Merlin

So there is a show on BBC called Merlin that Alien showed me (she also showed me BBC Robin Hood, but that's not nearly as good). It's based on the legend of Merlin, obviously, and how he has the gift of magic that he must keep secret because King Uther forbids magic, and how it is his destiny to help Arthur become King.
For some reason, I am like, totally obsessed with it now, and it's like my favorite tv series ever! All the episodes aren't out in America yet, and they just finished the first season in the UK, so it will be a while before season 2 is out, which stinks, because it is at a HORRIBLE CLIFFHANGER!!!!!! I watched all the episodes on Youtube in 5 part segments.
Alien and I are both infatuated with the two main guys. She loves Arthur (aka- Bradley James), and ok, I admit he's pretty cute too, but I prefer Merlin (aka- Colin Morgan), even though he's cute in a weirder way. In my opinion, he rocks. Even though his brown jacket, blue shirt, and red scarf totally clash, that's like, my favorite outfit of his. Anyway, so yeah, I am very obsessed!

Here's the main cast:

Colin Morgan- Merlin
Angel Coulby- Gwen
Bradley James- Arthur
Katie McGrath- Morgana
Anthony Head- Uther
Richard Wilson- Gaius
(with John Hurt as the voice of the dragon!)

Some Old Friends

Dad, Mom, my friend Jessica, and I went to Cody, Wyoming this week to visit our old friends the Dovers. They were serving a mini-mission there, so we were able to tour a lot of Wyoming.

Thursday we traveled around Yellowstone. That was very fun! Old Faithful wasn't as cool as I thought it would be, but that was okay! There were lots of other fun things to do there.



We don't have hardly any geyser pics, which is really a shame because they were pretty awesome. But this one was my favorite. It's called the Dragon's Mouth Spring. It was blackish water, and it growled like a dragon. There was a little cavwern in the back, and it kept on looking like a dragon was going to come out, because smoke was coming out of it.



Jessica and I had a fun time wading in the stream!

Friday, we were around Yellowstone as well, but we did a lot of other things too. We fed fat chipmunks, went to the top of the world (no joke!), and went to a beautiful cascade we renamed Dishwasher Cascade. There was a really pretty trail there that went a little ways up it, and traveling on it, we discovered giant mushrooms! That's why we named the trail Passage to Fairyland!



Help! We're falling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



"I'm on top of the world!!!!"



BFFS!




The first evidence of fairies...



I "Rock"!

We ate lunch in Montana. I know that sounds crazy, but we did! There was a little part of where we were driving where we cut into Montana, and there was a pretty picnic site there, so that's where we ate! Beyond the trail, there was a creek with lots of rocks. My dad skipped them really well, and Jessica and I attempted to, but ended up throwing in big rocks to hear them clunk for the fun of it!



Dad's a pro!



I found a rock that sort of looked like a gun, and I couldn't help myself!

Another fun thing about that day, was that there were tons and tons of buffalo! They were everywhere! They were even really close, and sometimes walked slowly across the road (though, none of us complained about the hold up. It was so funny!) We did see a bear, but it was really far away, and you couldn't see its front...




At the end of the day, we saw a lot of scenic water falls that were really incredible!







Saturday, we went to the church where the Dovers work, and saw the mural painted there. It was wonderful! We also went to the Buffalo Bill Museum that day, and found it very interesting. That evening, we watched Miss Potter (a movie about the author of Peter Rabbit) in the church theater.



This is one of my favorite shows!




Sister Dover moved into our ward in Georgia when I was only three. She was my first piano teacher, and I can't tell you how glad I am because of it. The Dovers have been delightful friends, that we are still blessed to keep in contact with. Thanks so much for letting us come by, and thanks, Jessica! I hope you had fun. I look forward to our next get together (we ARE still thinking about Scotland, right?!?!?!?!).

I Thought this was Important enough for its Own Post!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! For the last month I have my braces on, I have to wear rubber bands! Oh well, it will straighten my teeth even better, and I get my braces off the day before school starts!

Ohio Standage's and Cedar Hills Standage's Family Updates

I am extremely sorry this is so belated. But if you didn't get it from my last post, we went to Cincinnati, Ohio to hang with my brother, Stephen, sister-in-law Laura Beth, and their kids, Rachel, and the twins Maren and Michael three weeks ago. We did a lot of fun stuff while we were there.



Daddy giving a scripture



Maren and Michael chilling with Grandma!



Rachel chilling with Aunt Lar-Lar!



We went up to Kentucky to spend the night there and go see Mammoth Caves the next day. Upon our arrival, we went out for pizza. Yum!



I thought this picture was priceless!



Some pool fun at the hotel!



The next day, we went to Mammoth cave, which was really fun and interesting, and...didn't have HUMIDITY! The air felt cool and great!



Also that day, we went to the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. I think the kids' favorite part was making creations out of the lincoln logs!



Pretty inspirational, huh?







Monday was our "Fun"-day at an Amusement park called Coney Island. It was mostly kid oriented, but it was still really fun. Rachel went on a rollercoaster, and I overcame my fear of ferris wheels, and we went swimming at the end of the day!





Tuesday, we went to the airforce museum! I just love that picture of Stephen! That day, Great-Grandma (well, Grandma to me...) came up to spend some of the trip with us. We love you!



Wednesday was completely devoted to Harry Potter. I'm so happy we got to see it on opening day! Stephen and Laura Beth went first while we watched the kids, then we traded off!



Thursday was kind of another hang out day, but we went to the library and got a book that I had been looking for to read. My sister Juli and her kids listened to the audio book and loved it, so tried to read it to Rachel, but she's a little younger than Emily and Sadie, so she wasn't interested. I read it in only an hour or so, and loved it. Then I read about twelve chapters in the car to Mom and Dad, and finished reading it with Mom that day, Dad finished it on his own. We all loved it! I recommend it to everyone. You're kids will love it, and so will you, and you will learn a great deal! It's called "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane", by Kate DiCamillo.



Friday was zoo fun! This was one of my favorite parts, since I love animal interaction. This little guy started playing with my hair when I tried to leave. How cute!



Is this guy adorable or what? I can't believe Stephen thought he was ugly!



Eating lunch with the peacocks!





These three manatee pictures are dedicated to Alien! Rock on!



After the zoo, we got to tour the hospital where Stephen works! We're so proud of you!


Our last big day of fun: we went to Amish country. The kids loved playing on the homemade swing sets and gazebos, and we got some pastries!



Another fun highlight was that the kids enjoyed playing human bridge with me in the girls' room. Maren especially liked this, and kept asking me to play that and "Teddy Bear" in her room!



Can't wait to see you guys next summer! I sure love those kids!