The M&M Story

A Pageant Originally uploaded by smaynor The cousins journeyed to Bethlehem and watched their sheep by night.

M and B Originally uploaded by smaynor A shepherd and Joseph.

During bedtime routine: B: Hey, Max, remember when we played poop on each other? My interject: What game is that, Briggs? (Yes, I was biting the inside of my cheeks) B: Well, me and Max and Kharis and Clayton play poop on each other. Sometimes we toot or burp, too. Me: Where do you play this? B: At the football (WCA) game. Max: Yes, I made it up. I guess this is only the beginning. Boys and their bodily functions.

We ended up back in the ER yesterday because M fell and hit his chin right on his healing scar. It opened a little bit, but enough that when I called the doctor's exchange (of course it was on a Sunday), she advised going to the ER. No new stitches, but a little glue, a popsicle, and several games of Connect 4. I think padded suits and helmets will be under the tree this year.

1. A one-piece-of-pumpkin-pie conviction to remind me that my body is a temple. 2. A new grease spot on the kitchen floor to remind me that this world shall pass away. 3. A crisis right before Thanksgiving dinner to remind me who is in control. 4. Smiles, kisses, and snuggles to remind me who gives good gifts. 5. Helpful friends who show up just in time to remind me that He never leaves us nor forsakes us. 6. Stories of redemption throughout history to remind me who is our true Hero. And the list goes on.

Holidays have never been easy for me. Plenty of drama. Too many spinning plates. And I'm not a good juggler. So it is always a relief when real crisis hits. As the turkey aroma tugged at our taste buds and organization of side dishes ensued, my oldest took a dive into a pool of hardwood. Not really the right metaphor, it was actually more like a slip and crash and "I didn't catch myself, Mommy." There were tears followed by bandaids and wait time and then "Yes, we need to go to the ER." As my friends arrived, I hugged and said, "the kitchen is yours," and M and I headed to Missouri Baptist. Several stitches later (on the chin), along with a popsicle, a movie, and many phone calls home (regarding turkey instructions), we sat down to Thanksgiving dinner. P.S. M proved to be his father's son. He was brave and strong during the entire ordeal. And the turkey turned out just right.

He's back in M's bed. The separation lasted all of three nights.

Fall fun Originally uploaded by smaynor Check out the eyes.

Cousins Originally uploaded by smaynor Such hams.

B's prayer this evening: With his hands clasped and his eyes squeezed shut, he prayed with such enthusiasm: "Tank you, Jesus, foh pasta, and foh beans, and foh salad, and foh ouwr fork. And tank you foh ouwr family. And for ouwr daddy. And that when we are old we will die and go to heaven and be with daddy. Amen."

Scary Dragon Originally uploaded by smaynor B was all about being a scary dragon. And he loved telling jokes to the neighbors. His favorite was about a pumpkin that chased a cupcake. M and I weren't sure where the punchline was, but B would crack up everytime he finished telling it.

The Detective Originally uploaded by smaynor M wanted to be a detective for Halloween. The jacket, tie, and hat came from our small collection of Brian's clothes. He looked so, so handsome!

Pumpkin Fun Originally uploaded by smaynor We carved our first pumpkins this past weekend.

During the last month, M has found his love of writing and carries around a spiral and pencil most of the time. Yesterday I said, "Are you going to be a writer like your daddy?" He replied, "I'm already a writer like my daddy!" and he ran off to write.

B and K Originally uploaded by smaynor I often wonder what three year olds discuss.

Outside our house Originally uploaded by smaynor An interesting rainbow. I've never seen one like this before.

This summer M learned to ride his bike without training wheels. He rides like a champ!

There are days when I have overwhelming moments of sadness. Sometimes it's for my children, other times it is for the progressive brokenness of our world, and then there are those times when my sadness is for me. One of the things I've learned to do in those moments is to make a list of some of my favorite earthly things. Now, I write "earthly things" not as an invitation to look away from God but rather to see the blessings in the earthly experiences that feel heavenly, at least to me. Watching my children play harmoniously together Hearing Max say, "I love you, Briggs." Hearing Briggs say, "I love you, Max." A rich cup of coffee A picnic at the park without bugs, humidity, or allergies A day (or week) at the beach with friends The aroma of Thanksgiving delicacies Lavendar in all shapes and forms Watching Max accomplish something (i.e. riding his bike) Watching Briggs accomplish something (i.e. hitting the whiffle ball) A trip to Trader Joe...

Yesterday..... This week M announced that he no longer wanted to sleep with Tiger. S: "Buddy, why don't you want to sleep with Tiger anymore?" M: "Because I'm big now." S: (Choking back tears, not just because he's growing up, but it pained me to think of Tiger stuffed in some box somewhere.) "Have you asked Tiger about this? Is it okay with him?" M: "Sure. I asked him if he wanted to sleep in his own bed, and he said yes. Can we get him a bed, Mom?" As of this moment, Tiger is sleeping on the floor next to M's bed. Today... At lunch today, I asked B what he wanted to be when he grew up. M's usual answer is a Rescue Hero that saves people from volcanoes. B: "I'm not going to grow up." S: "Really? Do you want to stay a boy forever?" B: "Yes and just play blocks all the time." And he took a bite of his cheese and that was that. Okay, Peter Pan.

