Here We Go Loopty Loo!

After reading this article on Yahoo.com, it made me really antsy to get my coaster on.  I mean, it's pretty much summer time, and what is summer for if not to hurl yourself around at speeds and heights man was not meant to go with nothing more than a seat belt and a prayer?  I love roller coasters.  I rode my first one ever at 4 with my pregnant mother (this should answer a few questions about Taylor) at Hershey Park.  I displayed my "I Survived the Super Duper Looper" pin in my childhood bedroom like the trophy it was to me.  I even made up a song to go with it : I surviiiiived the super-duper-looper-pooper-scooper-trooper-....  It still gets stuck in my head to this day.

So.  Why doesn't the Western US have ANY amusement parks??  Seriously?  Back east I grew up going to parks like Busch Gardens, Hershey Park, Kings Dominion, Six Flags... all from 2-4 hours away.  All Utah has to offer is Lagoon... which sucks...  And Disneyland is 10 hours away.  Vegas is only two hours from my current home, but you are NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER going to see me on top of the Stratosphere hotel.  Nope nope nope.  And the other roller coasters are meh.  So today is more of a blog post for me to stroll down memory lane and wish I was rollin' on coasters.

Oh and I'm not naming ALL the coasters in the parks that I've been to, just the most memorable ones to me.

Busch Gardens - Williamsburg
- a.k.a. my second home.  This has been our most frequented theme park (well, besides Disney World... but duh I lived there).

First... a moment of silence for BBW........  though the coaster set to replace it looks pretty cool.

Alpengeist

Apollo's chariot.  Fabio beware.

Griffon... I have trouble with this one... they hold you there for 10 seconds before dropping you... the rest is great!

Loch Ness Monster, the oldest coaster at BG and the one we always ride first.

Six Flags America
- the best part of the park is the coasters, the rest is meh or broken down.  This is the field trip mecca of Maryland.

Superman: Ride of Steel, I could ride this all day long... I think I did once...

Batwing is cool because you're laying down.  Because you're lying down , though, some of my hair got caught in the mechanisms after blowing around.  Owie... worth it.

Two-Face... I blacked out on this one, I'm not sure if it's even there anymore.

Joker's Jink is a big ball of fun.  And it starts with a bang!  Silly Joker.

Hershey Park

Hershey Chocolate, Hershey Chocolate, Hershey Chocolate woooorld!  Wherever you go, no matter how far, you'll always find a Hershey bar!  Hershey Chocolate!  Real milk chocolate!  Hershey's: the great American chocolate baaaaar!

Trailblazer... snore... I remember this was a family fave because of  the tameness.  Everyone could ride (even Tay, the fraidy cat she was at the time).  I think I lost a hat on this one.

The Great Bear.  Poor Popi, he was forced to ride it and I think has since sworn off of roller coasters.  This one makes me think of my friend from middle school who claims she almost slipped out of her seat.  But no one lies in middle school.  'Specially not girls.  Oh and it's pretty much the same exact track as Alpengeist and this coaster I once built on "Roller Coaster tycoon."

Lightning Racers... this one is cool because you get to race, Dueling Dragons-style, Thunder vs. Lightning

Roller-Soaker... not really thrilling, but people get to shoot water at you.

Storm Chaser, my first 90-ish degree coaster.

I have a really distinct memory of being terrified of Wildcat the first time I rode.    I think I said something like "I hated that!" But then I re-evaluated and decided that I loved it... because I hated it.  I mean, look at that drop!  

Kings Dominion

My fondest memory at Kings Dominon was being pied in the face during a Nickelodeon live kids' show after my team won some sort of game.  Poor Taylor had the chance to get slimed, but her team lost their game.  I think she's always been jealous of me for that. But I mean, who wouldn't be?  I also remember getting my hair spray-painted blue and all the roller coasters some-how blew out the blue.

Anaconda is cool 'cause you get to go under water... but I remember the water being kinda gross.

Voooooolcaaaaaanooooooo!  I think fire shoots out too... or I could be making that up... it's been a while...

Rebel Yell... try to ride this without singing Billy Idol, I dare you.

Shockwave was novel because it's a stand-up coaster, but  what I remember more is that someone died on it like the week after we were there.

Disney World/Land
They're not really known for their thrill rides, but the ones that are there are my absolute favorite in the world.

3....2....1... I love California Screamin'!!!  This is my number one roller coaster of all time.  It makes me giddy just thinking about it!

Land.  Not World.  Space Mountain in Disneyland is actually fun.  Sorry DW, it's not that I don't love the ride... it's just that Space Mountain in Florida is a dark Matterhorn.  For my thoughts on the Matterhorn, see below.

