I agree, you can't keep a house spotless with little kids!

To try and stay on top of things, I find a few little things help...
1. Declutter!!!! Getting rid of excess stuff/junk/clutter makes the house feel cleaner and tidier
2. Have a "place for everything" - makes packing away quick and easy - if there is no "place" get rid of it or something else to make room.
3. Have "systems" and tools which help when cleaning. Eg I keep my cleaning products in the bathroom and shower, so I can clean while I'm in the shower or the kids are in the bath. I also bought a rechargeable vacuum/upright DustBuster so I can do a quick whizz over the floors etc
4. Meal planning allows me to always have meals in the freezer so I don't have to cook from scratch every night.
5. Reset your priorities your children are only little for such a short time, spending time with them is more important (IMO) than a spotless house!