Bedtime battles

Being the fantastic mother I am, I threatened to put Joseph outside to sleep last night after the boys would not settle down and go to sleep (hope no permanant damage was done). Needless to say, there was a lot of disrespect from my oldest son leading up to my "rage." Well parents, for your information, this tactic DOES NOT work on strong willed children like my own. Tonight at bedtime, they continued to be as wild as possible (every night is a sleepover in their room) until I just asked "what do I need to do to get you to listen to me?" The response shocked me..."Mom, you need to put me outside to sleep," exclaimed Joseph. I told him to get his blankie and pillow. He responded with something even MORE shocking..."Mom, you need to take me there kicking and screaming." WTH?! Calling his bluff, I had him calmly follow me outside, put his blankie and pillow on the ground, and I closed all the doors, thinking to myself "This'll do the trick." Ummmm....No it didn't. I looked outside and he was riding his scooter around. So, I took the scooter away and closed the door again, thinking "Ok, now he'll decide he wants to go to bed." Ummmm....NOPE...I looked outside and he was making faces at his little brother in the bedroom window up above. Uh oh...I felt the "mommy rage" coming back. I lead him back upstairs for some more "bedtime fun." It all ended with me calling "the birthday fairy" (AKA Grandpa) to convince them to go to sleep in order to get great presents on their upcoming birthdays. I am just praying that they will become extremely successful and driven men with those strong wills.