Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

8 cups water or chicken broth
1 cup carrots (I use shredded)
1 cup celery chopped
1 cup onion chopped
1 clove garlic
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1-3 tsp salt to taste (I like less salt)
1/2 tsp ground pepper
3 1/2 pounds chicken (the recipe called for a whole chicken, I just use about 4 large chicken breasts because I hate deboning chickens. HAHA)
3 Cups egg noodles

Combine above ingredients EXCEPT NOODLES in a slow cooker with the chicken on top.  Cook on low for 4-8 hours or high 2-4.

Remove chicken and bay leaves.  Add 3 cups egg noodles uncooked to the slow cooker and cover with lid and cook for 20 more minutes.  While the noodles cook shred the chicken.  Add back in and serve.