Friday, December 23, 2011

"Christmas Time in Arkansas Again" Live

The one and only Ned Perme wrote "Christmas Time in Arkansas" in 1985 and for several years performed it with Terry Rose. But the song hadn't been performed live for about two decades. Last year we performed it with Steve Zimmerman (aka "Elvis Guy" if you listen to the Buzz) at Celebrity Karaoke and then we performed it again this year with the addition of my husband, Dave, on guitar. So much fun to sing Ned's song!!! Merry Christmas!!!


Silent Night with Scott Inman (and my husband!)

You may not know it but Scott Inman is a great singer! He and I had always enjoyed harmonizing on Mercy Me's version of Silent Night... and we finally got to perform it at the concert at Garvan Woodland Gardens. And not only did Ned Perme join us on the piano and Mike Lovelady on the drums but my own husband, Dave, picked up his guitar and performed with us too. What an honor to share the stage with such a great group!!!


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Concert

I recently had the opportuntiy to perform with other media personalities in a concert at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. It was so much fun!! Years ago I used to perform full time in theaters in Minneapolis but it's been a while since I've been behind the mic... as a singer, that is. :)

Here's a look at fun version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that I did with Leslie Harper (former Channel 7 Host Jason Harper's very talented wife!).


  


One of my favorite Christmas albums has always been The Carpenters. So I chose to sing their version of The Christmas Song and Leslie was kind enough to accompany me. Thanks Leslie!!





Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Reagan is 3 Months!!

Wow.. time flies when you're having fun, right? Can't believe Reagan is now 3 months old!! She is such an amazing baby... and Sydney is such a great big sis! I honestly fall more in love with them every day! Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!!


Thursday, December 1, 2011

Back to work!

Ready or not... I'm back at work!! It's so hard to leave my sweet little girls but it's also great to be back at Channel 7! I really am blessed to have a job that I love!! See you on the news!!!!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Beach pics

We recently had the opportunity to go to the beach with our family from Michigan. It was so much fun!! Here's a couple of my favorite pics!!





Sydney playing in the sand with her cousin Sophie

Sydney's cousins Maisey and Ella

Sweet Maisey!
"Check out my mermaid tail!"







All of us!


Sydney giving baby girl some love! So precious!

Mwaaaaah!


Me and my girl!!


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Ten Years of Marriage!


My husband and I were married ten years ago today. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO DAVE!!!!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

When Work and Emotions Collide

I was recently asked to work on a tribute video for the late Jennings Osborne that was played at his funeral. What a honor. But I must say it was one of the most emotional projects I have ever worked on. Here's why.

