The Big 3 OH!!!

Hi, this is Chase. I'm married to the hottest and coolest 30 year old in the universe. Since Toots turned 30 on Monday, I get to explain the best way to spend a landmark birthday: Hang with Sadie, Jack and Chase all day, and let them do the rest!

1) Start with breakfast in bed: special eggs with avocado and fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice (a la Diane!)
2) Let Dad feed breakfast to Jack and Sadie (a major task indeed)
3) Lounge in bathrobe and surf the internet while Jack goes back to sleep and Sadie paints
4) Attend Sadie's ballet class with Dad and Jack
5) Hang out with the other mothers while Dad plays with Sadie and Jack in the pool
6) Eat lunch and surf the net some more while Dad feeds lunch to Sadie and Jack (another major task)
7) Snuggle with Jack for a moment before he goes down for a nap (but let Dad actually put him down)
8) Play pollypockets with Sadie while Jack sleeps, sing disney princess songs and talk in high voices
9) Go on walk on W&OD trail, play "save the baby lamb/bear/kittycat" with Sadie, while wading through the river, tightrope walking on logs, and throwing rocks in the water
10) Open small present that happens to be a picture of a bigger present (a duallie stroller), which is on backorder at REI
11) Abandon kids at home with babysitter to go on date with hot husband
12) Get surprised by in-laws at Big Bowl in Reston, who are waiting to celebrate the Big 3 OH!!
13) Enjoy dinner and fine conversation without kids
14) Eat chocolate cream pie from Pie Gourment--ridiculously tasty!!


Raining down compliments on the birthday gal is an Etherington tradition, but because no Etheringtons are in DC, the Cannons had to fill in. Here is a recap of what was said about the (old but still deadly hot) birthday gal:

Chase: Caught Toots playing imaginary dolls and "save the baby lamb" games with Sadie, and loves that all that Toots wanted for her birthday was for her "kids to be happy". Toots truly has become a selfless and all-giving mother, and it's amazing to see her like that.


Cate: Abby is naturally beautiful, and when Cate feels like she needs more glitz or makeup, she looks at Abby and thinks "I don't need all of that stuff to look beautfiul". Abby is one naturally hot mama.

Mike: Abby is a fantastic cook, and several of her dishes have become Todd family favorites and regulars, including raspberry chicken and cinnamon chocolate cake.

Chris: Abby is a perfect fit in our family, and Chris feels lucky that all the Cannon inlaws get along, can hang out, and even chill on a regular basis. Also, Abby has a bit of a wild side, such as cliff jumping in Lake Powell, which Chris appreciates.

Jari: Abby is fun to commiserate with while pregnant. Once while waiting for the husbands to complete an Ironman, pregnant and ravishingly hungry Abby and Jari enjoyed some great conversation over mediocre pizza in a rental car: good times!


All in all, a fabulously memorable day for a fabulously wonderful woman! We all love you Toots!!

One candle for each decade!!