Good Times in Florida!

We are in Clearwater about to play 6 games in the next three days! Our Florida tour has been great so far, great weather, great training, great games! We are looking forward to playing lots in the next few days. Florida is beautiful so lush and so green. We are loving Clearwater being right on the beach with ocean views, it doesn't get any better than this! Bustos is soaking it all up on the balcony looking out at the water with a big grin. Its been an exciting trip getting to go to the Yankee's Game on Sunday (I skipped out for Casey's game but the team had fun) and having Terrell Owens stopping by our game last night. We are invited to go to see Tampa Bay play on Friday, we are looking forward to it! Lots of baseball going on around here!!! I love the spring and baseball is one of the many reasons why. We bused today from Hollywood to Clearwater making a pit stop at the IMG Academy. Our team had an appearance at the Academy and had a meet and greet with many local high schoolers. Its a pretty amazing place to say the least. Its resort living with everything you need for athletics, academics, and life for the athlete in training. We had a great time, plus it broke up the bus ride!
Well I better get going and get some R & R (rest & recovery) it doesn't come too often! :)
Dream & Believe!
#27

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all have a great day and you let your loved ones know they are loved! We as a family will celebrate when we are together again and us three are looking forward to it! Ace and I are digging into our gift basket daddy sent us. Ace is feeding me caramel corn as I type, thanks honey! We love you and miss you our hearts will be complete when we are together!!! Happy heart day and share it with your loved ones!

Ace is getting big fast! He now has over 5 little cars in which he adores! His favorite is his Winnie the Pool car, that plays music! He is adding more words to his vocabulary every day, truck, read, red, blue, and eat. He walks around the house shouting mom, mom, its so cute! He points out every truck with excitement, I think because he knows his daddy has a truck. We think he is saying at times Prada (my dogs name), grandma, and grandpa too. He is coming along. He makes the fire engine sound, meows like a cat, moos like a cow, and much more. He has so many signs too its incredible, we play charades everyday!

I had a moment yesterday... I was at a park in La Mirada, where I grew up, pitching to my dad with my mom looking on holding the radar gun. In the back ground was my Grandma holding Prada watching Ace ride his car around the sidewalk. It reminded me just how much I've been blessed with! Here I am going on over 20 years of being able to play catch with my dad! I just walked off the field with a big grin, so grateful and so thankful!

We head out to Arizona next for our opener against the U of A. We are looking forward to having another team to play and for me going home. I love practice but it helps when you mix a game in here and there! It is crazy to think we are less than 7 months away from the games. We are training hard looking forward to the Bound for Beijing tour across the country. I continue to be so honored and grateful to play for the USA and with my teammates! This is such a great game, I love it! I look forward to the many memories we will make this year as a team and all the many people we will meet as we prepare to win the Gold!

Its about the time to shut the lights out and get Ace settled!

Lots of Love!

My First Firing...

Alot has happened since my last blog...
As for The Apprentice- We lost 2 more tasks which means 2 more people out the door for Team Empresario. Big Bummer... Gene Simmons (known for having the worlds greatest black book) being the first to go and myself in week number 4. It was a tough one to swallow... but for the best. Back to my family and back to my teammates, my true teammates! I left appreciating the fact that I play a team sport and we have each others backs on our team! All working hard and striving to achieve one common goal, GOLD. I am so grateful for my experience on The Apprentice. I was able to meet some incredible people and learn from my Trump experience. Mr. Trump amazed me with his professionalism... in and out of the boardroom. Ivanka blew me away too. She was so well spoken, poised, intelligent, and carried herself so well. I am so thankful for the opportunity. I was a little bit happy and relieved to get back to my family and team. It was a very stressful environment... like it should've been. I am so blessed to have my faith and family to keep my sanity! :)
Oh and CONGRATS ladies so happy for Empresario and their Big Win this week. Keep it up!!!
It was a very entertaining episode. Vinny, I just love him. He is tough, but a teddy bear too! Sad to see him go.

We are training right now together as a team, getting ready. We get to put our uniform on and actually compete in a couple weeks. We can't wait! We open up against University of Arizona, my home! Its going to be such a magical year for us! We are so excited to get out on tour and play for the fans all over the country. There is no greater feeling than hearing U-S-A as you enter a stadium! Its so fun seeing all the future softballers all across the US. I am grateful for the honor, to a part of something so incredible.

Casey and Ace are great! My 2 stars! Casey is on his way out to Spring Training, he's been working hard getting ready for the season. We just celebrated our 3rd anniversary, so fun! Ace is just wonderful. Saying more and more and just becoming more and more grown up. He's a little boy already. He continues to brighten our days with his goofy-ness and smile. He is soaking up the world and making it his world.

We are under 200 days until the Olympic games, it will be here before we know it. Making the days count.


#27

Another loss, still high hopes!

Well another loss for the women... big bummer! I was so sad to have to see another teammate go, as you could tell by my 2 minute pause when Mr. Trump put me on the spot. It was terrible having to name someone. It was so tough... I was so torn and in a position I didn't want to be in. Nadia was so much fun to be around! She was of few words and when she spoke it was usually funny or very clever! I enjoyed getting to know her, especially being a big fan of hers! She was very thoughtful and very much a team player. We women really needing a victory being down 0-2. It was a lot of fun seeing Nelly in action, she is exceptional and full of knowledge. She is a great leader and very talented. Again, we did not use our "celebrity-ness" and came up short.

