help with evening chaos! (X-posted in Toddlers)

[LadyCatherine185]

alright mamas I need some suggestions.... I'm going to X-post in toddlers because this involves a toddler and a baby.. (DS1 is 2.75 and DS2 is 6 mo)

for the last month or so we have followed a pretty good routine and our days have been running fairly smoothly... the problem is the evenings.. we eat dinner usually around 6 (when DH gets home) and from there on everything falls apart. Ian is super fussy/clingy but also overstimulated and won't let me calm him down by rocking and doesn't want to nurse, etc. Liam seems to still have energy left in him despite us being outside MUCH of the day. He is bored with everything, doesn't want to play with toys, doesn't want to watch TV, and just basically reaks havoc on the house. DH and I are tired from the long day and very short on patience in the evenings. and since Liam has been taking naps, he doesn't go to bed until about 9:30-10. Ian also is not down for the night until 9:30-10. And I feel like I am spending all evening TRYING to get him to sleep but he won't pass out before that time... except last night where he was out at 8, but then woke up at 9 ready to go and didn't go back to sleep until after 11. We are up at 6 around here.. that is TOO LONG of a day and I just don't know what to do with the evening time to keep both boys happy and occupied.. here is what our "routine" for the day looks like right now--

7:00- DH leaves for work and we are all making our way out of bed (DS1 is usually up at 6 with DH)

7-8- breakfast, tv for DS1

8-9- DS2 takes first nap, DS1 has some quiet play (drawing, playing with toys, playdo...h, etc)

9-11- we go OUTSIDE or to the park/playground or a playdate.. something that gets us out of the house

11:30- Lunch

12:00- quiet time for DS1 (he usually falls asleep in his room around 12:30) and second nap for DS2

2:00- quiet/nap time over, we head back outside

4:00- come in for showers/cleaning up toys/getting ready for dinner, etc (i let DS1 watch tv while I get dinner ready as well)

5:00- DS2 has his 3rd nap

6:00- DH is home, we eat dinner

from there, it is all downhill. thanks for any advice/ideas!

[Chloe'sMama]

We have similar ages for our kids.  It is getting a bit easier now that DD2 is almost 9 months and seems to like playing more.  We head outside again after dinner, especially with nice weather and it staying dark longer.  This gives DH nice playtime with DD1 and we all enjoy the outside time too. 

We have never quite found a rhythm with the girls, but we have always been pretty lax with things.  It works well for us, but day to day seems pretty hectic (at least for me...)

[MoonWillow]

Please feel free to join the other thread here. Thank you :)