Boys... Rough Housing... Aaaaahhh!!!!!

Don't we love crazy little boys?! :)
A friend of mine has a "wrestle blanket" When the blanket is out her boys (3 & 4) are allowed to rough house and wrestle, but only on that blanket. When the blanket is put away, no more wrestling. So, it makes them realize that rough housing isn't completely wrong, but only approiate when Mom says it is (gets out the blanket)
Good luck!
(By the way, you have to write down the naked in the laundry basket story and read it in a couple years and laugh!)

Our "times" are a little different, so mine strip for their baths right after dinner (they are 4 and 2 1/2) and start streaking and dancing and goofing and wrestling with company in our living room singing "Bath-time!! Nee-ner-nee-ner-nee-ner!! Naked boys!!!" Thankfully our friends are great about it and have brothers of their own, so it is nothing they probably have not participated in on their own. It gets to me when they try to wrestle on someone else when they are naked--not cool. (I always run them up to the bath after dinner since they are disgusting and it is easier than cleaning them twice.)

I have heard of moms having success with a free-for-all rug, like the blanket someone mentioned. I also tell them I don't want to hear it unless someone is really hurt (as in needs First Aid attention or an ER trip). They need to learn to work it out on their own. The energy level is not going to diminish, and sometimes I find that "running" them does not always mean a smooth and peaceful bedtime. I get the kids into their pajamas right after dinner and we still have several hours before bed, so they are not changing their clothes quite so close to bedtime. I also put them down at different times so the older one is sleeping when the younger goes to bed (otherwise they keep each other up leaping back and forth on the beds, emptying their dresser, taking out drawers and using them as boats or step-stools, etc.).

It IS very frustrating, but your husband is also largely right--they are being boys. Being naked is hilarious to them, wrestling is awesome (my 2 1/2 year old will try to bust his brother out of time-out when he's in time-out for crushing his head or something--they can't get enough). We are saving to get our oldest into some local Wee sports programs to see if the physical activity with structure helps him. He just has more than we can deal with some days. Now, if only someone could invent a hamster wheel for little boys that converted activity to electricity... =)

I have two boys. they would stop and be goats at all times during the day. It's love. cabin fever makes it a little more crazy. Let em play. Take pictures and humiliate them later :)
They are men now.
And still wrestle :)

Oh, gotta love them boys! At our house we call it "Brother's Brawl"....

I have a house full...literally! Mine are 19, 16, 15, 11, 7 & 5!
They have ALL went thru the rough-housing phase....but My youngest, the 7 & 5 are the worst! When I have had enough and put an end to it I make them do jumping jacks and push ups, to try and ware them out :)

I try to have patience too but sometimes it's just so hard! And I am always fearful that someone or all of them will get hurt!

~I have no real advice...only to say it's completely normal and do your best
to keep your sanity :)

I am thinking about getting mine into wrestling...to give them an outlet...they almost weigh the same...maybe they will be in the same weight class and can go at it in a safe, padded environment!

Nope, they're just boys. I like GrandmaT's answer. To keep myself from going crazy when the weather's bad, I'll take my son to an indoor play area - mall or fastfood place (after we eat a "real" meal so we're not too tempted). Then he can run while I read or relax. Maybe that would help you if you can at least get out and drive. Good luck!

At some point in the day, at not at night or near bedtime... let them get all their yah-yah's out.
Physically wise.

Young boys/toddlers are like wild horses.

My son, is like that. He is 4.
He still seems to hit a 'witching hour' in the evenings, after my Husband gets home from work.
He gets SO physically active, like your boys. But for my son, it is mostly when he is OVER-tired. When my son is over-tired, he either turns into a Mega Troll, or he gets more HYPER. Not 'naughty'... just really active.
BUT... when I get him fully engaged in the mornings, outdoors, running and playing and doing large motor-skill stuff.... it really helps.
He really needs it.
So I usually do this every morning. Before lunch.

Or, you have a STRUCTURE to things, in the evening. So the boys are not just having to entertain themselves, aimlessly.
Give them 'chores' to do in the evening or other things.
"Aim" them, in the direction you want them to be in. Activity wise.
Structure them.
Have a schedule.

Also, tell them, "Okay, horse-play for 15 minutes. AFTER that, it is wind-down time."
That way, you are not 'having to' tell them every 3 seconds to be quiet or to stop being active.

For me, I know my son WILL become calmer, after he gets out his yah-yah's. And he does.
And for some reason, after his bath, he is always, so darned active and more rascal. Ugh.

And yes, maybe do get them involved in a class. If you have the time/energy to take them to it after-school or in the evenings.
My Daughter takes Karate. Loves it. But it is in the evenings. Then we come home and the timing of things on those nights... gets much later, including bedtime and dinner time and bath time and winding down.

take them to mcdonaldsand let them run their brains out or make them do jumping jacks. still laughing at the naked in the basket wrestling

J....take them to Pump it Up (there are a few in the cities and they even have date nights and stuff for parents to drop off, also) or down to Edina to the Community Center/Indoor jungle gym place (can't think of what it is called). I also owned the annual pass at Mall of America for the park, and a zoo pass because the kids get so dang rowdy this time of year...they are just done with wearing extra clothes and being inside. Let them run free and wild for hours...not spendy, and just what they need to give you your sanity back!

It is a little late now...but next year check out local hockey arenas...most have a year free of skating/hockey lessons and gear (great outlet for extra energy, and we had our boys in at 5 and 3 years old).

My 3.5 year old twins and 22 month old daughter run around like wild animals every night before bed. They have so much fun, and I am happy they are tiring each other out for bedtime.

Sounds like my house! My boys are 4 and 6 and my daughter almost two. My husband has a brother a couple of years younger than him too and he said this is definitely normal behavior. His mom used to become so upset because they would wrestle almost to the point of hurting each other. I only have a sister so I had no idea! Luckily we live in Houston and I can have them run around outside most days to get rid of some energy. If it is a rainy day we play some music and dance around the house. We have one couch that is all ripped up and torn which they constantly jump on. Maybe you could get a mini exercise trampoline and they could take turns? Some days they are more crazier than others. I'm sure we will miss these times one day!