Kansas City, here we come.

Kansas City, here we come....this is a song made famous by George Burns,
but we went to Medicine Lodge, Kansas.  It is a small town in Kansas
and it is a place that Pa's mother grew up in.  She died on April 7th 2012,
and we went to Medicine Lodge for her funeral (or interment) because she
had a burial plot there next to her second husband of 20 years,
Harry Hansen, who preceded her in death.
These are photos of our trip to Kansas

The beautiful scenery of New Mexico

Passing Wagon Mound in New Mexico.

from a distance, the mountain looks like a covered

wagon being pulled by an ox.

Beautiful plateaus

Along the was we saw plenty of Antelope.

Oh give me a home,

where the buffalo roam

Where the deer and the antelope play.

These antelope we saw were in Colorado.

We drove along a very remote highway in the country.

Once we got into Kansas,

we saw tons of buzzards.

They are common here

and prey on

animals that are dead.

They get in a group over head,

and circle the air over and over again

until they finally come down to eat.

This one flew right over our truck.

This is what the camera picked up for

the photo of the buzzards flying over head.

The two black dots (there were about 4-5)

are the buzzards.

They were up higher

In Medicine Lodge, we saw some deer.

This one ran right in front of our vehicle on the dirt road.

It jumped the barbed wired fence and ran off.

Entering Kansas

Pa went over to one of Kansas' famous wheat fields

and got a couple of strands of wheat

so Orion could see what wheat looked

like before it was turned into flour to make bread.

These are wheat

First wheat is green, and then

it turns golden.  This is when the farmers

cut it down and take it to the graineries.

These are the wheat fields of Kansas

and also oil rigs in the fields

There is an oil rig in this field too

it is the black speck on the top of the field.

An oil rig

This is a grainery.

All the wheat is put into it.

another oil rig in the wheat fields.

This is the contrast that we saw

wheat fields with corn fields.

wheat and corn

corn fields.

This is hay that has been recently cut

There were several abandoned homes

in Kansas that was once a farm house.

This is just a few of about 50 that we

saw on the one highway.

another one

This one is in the group of trees,

hidden from view unless you are looking.

Memorial Day 2012

Memorial Day on May 28, 2012 was one that we thought would be fun
to go biking again.  Orion really needs this kind of excercise to build up
his leg muscles.  His calves are very small.  We are going to try to go more
often, but is is hard on Pa because we are going so so so so slow.  Pa said that
according to his pedometer, we were averaging 5-6 miles per hour.  He usually
goes 15-20 miles per hour.  Orion can not go that fast, and he also makes
several rest stops on the way.  We were playing leap frog with a jogger for
a long part of the way back,  but it was still a blast.  These are some of the
photos from the bike trip:::

The beautiful Rio Grande River

Orion got a huge kick out of these fishermen.

One of them was teaching the other how to fly fish.

Orion kept yelling "Cool"

The men were swirling the lines and flipping

them into the river.  This was the first

time Orion has ever seen something like this.

The bike trails on Albuquerque are exceptional.

The city goes all out to make major trails

throughout so commuters can quickly and

safely get through the town.

Most of the trails run along the road (and

are much more simple in design)

This trail runs along the  Rio Grande River.

Orion and Pa on the right

Ma standing on the left of the creek

A closer view

Orion standing on the left of the creek

A closer view of Orion

When we were done riding bikes,

we walked through

The Pueblo Montano Trail picnic area.

It is cool because instead of removing trees

after they are cut down, they are just carved.

These are some of the carvings we saw

An Owl and other birds

turtles

A swan

A coyote

a hawk

squirrel

squirrel

a road runner

a man (who looks like a miner)

standing on a dragon.

This one is Ma's favorite.

An Eagle flying off a flame of fire.

Orion's 5th Grade Graduation

It is that time of year again when school is officially out.  This is a special year
for Orion, because it is the last year he is in elementary school  Orion has
been going to elementary school at Arroyo Del Oso for almost all of his entire
life.  He has gone since he was age 3 when he was enrolled in the pre-school.
So that makes 8 years out of his 11 years.  It is a sad thing for all of us to say
good bye to the thing we are so familiar with.  Orion has had a lot of experiences,
great teachers, and therapy one on one with so many people.
  It was so many goodbyes.

Orion wrote a thank you letter to give all those

who have helped him.

 (We made copies of the same letter for everyone.) 

Mary Foster was his physical therapist,

Connie Green was his speech therapist,

Coach G. (Garcia) was his coach

was his adaptive physical education therapist A.D.P.E.

(this one help him in a P.E. setting. with balance, etc.)

Then there was his teachers, Mrs. Boyadjian who

mainly taught language,

and Mrs Skinner,

 who he has had for the last three years,

but this year mainly taught math skills.

Orion wanted to say thank you with a special thank you,

and a gift card.  We gave each one of the therapists and

teachers one, and we remembered to also

give one to each of the after school program

"Children's Choice" leaders as well. (Sarah, Cindy, and Erik.)

Good byes are always sad, especially when

there are changes ahead,

But it was time for Orion's 5th grade Graduation

Orion coming in the back entrance

standing at his seat

Orion received the Principal's award

All of the 5th grade teachers are lined up

and they congratulate the graduates as they

come up to get their certificates

in line to get his graduation certificate

Giving Mrs Patti Skinner

 (his favorite teacher)

a hug

Orion has had Mrs Skinner for

3rd, 4th and 5th grades.

In 5th grade he did a round robin

and Mrs Skinner was his math teacher.

Giving Mrs Phyllis Boyadjian a hug

She was his reading and literature teacher.

Orion is shaking hands with all the other 5th grade teachers

as he walks down the line to get his

certificate

Orion getting his certificate of completion.

Mrs. Newman just behind him is the principal.

The teachers Mrs. Skinner and Mrs Boyadjian,

told us this award was supposed to be the

Presidential Award given for

a significant improvement throughout the years.

Mrs. Newman made a mistake, however,

but we are pleased to get this award anyways. 

This award was for citizenship

This award is the 5th grade graduation certificate

Orion is showing off his certificate

Orion with Mrs Newman, the school principal.