Fools Mock

I’m gullible trusting.

On just one April Fools' Day in 2009, I believed my sister was pregnant in the morning (I have fallen for that one every single April Fool's Day that Ashley hasn't actually been expecting). I believed my friends had their baby boy that afternoon (I ran over to tell Noah about baby Sawyer Jack and that's when a coworker pointed out those are characters from LOST). And I believed my cousin got engaged that evening. 

It was an eventful day.

This is the first April first in a long time that I actually had my head in the game, so I've been a little disappointed that I haven't been on the receiving end of many fibs.

I did use the April Fools' forethought to bake some mini cookies and pretend they were a baby announcement with my coworkers. They were so excited and gave me the very sweetest reaction. Our fake baby was so loved that I actually felt really awful for pretending. I sort of feel like karma's going to give me a baby now.

Ought Not Guess.

Noah came home Saturday on an early flight from Toronto. While he promptly hit the hay, I busied myself with cleaning the apartment... the 150 square feet that didn't encompass the room where he was sleeping.

A spotless bathroom and kitchen later, I made my way into the living/dining/bedroom where Noah stirred and admitted, "I have a bit of a guilty conscience."

"Don't worry, sweetie - I don't mind cleaning. I know you're tired."

"No, um... I was going to say I left your scriptures in my hotel room in Toronto."

Lesson learned. Don't guess what you think your spouse should be feeling guilty for.

Left My Heart, and My Lunch, in Ann Arbor

Ashley just sent these pictures from our visit with them last month. I've completely melted. It's official. I'm a puddle at a desk.

For President's Day, we got away to that most obvious of February destinations: Michigan. We planned the trip before Ashley and I realized we'd see each other in Utah, but I was already craving more family time, so this trip was a welcome respite from real life. Our visit had everything we needed. Ashley's delicious home-cooking, an aerobics class that kicked my booty, thrift store treasure hunting, cloth napkin sewing, dancing around the house with two of my favorite little towheads, dinner in downtown Ann Arbor with J&A, lemon drop cookies, and food poisoning. So that last one seems less appealing, but Ashley has rough first trimesters, so she knows how to take care of a sickie. Plus, "I'm gonna look amAzing..." (sad that neither Ashley nor I have the words to properly recount our weeks without having to quote NBC's Thursday night lineup).

One of my favorite pictures of Noah and Hayden reminded me of a similar shot with little Miss Abbey a few years ago. He's got an m.o.

My sweet Abbey, you ARE loved. I'm so sorry we don't have the pictures to prove it. The camera didn't come out much this trip. Correction: my camera didn't even make it to Michigan, since I was traveling Spirit Airlines and couldn't take anything that didn't fit in my purse (and underwear pulled rank). Ashley's made it out just in time to capture a few antics while we waited for our lunch to arrive - which we promptly devoured and then made a run for the airport.

Love this little family so much.

Monticello.

Sometimes I feel like not capturing a wonderful memory with a photograph is such a shame. In this case, I like to think of it as having such a nice time, nobody stopped to grab a camera.

We were fortunate to ring in the New Year with Koryn and her family in their lovely little town of Monticello, Utah. After more than a decade's worth of globe trotting, the Knudsen family calls this rural town in southeastern Utah home and we were excited to share a few days soaking in the beauty of their surroundings. I seem to have blocked the memory of what the temperature was outside (anyone care to comment and remind?!) but it was severe enough to keep me cozily indoors or running fast to the car to get to our destination and back to cozily indoors.

The boys (my boy included) and little Miss Whit braved the elements and pulled a tube behind the fourwheelers right down the middle of the road for an afternoon of can't-do-that-in-NYC fun.

We also attempted an evening hike to the Delicate Arch (which, side note - we once saw a news tease that had me believe it had fallen down and I was heartbroken I'd never seen it). After flying 2,000 miles and driving another 6 hours, we came within .25 miles of checking that off the list. But alas, the box remains unchecked. All the hikers we passed warned us we were starting too late and it would be dark. In sheer defiance, we pressed onward until our sensibility and the moonless night got the best of us and we turned around. Next time.

It's Never Too Late For Now.

Our holiday season was lovely and it's high time I mention it.