A few more pics from our trip.

A few shots of our beach trip with friends. We had an amazing time. The boys loved playing with friends, swimming in the pool, and frolicking in the ocean. I loved watching them engage in God's beautiful creation. B's favorite part was building sandcastles. M's favorite part was that and boogie boarding.

B's First Day Originally uploaded by smaynor He reminds me of Stephen.

B's First Day Originally uploaded by smaynor I can't believe my little man is off to 3K. He had a great day, playing with his friend Kharis and eating a snack (that's about all I got out of him.)

first day of kindergarten Originally uploaded by smaynor This is M's Scholastic GQ look.

first day of kindergarten Originally uploaded by smaynor M started kindergarten today. That's about all I can say without crying. The whole start of school hip hoorah has been a mainstay in my August repretoire since my days at Hillside Nursery School, but I think this year was probably the toughest. No lesson plans, no class lists, no bulletin boards - just a cute, snazzy five year old who often says, "May I do it myself, Mom?" Tomorrow is B's first day of 3K.

Another person in my family entered the pearly gates this past week. My uncle, just a mere 52, joined Brian, my dad, my grandfather, and many, many others in our Home. Oh, how it makes me want to be there! Max and I discussed this event, and as I explained it to him, I said, "You know how Mommy sometimes cries because I miss Daddy...." and before I could finish, he said, "Yes, and Aunt Linny will cry, too, because she'll miss Uncle Mark."

Before Max and I went to see The Lion King, we had a lovely dinner at St. Louis Bread Company. We typically dine on turkey sandwiches and broccoli/cheddar soup, but on this date we added the delicious treat of root beer. Today we went to St. Louis Bread company again. Max asked, "May I have a beer again?"

Max did learn the proper way to count to 100 this year in JK. But today he invented what he calls his "special way." "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8........19, 20, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014..." and so on. I can't remember how far he went. Not sure what happened to 21 - 29, but if you do the math, you'll eventually get to 100.

Well, my camera grew legs and walked, so new pictures are at a minimum right now. This week Max and I went to see The Lion King at the Fox. Max was quite the gentleman. His favorite part of the show was "I Can't Wait to be King!"

Yesterday I entered the control room of the Highway 40 project. All day I imagined what it would be like - the players, the power, the plush. But it was more like a big building with paper signs on each door and a bunch of guys in jeans (didn't see many women) sitting at their computers working. We met the quarterback, a 40ish engineer with small-rimmed glasses and a slightly southern accent. I think his kids were the same age as mine. He gave us the timeline for the rest of the year and what to expect for 2008. And as he quietly explained when the next bridge would be obliterated, I began to think about how this man's decisions (and his crew, of course) will impact millions of people - not just the ones who have to reroute their lives, but all those who will visit or pass through St. Louis in the next two years. Now that is power. And responsiblity. As I continued to digest the scope of this project, I kept comparing it to my life in Christ and the power that God has ...

The other day I heard M tell B, "Don't flick me, B." Flicking! My child is only three! We are here already? I knelt down to B's level and explained that flicking was not kind, nor was it something we were to do to other people, as it was disrespectful, etc. Not sure he bought it. Apologies were given, and I thought that was the end of it (at least for that day). Tonight the issue came up again, and I asked M. where B. learned how to "flick." M's answer? "Oh, he made it up." Yeah, right, flicking's been around since at least the 80's. I asked B who taught him to flick. Again, I thought he might say M, or his cousin, or his friend. B's answer? "Jesus."

I thought it was time to make a few changes to the blog. You know, update the look a little bit, make it my own, that sort of thing. And it's always a good learning experience. For example, when I created my new look, I noticed I no longer had the link to flickr. There are ways to get there, but it didn't seem like a clear path. It took me a minute (I'm not very technical nor patient), but I figured out how to add all sorts of goodies to this blog. On your right, you will see a link entitled "flickr" - I know, rather original, but it will take you directly to the Maynor site. However, you will only be able to view public photos. In order to view all the photos, you will need to sign in, but that is only if you are one of my contacts. So....if you want to see all the photos and are not a contact, please e-mail me, and I'll set you up. I'm way behind on photos, so many, many will be posted soon. If I would just stop fiddling with the blog, I'd...

While in the bathtub playing with a rocket: B: "5...4...3...2...1...blast off! S: "Where is your rocket going? B: "Space." S: "Who's in the rocket?" (I was thinking Curious George, an astronaut, or maybe his brother) B: "Jesus" While driving in the car: M: "Hey, B, do you know why God made me born first?" B: "No." M: "'Cause he wanted me to be your big brother. Isn't that right, Mom?"

The B Man decided last weekend that he was ready to go on the potty. Peer pressure, in this case, is a good thing. He's all about being big and he LOVES M. Today he went into the bathroom all by himself, took care of business, pulled up his unders and came running out saying, "I did it, Mommy. I did it!" And M. is such an encouraging big brother. At one point, we were all in the bathroom cheering B on. M. went and got a few books, and we had quite the story hour. It's hard to believe my diaper days are coming to an end.

