Jeneric Jeneralities ~ by JenIG
November 14th, 2008
beep beep i’m a jeep

Ok, so today all of the Chevys, McDonalds, Oreos, Doritos and Bratwursts from our IL / MI trip finally caught up with me.  I think I need a salad.  Or some Drano. 

 

Anyhow, I finally got a return date for Bo and Ryann.  I have to wait a whole ‘nother week before they get home.  Last night I had my guitar out and me and Coie were having sing song time together, but we both realized that we really really really need Ryann on the piano before we can seriously start thinking about making an album. 

 

In other news, having Ryann and Bo gone has given me a lot more time with Emmiko, Dippy and James.  I don’t know about you, but I have two kids (in particular) who naturally “seem” to require less attention.  It is easy for me to over-look them and forget to have conversations with them.  Of course we interact, joke around, chase each other around the house, and receive their fair share of instruction, correction, etc — but I’m talking about actual conversations that take an hour or so and do wonders in catching and holding their hearts.

 

When all of my kids were younger, and I didn’t have the internet, I spent a lot more time on the floor. And we also spent a lot of time ‘practicing’ good behaviour by way of little tests.  I would randomly tell one of them out of the blue, something like, “run over to the couch and then lay down right in front of it”.  If they would look at me with a raised eyebrow, or say, “why?” then I’d bellow, “YOU FAAAAAAAAAILED!  A robber just broke into our house to steal all of the kids and that would have been the only place he wouldn’t have seen you!” 

 

Stuff like that was great for training my little kids in immediate obedience.  Matter of fact, Coie was really good at it.  When she was five, she was in Gramma’s swimming pool (out in the country) and Geoff and I (at the same time) saw a black snake in the water slithering towards her.  So Geoff said, “Coie, swim to the edge and take my hand”.  Without one word, and without hesitation, she grinned and dog-paddled over in her little yellow life jacket and Geoff pulled her out.  Then we were able to turn her around and say, “It’s a good thing you obey so fast, look at that snake – it’s in the exact same place you were 30 seconds ago”  That was awesome.

 

On the flip side, when Jess was eleven and came to live with us after our mom died, she wasn’t too hot at immediate obedience.  Once I was doing laundry and she walked over to me with her pencil and notebook.  And then I looked down and suddenly saw that she was one step away from putting her foot into a lump of baby poop that had obviously fallen out of somebody’s diaper.  I told her, “Jess – FREEZE! Don’t take ONE step”  So what does she do?  She started shrieking and hopping and flailing her arms.  She thought there was a spider near by.  So in the process of her shrieks and leaps she not only stepped in the pile of poop, but she also managed to stab me right in the arm with her pencil.  Remember that Jess?  Good heavens, that’s all much funnier now than it was back then.

 

 

So anyways, with fewer kids in the house this week it’s been a good time to focus on all of those little kid lessons, games and songs that I used to do with the older ones.  It’s also been a good opportunity for them to step up and take over all of the chores that their siblings are in charge of.  I always forget how much kids are capable of accomplishing.  They have really grown a lot this week.  We all have.  But boy oh boy will I be glad when my big kids are back.

November 14th, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 44 Comments

44 Responses to ' beep beep i’m a jeep '

Subscribe to comments with RSS

  1. Annemarie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am

    bwhahahahaha….that poop story is FUNNY.

    And I think that on the floor games is exactly what the red-headed tornado needs. You are brilliant.

  2. Annemarie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am

    I think that I am going to play the game “how many comments can I make before someone else comments.”

  3. Annemarie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am

    I am making an 8 week menu. Is that type A or what?

  4. Annemarie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:32 am

    The red-head wants out of his bed….

  5. Annemarie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Guess what?!? I thought him how to smile on command. It is hysterical! Even when he is crying he will stop and smile.

  6. Annemarie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:33 am

    This game will get really old unless someone comments soon. 🙂

  7. Annemarie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am

    I give up. The kid really wants to get up so I must go.

  8. jenig said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:49 am

    wow, annemarie, you are almost weirder than i am.

  9. Nancy B said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 11:02 am

    I always get at least a giggle when I come over here. I love those stories!! Did you make up that snake one? That is one of those missionary stories, for sure. I know you didn’t make it up, you are too brutally honest! I love that about you!

    I will have to tell you about the time when I got poked in the arm with a pencil in 5th grade. Lovely.

    Annemarie, you are funny too. 🙂

    Nancy

  10. Susan said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    Ok so what does all that have to do with being a Jeep?