I had pitched a story idea several weeks back about doing a story on Jennings knowing that he had spent several months in the hospital following a heart surgery. His daughter Breezy loved the idea and we were both surprised when her mom, Mitzi, also agreed. It took us a couple of weeks to set up an interview time that worked for everyone. We chose Monday afternoon, July 25. The interviews went so well! Breezy and Mitzi were very forthcoming and shared all about their father/husband. Channel 7 has done lots of stories over the years and our Assistant News Director Rusty Mizell had pulled dozens of archive tapes. I worked on the story all day Monday so that the editor, our other Assistant News Director Kenny Reynolds, could work on it Tuesday, which was the day it was supposed to air. I'm not sure if I should call it good timing or bad timing... but on Tuesday, I started getting texts and phone calls about how Jennings had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. I was stunned. He had been in the hospital for 100 days. He had good days and bad days but no one saw this coming. And Breezy and Mitzi had sounded so hopeful, just one day before, that he would recover and walk out of that hospital. It really was reminiscent of when my dad was so sick six years ago. We were so hopeful that he would pull through... but the cancer, and especially the chemo, was just too much. I remember going back home to South Dakota after getting one of those kinds of phone calls after he had taken a turn for the worse. My husband and I quickly got in the car and did the 12-hour drive home. The next day, my dad started to do better. He started breathing on his own and even got out of ICU. I remember so well sitting in his hospital room watching a Twins game and holding hands. After three days we decided it was time to come back home. My dad never wanted to be a burden and was very adamant about giving me "roots" and "wings." After about seven hours on the road... another phone call. This one much more dire. We immediately turned around, drove seven hours back home, and barely made it there for his last breath.
I felt all these emotions come back as the news grew dim about Jennings. But this time there was a professional side to me that also knew I had a job to do. I knew I couldn't air the story the way it was written. Knowing what we knew, I did not feel comfortable sharing the story I had written which was mostly about how much hope they had that he would be okay. So Tuesday afternoon we re-wrote it. It wasn't doom and gloom but it was more of a serious tone. We called it "Prayers Needed for Jennings Osborne." The story turned out beautifully. And the family loved it. Breezy even said that Jennings got to see it. That warmed my heart. Then on Wednesday, we knew the end was near. As a news station, we were ready for what would be one of the biggest stories for our state. As a daughter that had lost her own dad, I was fighting back tears all day. Then when we got the call that Jennings had died, I walked into my news director's office and told him. My eyes filled with tears. He asked if I wanted someone else to do the "breaking news" cut in. I said no. I wanted to do it. I pulled myself together and did it. The least I could do was let the state know that it had lost one of its most well-known and well-liked philanthropists. After that, looming deadlines took over. We hustled and got the story ready for our 5pm and 6pm news and our website. I was ready for the 5pm report and got through the entire story fine until I got the last part. I decided to read a statement from Breezy that she had just released. I hadn't even read the entire thing prior to the newscast. As I got to these words "...Sadly my father's big heart finally gave out. But knowing my 'Dadoo', there will be fireworks at the gates of Heaven...." I could barely hold it together. My voice started to quiver and I quickly tossed back to Beth and Scott. At that point, I couldn't hold it together any longer. I was very thankful that I was in our studio with only one other person and not in our newsroom... surrounded by people. I went straight to the ladies room and let the tears roll. Although Jennings was a great giver to many people in our state, I was more affected by the loss a daughter was suffering. Especially a daughter that was a self-proclaimed "Daddy's girl" which is exactly what I am... and forever will be.

When the family asked me to work on a video for the funeral... I was so humbled. Not only did they enjoy the work I had done on the first story but they trusted me to put together something that would be seen by those who knew him best. I am so thankful for the help my co-workers gave me as well as the awesome editing skills by Kenny Reynolds. I hope we made you proud, Jennings!






Click here for more of our stories on Jennings Osborne.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Channel 7 Has Gone To The Dogs :-)

Every year, we try to get some of us dog owners here at Channel 7 together to take a picture with our dogs for the Humane Society of Pulaski County's calender. Sydney had so much fun with all of the dogs!! Here are some of the pics!

Front row is me with Sydney and my beagle, Lucy... Katherina Yancy with Rico... and Renee Shapiro with Mr. French. Back row is Lauren Scott with Zoey and Melinda Mayo with Ozzie.


You've heard of "Flat Perme" right? If not, check it out on our homepage at www.katv.com.


Sydney had so much fun running around Renee's beautiful backyard (and yes that's Lucy running in the background).


My favorite pic... Sydney LOVED Mr. French!!


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Missing My Dad

It was six years ago today that my dad lost his battle with cancer. I still get tears in my eyes just thinking about him and how much I miss him. And while I always knew he was a great dad, I don't think I really appreciated everything he did for us until I became a parent. My dad was a professional violinist and taught grades 4 through 12 as his full-time job but also played in the South Dakota Symphony and Sioux City Symphony for about four decades. He loved his work and playing violin...but he loved his family so much more. I know how busy his schedule was and yet I don't remember a dance recital or theatrical performance of me and my sisters that he missed. He was always there cheering us on and telling us how beautiful we were and how wonderful he thought we were. I think I took those compliments for granted at the time but now know they were helping to create who I am today. And now, as I've watched my husband become a father... I realize how much of "daddy's girl" I really was. Our 2-year-old, Sydney, is a HUGE daddy's girl. There are some things that she will only do with daddy...like tickle tortures or rough-housing or climbing up his body. All things that I used to do with my dad. And I know that there'll be things that she'll only talk to Dad about someday... just like the things I only wanted to share with my dad. And even at her young age, I am struck by how much she desires his approval. Just like I used to do... and still do with my dad. The selfish side of me so wishes that Dad could have met Sydney (although I know they'll meet again someday)...she is so like him sometimes. AND she has his big ears! :) I just know they would have been best buds! The tears come even as I write this... but I always try to turn the sadness into an opportunity to remember the good times. I am so grateful that I had a great dad... and just as grateful that Sydney will have the same experience. Dads mean so much!! Love you Dad!!!
This is an oldie but a goodie... Can you guess which one is me?!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Happy Father's Day!!!

