Today is Chris' 30th birthday!  We celebrated on Sunday by having a surprise birthday party for him.  I invited our family and  friends over for a cookout.  We all chipped in and bought him a new grill to go with our new patio  It was fun and Chris was mildly surprised.  He is not the kind that would enjoy a surprise party where you jump out and yell "Surprise!" so I had people just start showing up.  It was more fun because he didn't really know who was coming.  It did rain for just a bit during the party, but it cleared back up and we were able to resume our outdoor activities. I made him a special cake that looked like a giant hamburger to go along with the theme.  I still can't believe how young 30 really is.  When I was young I thought 30 was ancient.  Now that Chris is 30 (and I am on that slippery slope), I realize how young it really is. 

Today the girls and I went to the strawberry patch.  I wish I would have brought our camera because it was adorable.  Avery had her own basket and she set right to work.  She was so determined and serious about it.  She wanted to fill her basket to the top.  Mia, on the other hand, sat on the ground near my basket and ate them as I picked them.  I could barely keep up.  Then Avery noticed Mia's red face and started to taste some of hers as well.  By the time we left with our large basket of berries, the girls' hands and faces were a beautiful bright red.  I love moment like this where the girls can just be carefree - get dirty, enjoy the sweet berries, bask in the sun...precious!  They are both excited to make Daddy strawberry shortcake for his birthday tonight!

Before I go, I thought I would share some cute things the girls have done or said lately.  Avery and I were recently using our fingers to count to ten.  Avery started to say eleven, and i told her we didn't have enough fingers.  She thought for a moment and then said "When I grow up, I want to be have hands like an octopus so I can count to 45!"  I couldn't help but chuckles.  Mia's new thing is to sing the Strawberry Shortcake song.  There is a little theme song on a DVD we got from the library three weeks ago.  Since then Avery and I have been singing it (it is seriously catchy!).  Now Mia sings "Straw-buh-buh-buh-berry Shortcake!".  It is so cute.  I had to download it to my iPod and surprised the girls with it on the way to Jazzercise this morning.  Mia's eyes about popped out of her head and she squealed with excitement.