M. loves butterflies.

S: B, what do you want for your birthday? B: A real pig. S: (Gulp) Where would we go find a real pig? B: A farm. S: Where would we keep the pig? B: Outside. He's got it all figured out.

As I've walked into spring, I am more and more convicted of how selfish I really am. And how much I want to sculpt my life into the sculpture of my own choosing and my own design rather than my Father's. I often find myself behind the potter's wheel, trying to mold and shape my plans and desires and wants, but it usually ends up nothing but a clump of clay. This past Sunday I sat in a very crowded Easter service at my church. I enjoyed seeing friends and hearing the message, but I was most moved by a simple gesture that I witnessed. A friend I have known and admired for years was in town visiting his family for the holiday. At some point in the service, the pastor instructed us to greet one another, and as I stood behind my friend, I saw him stand and look around at all the people who didn't have seats. He picked up his chair and walked to the back of the auditorium and gave his chair to a young mother and her baby who had been standing in the back. I thought ab...

M turned five this week. It's hard to fathom that five years ago I gave birth to my first child (all 9lbs 5oz of him), and now he is learning to read. I remember the day he was born. We went to our early morning doctor's appointment, and Dr. Krasnoff casually asked us, "So, do you want to have a baby today?" We went to WCA (fulfilling our roles as the controlling, overachieving, firstborn children) to get things organized because we had not planned on having M nine days early. Brian got out his Mini-Maynor list and started making calls. Friends and family showed up at some point in the day and by 5:30 p.m., I was holding my baby boy. Lots and lots of friends came to visit during our two day stay at Missouri Baptist and many posed shots of friends and family looking at sleeping baby M were taken. There were funny moments when Uncle Peter and Daddy tried to change a diaper and pee pee went everywhere. There were tender moments when all three of us cuddled on th...

C.S. Lewis was right when he described the spiral effect of grief. It's like that ride at Six Flags where you spin and the bottom drops and you find your body pressed against some nasty carpet wall. You focus on not vomiting on all the people around you, and you put on a brave smile because you don't want anyone to know that you really are sick and scared and crazy for being on this ride in the first place. But then you hear a noise and the machine begins to slow just a bit. The bottom begins to move and you suddenly feel your feet touch the floor and you peel yourself off the carpet wall. You focus on trying not to be sick and you breathe deeply. The spinning stops and you get off, a little dizzy, but okay. Then it's time to walk around and get a frozen lemonade and maybe hit a couple other rides. But before you know it, you are standing in line to spin once again. Only this time, you know what to expect and you take a Tums or you focus on a spot or you put on tho...

Beginning this week Briggs will join his cousin Lillian's class on Mondays and Fridays for the rest of the school year. God, once again, has given me a calling filled with kingdom purposes, one in which I thought I was successfully ignoring until He gently twisted my arm and said, "You will do this." But that's for another post. When I asked Briggs if he would like to be in Lillian's class, he very seriously asked, "Will I be four? Or is Lillian going to be three?" I tried hard not to laugh out loud.

As B and M were snuggled up next to me during before bed book time, I leaned over to B and whispered in his ear, "You're my favorite Briggs." He then leaned over and whispered back, "You're my favorite mommy." His tender heart (and sassy personality) continually bless me.

I stole these pics from my sister-in-law. We went bowling with M's school, and it was a blast. M. was totally into it. B loved it, too.

Too excited to be next to Toot Originally uploaded by smaynor . About a week ago, Toot and Puddle were making a celebrity appearance at the local Barnes and Noble store. Toot and Puddle, for those that may not know, are two best friends who just happen to be pigs. Toot likes to travel the world, and Puddle likes to stay home. Since it was a pajama party, we got all cozy in our Spiderman jammies and headed to B&N, where B promptly found a pig to love. When Toot and Puddle appeared, the most glorious look of joy appeared on B's face. He couldn't contain himself! He smiled the whole time. For more pics, check out flickr.

Brian's Birthday Celebration Originally uploaded by smaynor . For Daddy's would be 37th birthday, both Maynor families gathered for steak, baked potatoes, and Rocky Road ice cream with chocolate sauce. As you can see, entertainment followed.

M: "Hey, Mom. (Not sure where Mommy went, but apparently I am now Mom.) Do we have to go through space to get to Heaven?" Since then, we've prayed several times that M. would dream about space because he "really wants to find Heaven."

I found this funny story that Brian had written before Max was born. I vaguely remember this event, as I was several months pregnant, working full-time, trying to finish my master's classes. I had begged Brian to drive me to class (it may have been bad weather; I don't recall the details), and thus, his story. As you can see, he didn't finish it, but I can say that we did arrive safely home after class that night. It will all make sense after you read... I am the most absent-minded man alive. I took a straw poll today to see if other people considered themselves absent minded, and almost every male I spoke to launched into a list of things he’d lost. Pens, coats, keys, glasses, folders, wedding rings, wallets. Very few women had misplaced anything significant recently. One woman with a family of half boys and half girls, insisted that absentmindedness was written into the genetic code of males. She’s a biology teacher; she would know. I’ve bought more replacement gas ca...