Update

I have not updated the blog in a long time but that's because there really isn't much to blog about.

I could talk about how I feel Spring and Fall just blended together, skipping over Summer. (I love Fall colours by the way) I'm trying to convince Austin we need to move somewhere warmer. I could talk about how we haven't cleaned our fish tank in months, but somehow it's starting to look cleaner on its own and that the only time they get fed is when our 11/2 year old friend Brooklynn comes over to feed them. Austin keeps asking for another dog--I point to the fish tank as my answer. I could talk about how Austin is insisting we need a bigger TV for the NBA season after he saw a clip of the Miami Heat training camp. Or that he has a somewhat disturbing man crush on Lebron James. We're working through it. I could talk about the Glee/Britney episode and how it bothered me that the choreography wasn't the same choreography used in her music videos. Anyone else notice that? Just me? I know I'm weird. I could talk about how every other day I tell Austin I really want to learn to play the guitar. I have yet to do anything about it. Or how I am falling in love with photography and my niece has become my number one target. Most of the shots are of her running away from me. She doesn't like to sit still. I could also talk about how I haven't been to the gym in months. Neither has Austin. He continues to lose weight; I do the opposite. Figures. I could also talk about all the books I have read in the last two months (21) because I have had nothing to do at work. I got a new job. I could talk about how when I watch The Biggest Loser I tear up feeling so bad for these people, and yet I'm eating a bowl of popcorn or a plate of cookies as I watch it. Kinda pathetic eh? Or I could talk about how much TV I watch and that I have over a 100 recordings I don't have time to see. PVR/DVR, you have saved my life. Or I could talk about how I haven't done my hair in weeks. I let it dry naturally after my shower which is frizzy with weird half curls. It's as cute as it sounds. And I could talk about how Austin refuses to lift or clean anything now because he has a really good excuse. He has a hernia. Like I said, not much to talk about.

Side note: I'm thinking of getting bangs or lots of layers in my hair. Thoughts???

ObSeSsEd

I can't stop listening to this song! I get a lot of weird looks when I am dancing like crazy in my car during traffic, but I don't care!

Mom's Wedding

On July 30, 2010, my mom got married to Grant Clayton. It was a beautiful wedding and the weather was perfect!! It was a nice, small, intimate wedding and here are some pictures from the big day, courtesy of my Aunt Lindsay...

My Grandpa McStravick walking my mom down the aisle

Even Brad made it to the wedding

The Ranch in Fish Creek Park

Happily married

New blended family

Backstreet Boys

Saw these guys last night. LOVED it! It may have been my third time seeing them in concert. First time was when I was in Grade 6. Thirteen years ago. I never thought that when I was 24 years old I would be seeing another Backstreet Boys concert. Oh the memories it brought back of teenage years! Brian is still my favourite. Still know the words to their songs after so many years. The dance numbers weren't like they used to be but give the guys a break... they're in their mid-thirties!

UTAH / IDAHO Weekend

This past weekend I headed down to Utah for Ashley Costley's, I mean Ashley Bird's wedding! I vowed I would never drive the I15 ever again after numerous trips back and forth from Calgary to Rexburg but I did it. I left Wednesday night with Britt Gibson heading to Rexburg, then caught a red-eye shuttle to Salt Lake City where my dear friend Ashley, who I haven't seen for TWO years, picked me up. We spent the day together running errands, getting pedicures, and getting last minute wedding stuff together. Then that night we met up with Remi, Kate, Miriam and Ashley's family and had a girls dinner at Cheescake Factory. It was SOO good to see the girls! I have missed everyone so much! I have been feeling so isolated up here in Canada and making it difficult to keep in touch with everyone as much as I want to so I really needed this weekend! Love you girls! The wedding was beautiful! Jeremy and Ashley were so in love and looked so happy! And it was so fun to catch up with the girls and laugh and chit chat about life.

Then after the wedding, I headed back up to Rexburg to hang out with Ash, Dave and Summer Cichy! They were too good to me. We went to the Idaho Falls Zoo, which surprisingly was better then I thought it would be, ate at Cafe Rio, did P90X, watched Baby Mama, and just hung out. I miss not having them in Calgary! I was also able to see Pam, Matt and Chet Leavitt who I haven't seen for so long.

