bed time routine

The kids have always gone to bed easily for me, but it seems the older they get the more they want to play. I remember sharing a room with my twin sister and we might have talked for a good hour before we actually fell asleep, and I enjoyed that, so I don't want to take that away from my kids. However, talking is one thing. They have a bunk bed and I really don't like William to be climbing up the latter to Tre's bed in the dark. I also want the lights out and the toys to stay put and the boys to stay in bed. This has NOT been happening and after 2 hours of going in and out of their rooms trying to get them to bed, I get VERY frustrated. Tonight I tried a new antic. I sat in their room right next to the door and didn't say a word. Every time they attempted to get out of bed, I just laid them back down. If they talked to me, or to each other, I didn't say a word. Here's the funny part. William laid quietly the whole time. Not one peep! Tre tried for 15 minutes (I timed it so I could compare the length of time I have to do it tomorrow) and the suddenly he was out like a light. I decided to leave the room at that point because, even though William was laying awake, he hadn't made a sound.

Lo and behold about 15 minutes later, I hear, "TRE! Wake up!" I went into the room and William was butt naked (he's also been stripping to avoid sleeping) IN Tre's bed yelling in his face! Thankfully, Tre didn't wake up, but it took all I had not to lose it! I got him dressed and put him back in bed and haven't heard from his since.

Lesson learned: Wait for BOTH boys to fall asleep! I can do 15-20 minutes doing nothing in their room if it means that I am not spending 2 hours going back and forth.