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!!!!!!!!