I came home to an amazing husband who welcomed me with a dozen roses, dinner made and a clean house! I love him. It was such a good weekend and I am so glad I was able to see so many people that I have been missing! I am very lucky to have amazing friends in my life and I wish I could see them all  more. Thanks Ash and Dave for letting me crash at your places and thanks everyone for a good time!

So cute!!

Pretty Ashley

Summer being a little monkey!

JOY

Last year, I became an Aunt for the first time. I was so excited but even then, I don't think I anticipated the love I was going to have for this little girl. I think about all the wonderful Aunt's that I had in my life and wonder if they felt the same way about me when I came into this world.

I love babysitting her. I love playing with her. I love reading to her. I LOVE taking pictures of her. I love when she spends the night and love in the morning when she wakes up and is so happy to see me. I love watching Austin with her. I love when she says my name. I love her.

As my life has been up and down this past year, I could always count on her to put a smile on my face. Pure joy. It has been amazing to watch her grow and learn and to try and teach her new things. With new eyes to this world, there are so many little things that are eye catching to her. Little things I never notice. She has the entire family wrapped around her finger and constantly battling for her attention. The gratitude we must all have for her in our lives is overwhelming.

I love every second of being her Aunt and being able to spoil her like crazy. The experiences have helped me patiently wait for when it is my turn to have my own little one. But for right now, Sadie Jae brings me so much joy and I love being Auntie Lisa.

And That Makes Four

I recently attended my youngest brother, Sean, graduation ceremony. I have actually attended all of my siblings ceremony's which are like 2 1/2 hours each so that is a lot of hours of sitting! This tradition of mine started when Laura was graduating from High School in 2006 and my dad was in the hospital for his Bone Marrow Transplant. Obviously he couldn't attend and my mom needed to be with him when he came out of the surgery. So me and my good friend Ashley took Laura to her Graduation which was actually a big deal because Laura was the first person with Down Syndrome to graduate from a public High School in Calgary!

Then my dad passed away in 2007 missing both my brothers High School Graduations. Since my dad was able to attend only my Graduation, I felt like I should attend all of my siblings Graduation in place of my dad. It's been really fun to act like the proud parent taking all the photos and cheering when their names are called onstage. The girls graduated from Lord Beaverbrook High School and the boys graduated from Centennial High School. As I was attending Sean's, I realized I have been graduated for SEVEN years! That is crazy!

My Grad 2003

Laura's Grad 2006

Brad's Grad 2007

Sean's Grad 2010

I Don't Even Care That It's Snowing Outside...

I'm in such a good mood today.

Why?

Because So You Think You Can Dance starts tonight and I can barely contain my EXCITEMENT!!! Remember my last post about this show?

http://austinandlisagough.blogspot.com/2009/12/sytycd-thoughts.html

There are changes. This season on SYTYCD has brought back previous contestants as the All Stars and will be partnered up with this year's contestants. As my friend Kyle put it, "It's like Dancing With The So You Think Can Dance Stars". I LOVE the idea! I'm still not clear on the details of the overall process but I am excited to find out. I also LOVE who they are bringing back. They just happen to be a lot of my favourites!!! Like my girl Allison Holker from Season 2 (my all time fav!).

I am actually willing to take credit for a lot of the changes that they made this season. We are back to the normal Summer schedule, Mary Murphy is no more and Mia Michaels is back. (Thank goodness!) All points I discussed in my rant. (I'm pretty sure Nigel read it.)

Anyway, this season is looking pretty promising and I am going to love all two hours of tonight's episode!

Remember That Black Cloud?

This is pretty much what happened to me yesterday except it was on a busy intersection. I was the red car and the other car was an 83 year old man who shouldn't be driving! My mom had asked me to go pick up my sister Laura from home and bring her to the new house which is only a few minutes away. As I was heading back to my mom with Laura, I was going straight through an intersection and a car decided to turn left and I smoked right into them on the passenger side! The speed limit was 60 km/H so I hit them at a pretty good speed.

