Sushi Eating Contest

Ba Ba Ba.....(in a deep ominous voice)...That was overall feeling in the room once the boys hit sushi roll number 6. There were 7 baseball players who participated in the contest this past Sunday night at Kabuki. Why would one want to do such a thing? Well, there was $3,000 being donated in the winner's name to a ministry called Heart of the City, a ministry that reaches out to intercity kids through sports. The same roll would be put in front of each contestant and after they finished that roll, they would move to the next. The guy who ate the most, won. A couple guys were done at 3 or 4 rolls, the others made it to roll 6. Beau took one bite of 6 and could do no more. He was not lookin' so good....Matt laPorta ended up taking it all. I don't know how he did it but I swear he could have eaten 2 more rolls. He's the guy standing to the left of Beau. It was a great night, good good memories : )

A Fantastic Visit from the Family

What an amazing week we had with the family!!! Shopping trips, hiking, bike rides, yummy dinners, baseball games and sunshine all added up to make the perfect week : ) I'm sad to see them go but Mom will be flying out Easter Sunday and making the 30 hour drive to Akron Ohio with me! Beau flies out the same day and starts on the road for a week so it's my duty to get the apartment and all that good stuff together. I know Mom Mills is doing the same thing in Houston and I pray that it all goes more smoothly for you Mom!!!
I'm going to miss all you guys and I hope to see all of you very soon!

Way to go Lizzy!!!

Vannette was larger than life on the pitch for the Cavaliers

Central Valley Christian's Lizzy Vannette broke onto the Tulare County high school soccer scene with 20 goals and eight assists her freshman season.

She followed that up with 21 goals and nine assists her sophomore season.

The all of a sudden, the goal-scoring dropped off.

But it wasn't because she forgot where the goal was.

She actually became a much better soccer player.

A soccer outsider might not appreciate what Vannette did. It was her unselfishness to drop back to the midfield and set up her teammates that lifted the Cavaliers to championship heights once again.

"The stats aren't overwhelming," CVC coach Jacob De Groot said. "But if you ask coaches that play against us, she's the one they congratulate after because she impresses them so much. The coaches agreed that she was the heart of our team."

As a junior, she scored 14 goals and dished out 12 assists, and as a senior she scored 11 goals and had a career-high 19 assists.

"She developed a ton over the years," De Groot said. "Her freshman year, she was there to clean everything up and it was her job to score goals.

With players graduating, Vannette's role changed from a goal-scorer to a distributor.

"If you stick her on the front line, she'll score a bunch of goals," De Groot said.

"But you have to set up a team. You can't just put the best player in a position to score. You have to put her where she helps the team the most because a lot of other things happen on the field."

And in De Groot's mind, she had her best season as a senior.

Vannette, who was also named the Central Sequoia League MVP, capped a memorable career by being named the 2009-10 Times-Delta/Advance-Register Tulare County girls soccer player of the year.

"We had several good and new players on the team," Vannette said. "Having them on the field and being surrounded by players I could trust, made my life a lot easier."

Standing at 5-foot-2, Vannette often caught her competitors off guard. She may have been small in stature, but she made up for it with her speed, quickness and precision passing.

"My size is always an issue," Vannette said. "I'm always going to be outsized, and because of that I have to be quick with my feet and stand my ground as much as I can. I have to play with what I got."

Vannette made the most of her career at CVC.

In her four years with the Cavaliers, the team went 99-18-2, including a perfect 44-0 in league play. She won four league titles and three Central Section championships.

Winning the 2010 Central Section championship was extra special for Vannette because of the heartbreak the team endured the year before when they lost in the Central Section championship game.

"We set a couple of goals this season and one was to win Valley," Vannette said. "We did not want to lose again, it was not a fun feeling. The team was determined to win and we did. We focused on doing that and we weren't going to lose."

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU LIZZY!!!!

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20100326/SPORTS/3260314/1006/Vannette-was-larger-than-life-on-the-pitch-for-the-Cavaliers

Mom Mills gives gifts to future Mom Mills!

This morning I went to my mail-box and opened it to find a package from Mom Mills! She got me the CUTEST baby outift I have EVER seen!!! And I am modeling the Tummy Sleeve she also got me. You wear it when your pants get too tight. You can unbotton you pants and put the sleeve over top and still be able to wear your favorite pair of jeans-it just looks like a tanktop you might wear underneath another shirt. How freaking adorable is this outfit?!?!?! Mom, thank you so so so so much! You are so thoughtful : ) !!!

We have visitors!

Jake and Abbey have landed! After seeing a beautiful sunrise, I headed to Phoenix to pick up our roommates for the week. Sadie was really excited to see some new faces; as you can see from the look on Abbey's, she wasn't reciprocating Sadie's affections. She's not a big fan of our pooch : ) We went out to lunch and I showed them around Goodyear a bit and then we laid by the pool before picking Beau up and heading to church. On the way we saw tons of hot air balloons, a very cool sight. Jake and Abbey slept in til 10 and we have decided to have a relaxing Sunday by the pool. Their plans for Spring Break consist of sunshine and a bit of shopping, things with which I am very ok with!

Akron 2009 Champions

Today, the 2009 Akron Double-A Team was awarded their Championship Rings on the field before the game. Beau has a ring from high school, college and now from professional baseball. Let's hope that one day, he'll be the proud owner of a World Series Championship Ring, maybe even 2 like his dad : ) Congrats Boys!

Go Dad Mills!!!!