Training is going well! We are here at the Olympic Training Center surrounded by some of the greatest athletes in the world. I was chatting with some of the bmx women's team today, it was so interesting to hear about their world! They have built this massive ramp and course down here that is quite intimidating. They are working hard fighting for the Olympic spots! There are lots of track athletes that are residents, field hockey, and rowers. Its pretty inspiring us all having one common goal. Beijing!

Ace is doing great... he is loving having grass to play in. Our yard in Az consists of cacti and rocks. He loves driving his Winnie the Pooh car around, he thinks he owns this place. It was so funny talking to the bmx riders, them on their bikes and Ace on his car. He was trying to figure out how to upgrade, he was checking them out. Antonio (Lisa's boy) and Ace had fun with finger paints today that ended up to be full body paints. They are little buds! Its so cute! I better get going I'm missing out on kisses from Ace. I love it I could just eat him up, he loves to cuddle. The cutest most irresistible sight is him taking his binky out and leaning in to give me a kiss! Nite, gotta go it's my favorite time of the day, cuddle time.

The Apprentice and Training

The Apprentice has begun!  Lots and lots of people are watching and letting me know!!!  No more not being able to chat...  what an amazing experience it was!  I had a blast and really enjoyed meeting the other "celebs".  I was really excited about the task of selling hotdogs, I was raised at the ball park so for me it was very familiar.  It was great because here we are so called "celebs" and I was reliving my snack bar days!  We knew it was about who you knew... $1 dogs weren't going to lead us to victory.  To put it nicely we lost by a bit... over 30k little bit.  We women got smoked!  Big bummer to have to go to the boardroom on the first task and lose a team member.  I was deeply saddened to have to say good bye to my friend Tiffany.  We really got along and I was looking forward to having more time to hang out, she is an incredibly sweet girl.  Stay tuned for more of the drama Task #2... more fun stuff!

We are down here in So Cal at training camp with Team USA... training hard, getting ready for Beijing!  I believe its 210 days away, its coming up on us quick.  We had testing this morning, a couple fun 300 yd shuttles!  Its always fun being together and training together as a team!  One thing I left the Apprentice with is an even greater appreciation for my teammates and us all getting along and sharing one common goal.  We strive to make each other better daily and love doing so!!!  I love my team!  Go USA!!!

Best Always,

  

Jennie Joins the Blogging World

Hey, I have started this blog as we head into the Olympic year! This should be an incredible year as we are on our quest for another Gold Medal!

My previous journal from my website www.jenniefinch27.com are below.


Please check back to follow this incredible dream journey!

We had a great Christmas with our families! Ace thoroughly enjoyed his 2nd Christmas. Needless to say he knows how to rip his way into presents. We are enjoying this short time together as a family... pretty soon Casey heads out to Spring Training Camp, we USA Softball start training and traveling the US on tour!

Check out the Bound for Beijing Tour on www.usasoftball.org

Time is flying by so fast... Casey and I are about to celebrate our 3rd Anniversary in January! I am the magic 2-7! Casey is coming up on his in April. Ace is rapidly coming up to his 2nd birthday in May.
I will be trying to slow down time and just enjoy and celebrate each day!

I hope you will do the same! Enjoy your last few days of 2007.

You can check out my myspace at myspace.com/jenniefinch27

Previous Journal Entries

Date: December 24, 2007
Location: Sulphur, LA

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
I wish you all a great holiday season filled with lots of warm love and joy!

We are enjoying our time off by spending lots of time with family! We are enjoying each day knowing what a crazy year is ahead! Lots of travel and excitement!

Ace said, "Please" yesterday for the first time!!! It was so cute! He is totally faking us out not wanting to talk! He is fully aware! He just started making an elephant noise and putting his hand out for his trunk! He imitates fishing which is hilarious! He pretends he is Santa Claus and says, "ho ho ho"! In a deep and serious tone! He is getting good at opening presents...tears into them! His favorite so far is a Winnie the Pooh Truck his Aunt Dee Dee got him! He is a mad man on it, running in to and over things!

Lots of happiness to you all! A huge Thanks for all your continued support, love, and prayers!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

#27



Date: December 8, 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ

Hey Everyone!!!

This morning I went to U of A to train with my dear friend Brianna Glenn. She runs track and is training for Beijing also. Its been so much fun reuniting with her... we grew up together both went to U of A and now she moved back to train with her Coach here in town! Its been fun and challenging trying to train with a sprinter! I've really enjoyed hanging with her and catching up. Now I am just enjoying the 45 degree weather here at our home! I am going to tackle a pot of seafood gumbo for dinner!

