5 Word Meme

So I typically don't buy into doing these but this one seemed fun. I was given 5 words by Ginger and need to describe how they work in my life so here they are.........



Work: I have worked in the general public since I was about 15 years old. My very first job was a bus person for Godfathers. I was very proud of this job as it was my first and even thought I looked cool in the stupid hat and apron. Very young and immature at the time. My next job was working as a hostess for Bonanza which was a job I LOVED!!! I had a great boss and the co-workers and customers were awesome. I loved visiting with the people and making sure they were taken care of. I left Bonanza to be a cashier at a local grocery store which was a nice change of pace. Still get to help the customer but didn't smell like the resturaunt when I got off work. Then I was hired to work at Norwest Bank while I went to school. I started there my senior year in high school and worked there until Brooklyn had turned 1. Things changed when Wells Fargo came in and I didn't like it. I then went to work for Verifications and totally hated it. I got in trouble for talking too much (not on the phone) and only stayed there for 3 months. It felt like an eternity. I was then hired at Dacotah Bank and will be here 8 years in January. The thing with working in the public and growing up in this town for as long as I have is you get to know a lot of people. Craig HATES going shopping with me because I always run into someone I know.



Play: This is a funny one. When I get time my family and I have a blast during play time. We love to go sledding, wrestle, go horseback riding, bike riding, and just hanging out as a family.



Children: I have two wonderful kids that I just love. Brooklyn is 9 and a typical tween. That is what they call this age group. Not sure I am ready for this but I am enjoying the changes. She is very responsible, loves the Jonas Brothers, and wants to star in the next High School Musical movie. She loves to sing, do art, dance, and have girl time which I love. She is at the age where you can sit and have a great conversation and learn more about the person she is becoming. Although I miss the baby days with my first baby.....I am enjoying this new adventure with her. Cooper is my very energetic, loveable 5 year old. He is all boy and still takes time to give his mama a kiss each time he sees me. He loves the Transformers, just learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, and is always up to gravity defying stunts in the backyard. He loves to work with daddy in the garage and even has his own tools and toolbelt. He is a bundle of fun and even though its trying at times (I never had a brother) this boy stuff is pretty fun.



Food: oiy where do I begin with this?! I love food and the size of me proves it. ;o) My favorite dessert is brownies. I absolutely love brownies!!! I love italian and mexican food also. Olive Garden and Johnny Carrinos are two of my favorite places to eat. I love to cook soups, casseroles and such in the winter time. Every year, the weekend before Christmas my family and I get together to do all of our holiday baking. Its a great time to spend together and the kids have a blast helping with the easier recipes.



Travel: this is one thing we don't do a lot of but I want to do more of in the future. The last big trip Craig and I ever took was on our honeymoon when we went to Jamaica. It was a great time and we got to see lots of cool things. After 2 years of marriage we had a surprise package and then never had the money to travel to far away places until now. We are planning a trip to Florida in about a year and a half. Why so long? We want Cooper to be old enough to remember it and walk the WHOLE time BY HIMSELF!!! The kids are way excited and so are we. We have taken the traditional trip to the Black Hills for the Arnold Family Reunion and we went with my family too. Otherwise our general travel is to see family or to go camping.



So there you have it. A glimpse into the life of Nickernoodle and her gang. If you want to participate and have me send you 5 words.....let me know in the comment section.

A new resolution

So after a summer of crazy busy schedules.....I have decided that I am going to start saying NO a lot more. Our summer was jam packed with things to do that weren't even on my priority list.....which consists of my family only. That priority list was put on the back burner and I never want another summer like that again. So what does this mean? No more committing to things that I don't HAVE to be at.......more time on the bike trails with my kids. No more helping others out and not spending time with my family.......more campfires in the backyard. Don't get me wrong....I love helping others just not at the expense of my family time. With working full time and trying to get my Monavie business going......I don't have time to commit to much more than that. I just realize how little I was with my family and it hurts.....it hurts my heart. So......I am making my New Years resolution a little early.......my family comes first and everything elses will have to wait.

So excited!!!

