Sorry, sorry, sorry!

Ya know, I always said that I would never be one of those people that starts a blog, writes a  few posts, and then stops! Grrr I conformed to the world! So I officially apologize and intend to stick with it this time around! Lots of new things have happened over the months! 2 new babies seems to be the big difference! I was never a baby person until Mr Landon was born! There is just something about being an aunt( even though at the time of his birth I was still the girlfriend)! Landon, Lilli, Payton, and Logan have really changed my opinion! I'm still a sucker for the toddler age, the age most want to pull their hair out, but the baby stage is a very close second:)  What a great way to end 2011! Thanks Danielle and Whitney for going through the pain and bring 2 new peanuts into my life!!

It's hard to believe Noah Allen is almost halfway through his 2nd semester! What a trooper! Aside from a few all nighters I think he has finally gotten a grasp on this foreign thing I call law school! We keep saying that it can only get better from here! He is looking forward to his internship back in Morton, I on the other hand am mentally preparing for too much quite time! On the upside, I will get to spend lots of time in Morton this summer, if only I wasn't the bread winner I could go back with him, but it will go fast and we will have 3 days a week together! Just telling myself it is temporary and is only going to help us in the future! I'm just excited that I will be able to see my friends lots too! Moving away and college has made it tough to see each other, but lucky for us, we all have that particular relationship that you can go months with out physically seeing each other and meet up for the first time and it will have seemed as if we were with each other everyday! They are great! Couldn't ask for better:)

So work for me is going! Nothing fancy! They seriously spend sooo much on training their employees! I'm off to St Louis on Thursday for another training! My whole office is going! Should be interesting! Noah's coming to get me Saturday since his spring break starts and any excuse to see the Aberle family he will take:) He has nothing fun planned for his break, besides catching up on school work.  I guess gracing Morton with our presence the following weekend is something to look forward too! We were back last weekend for Noah's mom's birthday and he was supposed to get together with his boyfriends, but snow, 3.5 hrs stand still traffic, and hungry bells prevented him from doing so!  Needless to say, he is looking forward to solving some more world problems, been too long!!! I am just excited to see my lovely friend Meghan! I actually can not wait! I'm sure she is probably thinking I'm crazy, but just being honest! Missed you Meg:)

Most people that know me, know that I am a countdown kind of girl! I'm ecstatic that I only have 29 days til Florida! If only I could drug Noah and pack him with me! Sadly school is more important than the beach (I can guarantee no female reading this would agree!). I will miss him immensely, but on the upside I won't have to worry about him getting sunburned sitting in the shade like our honeymoon!

It is just crazy that we are already in March! Just rolling through 2012. I'm so thankful for all God has provided for Noah and I! We have truly been blessed, and although being on our own was an adjustment, not to toot our own horns, but I think we have nailed it! I'm proud to say that being on a tight budget has maybe rid Noah's taco bell addiction! Fingers crossed it stays that way;).

Case closed, Whit

Disclaimer:
I apologize if there are a lot of errors, I'm an idiot and left my computer at my patents abode so I did this post on my phone! It was tough and my poor right pinky is now asleep, but it goes to show how much I love you all!

What's Up in the apartizzle?

So, I know I am horrid for keeping you all waiting.  I received a text from my cousin (won't name any names... t***y:) ) requesting an update on the job front, as well as, life too.  So, the job is going radically well.  I am catching on very quickly. Still not under par, but fairly close.  Give me a few more weeks and man, that office is gonna wish they always had me.  I am learning a lot about insurance and the dental world.  Pretty soon when a hygienist says tooth number 19, I will know exactly where that is at:) Oh (Whitney stop tooting your own horn).  All I know, is that there needs to be a manual for those that go from complete relaxation all day long, to a 40 hour work week.  Geesh, I took a hard hit.  I think by Thursday my batteries were dead (kind of comparable to Noah's blackberry – he had to get a new phone because it would sporadically shut down without any warning).  I am getting acclimated though, do not fear.  It definitely makes weeks go too quickly and I feel that when I come home there is no time to do anything.  Props to all those moms out there who work full-time and have bebes that they come home to.  Yikes, lots of work and no time for themselves...I suppose I am kind of like them, as I do have one big baby (and no Noah that wasn't a fat joke)!  He has stepped up to the plate though.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, Noah A. Menold has helped me cook legitimate meals, wash the dishes, clean the apartment, and he even makes my hot coco (my form of caffeine booster in the morning).  What a champ.  

Semester one is almost marked complete.  This champ has one week of class left and then finals.  Oh yea, bring on the stress, sleep deprivation, uncontrollable appetite, and irritability.  I suppose we could consider him prego just without the baby inside of him:)  Lucky for me, I will miss 4 days of finals stress because I will be at new employee orientation in Effingham.  After finals means Christmas:) oh yeah!!!  

