This is my life? Really?

If you'd told me ten years ago that today, I'd have four children, I'd have laughed at you. If you'd told me four years ago, I'd have laughed at you. If you'd told me two years ago, I'd have laughed at you. And most of my friends would have laughed at you too. But here I am, and surprisingly, I'm learning to love being a mom of four. That's not to say that I don't still have days that I feel completely overwhelmed...I do. But for the most part, I am happy and content. I thought I'd sum up my favorite things about yesterday (Mother's Day) in a top ten list (in no particular order):

1. Donuts at church. I'd love to say church in and of itself, but I really didn't get to hear much of the service yesterday. Max was a royal toot. But I love when I go to pick Brady up from the nursery and he starts asking for a "nonuh" with this gorgeous grin on his face. How can I resist? That boy LOVES donuts (almost as much as my nephew, Silas:).
2. Girlfriends at church. Even when I have my hands completely full and I'm beginning to wonder why I even bothered to leave my house, those little "I'm right there with ya" looks from my favorite girlfriends make it all bearable (love you, Megan).
3. Grilled salmon. Andy makes the best grilled salmon, and coming home to eat one of my favorite dishes sure beats taking the two youngest children out to lunch at an overly-crowded restaurant. Thank you, Andy!
4. Homemade cards. Sydney and Blake had each made me the sweetest cards. They are totally frame-able, and I love them.
5. The mother of all food processors. Andy bought me a Cuisinart 11 cup food processor. It's SO pretty and it does everything. I can't wait to use it.
6. Little boys napping simultaneously. Both Brady and Max took really good naps, and the fact that they were at the same time was pure luxury!
7. Lost episodes online in HD. I've recently discovered that I can play Lost episodes on my laptop in HD any time I want for FREE. I spent two hours holed up alone in my bedroom watching episodes I've never seen. Love that.
8. Playing outside with the kids and neighbors. We have such great neighbors, and the kids all play so well together (even Brady). The evening weather was just beautiful!
9. Going out for ice cream with Sydney (just girls). I cherish the rare moments that I have Syd to myself with no boys hanging around. She becomes such a chatterbox and I learn so much about her. She is growing up before my eyes, and I am all at once amazed and terrified.
10. Long talks with Andy. I love the evenings when all the kids go to bed and I am more important than whatever game is on ESPN. It's wonderful when we have no "issues" to work through and we can just chat and laugh and enjoy each other's company. It's like we're dating again, and I am reminded of how blessed I am to be married to a man who loves me and our children as much as he does. He truly is one of my favorite gifts from God.

My life is crazy and hectic and exhausting. It isn't anything like I imagined it would be ten years ago. It's better...much better. God is so good.