Happy anniversary to us!! + our story

I can't believe it's been TEN YEARS!!!!

Actually, we met and fell in love over twelve years ago....I was in my senior year of high school when Mark started coming to my ward in Hurricane, UT. His family was in the process of moving from Las Vegas and his dad would come down to Hurricane every week and go to church, so they gave him a calling to teach Sunday School (Old Testament) to my age group. Eventually Mark started coming, too, and we were like, "Who is that really hot person?!" Hahaha. None of our old pictures are on this computer anymore, but I scanned some in and found this one of Mark's family, which was from the summer before I met him:

(At his brother David's Hawaiian themed wedding reception 8/18/98). Mark was a tan, buff surfing god at the time, so of course I had no choice but to take notice. He'd been living at the beach in North Carolina, where he grew up.

Mark (with longboard) and his roommate George Starboard in 1995 in NC

When he finally came to Apple Valley/Hurricane to live permanently around June 1999, Mark's dad assigned us to teach Sunday School together for him while he was out of town. So that was our first date. We read over the lesson at The Pasta Factory in St. George and then strolled around the temple grounds. Then we hung out constantly for the next 3-4 weeks. 

July 14, 1999

THEN

Mark left on his mission for two years to Florianópolis, Brazil. He'd just gotten his mission call when we started dating. Smart move, huh. He was nearly 21 by the time he left, but I was still 18 and not ready to settle down and get married anyway, so it was OK with me. It was a long and hard two years, but we wrote letters every week and talked on Mother's Day and Christmas. While he was gone, I went to the University of Utah for a year, then moved back down to St. George to finish my Associate's degree at Dixie State College. I actually went to Sensory Development Institute (massage school) in the mornings, college in the afternoon and to ballet at night. I was very busy but it helped the time to pass. After I graduated from both schools, I got a job at Red Mountain Spa and started making the big bucks.

He's home!! July 2011

 At some point before he came home, I was at good ol' Red Cliffs Mall and ended up buying a wedding dress and a bunch of bridesmaid dresses at Lee's. (I didn't tell him, though. Duh.) Three weeks after he finally came home I was so antsy to know what was going on that while we were sitting at the county fair rodeo watching barrel races, I turned to him and said, "So!.....If we're going to get married, I need to know when because school's starting again in a couple weeks." (HAHAHAHA this story is so funny looking back--I was so aggressive I'm surprised I didn't scare him off.) He had this shocked look on his face, then kind of got down on the bleacher seat in front of me and proposed. And the rest is history! The engagement ring I wanted was $$$, so I helped pay for half of it. I wanted that ring, dangit!! (white gold, 3 stone princess cut diamonds, 1 carat t.w.) Mark is a patient and very understanding man....

 

 one of our engagement pics

We got married that year on Dec. 28th 2001. The attacks on Sept. 11th happened about a month after we got engaged, and actually we didn't tell anyone about the engagement for a couple weeks because we thought they'd think we were crazy. So there was some uncertainty with all that was going on in the world, but in the end it all worked out.

12/28/01 St. George LDS Temple

 We've had quite the journey these past 10 years. We've lived in seven places, been trudging to school about seven years to three (four, technically) different schools, lots of training programs, and had two wonderful, beautiful, fabulous children.

Madelyn, 12/21/04 Cedar City, UT

Getting our Bachelor's at Southern Utah University (SUU) Cedar City, UT 5/7/05

 Mark's graduation from PA school (University of St. Francis) Albuquerque, NM  4/16/09

Luke, 9/25/09 Cedar City, UT

Luke (2) Mark and Madelyn (6 1/2) 10/20/11

If anything, I feel like we're just getting started on "real life", now that we finally have a house and a career and a steady paycheck. Can't wait to see what the next 10 years has in store! ♥

Merry Christmas!!

(In case you missed out on a card or email)

Merry Christmas from the Yoders!

 Mark is heading into his third year of being a pediatric PA (physician’s assistant) and is well liked by his patients and coworkers. He was able to get onto a government loan repayment program for his student loans this year, which has been a huge blessing. He spent all summer landscaping our back yard and is currently working on building a custom vintage arcade console in our garage.

Melissa has been very busy this year with three church callings, her blog, lots of sewing/crafting and coming up with home improvement projects for Mark to do. She loves hanging out with Luke at home while Madelyn is at school, geeking out over Harry Potter, etc. and planning a Mexican getaway for her and Mark’s 10^th wedding anniversary, which is on December 28^th!

Madelyn was super excited for her 7^th birthday last week. She is in 1^st grade and is the best reader in her class. She started gymnastics this year and loves it. She is a natural and is learning lots of new skills. She is still a happy, spunky, outgoing girl and we love her so much. She has lost six teeth!

Luke is our happy, sweet cuddly 2-year old who can dismantle the entire house in three minutes flat. He loves his big sister, is a major mama’s boy, and likes to help daddy in the garage. He finally started talking when he turned two, and soon after surprised us all by showing us that he knows the whole alphabet! He loves Elmo and Cookie Monster and “C is for Cookie” is his favorite song.