Expedition Everest.... ooooh I know I said California Screamin' was my favorite, but I might have to change my mind.  EE is brilliant.  The Matterhorn in DL is terrible and awkward.  It will not be on my list.  They should really update it to be more like EE.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, I have an idea" - Steven Tyler
I adore Rockin' Rollercoaster.  Some day I hope to have the door o' marbles from the queue  in my house.  Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet emooooooooooooooooootiooooooooooon.

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure (Orlando)
The day I went to USIOA, a psychic told me that the person I was attending the park with and I would get married if I ever got myself together.  (Yeah, cause I was the messed up one)  Thank goodness psychics are not real.  Except for Shawn Spencer.

I was super excited to ride the HULK because I had an episode of The Rosie O'Donnell show on VHS where she and *N SYNC rode it together.  "Here We Go" was playing in my head as we rode, just as it had played in the background of the Rosie ride with *N SYNC.  I could have been sitting in the same seats as Lance!  (I'm kind of glad he's gay, 'cause then I don't feel so bad that we never got married).

Joey and Rosie

Dueling Dragons, except now I think it's Harry Potter-themed.  I LOVED this one!  We snuck through the baby hand-off room to ride it a couple more times.

 Busch Gardens - Tampa, FL
I wish I remembered more from this trip.  I was... maybe 10?  11?  And we've only been once.  Maybe we'll go more if Nathan and I move to Florida.

Kumba.  This one I got to ride in the front row because there was an empty spot  and my family let me be the one to take it.  Thanks guys!  And I have a key chain to commemorate!  It was a big deal.

Montu.  This was another close of Alpengeist with an Egyptian theme.  I remember we left scaredy Taylor with our stuff.  If a stranger came to take her away, they had to use the code word "Gorilla" in order for her to trust them.  So next time you see her, say "Come with me.  Code word Gorilla!"  It'll freak her out and she'll think somewhere her family has crashed 

I feel like I picked on Taylor a lot.  Heh heh sorry!  This was a fun post

You can imagine my excitement

Remember when we went to LA and watched this guy work his make-up magic?  (I can't remember his name...  anybody?)   Spencer!

I stole this pic from Anna :)  In't she purty?

Welllllllll, I was watching America's Next Top Model, and guess who I spotted?????  What's-his-name!  Spencer!

I almost fell out of my chair.  "Nathan!" (because he was watching it with me because he's patient and long-suffering) "I did a workshop with him!  I have a picture with him!"  Said picture is in hard-copy form, not digital (unless anyone has a digital copy... although I remember being about 15 lbs heavier, so scratch that).

Welcome to the World Stafford!

 Yesterday, April 23, 2012, my adorable nephew Stafford Adam Snow was born!  He's perfect in every way!  He was a perfect 7 lbs 7 oz and I have yet to hear him make a peep!  We were there when he got his heel pricked and the most noise he made was," Eh."  And he's a great eater!  And apparently it was a dream delivery.  Induced, epidural, then pop!  Perfect baby.  I hope my future deliveries are like that... but Joanna probably used up all the luck in the universe on Stafford.  Thanks a lot Jo :)

New BFFs

Check out those blond locks!

Newest addition to the Snow clan

O hai

Champs

If you know me well enough, you know that I LOVE babies.  Yesterday I was hopping around going "Baby baby baby baby!"  until I go to go meet him.  Then I kept say to Nathan, "Remember when I held a baby today.  Remember when we met Stafford?  Remember when I got to hold Stafford?  Remember when there was a baby in my arms?"  Sickening, I know.  Nathan's worried when we have our first that he'll be completely forgotten.  To that I say......  it's probably not true ;)

All of my baby friends are growing up so fast!  I remember when they were but babes in my arms.

First there was Ellery

The twins Bentley and Hadley (I held Bentley when I visited them in the hospital, but  no pic was taken)

Little Lyddie Bug!

Let's not forget Little Brudda Adam!

Now Ellery is almost in Kindergarten!!!!!, the twins are playing with Barbies, and Adam and Lydia are almost two!  I love watching them grow... I just wish it wouldn't go so fast!

Who Am I? (Sung in Jean Valjean's voice)

Kelsey Brady.  Wore weird things and thought she was hot stuff.

So Wednesday my buddy Kara and I went to our weekly Zumba class.  We usually go on Mondays, but sometimes we have to re-schedule.  The Wednesday teacher is HILARIOUS.  She way more in-your-face that our Monday lady, and since the classes tend to be smaller on Wednesdays I feel like I have to impress her.   (Because that is Kelsey- always seeking approval from outside sources.  Why, you ask?  Because I'm so great, you say?  Oh, stop it...  but don't really...)  So anyway, last time we did a Wednesday class she singled me out and praised me for my booty-shaking skillz.  This, of course, made my week.  This most recent time we were in her class, she actually had me come up to the front of the class and shake my junk.  It was hilarious and embarrassing and validating and terrible and odd and just darn funny.  I don't think it would have been as entertaining without my Zumba buddy there.  It just reminded me of how much fun I used to have at dances with my girlfriends where we would act ridiculous and overly "sexy" then laugh at how silly we were being.  (Now Nathan at this point would say something about me being an uber-tease when I was younger.  Whatevs) I used to looooooooove going to dances or just dancing, full-stop.  Now I have a new outlet for my pent-up sweet moves.  And I feel like I've re-gained a bit of my former self.

