Introduction to Lying

When we were little we had a toy pot.  It wasn't like the one in the picture. The sides were made of clear plastic, and there were two layers with water in between, so it looked like the pot was full of water.

You know that game where you try and make the other person "flinch"? We would often pretend to douse each other with the "water" in that toy pot and then say "Made you flinch!"  

I always flinched.

Ben never flinched.

Being a much older and wiser sister, I knew it was time to get creative.

One unsuspecting day, I put water in the pot. Ben didn't flinch, but he got wet!

Unfortunately for me, this was back in the day when "I'm telling on you!" invoked a lot more fear than it would now.  But I had a solution.

I doused myself with water too.

When mom came up the stairs to ask me why I dumped water all over my brother I had a quick answer.

"Ben tricked me and dumped water on me from this pot and when I said I was going to tell on him he got himself all wet and ran downstairs to tell on me but I didn't do anything!"

Ben got in trouble.

He still reminds me of this incident at least once a year.

I taught my brother how to lie. 

Raising a Large Family

A few months ago I was reading a magazine article on organization, and it referenced a book titled A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family. As I've always wanted to be just that, and as I had some time on my hands, I decided to check it out. It turned out the book hadn't been published yet (it will be on April 5), but at the bottom of the book description it had a link to the author's blog, Owlhaven.

Thus began my new hobby/obsession of following stranger's blogs. I've really enjoyed reading Mary's stories of her life raising 10 kids, several of which were adopted. I'm excited to read her book when it comes out, and right now she is giving away some free copies! To be honest, that is why I'm telling you all this- so I'll be entered into the contest for a free copy. But don't worry, I wouldn't do it if Mary didn't deserve the plug.  So check out the book, and if you buy a copy and I don't win one, let me know and I'll steal it from you. Happy reading!

More Replacing Electronics

See that, up there? That is a beautiful camera. It will be mine soon. Steve and I replaced our dinky and great-up-until-I-found-out-I-could-replace-it camera that was stolen. It will arrive in the mail in a few days, so I decided I should give everyone so warning, because PICTURES ARE COMING SOON!! Blog posts are just so much better with pictures, you know? I'm still not happy our house was broken into... but.... Well, you know.

Rain

This morning it is raining.

Not the usual Yakima rain where you go outside and realize everything is wet- a loud, windy, hard rain that beats on your roof and lashes against your windows.

The type of rain that drives you to sit and listen and wish there weren't any other sounds to distract you from the beautiful sound of the rain.

The type of rain that calls you to come outside and jump in puddles.

The type of rain that invites you to curl up (in your comfy red robe) in the coziest chair you have, and read a book while listening to the rain- instead of getting ready for the day.

The type of rain that seems like it will never end- as if the sky has torn itself open, never to be repaired. Then suddenly, it does.

I love the rain.

New Computer!

I realize I shouldn't post pictures of myself in my jammies, but I just had to show off my pretty new computer.  See that monitor? Its 24"!!! That means if I look at a picture of my face, it is bigger than my real face!!!! I'm excited. I mean, really excited. We found a really great deal at Staples, couldn't get it, got depressed, and found this one at Costco which is BIGGER and BETTER and still got a great deal.  I'm still not happy we were robbed, but I'm definitely feeling better about it.

I Need to Learn HTML

I'm going to let you in on a little secret, you ready?.... I kinda hate my blog.... I'm terrible, I know, but I really suffer from great-blog envy. The content isn't necessarily what is irritating me (although I know it could use some work), but the layout is driving me nuts!!!

You see that widget on the side for "Martha Stewart's Cookie of the ....."? It is supposed to say Day, as I'm sure you realize, but I can't make it work so you can see the whole thing. Alas... Also, I want tabs! I want better picture options! Check out The Pioneer Woman's Blog. Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it make you want to abandon my silly blog forever? Sigh..

Anyway, the point of all this nonsensical whining is to let you know that SOMEDAY that will be me! I'm going to figure all this HTML garbage out, I'm going to have my own computer (hopefully tonight!!!) and I'm going to rock the heck out of this blog business, just you wait!

The Perfect Time

For Valentine's Day I got the most comfortable robe in the world. Not only is it what you would find in Webster's to define "plush" and "warm," it is also BRIGHT red. Happy, cheerful, "Good Morning!!" red.

This robe has caused some significant life changes for me.

My morning routine used to be this: Get up, stumble into my (somewhat boring) robe, head downstairs for scripture study with the family, stumble back up the stairs, and back into bed. Eventually I would get back up, head to the bathroom and race the clock to get ready before I'm late to work. No more!

Now I wake up, put on my soft new robe, and luxuriate in its warm embrace. No more getting back in bed. No more hurrying into my clothes when I'm done showering. Now I sit and read a book, or check my e-mail and do a little writing. Morning has become the perfect time of day.

I'm more productive, I'm more cheerful, and I have more energy. Not to mention I am taking a little time to myself each day and it seems to be doing wonders for my attitude.

I highly recommend you each evaluate your robe and see what you can do to increase its wearability. Let me know how it goes.