexican Grill

On one of our recent trips we stopped and ate at a wonderful restaurant that serves Mexican food, Taxco Mexican Grill.  We found the experience to be pleasant, delicious and well worth it.  It is definitely a place we would recommend to other families.

The Taxco Mexican Grill is owned by a family who immigrated to the United States of America from Mexico.  They opened their first restaurants in Atlanta Georgia in 1983.  They have been very successful and now own a chain of restaurants in several states.  The staff was friendly and helpful.  Our waiter’s name was Zachariah and is pictured below on the left.  He is the nephew of the owner. He did a good job taking care of our table.

We did a little research and found the word Taxco comes from the name of a silver mining and tourist town in Mexico.  Taxco sits on the side of the Atatzin Mountain in the state of Guerrero Mexico.  The word Taxco has two meanings.  Taxco means “place of the ballgame” and the city hosts several sports such as basketball, volleyball, and tennis.  Taxco also means “where the Father of the water is” because of the waterfall near the center of the mountain town.


The food was delicious.  Since this was our first time here, and not sure if we would like it, we played it safe and ordered familiar dishes.  However, we loved the flavors so much that I am sure the next time we go, we will branch out and try more things we are not as familiar with.  Some of the delicious foods we ordered included:

Cheese enchilada with Spanish rice and beans:

Tostada with beens, lettuce, tomato, and guacomole:

Beef burritos with Spanish rice and beans:

Our six year old son ordered beef burritos.  These came in pairs of two and without rice or beans. He loved every bite!

From the kids menu, our nine year old boy ordered chicken and fries.  He is a picky eater, and most of the time will order something (not spicy, not covered in sauce, not touching other foods, etc) he is familiar with.

However, once he saw his brother’s burritos and asked for a bite, he quickly changed his mind.

He asked us to order him the same burritos too.  So we placed another order for two beef burritos and the staff brought it out to us quickly.  He loved the burritos and asked for seconds!  We could not believe it!  This goes to tell you just how good they are, because he has never asked for burritos before.

Steak fajita burrito topped with nacho cheese and served with Spanish rice and beans.

Pico de Gallo and sour cream:

The fresh made salsa is served in large bottles with a basket of crunchy warm tortilia chips.  Each person can choose from hot spicy salsa or mild salsa and pour the amount desired into small empty salsa dishes and refill them as needed.  We also ordered bowls of cheese dip too.

Some of our kids also enjoy mixing cheese dip and salsa together.

Everyone enjoyed the food.  We had nothing left over when they were through.


The costs were very affordable and likely one of the cheapest places you might eat out and still enjoy fresh cooked food.  Burritos with rice and beans was $6.75 and  2 Beef burritos (no rice or beans) was $5.95.  Steak burrito with rice and beans was $12.25  A combo of beef burritos and tostada with rice and beans was $8.75  Kids cheese enchilada with rice and beans was $4.75  Kids chicken and fries was $5.25  I would say out of all the Mexican restraunts we have visited, this one was the best combination of costs, experience, and quality flavors.

Another way we keep costs down is drinking water when we go out.  We asked for glasses of ice water with slices of fresh lemon to drink.  Water is free, is more healthy compared to sodas, and it helps keep our costs down with our large family.  Having a slice of lemon in the water helps kids and adults enjoy the flavor and hides the taste of city tap water that public places serve. Our family much prefers spring water or well water, but that is not usually an option at restaurants so we just order waters with fresh lemon slices.  With 8 people in the family, ordering lemon water when dining out is a huge savings on our budget.


The restaurant was clean and the atmosphere was comfortable.  The room was not crowded as many restaurants are, and there was plenty of space for our large family.  Our waiter, Zachariah, was prompt and courteous.  I asked his permission for a photo of himself to include in this story and he was happy to let me take it.  We enjoyed this experience and his outgoing personality helped make it enjoyable.

After dinner, we took a walk outside to enjoy the scenery.  There was a lovely pond with a deck, walking paths, fountains, and geese.

The restaurant actually has outdoor seating if you want to eat outside and enjoy the fountain while you eat.  We will have to try doing that next time.

After leaving the restaurant, we enjoyed watching the sunset and scenery at a nearby lake.

We enjoyed this outing.   It was a relaxing experience eating some of the flavors of Mexico and visiting the fountains and nearby lake.

I would encourage other families to find ways they can spend quality time together and enjoy life.  Spending time together builds relationships and taking time to enjoy nature, mountains, forests, parks, lakes, rivers, oceans, fields, and looking at the sky too, is refreshing to the body.  It sort of recharges your batteries so to speak.  It improves the quality of one’s life.  There is so much beauty to enjoy.

