Cheering for the Panthers

     It's been a few weeks ago, but nevertheless, Lizzie and Maggie participated in the Benton Panther Cheerleader Clinic.  Monday after school, they went to the high school sports arena and learned a cheer, a dance, some jumps, and a couple of chants.   It was a very positive experience.  They had a bunch of fun at the clinic. 

Maggie learning her cheer.

Lizzie practicing the dance.

Maggie

Lizzie



Then, on Thursday night, they were able to cheer in the community pep rally at the park.  Maggie had a super time, but Lizzie was so afraid of the Panther mascots, that she wouldn't even go on stage.  She spotted them when we were walking up to the amphitheater, and she almost lost her mind.  I told her that I would ask them NOT to come up to her.  She liked that idea, so I went up to the mascots and explained that she was scared of them, and asked if they could stay away from her, of course, they agreed and even gave Lizzie a "thumbs up sign".  As soon as the pep rally started, she crouched down behind me and never moved.    Karen Hilborn (cheerleader sponsor) sat beside me, and when it was time for the little girls to cheer,  she tried to get Lizzie to go up on stage, but she wasn't moving.  I actually found out that one of the students inside the panther attire was a lifeguard all summer at Longhills...so the girls know him and would recognize him anywhere...just not behind the furry costume!

Part of the crowd.  Maggie is sitting with her friend, Lillie.

Karen got a picture of Lizzie "hiding".

Future cheerleaders...if one of them can get over her

fear of mascots (or ANYTHING in costume, for that matter).



  It poured down rain Friday night, so we didn't go to the football game and let the girls perform in the pre-game show on the field.  Maggie cried when I told her that it was raining too hard to go, and Lizzie cheered, "Whoo Hoo."  Yep, story of my life!  I'm sure there will come a day when I will HAVE to sit out in the rain and support whatever activities the girls are involved in, but this event, at five years old, didn't qualify as "mandatory", so we stayed home and stayed dry!

Maggie's Words Worth Remembering

Maggie:  "Mommy, me and Cache are gonna get married.  We really are."

Me:  "Does Cache know about this?"

Maggie:  "Yes, he wants to!"

Me:  "Ok, you and Cache can get married when you are thirty years old."

Maggie:  "We were thinking more like twelve."