Huts and Forts

Orion has always loved to built huts and forts.  Today is a hot summer day
and so he and Tyler Pete from next door, and Bion  decided to build one in the front yard.

At first they got a couple of umbrellas and

put some blankets over them.

Pa must have saw what they were doing

and offered to help them with something better.

So Pa set up the small tent.

Tyler Pete age 9

Orion Martin age 10

(through the screen)

Orion and Tyler.

(Also through the screen.)

At first the tent was under the shade of the tree,

but soon the sun was directly on it, and so

as the tent got warmer, Bion decided to go in

and watch a movie. 

They had a good time having an adventure.

Wild Hogs the movie

Orion has been watching the movie WILD HOGS which is about a
motorcycle group.  The movie was filmed in New Mexico about 3 years ago.
The movie was released in movie theaters in 2010.  Orion really likes this movie,
so in July 18, 2011 Pa took Michelle, Orion and Bion up to Madrid, New Mexico
to see where the movie took place.

Orion and Bion in front of Maggie's Diner from a distance.

The sign above says  Wild Hogs.

This Diner was the main location for the movie.

The Diner was built just for the movie.

Today the Diner is not a diner at all, but

it is a souvenir shop for the movie.

They sell tee shirts and posters and nick knacks

that are about the movie,

and they also sell tee shirts and souvenirs for New Mexico

Orion and Bion in front of the poster

with the stars of the movie.

Pa bought each one of them a tee shirt.

When it rains, it pours

Albuquerque has only had less than 2/10 of an

inch of rain in the last 8 months. 

There has been a heat wave that caused

one of the worst droughts in history.

It has been scorching hot and dry.

So on July 20,2011 when it started to rain

we all shouted for joy.  And it poured at that.

You can see in this photo that the road is

flooded.

Another photo with the flooding roads.

The temperatures cooled off as well,,

and so we could not keep the kids in the house.

They were so excited about the rain that

they went outside and played in it.

This is Addi-Belle.

Bion climbing up, with Payson.

Orion getting on the swing.

Orion doing his trick of standing on the swing.

The seat was too wet to sit on.

Payson, Bion and Orion playing with the ball

Everyone

Payson

Addi-Belle

Bion

Orion

This rain brought 8/10 of an inch.

Hinkle Family Fun Center golf

Bion and Orion got some tickets

to Hinkle Family Fun Center as a gift.

They were able to go to Lazer Tag

and a ride of their choice.

Orion and Bion decided to play

miniature golf.

Each section on the course has tricky spots.

Some go down hill, and others go up hill

there are also different designs that

will block your golf if you don't hit the ball just right.

Orion, Pa and Bion checking out the ball.

Just barely missed a hole in one.

While playing, Orion was able to get

three holes in one.

Bion got two holes in one.

Bion putting his ball while Orion stands on an island.

Orion putting his ball while Bion stands on an island.

 One of the courses was actually in the Gazebo

which was on the second level.

Bion and Orion standing at a painted

American Flag Rock at one of their

courses.  It was a blast.  They had so

much fun they did not want to stop.

Hinkle Family Fun Center Lazer Tag

We were able to go to Hinkle Family Fun Center

and use some tickets Bion and Orion received as gifts.

There were four tickets for the Lazer Tag game. 

This is a fun game that is in the dark under

florescent lights.  Everything glows.

They are divided into four teams and given

vests and lazer guns.  They are supposed to get

the other team.  The team with the most

hits wins.

Florescent designs

One  part of the room with a space alien and fire.

Bion and Orion waiting in line.

Giving the attendant their tickets.

Orion trying to get someone.

Orion trying to get ma. Ma was outside the room,

but there are viewing windows to watch.

Bion trying to get someone.  He was faster than the camera.

Bion trying to get someone again.

At the end there is a panal that shows which team won.

They also give paper print outs of each individual score.

Bion and Orion were the green team in this game.

They came in last.

Summer School

It was a ritual for everyone to watch for the

morning bus to come and pick up Orion.

Everyone would say Bye-Bye Orion and wave.

Sometimes the twins would be so sad to see Orion

get on the bus that they would cry for about 10 minutes.

The bus seemed so big next to mommy's regular size car.

What an adventure.

Because Orion is in the special education program at school,

he goes to summer school every summer for six weeks.

This year he goes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The bus picks him up at 8:10  A.M. and school starts

at 8:45 A.M.  Then school lets out at 12:00 P.M.

and Orion gets home again at around 12:30 P.M.

He has math and reading everyday along with

a special person to help him work on

the Vantage.  The Vantage is a computer

voice box that is programmed, and he

practices making sentences.

Scout Day Camp and Webelo's Twilight camp

"Where do I go/"  Because of the eight fires in New Mexico

this year, the day camp  and Webelo Twilight camp

for scouts had to be moved,

and Founder's Camp was the chosen site.

Founder's Camp is a shooting range where

people go to compete.  It is called "Far West."

It is set up to look like a scene from the old west,

with the exception of our ford 150 truck and

the other two items at the left.

About 1/4 mile to the east is the old west

Spanish style chapel.

Bion and Jack are standing in the entry.

This is the inside of the Scout Day Camp

where the scouts did a lot of their projects.

At camp, the scouts did archery,

B-B guns, and Broom Hockey.

Bion in the lodge area

Orion inside the lodge area.  Pa took

Jack and Bion up in the morning.

When he went to pick them up, he dropped

Orion off for the evening.

The Day Camp was from 8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.

Webelo Twilight Camp was from

4:00 to 9:00 P.M.

It was a very long day for Orion because

he is also in summer school from 8:10 A.M.

until 12:30 P.M.

Orion was able to get a ride home

from the Santini's, who are neighbors as well

as scout den leaders.

  That helped some of Pa's driving time. 

 It is a 35 minute drive

outside of Albuquerque.

This is the stage where skits, announcements,

 and directions for the boys are done.

No air conditioning, and the temperatures were 99*

each day, so there was plenty of water for the boys

to refill their cups.  They were supposed to bring

their own sack lunch and beverage each day.

Bion is refilling his water bottle.

Bion in line for the water, and Jack is to the right.

Bion on the range.

Jack at the chapel  Jack did not want to pose.

Amy Mannos with Bion and Jack.

Amy is our ward's Pack Leader,

and she is also the Camp Director.

She is wonderful with the boys and

they love her so, so much.