Sometimes they fight.

I have two boys exactly two years apart in age.

They fight.

We started with time outs, then standing nose to nose.

From there we moved on to me telling them to take it out to the trampoline and don't come back in until you've gotten in all out of your system...and no crying.

Then it was "best friend duty". If they fought they got the opportunity to be each other's best friend for one whole day. No doing anything with friends or even by yourself. Your "best friend" must accompany you in all your tasks...like a missionary companion.

The latest thing my ever so creative husband came up with was they each had to make a list of 20 things they liked about each other and then read it to one another. Every morning for the rest of the week, they must go into the other's room and read their list to them.

Carson's list to Bryson:

sometimes your nice.

you help me.

your athletic.

your fast.

your cool.

your funny.

you stick up for me.

you go to church.

your smart.

you play things with me.

you don't cuss.

you are good at volleyball.

your good at TF2. (a video game)

you are good at wii tennis.

you have good friends.

your good at making friends.

you are not fat.

you are a good example.

you are a great friend.

your my brother.

Bryson's list to Carson:

I like your humor,

your airsoft skills,

your soccer skills,

how you ask me to help you on your homework,

you helping me out.

I like your (sun) glasses,

when you play volleyball with me,

when you let me hang out with you,

when your nice to me.

I like when you don't complain,

when you let me take a turn on the wii/computer,

when you let me on your ipod,

when you ask politely,

when you laugh with me.

I like your laugh,

when you compliment me,

your trampoline tricks,

how creative you are.

I'm keeping them.

It's a good reference to have when they tell me how annoyed they are by the other.

I can just refer them to their lists.