Kelsey Snow.  Has adventures with her  Sweetie.

I've noticed (more like read on their blogs) that almost every single one of my married friends feels at one point or another that they've lost who they were before they were wed or started having kids.  I can say that I've felt that way a lot.  It's not that I'm unhappy with the life change, it's just that after so many priority shifts and responsibility additions, not to mention the new person/people's needs and wants to consider, one can feel like they're a completely new person.  Would Kelsey Brady have been happy to spend her Friday night on the couch watching episode after episode of Battlestar Gallactica(Provo was Doctor Who.  Bristol was also Doctor Who), eating popcorn and cuddling?  I'm thinking probably not... But Kelsey Brady Snow is sad that we finished the show already and can't wait to find the next thing on Netflix that she and her hubby can devour.
Like I said, I'm not unhappy with my change in lifestyle, but I've found that I tend to be much happier when I incorporate some KB flava back into the Snow household.  Like Zumba!  Like camping!  Like girl time!  Which leads me to this next section called: I've got a girl date!
I'VE GOT A GIRL DATE!  I was most excited to move back to Utah because I remembered that I had a friend here in St. George!  Since I've mostly forgotten how to make and keep friends, I liked knowing that I already have at least one in town!  So, since we've been here I've seen Miss Katie Houghtaling once when her school put on a show (she's the drama teacher), but that's it.  I'm determined to be a less socially-awkward married lady.  I WILL have friends again!  (And then we'll move in a few months and I'll have to start all over...  but at least I''ll be a pro by the time we leave!)  So we're hanging out today and I'm super-pumped.


Last night I babysat for Katie (different Katie), a girl in my ward that's super cute with super cute kids that I adore.  She had a date, so of course when she came back I just wanted to talk and talk about boys and clothes and hair and stickers and ponies and Myspace.com!  (Family Guy reference)  Most of my closest friends were guys (insert here another comment from Nathan saying how they all wanted to get wit' me) and my girl friends weren't really girly, so I never saw myself as one of those gabby gals.  Being around only one guy all the time does that to a lass I suppose.
Oh, I also have to mention that I have a beautiful sister-in-law that lives here and has been a great friend and confidant.  She's about 3 days away from giving birth and she needed a girly day so we got pedicures and gabbed.  I'm SO glad we get along, because that's the thing with family.  Just because your husbands are brothers, doesn't mean your going to be besties.  I think the hardest part of moving is going to be leaving Adam, Joanna, little Lyddie Bug, and my unnamed nephew.
So thank you Zumba, Kara, Katie1, Katie2, and Jo for making me feel like myself again.

Oh and I think this side of me will never leave: singing show tunes with my sibbies (I can't just say sisters now, I'm hoping baby boy Adam James will add a male voice to our troupe).

My SuccessMaker Classroom!

In case anyone was curious, I work at Sunset Elementary School as a computer lab tech.  I'm in charge of a specific program called SuccessMaker.  It's pretty sweet, kids play reading and math games and it scores them.  Teachers can go in and check the students scores to see where they are and what specifically they need to work on.  So I'm there to make sure the program and computers run smoothly.  I never thought I'd have such a techie job!  But really, this is the solution to 99.9% of the problems that I get:

I love it.  I have my own classroom and I've been able to relate to my Mom about working in an elementary school!  And I also may have loved decorating the room... a lot :)  (The pics are from my phone, so forgive the low quality.  I'll get a smart phone... someday).

Behold the before:

And all of the afters:

I share the room with an after-school piano class, so the middle of the room is full of keyboards and  my computers are around the perimeter.

Meet Chameleon... he's a Chameleon.  He's one of the many characters in the SuccesMaker universe.

And this is Hamster!  He's my favorite :)  

"Today is a great day to learn something new!"

Ditto

This is Parrot (the names are so clever)

"Will you succeed?  Yes indeed, yes indeed! (98 3/4% guaranteed)" - Dr. Seuss)

I used string and staples to write some of the words.  I like how it came out!  It was a pain though...

Here's my teacher/"I see you on YouTube..." face.

And now, here are some super cute pictures of my little brother form Easter:

Carrying the banner

Little angel at the D.C. Temple