Adventures in Wyoming and then some!

We finally got a chance to load our pictures onto our computer, so I thought I'd load a couple to illustrate our time in Wyoming and what we did with our lives around the holidays. First off, here are a couple pics from Craig and Jessica's blizzard wedding. It was so cold, it started snowing the minute they walked out of the temple - see if you can spot the snow.

Next up comes our time in Wyoming. Matt and I got snowed in for Christmas and were able to spend extra time with the Anderson fam. Here are a few from our adventures.Matt's brother Scott in his new truck.On the frozen creek near the ranch.Last, but not least, our family fun at my parent's house for New Year's eve. Jill, Diane and our friends the Christensens came over for games and food. We also went to see Jim Carey in "Yes Man," which was so funny - we loved seeing Jim Carey return to what he does best!ROCK BAND!Oh, and congrats to Colleen who pulled off a first in our family game of Russian Rummy. She was dealt this hand and stuck us all with big points! Good going!

Snowed in on Christmas!

I can't believe another Christmas is over, but we're so looking forward to the new year. Matt and I drove up to Wyoming on the 23rd and spent the day visiting with his mom and grandma before heading to his dad's to spend the night. On Christmas Eve we drove back to his mom's (they're only about half an hour apart) and spent the night at her house. We ate yummy finger foods and played "A Christmas Story" Monopoly which Matt's brother Scott gave us - Matt loves the movie, and the game is so fun, although Scott killed us.
We had a wonderful time opening presents on Christmas morning, Matt got a shirt and tie from his mom and step-dad while I got a police-man cookie jar that yells for you to stay out of the cookies. (Photo: Us on Christmas morning!)
We then made our way down to Matt's dads for a family party and a delicious dinner. Matt's cousin's five boys had a great time with balloons gram had purchased for them to play with, and Scott (who is 17) also had a blast making things that some-what resembled animals with the balloons.
After the party we were going to drive down to my house near Salt Lake but the snow in Utah was too heavy and we decided to stay the night. It was hard not to see my family on Christmas, Matt's family was so warm and caring about it, they wanted to know what traditions they could do to make me feel more at home. So, all-in-all we had a fabulous Christmas.
The day after we were able to get to my house to have a feast with my fam. My aunts and uncle came over with my cousins and we had fun playing games and chatting. Our holiday was awesome! We hope yours was as well!Allie and her friend Casey on the 26th.

Potpourri for your Christmas time!

We just wanted to wish a merry Christmas to all those reading! So, here are a couple qoutes to remember to spirit that surrounds us at this wonderful time!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age. ~Carrie Latet

Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts. ~Lenora Mattingly Weber

Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making. ~Leigh Hunt
We love you! Enjoy the day!
Matt & Erin

Another adorable addition to the Wadsworth fam!

Jen gave birth to our first nephew today! Talin is my older brother who married Jen this year and Ezra Talin Wadsworth was born this afternoon! 9 pounds 7 ounces and 22 inches long! Jen has been such a trooper, with a couple days of petocin and lots of waiting the baby we've all been longing to meet is finally here! Ezra is also the first grandchild for my parents! Check Tal and Jen's blog to see more pics of this cutie! We love him so much!

Emily in Pictures!

Go to the Sweet Pea photo blog to see cute pics of our niece Emily! This one is my favorite!

The Goose is Fat!

Christmas is here - well, in three days, and Matt and I have had such a great time preparing for our first Christmas together. I made my way down to snowy Salt Lake on Friday to attend my friend Craig's sealing in the temple - it was so beautiful and reminded me of how Matt and I felt on our wedding day, Craig and Jessica were grinning from ear to ear, you could tell by the way they sparkled that they are truly in love. Also, it started to snow the minute they walked out of the temple and didn't stop all day.(Photo: Craig and Jessica Hovorka)
I then made my way home with my friend Brandon, we caught up and had great conversation on the way to mom and dad's house. We ate a snack, and mom was so excited to see Brandon. (Photo: Brandon and his cute girlfriend Amber). We then left at 1:30 to make our way up to Bountiful for the luncheon at Robintino's. It took us a hour to get up there, but we arrived at the same time as the bride and groom, so we figured we weren't late at all.
After eating my chicken Parmesan, I went home - took me almost an hour and a half - and drove my sister to her last choir performance of the Christmas season. It was a total high school flash back for me, choir is the activity that I miss the most. After the concert we went home to prepare for her friends to come over to party - for those of you who haven't attended a party at our house, mom can throw one amazing party. Mom and I went back up to Bountiful where we caught the last two minutes of Craig and Jessica's reception, in fact they were heading upstairs to change when we walked through the door. So, I cut into their wedding cake and stuffed my face with fondant goodness while mom chatted it up with Craig's fam.
We picked up McDonald's on the way home and partied with the high school kids until about 1 a.m. We watched "Mama Mia," a movie I highly recommend!
Well, that was my busy Friday, we followed it up with some Saturday shopping and then I had to drive home to work - I was so happy to get home to my husband who had gotten all of his shopping done for me - everything was wrapped and put under the tree. I love him!
Merry Christmas everyone, we hope you get everything you wished for!