My first thought, "Is Laura okay?" She was. She bumped her knee and it was bleeding and she was a little shaken up, but she was okay.

My second thought, "*swear word* this is my mom's car!"

The police station was just down the street so they came pretty quick and I had to fill out a police report but obviously the other guy was at fault. He should NOT have been turning as I was going straight through the intersection! I just felt so bad that I had my sister in the car with me and that it was my mom's car. My mom was more concerned that we were alright but I still felt bad I wrecked it.

It was at lunch time on a pretty busy intersection so a lot of people we knew saw us there and it was right by the high school my brother goes to and all his friends were talking and pointing at it. Lovely! The important thing is that we were okay and I am very grateful that we were protected and that we were able to walk away from it!

Hopefully everything with insurance will get all worked out. As for me, I'm heading right to a chiropractor because I am in pAiN!

Big News

No I am not pregnant (for some reason that is what everyone first thinks). My mom got ENGAGED on Saturday to Grant Clayton!! He is a really great guy and has handled our family very well. She is so beyond excited and was flashing her ring (she calls it her "bling") all day! They have been dating for about a year now and have now decided to take it to the next level. There is no date yet but it will be this summer for sure. Brad had a lot to take in yesterday when he called for Mother's Day but I know he wants my mom to be happy! And happy she is!! Here are some pictures I took of them when they told us the news.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Life is funny. I felt like 2009 was such an up and down year that 2010 was going to be OUR year! January 4 I was laid off. Great start! And here I sit in April still looking for a job and losing my mind!

First I get really angry at my previous employer for letting me go but then remember that it really wasn't that great of a job and it required me to work weekends and holidays which I hated. Then I blame the economy for failing right when I graduate making it even more difficult to look for employment. Then I get mad at myself for staying home during a summer semester while my dad was in the hospital because if I had went to school like I was supposed, I would have graduated sooner and had a better economy to deal with. This thought enters and exits pretty quickly though as I would never give that summer up for anything.

The point is, I can find blame at some point in years past which seems ridiculous but I do it. I guess its because my family has always joked that a black cloud has always followed us and that joke just isn't funny anymore. It's getting more challenging to be happy for those around me who are announcing good news of pregnancy's, home purchases, dream jobs, vacations and other great things. At times, I feel like I am being left behind and that their lives are moving forward and mine has been going backwards. I think it's because I try to control everything and I have made countless lists of goals, time lines, and things that I want that haven't happened yet and I don't know how to make them happen. And I think it's because I always think I'm older then I actually am because my whole life I hung around people who were older than me that eventually I just assumed I was that age too. People always say that it always gets bad before it gets better and that everything happens for a reason, but I feel like I'm still waiting for those blessings??

I know I need to suck it up and count the many blessings that I do have in my life. I know I need to have patience and know that I do have a purpose. I truly am grateful for this church in my life and for my amazing family and friends who I know love and care about me. And I am SO thankful for Austin. That man puts up with so much from me and still loves me!

Life is funny. I`m going to try really hard to make lemonade :)

Two Years And Counting...

Austin and I have now been married for two years! We celebrated our anniversary this past weekend by going up to Banff. It was lovely! The weather was perfect and it was so nice to get away for a weekend. We are so lucky to live so close to a beautiful place in the mountains!

Walking Downtown

Heading out to dinner

Beautiful flowers Austin got me

I'm so glad we were able to celebrate and I can't believe it's been two years! I'm excited what the next year will bring us!

Minute To Win It

There's a new show on called Minute To Win It where contestants perform ten tasks to win a million dollars. Most of the tasks involve household items so we did what anyone watching the show would do...see if we could do it!

Johnny Applestack: Contestant must stack five apples one on top of the other. Once completed, the structure must remain freestanding for three seconds.

Don't Blow the Joker: A standard deck of playing cards is balanced on top of the neck of a glass soda bottle. Contestant must use his/her mouth to blow the cards off the bottle. However, the bottom card must remain balanced on the bottle

The cards one is really tricky!! Can't wait to see what next week's episode brings...

Cake?