We spent a few weeks in Utah visiting family and friends. It was a little strange to be in Utah without intent to head to my hometown. But with Mom and Dad in Korea, we were the lucky ones that got to snatch up my sweet sister to join the festivities with us in Payson. Seriously, there were mobs vying for her presence and we won.  

No winter trip to Payson is complete without some sledding. Usually we hit the hill at the school, but somehow we wisened up this year and walked right out the front door to the hill at Noah's parents' place. Right outside = easy bathroom access. Brilliant.

The hill was deceivingly treacherous, made even more so by Gus - who saw each sled full of barreling inertia as a force to be reckoned with. The afternoon was a fine object lesson in the principles of physics. What will happen when Josh and sled traveling 7mph at a 45 degree decline meet 100 pounds of charging chocolate lab? Now we know.

The antagonist.

I submit the following as evidence I am incapable of making a non-obnoxious face when I sled.

One of the highlights of the holiday was dipping chocolates with Megan and the Rileys. Homemade fondants, fudge and caramels are a family tradition started by my Grandma, passed on to my Mom and now being mastered by Megs (the other Furniss sisters have learned as well, but I think we all readily admit that Megs' are a cut above. Also, I should admit that this Furniss sister doesn't actually make them. That would only be a force for evil in my hands.). It was such a treasure to have my sister share a Furniss family tradition with my Riley family. This memory really is this color in my mind's eye.

And Megan's no dummy. She knows the fastest way to win over kids. "Yeah, really - stick your hands in the chocolate."

She also taught them everything she knows about basketball. Which is lots.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

End of an Era

Maybe it's a stretch to refer to two years as an "era" - but today marks an eventuality we've been planning for since we moved to NYC.

Noah and I have been colleagues (always love telling a reporter or producer I'll refer them to my "colleague" Noah :) ) for the past two+ years and with that came tandem commutes, shared lunches and a lot more time together than is typical of most young couples.

At the onset, we figured this crossing of our career paths could either be a lot of fun or a total train wreck.

I'm happy to report it's the former and then some. I'm already wholly convinced this guy is flawless, but working together has given me a glimpse into who career Noah is and will be. And I've gotta say - I love what I see. He is kind. He is patient. He's ethical. He's considerate. He's a mentor and friend. I knew all these things about Noah, but there is something about seeing their application in the corporate world - a world where sometimes I fear these virtues are fading - that makes me so proud of who he is.

And also swoon.

We work in an industry where relationships matter an awful lot. It will come as no surprise that Noah makes and keeps great relationships and he's very, very good at what he does.

Today, a very lucky company and fortunate colleagues are welcoming Noah to their ranks. It's a leap in an entirely new direction for Noah. New challenges requiring new skill sets and the honing of new talents. But I've yet to see something stump this guy.

Admittedly, this gal's a little stumped about how to adjust to life without that handsome guy across the hall.

And it's a bummer about the timing, Noah. For I finally got a respectable candy jar.

He Did Love a Good Party

There is something so appropriate about Grandpa Furniss hanging on to celebrate his 93rd birthday. He made it this far, after all, may as well grab one more slice of cake for the road.

Just a few days after ushering in his 94th year, my sweet Grandpa passed away and reunited with the sweetheart he's been missing for 11 years. I like to picture her tugging at the curl behind her ear. And maybe Grandpa gave her an, "ah hell, Carol" for old time's sake.

Lloyd & Carol Furniss

Most of the progeny of Lloyd Smith and Carol Marie Chester Furniss gathered in Ogden this week to celebrate a life lived to the fullest.

In short summary, I don't think I've ever laughed so much at a funeral. I expect Grandpa would have liked it that way. He had a certain joie de vivre that lent itself to countless tales - some taller than others - and as my dear Uncle Wayne pointed out, everyone had a story about Grandpa.

I hope you'll indulge me as I share a new favorite (this was new to me, though not new to most...). It helps as quick background to know my grandparents are likely how the term "opposites attract" was coined (physics, pfsh) and my grandma was one of the most prim and proper gals out there. After their first date, Grandpa dropped Grandma off at her apartment. Grandma knew her sister and roommate had been baking bread all evening and so she invited Grandpa in for a hot roll. Grandpa said he'd never been so disappointed as when he learned she was actually referring to bread.

Lloyd Smith Furniss

1918-2011