So this weekend I have my sweet friend Whitney Braker’s wedding, then bring on Thanksgiving next week!:) I am preparing my stomach for the monstrous amounts of goodness that will enter through my mouth.  Just so we get this straight, I know my birthday is coming up soon too.  Just so ya'll know I am skipping it this year.  I love being 22 years old and refuse to turn 23...so birthday wishes aren’t necessary for me.  Originally, I did not want the birth of Payton Anne to be on December 1st, but now I do so then we can skip celebrating mine.  About that, the sweet Payton (or so I am assuming) is soon going to be making her debut.  It's crazy to think that there will once again be a baby in the family.  I am a little worried about how Shelby will adjust.  I think she is going to take it really hard:) Just kidding, Zainee is going to be the one that takes it hardest.  I don't think that stinker realizes she is a dog and not human.  She was sooo upset at Danielle and Jeremy for putting a car seat in "her back seat."  Sorry sweet dog niece, I will still love you, but am ready for a human niece.  

So, that is that, nothing too entertaining.  We only have 131 weeks, 2 days, 14 hours, 27 minutes left until the sophisticated Noah Menold graduates.  Not too bad ya know.. so far, it is going quickly:)

The case docket is full for now,

Whit

Ladies and Gentlemen, Drum Roll Please......

"Will the newly employed please stand up?" That's right people, Whitney Anne Menold finally has a JOB!!! Dang it feels good to finally be able to say that.  Thank you to all who have prayed and supported me through out these long 3 months.  I have learned so much during this process.  It is soo important to remember that God does provide for those who trust in Him and are patient for his plan to be laid out.  Definitely was not any easy thing to do, but it has finally paid off.  Now the job is nothing glamorous, but I am very content with accepting the position.  I will be working at Dekalb Dental Group as a business assistant.  My first day of work is on Monday.  I had to laugh because I told Noah I don't even know what to do with myself, because I have not worked since the middle of July. It will definitely be interesting that's for sure.  I job shadowed last Thursday and I really enjoyed myself.  The office has great hours, fun people, and a very busy, yet laid back atmosphere.  I like knowing that there will be lots for me to do, and not a lot of down time.  Plus, I get to use my organization obsession on a daily basis.  What could be better??:)  Another huge benefit is that Noah and I will hopefully get to car pool almost everyday.  What fun, I am halfway between home and school...so if the days work out that way, then we can become car pooling buddies and save on sooooo much gas money!  

Now about the past weekend, Noah and I went to Morton and hung out with the boyfriends on Friday and then went to St Louis to be with the kiddos and Kels, while the world traveler, Dave left for Turkey.  We shopped, shopped, and shopped....I was more on the end of looked, looked, and did more looking.  We had a very enjoyable time.  It is always great getting to see the peanuts, they are the best!  This coming weekend, I am hosting Danielle's baby shower.  So I will be heading to Kewanee on Friday night while poor ol' Noah gets comfortable at the library.  Starting Monday we will be in somewhat crisis mode, or so that is what the older law students say.  Between Halloween and Finals, be prepared to study, study, and do some more studying...as if that is not what he does every other day.  Whatever, thank God I will have a job and birthdays, Thanksgiving, a birth, and other tasks to keep me busy in the mean time.  Hard to believe he is almost halfway through his first year.  What a champ!  

With the sound of the gavel, the first major Menold crisis is solved.  This case is closed!

Whit

Just Rolling Through the Months.

Welp, sorry about the delay in posting.  So many marvelous things made September roll on by.  Let me see here, we had the Pumpkin Festival.  I was lucky enough to get to go home Tuesday night, Shelby and Nate came and picked me up.  I got to enjoy Pumpkin Ice Cream every night of the festival.  That was a great delight.  Thursday and Friday was spent with 2 of the sweetest kids on the planet.  Miss Lilli and Mr Landon are the best dates and hang out buddies this side of the hemisphere.  Love them to pieces.  We had tons of fun, or should I say, I did.  It was a bit chilly, but I loved it.  Better than it being too hot.  With the pumpkin festival brought friends.  It was so great to catch up and see everyone.  Boy had I missed their faces and ready for another reunion.  The next weekend Noah and I came home to help celebrate Grandpa Bud's 80th birthday.  It was a tremendous time.  We did a road scavenger hunt, ate food, jumped on inflatables, and told memories of why we love our grandpa, father, uncle, you name it!  and then BAM October!

