So different

So, I've mentioned this quite a few times that the girls have such different personalities. And that Morgan is really into superheroes and Avery is into girly sparkly stuff. Well, it could not have been more apparent in this school project they brought home last week (it was super heroes week at their school).

A little update from DG

We've been motoring along here in DG. We're back to our routine after all our vacations. Looking forward to the long Labor Day weekend.

Matt's Dad and Marcia were in town, so we celebrated his birthday again. The girls saw a video on You Tube where they made these lamb cupcakes and they just knew Daddy would like these for his birthday. They turned out cute! :)

As I do every time they visit, I forgot to get pictures of the girls with them. Ugh! Grandma and Grandpa Plothow always bring an interesting toy when they come. This time was no different! It's a little construction type game with design cards you have to pattern your creation after. They have different levels of difficulty. We played with this set for a long time! And by "we", I mean even the adults tried out the more difficult designs. :)

Have you guys seen these things??? They are LOL Surprise Dolls and the girls are infatuated with them! We watch You Tube videos of people opening them all.the.time! It's basically a ball wrapped in seven layers of plastic and each layer you unwrap has some sort of surprise. The final layer opens the ball and you get the little baby doll out of it. Then, you have to check if the doll pees, spits, cries or color changes (which is why they are dipping them in water).  I must say, it's fun to see what we get and the girls get so excited trying to figure out which doll they will get based on the first six layers of surprises.

I can't believe we haven't made slime before this, but we have not. Such fun! Of course, Avery had to make hers purple sparkle. We tried to make Morgan's blue sparkle, but it came out a little gray.

We had a play date with the Wilken boys. Even though it was a little chilly, the kids still loved playing in the water table.

Matt got a new fire pit for his birthday, so we tested it out this past weekend. Hot dogs and s'mores turned out great! I think the new fire pit is a keeper!

We also took a trip to the zoo. It wasn't too crowded because it was overcast and drizzly, so that worked out well for us. No big lines for anything and the girls got their first choice of animal on the carousel!

We went through the Dinos and Dragons exhibit. The girls weren't so sure about the T-Rex. There was a dead triceratops baby on the ground under the T-Rex and Morgan yelled "awww, look at it's baby!" Um, that's not it's baby, that's it's lunch. Another parent next to us chuckled!

Of course, Avery wanted her face painted. Always a highlight of her trip to the zoo!

We stopped off at the bird house to let the girls feed them. Avery is always a little skittish about it at first, but Morgan jumps right in.

We walked through the wallabies. There is a stage in the middle of the area and Morgan can just not pass up a chance to perform! She jumped right up there and started singing!

We actually caught the dolphin show from underneath while we were there and it was pretty cool to watch.

 
So, the girls wanted me to paint their faces at home, so I gave it a shot. We have a face paint kit from a while ago. I don't think I did too terrible. The girls approved, so that's all that matters!

Family pictures

We had family pictures taken for the third year in a row while on vacation in Michigan. It's always a crazy morning getting us all ready and out the door, but I love the outcome!

The girls did NOT want to get their dresses wet

Duesterhaus family vacay

We were home for a couple of days before we headed back out for our annual trip to New Buffalo, MI with my family. We stayed in the same house this year as last. The week always goes by too fast and the kids have tons of fun!

Make your own pizza night for the kiddos

Avery was so proud of her smiley face pizza

Morgan loved holding baby Calvin

Checking out the water - no beach this year; water was too high

She loved the splashing waves

Playing in the sand... look at how she's standing... you'll see it again in 3, 2, 1...

Thought this was funny - they have the same stance!

Big kid cousins walking on the path

Icing cupcakes and brownies for Daddy's birthday

Grilling out

Shrimp and silliness

Avery and baby Calvin

At the splash park

Hi Daddy

Sisters at the park

Love these girls!

We had a birthday party for Daddy

Moscow mules - yum!

Grandma and the girls

Enjoying the sunset - just missing baby Calvin

Family pic at the sunset

Crazy hair - love my little ladies

Avery and Daddy

Daddy and the girls

Morgan, Grayson, Nolan and Avery

Old enough to pull each other!

There were deer everywhere in the neighborhood; we even saw a wild turkey

Such good cousins taking care of the little boys

At the beach - a little chilly

Beach day!

Bury me, Avery!

Spa day!

Lots of cousin playtime

Lion at the zoo

Our little animals

Can't miss the train ride

The kids were all about using the map to get around the zoo

Feeding the goats

We coaxed Avery into feeding them, too

Feeding the birds

She just loves all animals

Lots of naps were taken

Play hard... sleep hard

Cloudy sunset

All the big cousins

My girls!

We made it to Redamak's this year

Firefighters

They think they're really playing

Oink's for ice cream!

So yummy!

Morgan got the superman ice cream

Sharing their treats

When we came home, Avery asked if we could drive to someone else's house they don't live in and stay there for another week. The girls were sad that vacation was over. Me too, kiddos!