Christmas Tag (via Shantel)

1- What is your favorite Christmas song?
"Holly, Jolly Christmas" and it has to be the Berl Ives version. I remember when we had our old Subaru that tape got stuck in the tape deck and we had to listen to it far into the summer. It was so funny - but that song reminds me of mom and Christmas at home!
2- When was your most memorable Christmas?
I think this year will be my most memorable because it will be the first one with my husband. I also have fond memories of being at my grandparent's houses (grandma Wadsworth and Grandma & Grandpa Wilson) I always feel the happiest at Christmas when with my family. This year I get to create all new memories.
5- What do you like best about the Christmas season?
The smells, to be honest. Peppermint, gingerbread, cinnamon and chocolate. Every one is baking and bringing treats over, it's just great! I also love baking, so getting the kitchen messy with love is always awesome!
6- Who is the hardest person to shop for on your Christmas list?
My brother, it's nicer now that he's married and I can get them family gifts, I had gotten to the point where gift certificates work, but I don't have to do that anymore. Matt's brother has been particularly troublesome to buy for this year.
7- If you could receive one gift without money being an issue, what would it be?
Pay-off on my student loans!
8- What is your idea of a perfect Christmas Eve?
Being with family - this year Matt and I will spend Christmas Eve with his mom Lisa and step-dad Gene. Mom always gives us pajamas on Christmas Eve, so Matt and I will take ours and open them at Lisa's this year.
9- Which do you like best, eggnog, or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate - I've never been a huge fan of eggnog.
10- Do you prefer a fancy Christmas tree, or one decorated by the kids?
Definitely child decorated, mom still has ornaments on the tree that we all made in elementary and pre-school. It's so fun to look through them and remember when we made them. It's the cute kid stuff that's fun at Christmas time!
11- What is your favorite family Christmas tradition?
We always watch a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve (all bundled in our new pjs). My favorite is "White Christmas," but we really love "The Santa Clause," also.
12- Do you like fruitcake?
Nope!
13- Do you prefer skiing or snowboarding?
Snowboarding - it's easier for me to control one board than two skis.
14- Are you dreaming of a White Christmas, or do you say “Bah Humbug” to snow?
I'm so glad we finally got some snow! It's beautiful - but come January it better be gone!
15- What was your favorite gift from Santa when you were a child?
I got a miniature kitchen one year and I loved it! We kept that thing until my sister was about six - it was incredibly durable. I enjoyed taking people's orders and bringing them fake food.
16- What is your favorite Christmas movie?
"White Christmas," but I also have to say "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the 60s animated, Boris Karloff one.
17- Have you ever eaten snow?
Yes - who hasn't?
18- Who do you wish could be with you this Christmas?
Every one in my fam.
19- When do you put up your Christmas lights and decorations?
The day after Thanksgiving, although Matt and I didn't get our tree up until Dec. 8th - it was needed at another party and we volunteered it.
20- Real or artificial Christmas tree?
Artificial - easier clean-up, set up, pre-lit, who could ask for more?
This is a fun way to get in touch with your Christmas-y self! Have fun and merry Christmas. Thanks Shantel!

College is over for Erin (well, if I passed my math test)!

We've had a pretty busy week. I only had one final, but Matt had four. So, while running around dizzy, we started to realize that we're almost done with the semester - I'm almost done with my college life. I have to say that I started to cry at the end of my test, it's not that I'm going to miss the tests (yuck), or the insanely high cost of this institution, but I am going to miss the experience of being a student - also my test was hard and I shed some tears of difficulty. But, it has ended, I'm still waiting for my final grade in the class, the last step to getting my name on my Bachelor of Science degree.
Matt has done so well this semester - a 4.0 for my handsome man! I can't believe all the things he does, and does well. I'm so in awe of what he gets done on a day by day basis - he works so very hard!
We've also discovered Netflix and we love it! We started our free trial and opened the envelope to a whole new world. On one of our Netflix envelopes there was an ad for Gamefly.com, a site that rents video games (just like Netflix). Matt is so excited that he now has something to do during his break from school, unfortunately I have to work still - it's really hitting me hard that I don't get to vacation with him.
We wish everyone a very merry Christmas - be safe and have fun!

8 Things About Erin

8 FAVORITE TV SHOWS I LOVE TO WATCH:
1. The Office
2. 30 Rock
3. Project Runway
4. Top Chef
5. The Real Housewives of Atlanta (laugh if you must)
6. The Rachel Zoe Project
7. The Big Bang Theory
8. Grey's Anatomy

8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS
1. Firehouse Pizza
2. Happy Sushi
3. IHOP
4. Cafe Rio
5. The California Pizza Kitchen
6. Ab's Drive In
7. Arby's
8. Little America Coffee Shop

8 THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY
1. We watched "A Christmas Story"
2. It was MASA (Married and Single Area) movie night
3. Matt had a final
4. I watched "It Could Happen to You)
5. " cleaned my kitchen
6. " did some laundry
7. " decorated our Christmas tree for movie night (we then had to take it down and put it up at home!)
8. Slept in a bit

8 THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
1. Christmas
2. Graduating (getting my actual diploma)
3. visiting family on Christmas
4. Finishing up our tree decorating
5. Watching more 30 Rock
6. Having a clean apartment, at least for a day
7. Giving Matt his Christmas presents (they're so good)
8. High school swimming season to be over

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST (these are in no particular order)
1. Shoes
2. Boots
3. More shoes
4. Faster internet connection
5. Relaxation, less stress
6. Hoping everyone has a great and safe holiday
7. Healthy baby for Jen and Tal
8. More time to spend with my husband

8 PEOPLE I'M TAGGING (although I think everyone has already done this)
1. Lauren
2. Rhonda
3. Leah
4. Sarah
5. Nicci
6. Jim
7. Jeff
8. Allie

Our baby, Routan style.

Our friends the Sperrys, I went to junior high and high school with Lauren, made their Routan baby and put it on their blog. I decided it would be fun to make one for me and Matt. So here's what our baby will look like sitting in our Volkswagen. This was fun, I recommend you try it!