Summer fun and Father's Day 2016

Matching bucket hats...cuteness.

Madelyn!!  You are so amazing and this has been such a fun age with you.  You're super clumsy, you trip fall, scrape your knees, and flat fall on your face very often.  You also have a word quota that you need to meet daily, I have NO clue what the quota is, but I do know it is a high one.  you're always telling a story, or just giving a play by play of exactly what's happening at any given moment.  When you wake up we ask you if you had any dreams, and the answer is always the same, "I had a dream about Milo."  You tell us you played ball or ran with him, and then you go on to say, "I was a baby last night."  You like to tell us that you played with Colin's toys, or sat in his high chair, it's pretty amusing. 

Colin's first time swimming!!! He was not too impressed when he first got in, but we put him in a little boat and Madelyn towed him around the pool and he loved it!

Mr. Colin enjoying a nice tow around the warm pool, thanks to your strong brave sister with NO FEAR in the pool!

Family tree!!! Making use of that mini van, look at all that space!!! We were going to have a tree delivered but, we have a van!  So we loaded that Autumn Blaze Maple in the back of the van, and set up the awning and kids pool so we could play and swim and cheer daddy on as he dug a hole for our family tree. 

You're fantastic at riding your bike Madelyn, you have a bike with training wheels and your fancy stride bike; you tend to lean towards riding this...I wonder if it's because it's all pink...judging by this picture I think it's clear to see pink is a color that you like...riding around the court you're known as, "The Pink Blur."

I had a bow on too.  Madelyn insisted we all put on a bow after nap, how could I say no?

Adventures with the kidlits; there are so many fun places to explore with these kiddos and we see a lot parks.  We have our favorites and this is one close to home where we can walk and duck watch.

"Do I have something on my face?'"

Mr. Colin tipping the scales, just kidding, you're our small fry Colin, but what you lack in size you make up for in strength, you are unbelievably strong.  We have caught you crawling on a coffee table, you can get yourself off of our king size bed on your own, and you are already walking with your walkers, and with things that are not walkers, like boxes, laundry baskets, etc.  It's pretty incredible to see how you get around, up the stairs faster than me sometimes!   My favorite quote, "The days are long but the years are short." 

Colin's first train ride at the zoo!

6/9/16 This pic sums it up Madelyn, SUGAR.  You love your sweets; in the mothers day survey you took when asked, "what does your mom say to you all the time?"  You answered, "do you want a cupcake or cookie?"  This is NOT true, those are not things I say all the time, you wish!

Working at the CAR WASH!  We all can remember drinking from the hose as a kid, and washing our family car.  I can say it's still just as fun if not more seeing my kids do it. 

Since moving to our home in Lake Orion we have probably walked around our block 300 times.  Days off we usually do a walk every morning, and sometimes again later in the day!  Always something new to see and with our commentator Madelyn there's never a dull moment. 

The Hergott Men

June 15, 2016 A special visit to Great Grandma Bean which needed a special dress and lots of showing off from Madelyn, singing songs and playing with her princesses.

June 18, 2016 our family, total happiness on Mama and Daddy's faces because we love you guys so much.

Happy Fathers Day!  Breakfast in bed from this girl, she spent time in the kitchen making this while Daddy got to sleep in a little then surprised him with quite a spread.  Daddy is so loved in this house and had a special day with the kiddos hanging around the house enjoying a beautiful day watching the kiddos in their pool and a bbq with the grandparents.

Best pic, I said, "look tough,"  Colin took that as, "look adorable," and Madelyn took it as, "be a silly goose."

It is very special that we are able to enjoy fun summer bbqs with our parents and kiddos and was a fun fathers day celebrating with all these great Dad's.

Mothers Day 2016

Mothers Day 2016, brunch at The Myth where Mommy and Daddy got married!  Could my kids be and cuter or husband be looking any more handsome??? I think no.  Brunch with two kids = eat as much as you can in approximately 1 hour and 15 mins. 

Just over that bridge...where our family started..

Hanging with my crazy crew for mothers day was all that I wanted and I had a perfect day of adventures outdoors, jogging, bike ride, nail painting, kite flying and playing chase in the yard, my heart is so full of love; thanks Madelyn and Colin for making me a mama, and thanks to your Daddy for making me feel so special.

Madelyn and Colin playing dress up!  And don't worry, it's not, "poor Colin," he loves the attention and getting to play with his big sis.  9 months and he's already mastered crawling up the stairs!

Trip to the farm, Madelyn got to milk a cow!!!

Happy 9 months Colin! You're quick and getting much more playful; you love playing in your play kitchen with Madelyn and riding on your little red car!

You love the water!  I filled up your little pool and water table and after 15 minutes you were putting your tiny foot on the side and carefully crawling in!  You love to splash around.

Happy birthday Grandma!  Cousin pic on Gmas swing!

Madelyn 3 year pics, Colin 8 months

Madelyn, you're three years old!!  We are so proud of you, you are doing great in your preschool class, you've mastered spelling your last name, our street name and the name of your mommy and daddy really well.  You are a total "mom," at home and at school; you care for Colin like he's your baby and at school when anyone is sad you are quick to their side to try to aid them.  A few weeks ago at school Mommy had her first struggle with leaving you; a boy was crying, you went over to him to ask him if he was OK and wanted to play with you, he pushed you hard (this is when mommy almost pushed a toddler), you came over to me upset but not crying and said, "he's just sad mom, he misses his Mommy and Daddy."  You amaze us Madelyn, every day.  The way you're able to express yourself and your emotions far surpasses our expectations.  To be clear, you're still our "threenager," with the random meltdown and weird episodes of, "my legs aren't working," when you're tired or don't want to do something; but overall it is AMAZING what you pick up on and how you can communicate.  When you're quiet and asked what's wrong you'll say, "I'm tired, I think I need to lay down" or, "I miss my Daddy," you aren't afraid to express yourself or let us know what you need. You have learned and can recite all your favorite nursery rhymes and stories; Hey Diddle Diddle, All the Pretty Little Horses, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Hush a Bye, and many more.  I could go on and on, when you're older it'll be so fun to tell you about this and how loving and smart you were as a toddler. 