  11. Ryann said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    So am I on the ‘disobedient’ list with Jess, or am I with Coie on the ‘obedient’ one?

    This morning we left at 9:30 to go to their church and set everything up. We just got back. Now we’ve gotta go back at 5:30 tonight. We’re SUPPOSED to spend the night there, but me and Grandma are going to leave there at 11pm and come back and then LEAVE here at 7am. So we’ll be getting up at six. 😀 Aren’t you glad you don’t have to be me? I’m actually enjoying it.

  12. jess said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    I still cringe when I think about that obnoxious, hysterical moment. BUT… you forgot to mention the part that you SLAPPED me after I stabbed you to get me to settle down. sdklgfjsakl;jfkld;sjf you also forgot to tell about the time that I DID succeed and pop up from the table and do 20 jumping jacks on command without asking why… and then you told us (cause coie did it too) that we were ‘perfect children’.

    good times…

  13. jess said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    ps annemarie needs a hobbie. hahah (just kidding. she’s hilarious).

  14. jenig said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    yes, Jess… you definitely had your good traits — like the time an ant crawled into my eyeball and i screamed “Jessie get it out!!!!” and you poked your finger right into my socket and swiped that little critter right off my retina.

  15. jenig said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    …oh, and Ryann, you fall into the absolutely obedient camp with Coie, but somehow you ALWAYS managed to injure me in the process, so in that regard, you’re pretty closely alligned with Jess

  16. jess said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    lol… that memory still makes me laugh. you truly made me feel like a hero after that.

  17. Karen said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    Only at the Ig house could someone step in baby poop while being afraid of a non-existant spider.

  18. Megan said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  19. Charley said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    Haha.. This is funny. That explains why when I think of obedience personified, Jess’s face doesn’t appear in my head.

  20. jenig said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    oh dear Charley. you ought to think about taking that one back. really. “Wright” girls are bad enough… but PREGNANT Wright girls should be handled with extreme caution. go buy your wife something from Taco Bell and tell her you didn’t mean it. 😛

  21. Coie said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Neener ~ neener ~ neener ~ I’m better than Jessie….lalalalalala.

    So how come I can’t find a husband?

  22. Amanda said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Sigh, you and Jess make me miss my sister something fierce.

    Drano or a salad–I love that those are your two options.

    My kids are pretty obedient, but I think I may implement some of those training techniques. Love the stories!

    Glad Annmarie clarified all of those comments–I was like, dude, wow, that’s a lot of comments already! I was feeling a little left out, truth be told… 🙂

  23. jenig said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Coie… Jess has like two or three perfectly fine potential husbands all picked out for you. You’re just too picky. And, um, the fact that you have me as your spastic mother probably does not do much to bolster your odds. Sorry honey. At least you have your own room.

  24. Liberty said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    that is such a great idea! I am going to do that with my kids! 🙂

  25. Megan said,

    on November 14th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    yeah, Ryan’s brother will do mock attacks on his kids too. When Ryan and I were first dating this is how I got to know his brother’s family. He’d line all the kids up and come up to them and say “Hi little boy what’s your name?” or “Hi little girl would you like some candy, lets get it out of my car”. I thought well of course their not going to fall for that, not very realistic. But, actually the younger ones would trip up and interact with the “stranger”. If they did slip up he then pretended to tackle them to the ground (not as horrible as it sounds). I think they know now not to talk to strangers. I taught my boys that if someone they don’t know comes up and takes them, to yell “Your not my mommy or daddy!” I think that would get peoples attention 🙂

  26. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:21 am

    Awww. Coie still has her own room? I thought for SURE you’d have it prepared for me to move in with Coie when I get back.

    And I don’t injure you. You smack me or something and hurt yourself instead. Speaking of comebacks (actually that’s not really a comeback), I’ve got a GREAT story about a prank that someone pulled on a lady at the church. She reminds me of Andy, miss Trish’s friend. Ask Coie, she remembers her.

    No, really, it’s a GREAT story and I can’t wait to tell you it and show you the video. K, I need to go to bed. It’s 1:20 on the dot and I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow. G’nighto.

  27. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:23 am

    Btw, just kidding Coie.
    Hey, um, when Coie moves out, do I get that room to myself? Emmiko can have the basement ALL to HERSELF. Or she can share with the boys.

  28. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:23 am

    Oh, wait, so what happens if Coie doesn’t move out?

  29. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:24 am

    I’m doing what Mrs. Williams did

  30. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:24 am

    OH, now I miss her now that I said her name!

