The Big Boys came for a visit!

For the first time since we've lived on the Number 81 Road five bull elk have come for a visit.  I spotted them early Saturday morning and couldn't believe my eyes.  We've had lots of deer but never a group of elk in the surrounding fields.  I didn't say anything to Bruce until evening when I could verify that the elk were really out in the field.  You can imagine Bruce's excitement - he headed up the road and caught the next few pictures before dark.  Neighbor Rick was in the car the second time Bruce headed up for a closer look.  We were all pretty excited!

Amazingly huge animals.

These boys were not in the least concerned with the picture takers on the road.  The irrigation ditch runs right next to the 81 road.

Bruce's theory is the elk are just growing their horns - while the horns are growing out and covered in velvet the elk protects them at all cost.  Apparently the horns are very tender and grow about one inch each day.  My theory is it's still cold and snowy in the high country and the farmers fields with the haystack for feed is easier and they don't have to listen to all the cow elk and their babies back home. 

This morning I snuck out into the field and captured this shot of one of the elk just as he was headed out for breakfast.  I think his horns have grown a bunch in just a few days.  The field of purple flowers is new this year too.  We are so lucky to have such beautiful scenery right out our backdoor!

 

UPDATE>>>>>>>> Seven days Later - the Big Boys are still here!

 We looked out the window and the elk were in our neighbors back field.  Two of the boys were playing around. 

 Big Daddy's horns are still growing. 

 This guy was bugling.  Love that sound.

After about an hour of hanging out the boys headed out to the brush for their naps.  Our neighbor told me she has photo's of the elk in our creek while we were gone!  I will share the photo's when I get them.  Excitement! 

Easter

The Easter Bunny found the Roemer kids at Grami and Poppi's house this year.  He left a series of eggs with instructions and clues around the house.  After a bit of scouting the kids found this egg - another egg was found near the grownups coffee. 

Didn't take the girls long to find their way from the fireplace to the Cabana..... 

Yeah, baskets for everyone!  What a fun way to find their treats.  Sophie, Ceci and Gia loved their baskets full of bubbles, flip flops, books and of course candy.   

Poppi took the kids out to the hot tub for an early morning soak. 
 Gia helped Grami make the potato salad for dinner.  We used the eggs from the Easter egg hunt on Saturday so they looked a little like confetti eggs.  Very pretty.   

After the chores were completed Poppi took everyone on a hike into the City of Ellensburg Watershed.  The hike isn't too far from our house. 

It didn't take long to find the old sod roofed house and an abandoned set of cement stairs.  Sophie was looking for an adventure. 

We toured the old barn.  It looked like some animals had probably found shelter there this past winter. 

The hikers!

After the barn visit we headed up the valley for more sightseeing.  The girls ran ahead in the meadow.   

Tracy stopped and checked out all the wild iris starts.  This meadow will be a sea of flowers in a few weeks. 

We stopped for a snack break and the girls goofed off for a while.  Gia was pretending to carry water buckets like Laura in the book Little House on the Prairie.

Wes gave the girls some safety pointers about the swift running water.  The water is icy cold!

Gia stopped for a break by some beautiful yellow flowers. 

Poppi and Gia crossing the scary bridge. 

Gia explaining something to her Poppi.   

Ceci with her walking stick.

These pretty flowers were along the trail.   

After using a fire pit in Arizona all winter I asked Wes to set ours up.  We bought the fire pit table last summer and never turned the flame on.  The fire was turned on and caramel flavored marshmallows were toasted. 

Ceci worked hard to get a golden toasted flavor on her marshmallow - Sophie like a little fire and charcoal.  They really were yummy!

Gia took a turn.  FYI - Bruce has been cold since he got home, it wasn't all that cold today. 

 Ham on the Traeger, potato salad and beans was the menu for dinner.  We had a wonderful Easter and we hope everyone else did too!   

T'was the night before Easter.....and the week before Gia's birthday all through the house!

Gia woke up this morning and decided it is a good year to celebrate 10 Days of Birthday! 

Hooray, Gia will be 5 on April 30th.   

The day started out with a drive over to Olmstead State Park where the Moose Lodge hosted an Easter Egg Hunt. 

Who is who?  Mommie gave Gia a few pointers before the officials blew the whistle.  Look for plastic eggs, we all told the little one.  Gia took off running and picked up her first real egg - she tossed it aside and grabbed a plastic egg.  Funny girl! 

Ceci fluffed up her Easter grass so the eggs wouldn't break.

Sophie and Poppi stayed warm.  Each girl was in a different age bracket so they were able to watch their sisters hunt. 

Look at the top of the hill - Gia picked up 4 real eggs and 1 plastic.

The plastic egg had a dollar bill in it! 

Ceci's group was huge and the area was large.  Lots of hunters ages 5 - 8.

Ceci also found a plastic egg with a dollar bill in it!

Sophie's course was hard!  The eggs were hidden in tall grass and brush.  None were visible when she set out. 

After filling her basket with 13 real eggs and 1 plastic Sophie ran back to the sidelines.  You guessed it - Sophie had a dollar bill too!  Lucky girls!!!

After the hunt we looked around the park and the girls tried out the covered wagon.  Sophie remarked the wagon was probably like Laura Ingalls Wilders Little House on the Prairie.  Pretty comfy she said.

Grami and Poppi with the girls. 

Sophie looking so grownup!

Gia in front of an old machine - looked like something from the movie Waterworld to me.  The paper bag was full of candy from the local motorcycle group.  Fun tradition the girls enjoy.

Ceci and Sophie

The girls posed on a cottonwood tree. 

I asked Ceci to choose a pose and place -- super cool! 

The Roemers

After the hunt we did a drive down to Vantage to see how low the Columbia River is.  Sophie wanted to try out the binocular. 

Beautiful Ceci

Sisters, such good friends too.

We ate a few hard boiled eggs at the park and brought the rest home for deviled egg sandwiches.  I just started to notice Sophie has freckles - super cute!

 After dinner we had the first of Gia's  Week O'Birthday birthday cake.  This was a Tres Leche cake with raspberries and whipped cream.  Delicious, amazing cake no leftovers! 

It is hard to imagine that Giavanna is five years old already!  Time flies when you are having fun.  Happy Birthday to the "G"!  Stay tuned for an update on the Easter Basket scavenger hunt...the clues are pretty clever this year.