Ecclesiates 5:18


Please share.

Fall Fishing Trip









Please share.

Campfire Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

A Kid Favorite meal at our house is Fettuccine Alfredo.  Whether you make your Alfredo sauce from scratch, or from a prepared noodle mix, the kids always think it turns out great!   They like it either plain or served with broccoli or chicken.    Then we plate it with a side of vegetables, fruits, or salad.

This week we took their favorite food outdoors and made Campfire Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.

My 12 year old son has been learning to cook on his campfire kitchen.   He gathers wood from dead trees and fallen sticks.  Then breaks, chops, or splits the wood into smaller size pieces for his campfire.

Cooking is such a good skill for everyone to have.

And knowing how to cook and boil water over a campfire with sticks you gathered yourself is a valuable skill that could save your life in a crisis.

He did a great job cooking outside on his campfire.  The chicken turned out tender, with a hint of smoke from the wood fire.  It was juicy inside and delicious!  He loved how it turned out and gave it two thumbs and a pocket knife up!


Recipe Ingredients & Directions:

Campfire Chicken

A campfire

Chicken breast

Olive Oil


Directions:  Rub olive oil and chicken and sprinkle with seasoning.  Cook over campfire until desired doneness.

Fettuccine Alfredo

Recipe 1:

Alfredo Pasta Mix (or make from scratch)



(Optional: Milk or powdered milk to mix with water if desired)

Directions:  Boil water and add butter and milk. Then add pasta mix with seasonings. Follow directions on package.

Note: When cooking outside on a campfire, the prepared pasta mixes are quick and easy for kids to prepare.  However, if you desire to cook the Alfredo from scratch, it is easy to do.  Here is a simple recipe that is easy and would only add a couple of additional steps when cooking on a campfire.

Recipe 2:

Fettuccine Alfredo from scratch.


Water (Boiling)
Fettuccine (or other pasta)
Sea salt (pinch)
Butter (1 stick)
Parmesan Cheese (finely grated, about 1 1/2 to 2 cups)

Directions:  Cook pasta in boiling salted water until done. Remove pasta from water. Reserve 2 cups pasta water and discard the rest.  Mix together 1 cup hot pasta water and butter until melted. Next slowly add Parmesan cheese, and continue mixing until completely mixed.  Next add pasta and coat with cheese mixture.  Add more pasta water until all pasta is coated with sauce and has reached the consistency you desire.

Peas (or broccoli)

Directions: Bring water to a boil and cook to desired doneness.  Fresh, frozen, and canned peas all cook very fast!

Blueberries (grapes or fresh fruit of choice)

Directions: Rinse, dry, and chill until ready to serve.

Note: Blueberries or grapes are easy to serve.  No prep needed!  They don’t need peeled, or sliced.  Just rinse and serve. Kids love them!


Romaine Lettuce, shredded or diced carrots, diced cucumbers, dried cranberries, diced tomato, shredded cheese, sunflower seeds or cashews, Italian dressing (or their favorite dressing).

Directions: Chop, wash, dice all of the salad ingredients ahead and keep chilled until the rest of the campfire food is ready to serve.  Then just plate it and top with favorite dressing as desired.

Note:  Different kids like different items in their salad.  Use what ever salad fixings your kids like, and skip the salad but use a carrot stick or sliced cucumber (not touching anything) if you have picky eaters.

The older four kids like their Alfredo pasta with the chicken added into the pasta dish, and the younger two kids like to have their chicken “outside” of the pasta and not touching anything else.  So we serve it both ways. I also serve the kids food on trays with sides that are small and easy to hold so they are less likely to drop their food.  The older kids can choose a tray or eat on regular plates like mom and dad.   However you serve this dish, it is sure to please.

Everyone agrees,  that Fettuccine Alfredo is a Kid Favorite!

Please share.

Kids and Critters

Seems like my kids are always discovering things.  They have a natural curiosity, a sense of excitement and wonder about the world around them.    

And they seem to find critters in the yard, the water, the sky, and just about everywhere we go.  Here are a few of their exciting critters they found so far this summer.

A little lizard.

A snapping turtle.

Little crabs in borrowed shells.

Large crab with blue claws.

Crab with rocks in its shell.

Bees in flowers.

Kittens born in a garden.

They always seem to find a variety of birds every where.

Deer in the driveway.

Baby box turtles discovered while mowing the grass. 

Leaf bugs.

Spiders in their nests.

Little praying mantis who was very unhappy to have his picture taken.

I just love watching my kids discover everything around them with excitement and wonder.

