…we started off about a year ago with 3 verbal rules (Obey Daddy and Mommy, Do not hurt others, and Do not hurt yourself), and I’ve kicked around several lists in my head for the past couple of years – but they were always very negative.  No kicking, no hitting, no shoving, no throwing…  A lot of “NO’s” to address very specific behaviors – but not getting to the heart of the matter.

Then I ran across this post – and I fell in love.  Not only with the presentation, but also with her rules.  So positive, so uplifting… I freely admit that I used almost all of her rules – I added two more (#1 and #2) and I took out a couple others, but for the most part, they are the same.  And instead of doing this on canvas, I did it on a scrap piece of MDF that we had in the attic – so it’s heavy as all get out, but I had everything on hand, so it was free!

So here are our 21 Family Rules…

For more Top Ten {Tuesdays} (or top 21, since I can’t count), visit Amanda here!  And for more Do It Yourself Day projects, visit A Soft Place to Land here!

I feel like I’ve written a post about this before, but I can’t find it on this blog or any other one I’ve ever maintained… so maybe it’s just been kicking around in my head for a while.  Please remember that I am a mom of 2 boys – ages almost-4 and almost-2.  These kiddos are crazy and gross – they are all boy, that’s for sure.  I decided to do this list after I said the following to Elias yesterday:

1. Get that out of your pants. This really applies to anything… but yesterday it was a 4 foot length of doweling that he had threaded through his underwear like it was a sword.

2. Sweetie, not everyone wants to see your Spiderman underwear. Do you see a theme happening here?

3. OK – go show Daddy, and then never do that again. Suppressing laughter, but followed by the admonition…

4. Kix do not belong in your nose.

5. We have to put on clothing to go out of the house.

6. Underwear is for family time only.

7. Stop smushing your face into mine!  I can’t breathe! This is a way that Donovan shows his love – I need to teach him that love does not have to be so… smothering.

8. Donovan, give your brother some space while he goes pee-pee. This is mostly so I don’t wind up with a little kid covered in his brother’s pee-pee.

9. Stop drinking the bath water!!!

10. I miss the boys. Said on a date night with my hubby.  I really never thought I would say that on a much needed night alone… Sorry, my love!

For more Top Ten {Tuesday}, visit Amanda here!

In no particular order (chronological or otherwise), here are my top ten favorite summer pictures:

1. Elias and his best friend, London, at London’s 4th birthday party (held at Inflation Nation – super fun!).

2. Craft time. What I hope will be happening in our house for years to come.  This is one of the first times I’ve been able to keep Donovan busy while Elias and I worked on a craft together.

3. A trip over the James River to Belle Isle. A first for the boys this year, but it won’t be the last!

4. An everyday occurrence at our house - followed by much laughter, and then, finally… “Momma, will you get him off of me?”

5. Donovan’s first trip to the Metro Richmond Zoo. I didn’t get many pictures, so this is the best one that was taken of Donovan (and me).

6. Great-grandbaby #6! My nephew, Mason, was born at the end of June, and he became my hubby’s Granny’s 6th great-grandbaby!  There’s another on the way (not us!), so Granny will continue to be surrounded by little ones who adore her!

7. Another everyday occurrence at our house. Donovan loves running around in his diaper, and he also loves shoes… so he’ll take everything off and then bring us a pair of shoes to put on him.  crazy kid….

8.&9. An afternoon at the water fountains. With Josh’s mom, who the kids all call Emmy, and my sister-in-law and her two daughters.  The kids all had such a good time together that day!

10. Brothers!

For more Top Ten {Tuesdays}, visit Amanda here!