The thing with having BOYS close together...

We have 3 boys and 1 girl. Our  beautiful daughter is 7. Our sons are 9,4, and 3. Now the 9 and the 7 are no picnic...don't get me wrong, the the 4 and 3 are terrible together.

They are both at that age where experimenting is key to learning so there is a constant cause and effect domino scenario going on in the house.
    If I take this away from Gigi (4) what will happen to me (3)
         Take the object away, Gigi hits Odin, Odin screams, Gigi slaps a hand over Odin's mouth to silence him, Odin licks Gigi's hand, Gigi screams, Odin hits Gigi, Gigi punches Odin in the belly, Odin yells...Mommy or Daddy (whoever is closer) steps in and separates.
    If I spill Odin's drink what will happen?
         Drink spills, tantrum ensues over spilled milk, Mommy or Daddy cleans up the milk, they go to pour more to find that there is not enough milk to cook dinner AND pour another cup for chocolate milk, decide dinner is more important...besides there is juice and water, full blown tantrum ensues, another drink is spilled.

The fights are a bit more entertaining, though one sided because of the size difference (around 20 lbs in the weight class).
     They both know how to throw a punch
     They both have learned how to evade each other's punches
     The explanations of why they are fighting have become more imaginative

They are just separated enough in age that they don't enjoy doing the same things, but they want each other to do the same things
     Gigi wants to play Bey Blades, but all Odin can do is say "Bey Blade, let it w(r)ip!"
     Odin wants to play with his trains, but all Gigi wants to do is stack the tracks.
                In both scenarios a fight ensues.

However, there are some positives...

I don't really have to pack up Gunnar's clothes because Odin will be wearing them the next season.
They really make having a dull moment impossible.
They tucker each other out.
They are close enough to learn from each other.

Don't get me wrong, if I had it all to do over again...knowing what I know, I still wouldn't change a thing, I just wish they could get along a bit better.