  31. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:25 am

    Mrs. Williams, can you come to our house when I get back? I REALLY miss you

  32. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:25 am

    Good gravy. I need to go to bed. G’NIGHT.

  33. Minnesota Momma said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 3:12 am

    BAHAHAH…Drano…now that’s funny girl:)!

    Reckon gonna havta git me sum of dat der Drano on accounta dat Big Mac and dose super size fries I ate tanight. Dang, it was good though!

    GOOD GRAVY!!!!!! Someone else says good gravy besides me! I have never heard anyone say that!!!! Too funny! I say it all the time!

  34. jenig said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 8:56 am

    Minnesota Momma… is that you Amy? I generally do not let super models leave comments on my blog, but i will make an exception for you because 1) you’re weird, which makes you likable and 2) you’re the sister of one of my very best friends in the whole big world

  35. Ryann said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 11:39 am

    I BLOGGED!!!
    http://ryannig.blogspot.com/

    You won’t get to watch the video, but there’s a picture of last night on there of my new friend.

  36. Minnesota Momma said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    Yes, it’s me…weirdo deirdo Amy. Thanks for letting me comment on your blog, I feel so special now :). I do however have a concern about that Drano possibly affecting your brain or eyes after the super model comment. Perhaps you need to call poison control? I’m pretty sure my left thigh weighs more than a bunch of super models put together even after a day of them splurging on two lettuce leaves instead of one!

    What a coincidence! My sister is one of my best friends in the whole world too! And bonus for me she happens to have some great connections to some fabulously neat people that I am inspired, enlightened and cracked up by almost daily as I blog stalk-lol!

  37. jess said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    i just saw my husbands comment. i’ll be right back…

  38. jess said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    .. just kidding. i know i’m a brat. I’m work’n on it! I’m work’n on it.

    won’t you come bring me some taco bell?? i just went in and lovingly woke Charley up and begged him to take me to breakfast. I wonder if it worked. he didn’t seem inspired.. or even conscious really. that man LOVES to sleep. anyways, i’m bored. saturday mornings are always boring to me ever since they took Recess off the air. Won’t you come play skip-bo with me?? and yes, if your snickerdoodle wouldn’t be so dang picky, I’d surly have her good and married off by now. but nooooooo. no one listens to ME. ‘Specially my husband. that’s probably a good thing.

    man does chicken fried steak sound good right now. and gravy. and juice. and fried potatoes.

  39. jenig said,

    on November 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    jess, you have no idea how much i wish i could be there to take you to breakfast… and to dr. appts… and to marriage counseling ROFL. i crack myself up. i’m bored too. i hate it when geoff works Saturdays.

  40. Sharmaine said,

    on November 16th, 2008 at 6:02 am

    OH MY GOSH!!!! I can’t believe I missed all this already!!! Wow, I’ve got to remind myself that your family sure knows how to jam-pack their actions and keep it lively… unless conserving energy for the next adventure, of course!

    I am so inspired by your family, you guys are so wonderful and hilarious. My goodness (good gravy! I gotta start saying that now! :D) I have to meet you guys someday when I uh, fork over the $1600 flight fare and… do a lot of driving. Hopefully I can co-ordinate my arrival with a barn dance!!!

    When I am lucky enough to get married and have kids of my own, I am so doing the obedience training. Gosh it sounds FUN!

    God bless~! Love,

    Sharmaine

  41. Marsha said,

    on November 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Okay, that was an impressive idea on training kids to obey in a fun way!!! You are so cleverly clever.

    Hmmm… when Charley Jess Jr. gets here and iffen the poop falls on the floor, I bet she would obey you quickly if you were to yell that again!

  42. Angie:) said,

    on November 16th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    What fun to catch up on your blog sweet obedience tester!:) What a bunch of fun “instant obedience” testing ideas that I have not been doing recently. HMMMMM….I shall have to begin again and if there is ANY lamenting, whining or complaining…. I shall blame you and your highly influential blog!:)(Hee, hee, hee!:):) ….However, the truth will be that I am incredibly grateful as I needed to be reminded of some of these!:)

    You and my sweet sister are both FUNNY and I am INCREDIBLY BLESSED and THANKFUL for both of you!!!

    Love you!!:):)


  43. on November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    After reading through all these comments, I totally forget what I was going to say.

    Your next post should end with “PARTY IN THE COMMENTS!!”

  44. EEEEMommy said,

    on November 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    What a great post!!! 🙂 I could use a week like that myself. I don’t really need to ship off any kids though, I just need to turn off the computer…

Leave a reply