Maybe It Really Should Be Called April Fools Month

Noah decided to play a prank on Tyler today. He put a screw into Tyler's milk and, when Tyler discovered it at the bottom of his emptied cup, Noah gleefully announced, “April Fools!”

Which means Noah needs to learn a couple of things. One, it's called April Fools DAY, not April Fools MONTH.

And, two, putting a screw into someone's drink isn't classified as a joke in some circles. It's considered attempted murder.  So...

Goodness.

Second, we got a puppy last Friday. He is cute and comes with puppy breath and was a total surprise to the kids. “Bru” is a South African slang term for “bro.” He is a dalmation/spaniel (mom) mixed with Jack Russell (dad). I don't even know how that was possible except all I'm saying is that someone pulled a muscle. Bru seems to have been the runt out of about 13 pups so he took a day to come out of his shell. We've been praying he'll be another Old Yeller-type, protecting our babies from all the snakes that decided to immigrate to the farm around the same time we did. 

We have high expectations for this little dog that has peed in the house more times than a mop should be asked to handle and who just left a pile of poo behind the very chair I'm writing about our expectations for him in. So far, Old Yeller is winning.

By a lot.

As my friend, Kelley, pointed out, we now have two little ones in need of some potty training and what was I thinking. I obviously wasn't. All I've got to say is, “Tile floors.”

Thank goodness.

Third, it seems winter has come early, according to the natives. And, by natives, I mean those who have lived in this valley more than 13 weeks and who don't have to ask directions for how to prepare a hot water bottle. We stocked up on a few of those, house shoes and a plug-in heater for the living room. If it's this cold and winter hasn't even officially hit, I'm a little concerned.

More than one native has told me it's not so much that it's unbearably cold here; it's just that the homes aren't well insulated. Which just makes me say, if more than one of the natives is telling me this, it seems obvious...insulate better.  I see what they mean about the insulation. Starting with the fact I can see daylight around every side of our front door...when it is closed.

Did I mention they have snakes here?

Anyway, we have stocked up on what they tell us are the necessities. Including a fire extinguisher and smoke alarm because, as we learned today, it appears pillows don't like to be leaned up against electric heaters. They get all smokey and stuff.

All this fall weather is tricking me into feeling like Christmas is just around the corner. And, instead of decking the halls and jingling bells, it appears all we're in for is potty training a dog in frigid weather.

Oh, goodness.

Fourth, and finally, we got internet at the end of March. All the nine weeks before, most of our internet usage was via cell phones, office internet for work and the occasional restaurant with wi-fi. Needless to say, we were so excited to get our internet set up. However, our laptop charger stopped working about two days later and it took two weeks to get a replacement. And all of that means we have had a time trying to get our blog and newsletter worked on. And all of that means I am writing blogs on a word document and saving them with the hope that we may finally have internet and a power cord that work at the same time. Eventually, I hope to catch up...even though that means a lot of backdating of entries.  So, I'll be sharing about the summer heat and swim lessons as I crank up the heater and dream of a white Christmas.

In July.

My goodness.