So much fun to celebrate Father's Day with a 2-and-a-half year old!! Sydney was so excited to paint a t-shirt for Daddy! A huge thank you to the very kind people at Firefly Studio who helped us "make" a shirt for the best dad in the world!!





Friday, June 17, 2011

6 and a half months pregnant

Spoiler alert... this post is all about pregnancy! So if you're not interested or simply don't want to know too many details... stop reading!!
For the rest of you, just wondering if any of you moms ever experienced really bad leg cramps and back pain starting in the fifth month of pregnancy. With my first pregnancy, I didn't get a lot of those symptoms until seven or eight months. But this time, it's been pretty fierce. And the worse part is I was very sick until 5 months pregnant (just like with pregnancy number one). But last time I got a little bit of a break during the second trimester. :)
So, any great remedies for really excessive leg and foot cramps? Not just your run-of-the-mill charley horse but pain that goes through every toe. And for the back pain, have any of used the "belly band"? It has been a life saver for me! Lifts the baby up just enough to take some of the weight off of the back. If I forget it even one day... I can tell a big difference.

I really do LOVE being pregnant! (Especially after finding out that I was "medically infertile" years ago... ha!!) So I certainly don't want to complain about any of this miraculous process... but I'm always looking for some good advice at the same time!!

Thanks in advance!!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Pool time!!

So glad to have the pool open!!! We've already been there several times and Sydney LOVES it!! As a baby, she was very cautious around water and didn't want to play in it too much. But now, she could play in it all day! It's so much fun to see her giggle when she gets splashed...or splashes mom and dad!!!















Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Easter Pics

I know Easter was a while ago but I just had to share a couple of Easter pics of Sydney. We had so much fun taking these photos!! And yes those are real animals!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Baby number two on the way!!!

In case you missed it... my husband and I are so excited to announce that Sydney will soon be a big sister!!!
So I'll once again be blogging along the way as we get closer to the big day. I'm about four months pregnant and due at the end of September... which means our kids will be almost exactly three years apart. We are so excited!!!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Pep Rally for Benchmark Exams!

I was asked to be a part of something that I wasn't familiar with until today... a pep rally for academic reasons instead of sporting reasons. It was awesome! Big kuddos to the teachers and kids at Lakewood Middle School in North Little Rock. We always gear up for the "big game"...so why shouldn't we gear up in the same way for a "big test"? So proud of all of those students. Good luck on the big test!!!



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

So Much Fun With Easter Seals Kids!!

I recently had the opportunity to shoot an Easter Seals Public Service Announcement and had so much fun! Big thanks to Hannah Johnson and Bryan Purifoy for making the PSA look so good!!!




Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Arkansas Power Moms

I had so much fun shooting this promo with Sydney! I wasn't sure how she would do...but she really turned it on when the camera showed up. She even looks like she's "posing" in the last shot!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Fun at the Zoo!

Sydney LOVES going to the zoo. Wait a minute... that might be an understatement. Sydney REALLY LOVES going to the zoo! She gets so excited to go and lists off all the things she wants to see when we get there. "Monkeys, penguins, fish... (and of course) ride the train!" We've been there twice in the past week...and I'm sure we'll be going back again soon. On the ride home... she actually said "I tired. I need a nap." :-)

"Look at all the fish!"
 

"Weeeee!"

"Hey... more fish!!"
 
"Just had to have some popcorn to take home."

"This bag is bigger than me!"

Video of Sydney feeding the fish...one of her favorite things to do at the zoo!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Hall High Career Day

I had the opportunity to speak to students at Hall High today! Great group of kids with some great questions. Thanks for having me!!