Introducing...HEADS-UP GIRLS!

It's official... I've finally started a girl's friendship group! My longtime friend Sandy (at Reluctant Entertainer) has been prodding me to start a group for Shanna and friends since Shanna was in 1st grade! She's in 5th and I'm finally feeling like I could give it a try... Sandy's called her group Balcony Girls and previously God's Girls and FaithGirlz, we're calling our group Heads-Up Girls.

Heads-Up is significant because it could mean keeping your chin up and not being down, looking towards heaven for guidance, being aware (like "heads up!!!!!), and just sounds like a great motto for having healthy self-esteem.

This is Gabi, Gabi's mom - Anne, and Shanna chatting over cookies and milk..

We moved to the family room after coloring scarecrows... the girls snuggled up on couches with blankies to listen as Miss Anne shared with them about the differences between a clique and a group of people who share a common interest(s)..

Jordan, Haley and Sam were taking notes and listening and participating and learning!

Anne did such a fantastic job at giving the girls a fun exercise to do and I actually had some thinking to do about being inclusive, being friendly and not getting caught up in being exclusive.

She's going to be our guest speaker quite a bit I think!

Haley and Jo at the cookie table!

This is Bonnie, she's one of the coaches helping me each week, she'll be working with the girls on their scripture memory verse...

And then there's Mary Anne, Haley's "Noni", who was an elementary teacher for 25 years! She'll be the "link" to talking to little girls and also will be the crafts guru... I'm so excited and blessed to have this support for our girls.

Next time we're looking forward to a couple girls who are still taking an after-school art class joining us... Lots of great topics to talk about this year!

BLAZERS Opening Night!!!

Trailblazer Mania this past weekend! Hubby and I went to opening night at the Rose Garden... so awesome!!! Blazers won by 1 point -- sooo exciting! Earth Wind and Fire was the opening act, playing as the Blazers came out... They sounded fantastic and just like you would remember.

OK, so this time we had Lexus Club Level seats, Hubby and Eric love these seats because of the "free" food and buffet that comes with the seats. Literally anything and everything you could want to eat and should NOT eat is up for grabs. And grab I did. Everyone was loaded up with candy, hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn, cookies, drinks and the great buffet food.. there was a taco bar, roast beef and roast turkey and great salads and grilled vegies.
Oh, yes and free hats and posters and bumper stickers. I'm wearing 2 hats because my arms are full.

Blazer stunt team and Blazer dancers are so fun to watch... super-human!

I was shocked that my husband would jump right into the group of girls and swing his arm around one and say "TAKE MY PICTURE!".. Notice all the timid souls just content to look on (probably with major jealousy).

Oh wait! If one Blazer cheerleader is good, then TWO WOULD BE GREAT!!!

And if that weren't enough, who should walk right by us as we were going to sit down, but Jerome Kersey! Next to Clyde "TheGlide" Drexler, Jerome was always our favorite player back in the 90's! What a handsome and gracious man he was... they were shaking hands but I boobed up the picture darn it!

Oh yeah, and the Blazers did play and we did watch and yell and scream and make fun of drunks. A good time. Going back this weekend to watch them play the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Love visiting his hometown. I'm anxious to see how Oregon folks will treat K-Love who went off to UCLA instead of staying here. (He only went one year and then turned pro this year so what d does it matter??)

I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!!!!!

Time To Volunteer!!

On Tuesday night our family (minus Eric who was sick) went to the Northwest Children's Outreach in the Pearl District of Portland. The ministry serves other organizations in the area, filling needs for complete baby layettes, diaper bags, clothing and toys. It is very clean and well organized by specific type of garment, gender and size. This is one portion - looking down the little girls' row..
After we picked up a child's order, we would go around the building "shopping" for the child -- a specific amount of clothing is placed into each order, several shirts and pants, pajamas, onesies or t-shirts, socks, underwear, a coat, sweatshirt, hat and gloves, shoes, a little scripture book, and 2 toys and 2 or 3 stuffed animals! I cannot imagine what the little 2 year old boy will do when he gets his bag! This is all for one child - so awesome!

My husband Jim isn't normally a big shopper so this required extreme concentration..

OK, so he did have some break time with Noelle's husband Brad... apparently some macho "fishing" talk was needed.

Jenae absolutely loved this night and she said "when do we get to come back!!??" She would dig around the stack of names to find the little babies and then become a personal stylist to that baby... she was putting together the most adorable little outfits!