We hope 2011 has been a great year, and wish you all the best in 2012!

Love, Mark, Melissa Madelyn and Luke :)

 melissa_yoder21@msn.com, marktyoder@hotmail.com,  theyodersthree.blogspot.com

7!

 

 I took these pictures today about 12:30pm. Madelyn was on her third set of jammies and couldn't be bothered to change into real clothes. But who can blame her? It's her birthday! I love this girl!!!!

FUDGE in less than 5 minutes

Fudge making has never been my forte, but I love it love it love it. I have a microwave fudge recipe that is easy and quick, made with powdered sugar, cocoa, butter, etc. but it always turns out grainy and not as good as "real" cooked fudge. Then I spotted this recipe for 3 minute, 3 ingredient mint fudge from V and Co. (recipe also featured on Made):

   Click HERE for V and Co's tutorial

All you need is:

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
10 oz. bag Andes creme de menthe chips or peppermint crunch candy chips (found next to chocolate chips in baking aisle)

crushed candy cane garnish (optional)

Dump everything into a microwave safe dish. Stir. Nuke for 2 minutes, 30 seconds and stir. If the chocolate is not quite melted, heat for 10-15 second increments until smooth. Stir thoroughly and pour into 8x8, 11x7 or 13x9 baking dish, depending on how thick you want your fudge. Spread evenly and sprinkle with crushed candy cane bits. Cool and cut into squares.


Guess what? This stuff is delicious!! The texture is so silky, people will think you've slaved over a hot stove all day. And chocolate and mint are so awesome together. Give this a try for all those last minute neighbor gifts you've been meaning to make!

Also.....Dana on Made whipped up a butterscotch and toffee version....click HERE for recipe!

The Nutcracker

 
*updated pictures

Madelyn and I drove down to St. George on Saturday for a matinee performance of The Nutcracker by the St. George Ballet Company. Both my parents and my baby (16-year old) sister Megan were in it, and have been for several years. Here's some pics, courtesy of my dad:

Mom and Dad as "Party Parents" from Act I. It's always a little weird seeing your dad wearing lipstick and mascara. But he looks great in a top hat! :)

Meg in Waltz of the Snowflakes

...and in Arabian 

 ...and in Marzipan

 My mom was "Mother Hubbard" aka "Mother Ginger" this year

...Meg in Waltz of the Flowers

 This year she was the SOLOIST (aka The Dew Drop Fairy) in that dance:

 

She was so stinking good. Me and my sisters were freaking out in the audience every time she was on stage.  I was so jealous because I never got to dance in a proper Nutcracker production. I did the Chinese and Marzipan variations, and the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy, but that was it.

The whole production was fabulous, and I cried at the end of Act I like I always do, partly because the music for the pas de deux of the Snow Queen and King is so beautiful, and also because I was so glad Act I was over. (If you've seen the ballet, you'll know what I mean...)

 

  

Meg and her entourage after the show

My mom got us tickets to "Clara's Party" on the stage, so we got to go see the sets and the dancers, etc.

Clara and the Mouse King

 

Mechanical Bear and Toy Doll

 

Here's Mother Hubbard again!  (The Old Lady who lives in a shoe...) She was hilarious. Look at that bonnet!

 

My nephew Nathan and Madelyn sliding down the big shoe

 

Megan's Dew Drop Fairy tutu

Sigh.....I miss dancing

 

Then the kids got to color a Nutcracker magnet

 

Little Miss Madelyn decided she MUST have a nutcracker of her own now. I wouldn't buy her one at the gift shop ($$) but then we went looking at two different stores afterward and she couldn't find one she liked. So she is now trusting in Santa to bring her one. Santa? Did you hear that?? We'll be needing one large nutcracker doll under the tree come Sunday!! Better get to work on that!!

Rainbow cupcakes

If you are cake decorating challenged like me, here's an easy way to still have something fun and colorful at your kid's birthday party (without spending $40 on a bakery cake...).

 

Duncan Hines has these nifty little "snack size" boxes of cake mix that make exactly 12 cupcakes. This is genius. I didn't want or need 2 dozen...all I needed was enough for 7-8 kids for Madelyn's party. Duncan Hines makes good cake, too. It's the brand I usually buy.

 

So you just mix it up per package directions, then separate the batter into several bowls (depends on how many colors you want to incorporate)

 

Add 10 drops food coloring to each bowl and blend thoroughly

 Plop a spoonful of each color into baking cups. Know what this reminds me of? That food fight scene in Hook. Anyone remember that??... Okay.....

 

Bake according to package directions. The tops turn golden so it alters the color a little bit. But no worries...

 

Separate a can of your favorite frosting (I used Pillsbury Whipped Supreme in "Fluffy White") and add another 10 drops of food coloring to each bowl.

Frost and add sprinkles 

 

And you'll have something as happy and colorful as your birthday girl!

(P.S. I want to marry that color of pink frosting. I freaking love it.)

Yum!!