The Kingdom Arrows Visit the Olive Plants

Our dear friends, The Kingdom Arrows, travelled to Georgia this week...

 just to see us!

Michael and I were excited to get to visit with our dear friends from our college days,

and Orville and Wilbur were just as thrilled to see their children.

We hung paper snowflakes from the ceiling in our classroom
hoping they would arrive to a winter wonderland.
You can see the piano that took my toenail.
It's a great piano...especially for FREE!
I'll like the piano again
when Orville's broken arm heals and he can play it!

The boys colored welcome messages on the windows
with Crayola window markers.

We also wrote Merry Christmas in a variety of foreign languages
on the dry erase board.
We found a helpful list here.

 

When the Kingdom Arrows arrived,
we had so much fun together!
The dads played Settlers of Catan
with Kae Kae and Orville.

All the children had fun together, but Orville thought Kae Kae was the Bee's Knees, and they formed a "music group".  They plan to email lyrics back and forth and write a song together.

The Arrows introduced the Plants to Shaun the Sheep...
so funny!



And of course, we went bird watching.


We went to a spot by the lake which is not far from the OP house.  We often spot Belted Kingfishers and Killdeer there, and I so hoped we would see them that day.  As we sat down to eat our picnic lunch, Joy-Bug was the first to identfy a Killdeer (by call)!  Good job, Joy-Bug!

After lunch, I heard a Kingfisher, and we started looking for it.  It flew across the water and perched on a boat dock allowing us all a peek!  Kingfishers are one of my favorites, and I am always excited to see one.

Then, sadly, it was time for the Kingdom Arrows to return to their home.  We said our goodbyes in the parking lot, and moments after they left, about 15 different species of birds starting singing and flying around the trees surrounding the parking lot.  Michael and I spent about a half an hour identifying them and added a new species to our life list- the Golden-Crowned Kinglet.  Sorry you missed it Kingdom Arrows! 
 

But don't feel bad...I've told other local birders about this spot and they never see or hear much there.  On the other hand, we always leave there having seen or heard 15+ species.  I think the birds like us there!  LOL!   Orville didn't get to participate, either.  Using binocs is difficult with a broken arm.  Wilbur was coming down with a cold and not very interested, so he stayed in the car and missed it, too.  But Michael and I had fun!  

Now, for those of you who didn't know this already, Heather and I were bridesmaids in each other's weddings.  She posted a picture of us from her wedding here.  So, how could I not do likewise?

from left to right
Esther, Kristi, Me, Tonya, Heather (Kingdom Arrows), Heather S.

What fun!  Hope to see the Kingdom Arrows again very soon!
Dawn