This dancer has become a "dance mom"... Yikes!

Okay... not one of THOSE dance moms. Not like one of the ones on the reality show "Dance Moms" on Lifetime. Have you seen that show? It's pretty crazy. And I'll soon be doing a local version of that show for Channel 7...stay tuned for that. :)
That being said... now that my 3-year-old is taking dance classes I'm technically a dance mom. And Sydney's first dance recital is this weekend!! I'm very excited about it. So is she. And she looks adorable in her little tutu!

Some of you may know and some of you may not...I took dance classes all my life and took it very seriously. When I was 16, I considered moving away to Omaha, Nebraska to go to a ballet school. I didn't. And I'm glad I didn't. I had some talent but my feet weren't great and my "turn out" was mediocre at best (dancers will understand what I'm talking about). But I did love it. And made a career in the musical theater field for 4 years in Minneapolis.

Needless to say when my daughter showed a love of dance...I was very excited. But very cautious NOT to be a pushy dance mom. And I was very proud of myself this week. When my sweet little girl went on stage for dress rehearsal... she was so overwhelmed with the lights and loud music that all she could do was stand on stage and stare at the lights above her instead of doing the steps she had practiced. And I can honestly say I thought it was cute! Sure there's a part of me that hopes she'll do more than blow kisses (yes that's part of her dance) during the recital but I also focus on the big picture and making memories. It'll be more fun to tell the story of her NOT dancing when she's older than if she performed it to perfection. :) So we'll see how it all goes! All I know is that both of us are very excited!!

This is Sydney backstage during dress rehearsal. She could barely contain her excitement!



This is a picture of me at my first dance recital



Reagan is 6 months old!!!

I can't believe Reagan is 6 months old today!! She really has been the most amazing baby!! I have been so blessed. There are times that I'll look at my two girls and just wonder what I ever did to deserve such wonderful daughters. I love them more every day!!!

puppy love

At Christmas

At the park with her big sis, Sydney

This was Reagan just moments after she was born

Helping Rape Victims in the name of Anne Pressly

Did you know that every 2 minutes....someone in the US is sexually assaulted?

Did you know that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted? And that half of them will be under 18 years old?

Did you know that women are four times more likely to be abused during the college years?

I didn't. And it breaks my heart. Those stats are according to a group called Fear 2 Freedom (http://www.fear2freedom.org/). I did a story on the group this week and just love their mission. I'm so hoping to help get these "care kits" at hospitals here in Arkansas. Watch/read the story and let me know what you think!









Little Rock - A former television news anchor originally from Little Rock, who was the victim of a violent rape, is now hoping to help other victims. And it's all dedicated to our own Anne Pressly.


As many of our viewers know, Anne was a reporter and anchor at Channel 7 who was viciously raped three years. The same thing happened to a television host by the name of Rosemary Trible more than 35 years ago. Anne did not survive her attack. But Rosemary did. And now she's dedicating this project to Anne.

It's called Fear 2 Freedom. The number two because of every two minutes, someone is sexually assaulted in the US.

Rosemary Trible was one of them. It was 1975 and she was the host of a show called "Rosemary's Guestbook."

"He began to strangle me and put a gun to my head and said, 'okay, cute talk show host. What do you do with a gun to your head?'" said Trible.

Trible's attacker was never found. More than three decades later she hopes sharing her story will help others. She's working to get care kits into hospitals around the world.

When a rape victim goes to the hospital, not only do they have to be there for hours sometimes but all of their clothing becomes evidence. The kits have clothing, toiletries, games for younger kids. And a teddy bear.
"At that very moment of trauma, to present something that is positive so that perhaps they will be able to heal and get the counseling and the help that they need," said Trible.
The kits also share other victim's stories, including Anne Pressly's.
"We want to have her life and legacy remember." said Trible.
Click here for more informatio on Fear 2 Freedom.
Click here to see a video from Fear 2 Freedom on this project.