going to sleep at night

OK, so Ella goes to bed at 7- has dinner at 5.30, milo at 6.15 followed by shower or bath and then we read a couple of books in bed until 7 and then its lights out.

Normally she would go to sleep staight away, but lately has been lying in bed chattering away for an hr (she is talking away at the moment). She is perfectly happy in bed and doesn't get out.....but it is driving me nuts, why won't she go to sleep.

She still has a nap around midday and will sleep from between 2-3 hrs (11.30-2.30) and I am trying to take her to the part/playground/swimming etc in the afternoon to tire her out. But am wondering if I should be waking her early from her sleep? Part of me thinks I should, but I do hate waking a sleeping child (particularly as a lot of time I am always tired); but  I don't want to put her to bed later than 7 as I do enjoy having my evenings to myself.

What would you do? Would you wake her up early from her nap or just leave her to chatter away in the evening and just try and ignore it.

That sounds like good advice to me.  I've definitely noticed that Jimmy is tending to stay awake and talk to himself for longer as the days have been getting longer. Last summer it didn't bother him, he'd be out to it soon after 7pm without fail - but this year is a different kettle of fish!

Also, I wonder if they just need longer to wind down as they get older? I almost always need to read a book for a while after getting into bed, just until my own thoughts stop whizzing around in my head .

Joel has started this young then! He has been doing this for 2-3 weeks now, it normally takes him 1-1.5 hrs to go to sleep after I put him in bed. I just leave him as he sounds happy and is normally chatting and singing and banging the side of the cot.