You know, October has been a great month thus far.  My patience has finally paid off and the Lord provided me with not just 1 job interview, but 4 within a 7 day time period.  Seriously, no official job yet, but what more could a girl ask for! Job interviews are just one step closer to a job:) yay!!  So hopefully good will come from at least 1 of those interviews.  So Noah and I went to the Menold Construction after hours event this past Thursday.  That was fun, for as many years as I have dated Noah, it was my first one ever! No work to conflict with it, bummer, but also a good thing and man was it an experience.  We went down for the evening, left after Noah's first midterm.  It was fun to see everyone, enjoy the free food, and visit with our best boyfriends ever;)...I call Roe and Timmy Noah's boyfriends.  Those 3 are really a hoot.  Just when I thought I was going to have to go home, the sweetest and best invitation was given to me.....a trip to St. Louis on Friday to see the infamous Lando and Tiger Lilli.  Jacquetta wanted a driving partner and I was more than willing to take on that task.  Now, being that I was unprepared for an adventure, it was to Shelby's closet I went.  Had to borrow a few things from her to make the trip work.  Friday was a blessed day.  Jacquetta and I babysat the kids while Kelsey went to a work picnic and Dave was at work.  We took them to Steak n' Shake then to the mall so I could pick up some clothes to wear for the weekend, because I was off to Kewanee the rest of the weekend for a birthday celebration and Danielle had a baby shower on Sunday.  I would say that shopping, eating, more shopping, and some more eating is what summed up our Friday morning through evening.  It was a perfect day.  Great weather, great eating, great shopping, great company, and great memories.  I could do that every Friday. To bad I am not at Jacquetta's point in life, getting to see them every week.  Oh well, won't wish the life away.  I have plenty of time for that.  Just makes me excited for both Danielle's baby and Whitney's baby  to arrive in November and December:)  Saturday my family headed up to Kewanee to celebrate Nate's birthday that evening, then go to a baby shower on Sunday for the Johnson side.  Noah met us up for dinner and then stayed the night.  He didn't do much sleeping.  First major paper was due that Monday.  The paper ended up being a wee bit more time consuming than he had anticipated.  Oh well, he pulled through with a whopping 13 total hours of sleep between Friday night and Sunday night.  Yikes, that is not enough for me to live off in 2 days let alone 3... that is like an average of 4 hours a night.  The paper is turned in and he is feeling pretty good.  For as stressful as law school may be, he has been a peach to be with:) and I mean that in a good way.  He takes breaks when he knows he needs them, spends time with me whenever he can, and still pulling through like a champ.  Proud of him and know he is going to do great come final exams, which is 6 weeks away, CaRAZY.  He may not be feeling that way, but unbeknownst to him, I have this thing called women's intuition!

Welp, as far as this week goes, not much is going on.  I have a job interview tomorrow, then I am headed home either Thursday night or Friday morning.  I have a much needed hair cut appointment, then my mom, Jenn, and I needed to get the move on with this baby shower planning for the end of the month.  Six weeks to go til baby Johnson arrives, and her nursery is looking cute, put up wall dot decals Sunday and I finished her name with buttons on Sunday night:)  She will be living in style.  See you on the flip side!!

This case is dismissed,

Whit

Good Reminder

So I have my ups and downs when it comes to my job hunt.  I have my days where I am feeling super confident that I am going to have success and then days where I think no one and nothing is going to come.  I happened to be reading my Daily Bread last night and these words jumped out at me:  Life is not far, but God is always faithful.  This really hit me and now I have a whole new outlook on the job hunt.  It may not be fair that I have not found something yet, but I know that when I do get a job, it is going to be great.  Just have to keep up the attitude of positivity.  My friend Jenn had this verse the other day on her Facebook: "Though I am surrounded by troubles, the Lord will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." Psalms 138:7-8.  Ah Perfection.  As long as I am working as hard as I can and trusting in God to provide for Noah and I, then that is all I can do.  My first major adult problem, but I am not alone.  Great things are to come in the future!!

Court is adjourned, Whitney

Blissfully Happy

So, I am so HAPPY with our wedding pictures.  It is going to be so stinkin' hard to pick just a select few to hang on our walls because I don't want an overabundance of wedding pictures all over the place.  There is only one sad part about now being married.  I have no need to look at wedding blogs.  Viewing wedding blogs became a daily ritual for me for almost a year and  a half.  Jenn Kelso and I used to plan Friday night hang out nights around TV viewing and Wedding Blog looking.  Now this was way prior to me getting engaged, that is how obsessed we had become.  Now that I have no need to do that I am sad.  So all of my single friends out there, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let me help you plan your wedding come time.  Give me a reason to start up my obsession again.  I miss it so much.  Love and Lavender and Style Me Pretty became my best friends.  Oh to the wonderful crafty people out there, thank you very much for giving me wonderful ideas for my perfect day!  I have now become obsessed with crafting thanks to all the brilliant people in the world.  I think I may run out of places to put all my ideas.

