So we all know that the wife has no life to her character well it depends on who your wife is since Hearthfire came out we get to adopt children however there are reports from various users on different websites and possibly here that the wife's get a total downgrade again meaning they are more shallow than before but the funny part is that the children have full of life all of sudden

has anyone notice?

I don't see how spouses are downgraded at all. Certain ones get new dialogue where you can ask them about your children, and those spouses will respond to skeever infestations by telling you they've been hearing scurrying in the basemant. They also interact with various objects inside your home, and outside too (unless you live in Lakeview Manor and don't have the Armory wing built, in which case they'll be glitched when they go outside and just stand in one spot). Not necessarily huge improvements, but I fail to see how it's a step back.