Ticks' the season!

Oh man! Temperatures here have been amazing! We have consistently had sun filled days in the 70’s and today 85 and we LOVE it! Along with beautiful springtime southern weather comes the “nasties.” In a word…ticks. Ack! I can hardly even say it without quivering! My girlfriend Jen called me yesterday, telling me she had 3 nasties crawling on her from being out weeding the yard! Makes this girl not want to play outside- I have far too many nooks & crannies a tick would have to hide in! LOL!

Events taking place at the Welchs lately…as I have said before, Rick is coaching the high school track team sprinters and relay teams, and having a lot of success! He has helped them to achieve proper hand off technique and has developed a weekly workout schedule that the head coach supports, and has made several occasion to personally thank and credit “Coach Welch” for his efforts and enthusiasm.

Speaking of “Coach Welch”, the younger Ms. Welch is coaching too, the high jumpers specifically. In fact, she has done a phenomenal job with the kids, who were being taught incorrect technique by another coach, and was able to not only help them correct it, but has succeeded in getting 4 jumpers to actually clear the bar for their first times! The kids openly attributed their success to her in front of the former “experienced” coach and high school teacher, much to his dismay. I have to just say how proud I am of her spunk; the former coach attempted to redirect the jumpers, saying that Rikki was wrong, and she stood right up to him explaining that he had been teaching it wrong and because of that the kids were jumping into the bar instead of over it. After a bit of research by the head coach, he confirmed that Rikki was indeed, correct! Way to go Coach Welch, Jr.!

Miss Lilly has surprised me lately. The last two mornings, she has left for school wearing a bit of light green eye shadow and mascara! She actually did a good job- I am guessing Rikki must have taught her a few techniques. I’m not prepared for both of my babies to be growing up as fast as they are. But, even still, Lilly remains a play-in-the-dirt type of girl, and I love that about her- but now I’m freaked because of the Ticks! Gross! She is currently trying to sweet talk me into a cell phone, but we are not going down that road yet! (If you don’t recall- Rikki ran up a 2400$ bill her first month with a cell phone!) So, we are just keeping that at bay as long as possible.

Bloom

Hey there y’all!  Things are looking mighty beautiful around these parts. All of the flowering dogwoods are in bloom with brilliant white blossoms that seem to dot the rolling landscape perfectly. Raleigh is defiantly full of life in the Spring time. People seem to be in better moods altogether; we have yet to see any sign of real southern hospitality here in NC. Rick & I did get it in Charleston, SC, but that was it. My favorite thing is walking out my front door on foggy mornings; the thick warm mist is only broken by the sound of thousands of frogs off in the woods croaking love ballads to one another. I’ve really come to adore their song. The sunsets right now are amazing! Orange and red paint the skies for miles.

I have been quite busy lately & am missing Rick & the girls lots! I have been working until 8pm this week, then coming home kissing everyone really quick, and jumping feet first into the creation of my Isagenix business. I have come to realize that working for someone else is not getting me (or my family) where we need to be. I’m really not suited well to spend 40 hours of my life in a depressing blue cubicle trading hours for dollars, only to be under appreciated and under paid. I think that with the changing times, holding a traditional type job is becoming obsolete and network marketing is the business of the future. So, I am in this to build the strongest future for my family that I possibly can in this lifetime.

Rick has been an entirely priceless support person. He is helping me out by keeping the household chores done, monitoring a very social teen and a carefree tween! That takes a lot of dedication! And that is all in addition to his workweek at Sara Lee. Rick has also taken up coaching track at Corinth Holders HS. He is really loving being out there teaching the sprinters technique and helping identify the talent.

I have not seen much of the girls this week, although I can say that Rikki received a package in the mail from Spokane (ahem- from a boy) and she could not have been more excited! Inside she found not 1, but 2 heart shaped boxes of chocolates, a stuffed teddy bear and a beautiful heart shaped diamond necklace that looks fantastic with her dark hair. Ryan (the boy and our future B.A.S.I.L) also included a letter to her, and a letter to Rick, Lilly and I. We all adore him.

Lilly- I suppose she’s been running amok with her girlfriends. She has been doing fantastic at keeping her room clean, I am all too proud to report!

Until next week…love you all Spokane!

It's March!

 Erin Go bragh!

We had a FANTASTIC weekend enjoying 83 degree temps and loads of sunshine. We (Rick, I & both dogs) spent all weekend on walks & at home with doors and windows open! Perfect medicine for wintertime blues. We found Lilly hanging out at the “rock”. Apparently, that is what the local kids all call this giant boulder in a strip of the woods just off of our street. She was getting dirty & having a ball with her little friend. Rikki spent some time with her friends & talking on the phone to a BOY!! Blech ;-)

Unfortunately, Rikki is unable to participate in track. She has sustained a foot injury that continues to worsen, so we have just told her to “call it a day”. She did talk with the coach and will still go to practices to help the jumpers, and he seemed pleased.

Rick did get the green light to help coach the sprinters…and his head is swarming with practice ideas already. He is very excited!

We are all looking very forward to Nick & Ambers visit next month! They are coming for 2 weeks & will be here over his birthday. It will have been 1 ½ yrs since he has seen the girls or Rick, so I am very anxious to see his reaction to how big they are (not Rick of course!)

We plan to take a small jaunt down to the beach so they can walk in the warm Carolina sand which I know they will love. If we are really lucky, a visit to Washington DC may be on the agenda because it is only a 4 hr road trip away. But, one has to have the funds!! With this month having  St. Patrick’s holiday…I am hoping to see some GREEN CASH!!!