Houston Astros manager and Visalia resident Brad Mills talks with players during practice, in Kissimmee, Fla., on Feb. 24. A week into spring training, Mills, in his first year as manager of the club, seemed to already have transformed the mood in the clubhouse, infusing a positive outlook and establishing personal connections with his players. (The Associated Press)

CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE ABOUT MY FATHER-IN-LAW. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103100304

PBR + Piano Bar= A Good Time

Last night a bunch of us from the team went to the PBR. It was AMAZING!!! These guys are truly crazy-the bulls they ride are massive and some of the riders got trampled or kicked pretty good. Before we went, Beau and I had to make a stop at our local cowboy store to purchase a cowboy hat for Beau and a pair of boots for myself. Beau was so proud of my boots and showed them off : ) After the PBR, we went to a piano bar called Shout. We got a great table and enjoyed. We really got a laugh when Beau and another cowboy were called up on the stage to do a little dance. All of you who know Beau, can just imagine how much he hammed it up! It was hilarious-that man was made to be on a stage ha ha ha

Preggers Update Week 10

Week 10 is upon us and I'm not sure if I was made to carry babies or what, but I feel awesome. No sickness, not as tired, my body is feeling great. My top baggage is gettin' a little heftier and my tummy a little thicker. I'm able to get a good workout in everyday and I think that's helping me feel so good : ) Out baby is about an inch and a half!!!

Lizzy is a stud

CVC's Lizzy Vannette named CSL MVP

The Central Valley Christian girls soccer team's season came to an end on Wednesday evening in San Diego but what a season it was.

The Cavaliers finished with an overall record of 24-4. They won their second straight Central Sequoia League title going undefeated at 12-0 and they captured the Central Section Division IV championship after having lost it the previous year's final.

CVC also reached the Southern California Division III semifinals for the second time in three seasons. They defeated Notre Dame Academy 2-0 in the first round but lost to Francis Parker-San Diego 3-1 in the semifinals.

The team's effort were rewarded as Elizabeth Vannette was named the CSL's most valuable player and three other Cavaliers made the first team.

Vannette, a senior, had 11 goals and 19 assists on the season CVC's three selections to the first team were all seniors: Rebekah Gonzalez, Brianna Westly and Alexandra Paredes.

WOO LADY CAVS!!!!

CVC blanks Notre Dame Academy 2-0 in D-III Regional

The Central Valley Christian girls soccer team got on the scoreboard just 11 minutes into their Southern California Division III Regional game against Notre Dame Academy. After Monday's game, it seems as if the rust may be off. Now the Cavaliers can set their sights on their next game in the SoCal Regionals. CVC will next play on the road at Francis Parker in San Diego at 4 p.m. Wednesday."Right now all we can do is just take it one game at a time," De Groot said.
(for full article visit http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20100309/HSSPORTS/3090301/1006/SPORTS/CVC-blanks-Notre-Dame-Academy-2-0-in-D-III-Regional)

Way to go Ladies!!! You guys are total studs-I'll be there is spirit on Wednesday, cheering loudly from the stands!

Attention: Rochelle

WOO HOO!!!! I was SOOOOO excited to get a comment from you! Miss you guys so much-thank you for all the encouraging words. Thinking and praying for you! I found this verse and it reminded me of how strong you are. I admire your attitude and your faith so much!
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 17:20

i love a man in uniform...

Opening day was a success for the Indians. We crushed the Reds 9-2; a very good way to start the year. And I must say, my husband looks mighty fine in a baseball uniform. How I've missed it...All us gals had a great time chatting it up in the perfect sunshine weather : ) It's supposed to rain again this weekend so we're getting it in while we can. Another game today and church tonight-there are about 16 of us from the team that have been going. It's such an answer to prayer to have so many Christian couples surrounding us!

Dancin' the night away...

There are a lot of players who stay in a hotel rather than an apartment. Beau has several friends who are staying in the brand new Marriott right down the street. They called Beau up last night and invited us to the Grand Opening: essentially for free PF Changs appetizers and free drinks. We were there! There were a ton of big names there: the mayor of Goodyear, the man who built the hotel as well as the Cancer Center and Hospital in Goodyear and several others. There was a live band, and since Beau can never resist the urge to get up and bust a move, he gravitated toward the dance floor with some lovely ladies. The older woman in the blue dress came over to Beau afterward and gave him a big hug and a thank you. She said, "I just wanted to thank you for making my night. My husband is in the cancer center and they made me put on this dress and come out tonight. You made my night." Maybe the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Made me love my husband that much more...Today is Opening Day and I am very excited for the game and chit chat with the gals!!!

A Night in the Rink

Last night, Josh and Britney Tomlin and Beau and I went to a Coyotes hockey game. There were three players that played in the Olympics, one of Finland and the other two for the United States. It was awesome! I love hockey...And this morning I went to a wives bible study and was so uplifted! We had such great discussion and I am so grateful for all the doors God is opening! I'm getting a pedicure this afternoon with Britney and Shannon; it should be lovely....And a belated 74th birthday shout out to Papa Bern-have fun with your friends and the Rv!!!

A good day

I had a wonderful day yesterday. I got a great workout in before heading to the Indians Wives Luncheon, at the Wigman Resort. There were so many wonderful girls there and I have a very good feeling that there will be some good friendships made this year : ) Beau and I also attended a Bible Study last night with probably 20 other players, some single, some with their wives. It was great! And tomorrow morning, I'm riding with a new friend, Erica Todd, to a wives Bible Study. God's doing a lot of great things here this year!! I am pretty psyched! Plus, the church we go to on Saturday nights is incredible.
Off to take the ol' Range Rover in for a check up this morning. I get a free car wash with my visit...Sweet....Oh and this is what Beau and I rode to the park looking at this morning. Nothing like an Arizona Sunrise. Gorgeous; totally made my day.
PS: Mama Mills, I got my first MLB wives e-mail today-thanks for takin' such good care of me!