MR. COLIN!!!  I mean really, could you be any cuter?  It's like salt in a wound when you have the CUTEST BABY that doesn't sleep and cries a lot.  Luckily we are pretty easy going parents that can take it as it comes because Colin, that's how it goes with you.  We have had a good night where you only wake up twice, and that's happened 2 nights in a row!  And we think, OK, this is it, and then...that's not it.  That said, these frequent night time visits have been some special memories for Mama, you are a snuggler at night, you snuggle up on me and breathe with your mouth wide open, and just when I think you're going to burp, you fart and smile.  You started to clap, and get SO excited when we clap with you!  We have now gotten to the babble stage of the bababababa....but with you it is usually a super loud, BAAABABABABABA, AHHHHH!!!!!  You don't babble all day or frequently at all, but when you decide to talk , you TALK, loud and a steady stream.

Madelyn 3 years, Colin 8 months
You're beautiful, you're handsome, when you look back on this one day just know you were as loved then as you are now; our sweet babies, we love you so much.

Birthday party and princess ball!!

April showers bring cute little girls with umbrellas :)

Zoo weather is here!  Madelyn you loved showing Colin around the zoo, especially in the reptile house where you could both get up close to the lizards and alligator! 

Not Marty McFly, but MR. HANDSOME COLIN!!

Studs in plaid.  "Cousins!"

Happy Easter 2016!!  March 27, 2016; The kids had a great time going through their baskets the bunny brought, we had a great afternoon with the Fodors, Martins and Gma and Gpa Hergott for Easter dinner at our house!

Our beautiful family, we are so blessed to have each other and these 2 cuties

Birthday party time!  Four toddlers bumper bowling couldn't have been any cuter, you guys had a blast!

Madelyn you were a bowling champ getting all sorts of spares and really pushing your princess bowling ball down that ramp!

There was lots of running, dancing and being silly with your friends Maggie, Josh and Will

3 year well child check up - Doctor says you are quite the young lady, super smart and surpassing all the 3 year milestones.

We are park people, chilly temps don't scare us, we bundle up and head out to anywhere with some slides and swings, this was Colin's first time on a swing and WOW Colin, you really enjoyed it.  Madelyn pushed you and you just smiled and laughed the whole time!

"I got him I got him."  This is a phrase we hear frequently around the house now since Colin has been mobile, and Madelyn is so confident in her ability to pick him up and transport him from room to room.  Madelyn you like to protect him so if you see him crawling towards anything you deem unsafe, you scoop him up and carry him just like this to safety.

Standing at EVERYTHING, the furniture, toys, windows, our legs, you pull yourself up everywhere Colin. 

Besties, and we couldn't be more proud of how well you treat your little brother Madelyn he is lucky to have you around and we are so lucky to have you here to help with him!

"More swinging mom!!! Yayyyy, this is way better than rocking in my rocking chair I love the wind on my thighs!"

It's time!  Madelyn has started scooting around on her Strider bike she got from the Kotenkos.  These bikes are the new cool way to learn since they have no peddles kids learn balance faster and skip the training wheels completely.

Happy 8 months Mr. Colin, or as Madelyn calls you (but gives no one else permission to, it's cute because it's just her thing) Colly, Colly Col, Colly want a cracker, Colycolycolycoly.  Your laugh and smile stop time in this house because it's the only thing we can focus on as it's happening.  Your soft hair that still has it's spikey do is adorable and watching it blow in the wind while you ride on the swings or in the stroller is just the sweetest thing.  You have 2 teeth on the bottom, you crawl FAST, faster than I ever remember Madelyn crawling and you pull yourself up to stand on anything and everything, you have no fear and you have sooooo much love.

This was a very special day April 23, 2016, Miss Monica and Calvin were in town from Arizona and came over to spend the afternoon with US!  Mommy's former room-mate and forever best friend has another baby on the way and since she doesn't live in Michigan anymore we don't see much of each other so this picture is a very special one; how our lives have changed!!!

I post pictures of you two hugging all the time and I'd be honest here if these were rare moments caught on film but, they're not, you are hugging ALL THE TIME. 

April 30, 2016 - This was a very special day for one very special girl.  Grandma, Mommy and Madelyn got all dressed up and headed off to a princess ball.  Madelyn in her finest Ariel dress, Grandma and Mommy couldn't find their Disney dresses so settled for a little more simple attire, no one could compare the the beautiful Madelyn all ready to go to meet the Disney princesses and watch them sing and dance!

This is a proud Mama, I loved doing this with you sweetheart, you love to sing and dance so much and know all the Disney songs, seeing the princesses perform them in front of us was a very special thing for us to enjoy. 

Ladies day out!  You talked about it all week, "Daddy and Colin are not going, Mommy, Grandma and Madelyn are going for a ladies day."

Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty came by to chit chat and you were so excited to show her the sparkly butterfly you had painted on your face!  She said she liked sparkles too!

Sofia the First and Madelyn, just a couple of princesses hanging out.

May the 4th be with you.  We like Star Wars just a little bit in this house.

Our new fun toy!  Daddy pulls Madelyn on the bike while Mommy runs like a crazy women pushing Colin in the jogging stroller!  That buggy seats 2 though and soon the kids will ride together in style :)  (with helmets, not pictured here just because it was a test run).

Grandpa and Colin hanging out exchanging stories (I feel like the conversation may have been a little one sided :).