The M&M Story

In the past several days, my eldest has shined in his exhibition of responsibility. 1. Friday morning, Max got dressed, put his shoes on and brushed his teeth without any prompting. 2. Today he did the same thing. This time it was for church. 3. This afternoon his water bottle was in the car and he asked if he could go get it (before bed). He took my keys, opened the car door, got it out, closed the car door, and reset the alarm. And then handed me the keys. He knew what button to push and everything. 4. Last night at dinner, his paper napkin got all wet. We didn't have any more in the basket where we keep them, so he went downstairs to where I store them. I fully expected him to show up with only one. Instead, he brought up a handful, put them in the basket, and brought over a couple to the table to make sure everyone had one. 5. Last week he offered to clean the house.

Happy Birthday Boys Originally uploaded by smaynor Before we went to CA, Nana surprised the boys with treats from Cookies by Design. Piggies and Tigers, well, they are favored around the Maynor home.

Long wait to meet the master Originally uploaded by smaynor We waiting in line for over an hour for three seconds with the man himself. If it weren't Mickey Mouse....

Six Years Old Originally uploaded by smaynor It's hard to believe that six years ago this little man was born. He's the coolest kid on the planet, at least in my book. Max spent his 6th birthday hangin' with his Uncle Stephen at Disneyland. (Aunt Nealy would have been there but the little one in her belly was giving her trouble.) We rode the Jungle Adventure, the Pirate ride, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, a roller coaster in Toon Town (the name escapes me), Finding Nemo, Buzz Lightyear, and several others. We ate ice cream, watched the parade, and picked out treasures in the Buzz Lightyear gift shop. Though it was insanely crowded, I'd do it again tomorrow. Briggs had a blast, too. They both loved the roller coaster and the Buzz Lightyear ride the best.

A phone conversation earlier today while at Nana's: M: Mom, I think I will still be asleep when you get here tomorrow morning. I like to sleep in. His father would be so proud.

M is reading. Simple books and Dr. Suess but reading nonetheless. It seems like it happened overnight. For our all-snuggly-in-Mama"s-bed story time, we just finished reading Winnie the Pooh and have started Little House in the Big Woods. B typically gets bored (though he's reading a few simple words, too) and says, "This is taking too long!" He's still a picture book man for the moment. These longer "chapter books", as M says proudly, don't have enough visual stimulation. All in good time. I'm ready to dig out my boxes of kid lit and find the good stuff to read aloud. Something else. My boys love each other so much. Tonight B got his feelings hurt and M immediately encouraged him. Earlier today, there was a small altercation that ended in beautiful peace. Life is sweet and blessed, even in the quietness of evening.

M: "Mommy, I love you like a circle. It just goes around and around and never ends. That's how much I love you." Yes, I puddle I became.

I Like Snow by Max Maynor (Feb 2008) Snow is like the sun because it sparkles like glitter. It makes me feel like I'm in my bed because it is so soft.

I so love these boys.

The other Maynors had a little Q and A time with their kids, and my sides ached from laughter. I thought I'd do the same my boys. What is your favorite ice cream? B: Rocky Road M; Rocky Road One time I mentioned that RR was one of their dad's favorite ice creams, and it has remained first on everyone's list. What is your favorite thing to do at school? M: Play out at recess B: Play out at recess What is your favorite animal? M: Tiger B: Piggy Not surprising. What do you want to be when you grow up? M: I don't know. B: I know. I want to be a fireman. M: Now, I know what I want to be. I want to be a fireman. Who do you want to marry? M: Kharis B: Reagan Where do you want to live when you grow up? M: California B: California Do you prefer pee or poop? M: Poop B: Poop They thought this was the FUNNIEST question. They giggled and giggled and giggled. What is your favorite color? M: Yellow B: Blue What is your favorite food? M: Pasta B: Chocolate Milk W...

This past week we've had to stick close to home, more like stay in bed. M got the flu/cold/virus that was/is going around - a little (or a lot of) fever, a cough, and a whole lot of aches and pains. I had him on a rigid diet of smoothies (all fruit, no dairy), Esberitox, Mannabears and Glycobears, zinc (he calls them sucky things) and Vitamin C (these are called chewy things). Poor little man. And to top it off, it was his "God made me special" week at school for which he only attended one day. He woke up crying on Tuesday morning saying he had to go to school to draw a picture for the newsletter and to be the line leader and a couple other things that I didn't quite catch between sobs. My heart broke! After hugs and kisses and explanations that I would call his teacher and figure out what we could do at home, I treated him to movies and lemonade (with ginger and echinacea), all snuggly in my bed. Suddenly being the line leader was so last season.

Fall fun Originally uploaded by smaynor

Lately, Max has discovered that words can sound the same but actually be different words. The list is growing. Today he said, "Hey, Mom, can and can are the same words but mean different things. Like when you can do something and like a can you put something in." Tonight, while reading one of our favorites, Animalia , he said, "Hey Mom, bee and B are the same words but mean different things. Like a bee that goes buzz and the letter B." Though he's slow as molasses (like his daddy), he gets excited at his discoveries and rattles them off so quickly, I sometimes have to ask for a repeat.

My Tactile child Originally uploaded by smaynor If M could write in 3D all the time, he'd be on his third novel.

We celebrated Brian's birthday this year with a little bowling and ice cream. Oh, and some tattoos.

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.