Summertime fun - for everyone

Summer is underway and my children are so happy.

They love to go to the Greeley Independence Stampede, swim with their friends, and run around the park with the neighbors and their dogs.

I love this time of year, too. This is the time of year when they do all their chores on time and do things I ask at the last minute.

One day my son wanted to go swimming with his friends.

Alrighty, here's my chance, I thought.

"Well, only if you paint the bathroom for me," I said.

Boom! It was done.

The other day, my daughter wanted to have her friend come over for the day.

Another light bulb went off in my head.

"Well, only if you take all the scrapbooking stuff off the table and put it in a bag for me," I said.

Badda-bing. It was done.

Now, I know most parents are going to write to me and tell me how deceitful this little strategy of mine is to the kids.

But let's keep it real.

What I've done is nothing short of what has been passed down from generations to generations in life.

I've only mastered the skills taught to me by my parents, grandparents and I'm sure, great-grandparents.

Summer time is a great time in our home.

Everything looks so fresh and things are put away faster than you can say ... slumber party.