So a little about Noah, since he is my roommate:)  He is almost done with week 3.  The other day he said while he was sitting in class it just hit him, he became motivated to work hard and kick law school in the butt.  He seriously cracks me up.  Now for most that know him, he goes into a new school year confident and becomes freakishly obsessed with school instantly.  Law school was new for him because it took him a little over 2 weeks for him to get the move on it.  We are now on the road to success.  I feel like I am feeding several children though everyday he comes home from school.  He EATS SOOOO much.  Dang law school is going to kill our savings account.  Oh well, if it means success, we'll take it!  I was told last night that going into our marriage he was nervous about my cooking abilities.  Then he went on to say that I totally surpassed his expectations and would be at the cooking level of someone that has been married for 3 or so years.  Now I wasn't sure how to take this, so I decided it was a compliment:)  haha what a dweeb.  He said it is nice skipping the burnt, unsure what the flavor was supposed to be stage.  Hey, I shocked myself too...I really enjoy it ironically.  Someone that went from not cooking at all for 22 years, to making dinners.  Man, I just amaze myself.

Welp, court is adjourned for lunch,
Whit

Flying through Month 1.

Geesh, Holy Cow, Unreal, I can't believe it, just plain old WOW! Noah and I have successfully made it to week 4 of marriage with minor bruises (those mostly are my fault, but that is another story to tell entailing keys and lofting over a car, needless to say I have better aim than I ever could of imagined.) Let's see here, we have accomplished quite a lot over the past weeks. First, our honeymoon was wonderful, perfect weather, great views, sweet resort, DOLPHIN SWIMMING!!!!! but one thing was missing.....edible food.  Noah and I are not picking people(my palette has greatly expanded and I deserve a pat on my back for that!!) but when we walked into a buffet full of food for dinner one night and came back to our table with Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops, something is wrong.  The honeymoon went so fast, I think that was due to the fact that law school was haunting our every move.  So, next on our calendar was law school orientation, which lasted a week...did I mention that it began the Monday after we got back from our honeymoon.  Poor Noah had no time to recoup, but I don't really think you can possibly prepare yourself for the unknown, so it almost worked in his favor!   I am officially Whitney Menold, spent 2 hours at the DMV only to find out that I needed Noah there to sign something and had to leave...oh man I was ticked, but the DMV was so entertaining it was almost worth the wait.   Hm, what else:  helped Whitney Hart(Noah's sister) set up her classroom & tried to get her baby names out of her...she is just to smart now outsmarted that girl.  Setting up a classroom has been like a life dream of mine! Loved it!  Meghan and Holly came to visit, took them to a cute cafe in Genoa and seriously spent hours just catching up in my family room.  I went home last weekend, hung out with my sister Danielle Jenn Bunny, and Meg, then on Saturday Holly, Shelb, Meg, and I checked out Sweet CeCe's A-Stinkin'-Mazing!  Timmy and Roe went up Saturday and visited Noah.  I wanted to make sure Noah had enough boyfriend time alone with them, the brain trust, please!:) It has been a great few weeks, but I have this dark cloud lingering over my head:  that consists of the fact that I still have not found a job.  Some times I am feeling good and confident that I am going to find something and others, I just feel worthless and wish I could find something.. I WILL find something and I know God has something out there for me.  Since I have been unemployed this last month I have resorted to my love of Do-It-Yourself projects.  I am an addict and wish I could paint our apartment walls or hang heavy objects.  Stupid rules! So I mostly spend my time looking at Pinterest  which is THE BEST WEBSITE I HAVE EVER SEENNNNNNNNN ah, I am in love.  I find so many things that one day dream of having, but can't right now.  Seriously after spending hours on the site I have found a new found love for spray paint.  Let me tell you, spray paint can transform anything into everything.  I adore it.  I will have to post pictures of my latest projects.  Most of of the stuff I have done is for my sister Danielle's birthday, so she will reap all my skills for her walls! Jealous, but trust me I have my bookmark folder on my MacBook jammed pack full of potential projects. Everyday Noah gets home from law school drained and hungry all I want to show him is stuff I found, I know he doesn't care, and some days he makes it known..haha, but others he looks with somewhat interest and says,"cool, you need to find a job!" (smiling)  I do, do, do need something!  As a recap, being a wife, is much different than being a grown child living with your parents until you are 22.5.  Laundry is a chore and it is just 2 of us, I have found that I love to cook meals, yay good things, and cleaning a tiny apartment over a house is the BEST!  I think we have used our dishwasher in the past month more than my mom has ever used her the past 9 years:) Love you mom!

With the sound of the gavel, this case is adjourned!  -Whit

view from main lobby

noah's daily position 

swimming in the Gulf:)

Eating some French Cuisine:)

Cafe in Genoa, shear goodness

Sweet CeCe's...miss both of you already!