Selecting buttons "through" other objects

This is driving me crazy....mostly because I'm sure it's going to turn out to be something incredibly simple......

I created some "pop-ups" using a smartshape, text caption, an image, and a button and grouped them together.  The groups are hidden upon slide entry, they are shown by selecting the corresponding button on the page, and the are re-hidden by the button within the group.

The problem is that when I have these groups "show" on the page I've set them up so that they cover the buttons on the page....so the learner has to re-hide the group before showing another.  But, it seems that when I try to select the button within the group to hide that group, instead it's selecting the button in the same location, but "underneath" the group.  I've checked all my commands, three times, and all the button functions are set up correctly.  Also, the groups are place above the page buttons on the timeline.

I've only tested this using the "Preview" option....I haven't published to see if the same thing happens in the final product.

Any ideas about what I'm missing?

Thanks.

Jay