My Little White Lie About the Garden Gnome

So there’s this garden gnome that my wife and I have had in our backyard for about a decade. It’s just sitting there, wearing its little red hat and blue jacket, watching over us. Now, here’s where things get interesting: last month, I went on a solo trip to visit some old college buddies, and when I got back, the gnome was lying on its side in the dirt. My wife came up to me looking worried as can be and asked if I had accidentally knocked it over while putting out laundry or something. Now, here’s where my story takes a turn for the tricky. I’m not exactly what you’d call physically fit anymore, let alone someone who’d dare to sneak into our neighbor’s yard at night (or day for that matter) and steal their garden gnome for no good reason. But then there was this moment of doubt, maybe she didn’t believe me because we have a reputation for playing pranks on each other? Could it be possible that I had, in my sleep, somehow made it to the next yard and caused mischief? I ended up telling her that yes, I did knock him over when I was putting out laundry. I figured if there’s one lie I can get away with without causing too much drama, this would be it. But honestly, I’m not proud of it. And every time we talk about getting a new gnome or just moving the current one somewhere else in the yard, I cringe inside. So here’s my question to all you out there: am I the asshole for making up that little white lie? Is it really so bad when it doesn’t hurt anyone and it saves me from looking like an old man who would steal things in his sleep? What do you think? Am I being way too hard on myself over a garden gnome?