So last night at choir our director had an important announcement. Michael W. Smith is going to be in concert on Nov. 5th in Sioux Falls but thats not the best part. He asked for 10 people from our choir to come and sing with others from different choirs in his concert!!! I couldn't pass this up, its a once in a lifetime chance to go!!! So some of us from our choir will be going to not only have a chance to listen to a talented performer but to also get to sing with him on stage! I am totally stoked and Craig is going with me to listen to the concert. Its going to be so much fun!

I need help.......

No.....not the kind you are thinking! I am looking for a laptop to use for my new business and for personal reasons too. I am very computer illiterate so I am not sure what is better. Mac or PC? If a PC which kind? What bells and whistles can't I live without and what don't I need. How much memory and what programs should I be looking for. Any help with this would be appreciated.

Happy Anniversary

11 years ago tomorrow.......I said "I do" and have never regretted it for one moment. Tomorrow is our anniversary and I always look back to that day and think about everything that took place. We had a BEAUTIFUL wedding and a great reception and dance followed by a wonderful honeymoon. I can't believe its been 11 years already but I love this man and he loves me. What more could a girl want? Happy Anniversary Craig. I loved you then, I love you now, I'll love you forever..........

Mr. Cooper the Chef

The other day I called home to ask Craig a quick question before I got off work (he gets off at 3:00) and in the background this is what I heard:

Cooper: "Brooklyn.....you want a peanut butter sandwich?"

Brooklyn: "No thanks"

Cooper: "But I would be a good cook on it!"

BWAHAHAHAHAHA.........he was making them a snack before his soccer game and his specialty is peanut butter sandwiches. I love being a mom!!!!

School picture day

Do you remember as a kid how exciting school picture day was? For me it was stressful. I was always worried about what outfit my mom was going to pick out for me to wear that would haunt me for the rest of my life. She always loved those courdoroy pants, sweat vests, and long sleeved dress shirts. Yes in the '80s those were popular but I HATED them! There was one outfit I can remember and the vest was white with purple teddy bears on it. Even the pants were purple. Yeah, pretty sure they got the idea of Barney the Dinosaur from my outfit.

Anyways......today is picture day for the kids at school and as I am getting them ready I totally heard my mom when I was talking. Smile pretty, don't eat ketchup today, don't use those little combs they hand out until AFTER your picture. Yep.......every last word I sounded just like my mom.

I am always nervous to open that packet up too when they bring them home. Did they smile pretty? What is their hair going to look like? Do they have anything on their face? Lets face it.....I don't want to hand out pictures where Cooper has half his lunch all over his shirt. Yes I am weird about dirty clothes but I don't want all my family and friends wondering if I ever give the kids baths or showers!

So I got the kids all ready, got their envelope with the hefty fee for pictures put in their backpacks and sent them on their way praying for a successful photo shoot! I got word later from Coopers daycare that he asked them if they knew why he looked so cute today.......he replied it was picture day and that is why he is so cute. Must be picture day everyday in my world because both my kids are so cute to me everyday of the year!!!

Hope all you other moms have successful picture days in your households too!!!!

Its the most wonderful time.....of the year.

No I am not talking about Christmas......although it is glorious! I am talking about my favorite season. A season where I need just my good comfy jeans and trusty sweatshirt to keep me warm on a brisk walk. A walk that entails seeing beautiful scenery and crunching of leaves under each step I take. Where a bonfire feels the best in the evening and there are plenty of smores to share. A season full of spiced scents, warm apple pies, and beautiful colors everywhere you look.

I have always loved fall. I love going to the apple orchard and picking fresh, crisp apples to make apples pies like Grandma Arnold does. I love going to the pumpkin patch to watch the kids pick out the best pumpkin for them. I love going to football games and marching in the parade. I love watching my kids have a leaf fight even after I just piled them up to be put in the garbage can.

There is nothing about this season I hate. Its the next season that leaves a bad taste in my mouth but thankfully Christmas is in the middle of it so I can't complain.

Crazy little tidbit about me.....

Have you ever seen how many Hot Tamales (the candy) you can eat before needing to take a drink of water? Just curious if I am the only weird one out there!

A new look

So I tried designing my own blog background. What do you all think? Not bad for the first time!!!