Over the weekend, Austin and I were heading to our friends house (Jason & Suzanne) and I had brought some cookies with me. As we were waiting for them to let us in, I noticed that the cookie container and the way I wrapped them looked kind of like a cake. I mentioned this to Austin and he broke into this song...

"If I knew you were coming, I'd a baked a cake, baked a cake, baked a cake. Oh, if I knew you were coming, I'd a baked a cake..."

After I got over the initial shock of this random song & dance, I burst out laughing asking him what that was? He then looked at ME like I was crazy because I had never heard that song! I then had him sing the song for Jason and Suzanne who also had never heard that song!

A couple days later we asked a couple of Austin's siblings if they knew the song because I assumed it was a "family song" or something. They didn't know it either so then Austin thought he made it up! Haha! Well, I found the song so if you have heard of this song, I would love for you to tell me about it!

Click Here --> IfIKnewYouWereComing...

EH O CANADA GO

The Olympics are my FAVORITE! I love everything about them! I LOVE the different events. I LOVE all the festivities. I LOVE watching all the athletes compete. I LOVE how so many countries come together to participate. It's so amazing to see. I'm in such awe of those athletes that have worked so hard to be the best they can be in their sport and see the passion that they have. Everytime someone wins a gold medal I tear up because you can see the joy beaming off their faces!

I especially love the Winter Olympics because it feels so close to home and this year the Olympics are at home! I've never been to Vancouver but I am thrilled the Olympics are being hosted there. I'm so excited for everything to begin so I can cheer on my country that I am so proud to be from.

The opening ceremonies last night were amazing! I thought they did such a great job and this poem was my favorite part. Enjoy...

We Are More

by Shane Koyczan

Define Canada

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One

who inspired little number nines

and little number ninety-nines

but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes

and some say what defines us

is something as simple as please and thank you

and as for you're welcome

well we say that too

but we are more

than genteel or civilized

we are an idea in the process

of being realized

we are young

we are cultures strung together

then woven into a tapestry

and the design

is what makes us more

than the sum total of our history

we are an experiment going right for a change

with influences that range from a to zed

and yes we say zed instead of zee

we are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy

we dream so big that there are those

who would call our ambition an industry

we are vineyards of good year after good year

we reforest what we clear

because we believe in generations beyond our own

knowing now that so many of us

have grown past what used to be

we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have

when they say things like "someday"

because we are more

than a laundry list of things to do and places to see

we are more than hills to ski

or countryside ponds to skate

we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait

we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes

a country that is all the ways you choose to live

a nation that can give you variety

because we are choices

we are millions upon millions of voices shouting

" keep exploring... we are more"

we are the surprise the world has in store for you

it's true

Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"

so don't let your luggage define your travels

each life unravels differently

and experiences are what make up

the colours of our tapestry

we are the true north

strong and free

and what's more

is that we didn't just say it

we made it be.

AbOuT TiMe!

My best friend Ashley Costley comes home tomorrow from her mission and I can't even tell you how EXCITED I am!!!!!!!!



I usually feel like time flies when my friends are on missions, but not this time! I had such a hard time with not being able to talk to Ashley on a regular basis and be able to hang out with her. She was one of the girls I met on my very first day at BYU Idaho and were friends for the years to follow. We first lived across the hall from each other and then later became roommates and now I honestly feel like she is part of my family. We have traveled to places like Nauvoo, Tennessee and had many road trips to Canada and Phoenix! We even joined French Choir one semester for extra credit! (So random!) She was there for me whenever I needed her and when I got called to be Relief Society President, you bet I put her as my first counselor and wouldn't have been been able to do my calling otherwise. She was living in Calgary with my family while she was doing her internship and unfortunately it was during a difficult time for my family. She was there when my dad passed away and I could not have survived without her there! I was so glad to have her and Remi there for my wedding and that we were both able to go to Remi's wedding a few months later. She has been gone for 18 LONG months and I am so proud of the work she accomplished on her mission. I was not the best writer, I think because I would get so frustrated having to explain everything in a letter. She has always been such an amazing example to me and she is the funniest, kindest, most amazing person I know! I'm so grateful to have her friendship in my life and again I am SOO excited for her to be home!

New Toy

I love my new camera. More blogging to come...