Shanna also had a great time, what 10 year old girl wouldn't enjoy "shopping" for cute clothes and fun toys for other kids? She was also adding her fashionista flair to her bags. (I'm now thinking that maybe dear ol' Dad shouldn't have been left alone with clothing choices - hmmm)..

This is my dear friend Noelle at the end of the night, she's so beautiful but it took me 3 tries to get a picture of her with her eyes open - haha!

One last picture of Shanna the cutie making a little baby girl warm and adorable!

We're going to be taking our kids to NCO every month on the last Tuesday night as part of our community group at our church, Rolling Hills Community Church. If any of you in the area want to join us, please do!

Portland Farmer's Market ... Sigh....

I recently enjoyed a beautiful day at an outing to the Portland Farmer's Market downtown by PSU. Some friends and I went to South Park (not the comic strip) for a great lunch and then went to the last farmer's market of the season (sad). I wanted to share some pictures of the crisp Fall day!
Here's Judith (red jacket) and Noelle (black jacket) getting ready to buy some flowers..
I didn't buy any pickles from Picklopolis but I did enjoy the sign.

Every imaginable variety of organically grown vegetable was displayed and it was just fun to walk around marvelling at the beauty!

Lots of vendors had beautiful flowers for sale, quite a treat in October!

Portland is a very eclectic little city as I'm beginning to see more and more... Noelle works as a realtor downtown and she's got the pulse of the city for sure! As I go places with her I will keep posting pictures of my new discoveries.

Eric's Birthday and Choir Concert

Eric took of his buddies to Red Robin and a movie for his 15th birthday last week... L-R are Conor, Eric, Derek and Nick...
Eric and Derek went to school together K, 1st and 2nd at Kennedy Elementary in Medford, OR and then again in Middle School. Derek moved up here to the Portland area about 6 months before us so even tho they aren't at the same school we have Derek here a lot!

I think ice cream was a bit much after their dinners... It's so amazing to think that Eric's 15 and can legally drive a car! The permit test is happening this week sometime. Yikes. Be on the lookout.

Eric's first high school choir concert was this week, he sang with the Tenor/Bass Choir and in the All-Boys songs. He's front row and center in this picture.

He had a falsetto solo in the old 50's song "Get a Job".... he didn't even seem nervous and sang really great --- the boy with the long, swaggy hair in the top right of the picture is a senior in Jenae's class and is already college bound with a full-ride vocal scholarship! Eric and Justin sang the highest part in another song together because they both have a high range... Eric was excited.

High School Musical On Ice - Amazing!

Troy and Gabriella looked a little bit different than they do on-screen, (actually a LOT different), but the lip-syncing was great and we all had a blast!

Ryan and Sharpay were pretty close in resemblance and fabulous dancers and skaters as well..

It's absoutey crazzzzy what people can do on ice skates; it looks as easy as walking across a gym floor. (Which the Rose Garden actually is when the Trailblazers are playing on it!)

My friend Gina and I, she's Haley's mom...

Shanna and Haey looking at the program while waiting outside in the cold. It was a great night!

OK, We DO Have 3 Kids....

Little Miss Thang.........

So, the little 5th grader - Shanna - doesn't lead a life as exciting as Jenae and Eric.... but I've had it pointed out to me this morning that she's not been in my blog lately. She actually DOES exist so this is a little tribute to Shanna Kristine. Who someday will be veeerrrry lucky to be the only child in this house!

She plays on a club volleyball team... She faces the right direction sometimes....
She is very serious and intent on getting the serve... She has braces on her little teeth and she's just a sweetheart!!
Love you Shannie!!!

Tualatin HS Homecoming 2008

Freshman (Eric) and Senior (Jenae) ... Wow... So much fun! We had Eric's group come over at 5 pm and we had snacks and pictures for his group, then off they went to Hayden's Lakefront Grill for dinner.

This is Eric and his date, Jourdan.

Eric and his best buds, Payton and Conor.
Eric's whole big group before heading off to dinner... first high school dance!
Jenae snuck downstairs from her friends and got some pictures with Eric. Then her friends and their dates had their picture taking session...

Jenae and Kevin... ouch.
Jenae, Karissa, Alex and Alexa.
Seniors getting pictures before going to dinner at McCormick and Schmick's at Bridgeport Village.... these guys are so lucky to live in a place where there's so many awesome things to do!
Jenae was getting sick of pictures by now..
And my FAVORITE picture of the night which I will treasure forever.....

Or do you think it's this one????

Sigh............ Tears............