Watching my kids explore and approach everything around them with a sense of excitement and wonder reminds me of the words of Jesus (Yahusha) who encouraged all of us to set aside our preconceived notions, our traditions, our resentments and disappointments, our need to control, and let go and trust and become like children in our relationship to the Heavenly Father and enter his kingdom.


Please share.

Learning To Draw By The Sea





Learning To Draw By The Sea.










Please share.

Snowy Morning

We woke up last Sunday morning to a beautiful site.  SNOW!

This was the first snow of any accumulation we have had all winter. The crazy thing is, it came after weeks of 70+ degree temps and things had already begun to bud and bloom for spring.  This was a total surprise!

The snow flakes were huge!

And left us just enough material to create some snow structures!

After a little bit of fun, it was time to get serious!  They began to build a wall.

And an opposing team formed and began to build a wall too!

It soon became a race to see who’s fortress would be completed first.

The victor in his fortress.

The other team still struggling to complete their fortress before the materials melt away.

Soon a friendly snow ball went through the air and well…

…all construction came to a halt…

It was a fun morning in the fast melting snow.

Please share.

Campfire Cooking with Kids

Campfire Cooking With Kids











His New Wrought Iron Pan










Please share.

Boys in the Woods

Well my boys are reaching a milestone in their journey to manhood.  This winter they have been adventuring into the woods to practice survival skills they have learned.  The older three are 12, 14, and 16 and have been learning many survival skills over the past few years.  There is also a an 8 year old and 5 year old following in their foot steps.  They’ve learned how to pitch a tent, make fire, cook food, chop wood, use an ax, use a hatchet, make various knots, use tools, shoot bow and arrows, shoot a shot gun, butcher a deer, catch fish, and build a camp site.

Though they all enjoy being outside, the 14 year old is the most outdoor loving fella of the older three and his passion for nature has inspired the others.  You just can’t hardly keep him indoors.  He decided a few weeks ago that he wanted to start his own You-tube channel with his brothers, and he is still toying with the idea of writing a website.  He would love to write reviews of outdoor gear and tools and trucks if the opportunity opens up.


The boys have tossed around a few different names like the Horseless Cowboys,  the Backyard Boys, and Boys In The Woods.  Not sure what the final name will be just yet, but they plan to document their adventures. Some of their adventures are “in the woods” and some are “in the backyard”. Our yard is surrounded by woods, where one ends the other begins.  We also live about 1 mile from a lake where we enjoy fishing and hiking and playing at the park.  Still working on the name.  They decided to do a series called “Backyard Camping”.

His first video was walking the woods to locate the fallen tree he heard crash during a storm.  It was a fun adventure as he came to various fallen trees spread throughout the 8 acres we live on.  He also crossed a small stream and checked water depth along the path after the storm.

A few days later he went back into the woods to scout out a place for a camp site.  He found a couple locations he liked.  We went out and helped him clean up one of the locations, removing several layers of dead fallen leaves and some dead wood that was in the way.

This particular location gets a few minutes of morning sunshine currently as there are no leaves on the trees yet this time of year.  We are not sure if it will get any sun once the leaves return as it is a densely wooded location.  We are concerned about having a camp fire in that location , so for now, he must use the grassy area of the backyard for his campfires where it is safer. That’s one of the reasons he dedicated the series to backyard camping to inspire other kids to get outside and camp in their yard too.

The next video he made was about making a small bait trap at a nearby lake.  We took the boys to the lake to fish and we were able to buy worms, but the bait shop was out of minnows.

So he and his brother decided to catch their own minnows and small bait to fish.  They used a plastic bottle, pocket knife, a few rocks, a worm, and fishing line.  They created a trap to catch minnows and crawdads.

The next video he vlogged about making dry tinder to start a fire.  Then he showed how to use his striker and rod to create a spark to start the fire.

He built a spot to have a fire surrounded with rocks we have laying around in the woods.  They were very pretty rocks most of them being white quartz that is abundant everywhere.   Then he used his tinder and small branches and wood he chopped to create a camp fire.  Next on his camp fire embers he cooked his supper.  He cooked a can of beef noodle stew and boiled water in a steel cup to make chicken noodle soup.

At the end of the day, these boys are learning and practicing great skills for their future.  They are looking forward to their next outdoor adventure in the woods.


Please share.

Creation Museum, A Visit Back In Time





















DSC01759 DSC01760


DSC01763 DSC01764 DSC01765 DSC01766

This is such a fun way to walk through history!

DSC01767 DSC01768 DSC01771
























Be blessed!

Please share.