We just got back from Orlando on Thursday. We had such a great time! We had a camp on the weekend with a great group of excited young girls! After the camp we had a Daigle vacation with all of Casey's family, tons of fun! Monday after camp the camp staff and our fam was spoiled rotten! We were invited to visit the Discovery Cove across from Sea World. It was so incredible... we were able to swim with the dolphins, feed the sting rays, and touch a shark! We had so much fun!!! We ended the day at Sea World, we were taken back and able to visit the killer whales!!! We had such a blast!!! Unfortunately we weren't able to get Bustos in the water but she had fun too! Ace even kissed the Dolphins!!! It was so cute! We then went over and checked into the Animal Kingdom Lodge at Disney World. It was so much fun, there were giraffes and zebras right out of our balcony. Ace had such a blast. He loved the rides, food, parades, and especially having his cousins with him!

Well if you haven't heard I will be appearing on the Apprentice! I haven't seen the commercials yet, but heard they were airing. It was such a great cast, I was honored to join them. You will have to watch to find out what the outcome is!

We now have open the "Jennie Finch Store"!!! We are really excited to have it and share all the fun stuff we have and designed! Please check it out, especially if you love pink!

Exciting news in the Daigle household... Casey has signed with the Minnesota Twins! We are really excited about the opportunity. We are sad to leave Arizona and all many great people we have met in the organization, but it will still be our home. We are looking forward to what God has in store for us.

Ace is getting so big. He loves making his lizard face sticking out his tongue, sweet eyes, giving kisses, hugs, jumping, knuckles, high fives, showing us his teeth, putting his shoes on, diving his tractor, and continues to brighten up everyday!

Next week we are off to USA training camp for a week, always great to have your teammates there to train with. Beijing will be here before we know it..

We are constantly reminded how blessed we are and are so grateful we are for our families and friends! I love this time of year! I love the smell, I love the lights, and most of all I love being with family. I hope you are not going crazy with shopping and etc of the holidays. My hope is that you just enjoy!!!

Blessings to all!
#27




Date: November 14, 2007
Location: Japan

Hi Everyone-

I am in Japan with Team USA getting ready for the Japan Cup this weekend. It's a bit emotional for me as we have entered another Olympic year. I was reminded from Laura Berg that this could be her last trip to Japan... it was difficult to hear! For some of us this will be our last trip here to play. We have been coming here for almost 7 or so years to play in the Japan Cup. I got really sad to hear from her that this will be a year of many lasts! It just reminded me to live each day like its our last, enjoy the moment, and enjoy the process!!! Especially with our sport being eliminated from the 2012 Olympics! We really have to showcase our sport world wide and prove we belong in the Games! We will wear this uniform proud and give it all we have!!!

Never limit yourself... push yourself. "Practice like its Competition, Compete like its Practice" If you practice at 80 percent you will never see your game elevate. Every time you go out push yourself and you will see improvements! This way when you get in the game you've practiced everyday a 100% and you will perform at 100% maybe even 110%. It's difficult to get 100% out of yourself when you only put in 80% each day.


Jennie Finch Daigle



Date: October 8, 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ

I hope everyone is getting gearing up and looking forward to a great fall and winter. I am sure enjoying the cooler weather. We, Team USA just got done with a week long training camp in Tucson, Az. We had a great week of practices and meetings. Everyday we are putting hay in the barn getting ready for Beijing! Its such a good group of talented women. We are getting ready to head over to Japan next month for the Japan Cup.

We had a great camp in Little Rock a few weeks ago! We had over 3000 spectators and families out to watch the campers. The host team was the Showtime, they were a great group of young, excited, and talented travelballers! They did such a great job. We had campers come from Virginia, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and all over. We had a lot fun meeting, teaching, and sharing our love for the game with all the girls! I always say the best part about having a gold medal is sharing with the youth and seeing their eyes light up.

After the camp I went to Dallas and spoke at an SMU luncheon, over 600 people were there. Its so fun seeing the passion and support for the SMU Athletic programs! Its more than just the athletic program its a community and its so great to be able to be a part of that. I was so blessed to have the chance to be a Wildcat and first hand experience that community. I always enjoy seeing the passion for College Athletics, it was a great environment to be in.

We spent a few weeks in Louisiana visiting family! We enjoyed seeing family we don't get to see too often. Casey loves going back home, its a long season for him without being able too visit! We enjoyed all the tasty Cajun food, Ace loved it riding on four wheelers, a tractor, and even a horse! Ace even went to his first cattle auction! We had lots of fun! Ace is soaking up having his daddy home everyday and every night. The other day I got home from practice and met Casey and Ace on the golf course. Casey got Ace his own very set of golf clubs, bag and all! It's so cute. Ace can even put the tee down, put a ball on it and hit it! Ace just gets more and more fun each day. He has such a great sense of humor... he loves to be silly! He will walk around the house in my shoes, Casey's hat and sunglasses and just laugh!

Now we are gearing up for our Williamsport camp coming up at the end of the month. We have a great group of Coaches Laura Berg, Caitlin Lowe, Andrea Duran, Kelly Kretschman, Mackenzie Vandergeest, Toni Mascarenas, Nicole Trimboli, and my dad Doug! Unfortunately we only have one more camp after this one, it will be in Orlando! We are hoping to continue after Beijing in 09'!

All my best always!!!

Jennie Finch Daigle