KansasMama Blog

Category: Uncategorized

  • What are my goals for 2026?

    This is a post to help me hold myself accountable throughout the year for my 2026 goals. At the end of each month I will see how far I have made is so far.

    1. Start to go to the gym more and lose weight.
      • I want start working out more as well as stay on a diet. I hope to start Hard 75 one day this year. I do not know when yet.
    2. I want to read at least 25 books this year, either fiction or non-fiction.
      • In 2025, I read almost 20 books but I want to be able to surpass that this year. I want to be able to set time away to read.
    3. I want to be able to cross off more “Let’s To-Do” things off the list.
      • I started a list to do things together as a couple and as a family. We didn’t get to do much of it in 2025 but I know that we can do it for 2026.
    4. I want to be able to write more with this blog.
      • My dream is be able to post more than once a week but I have to get into the habit to write at least daily or every other day.
    5. I want to be able to save more for our dream honeymoon.
      • Our dream honeymoon is to go to Colorado and Nevada but it will cost us quite a bit as we want to fly there then rent a car which will not be cheap.
    6. I want to take more photos and make more videos.
      • I have always been a creative photographer and videographer, I’m hoping to get my photography out there more.

    I know that this post is not very long but this is me and I know that I will be able to do all of these things.

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  • How am I creative?

    There are many ways that I am able to be creative, whether that be with photography/videography or other ways.

    As of lately it’s been more hands on creations like rainbow loom or lacing crafts. I feel like those are ways to keep my hands busy. My daughter recently wanted to make bracelets for her friends on her competition team so that’s what I have been doing. She wants to have at least 6-7 but I am going to try to make as many as I can by her next meet, which is in early January. I might also make some plastic keychains for some of the girls too. *If you are an older millennial you might remember back in grade school asking for a friend to start a key chain for you so that you can finish it.* Well I have recently taught myself how to do more than just 2 colors.

    Obviously I am creative with photography and videography but I haven’t really had the time to go out and take photos. I know eventually when it starts to be spring time I will definitely be going out to take photos again.

    I know that this is a short post but I have been wanting to sit back and think about what I want to post to this blog more. Do I want to do more book things or do I want to do something like day to day life in my life and house hold? What do you think?

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  • To the man who changed my world

    I got this writing prompt recently, ” Describe a man who has positively impacted your life,” and I wanted to write about my husband. I don’t know if he reads my blogs or not but we’ll find out. 🙂

    Let’s start from the beginning. We didn’t meet like the traditional place like school, work, church, etc. We actually met on a dating app but little did we know that us matching would be the best time of our lives. Yes, you read that correctly we met on a dating app. We talked for a bit prior to actually meeting each other. He knew I had kids and I didn’t want to pressure him so I asked to wait until I didn’t have my son with me but he insisted that I bring him to our first date. That first date will always be the way that showed me what his heart truly showed.

    We were dating for only 8 months and he decided to ask me to be his wife and he took all of my dream things of an engagement and pulled it together within a week. This included having someone hid to take photos, dancing in headlights, and much more.

    This man had made my world so much better. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband. He has shown me what it truly meant to be loved and has been an amazing bonus dad to the kids!

    I love you babe! You make me the happiest woman in the world

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  • Where have I been?

    I just realized that my last post prior to my Pokèmon post yesterday was back in July of this year. I’m sure your asking Kansas where have you been? Well let me tell you.

    First I want to say that from July I was just super focused on the wedding and yes we did get married! I got to marry my best friend in front of our friends and family. It was a stressful day as Aaron and I hadn’t seen each other since the night before our wedding because that is the one thing we did try to keep traditional. Yes I will add some pictures in here to show how it turned out.

    Since then I have been more focused on my outside of this blog job as well as family things such as sports for the kids, bible quizzing for David, and so much more.

    I figured I would give an update on why I haven’t posted since July. I am hoping to post much more!

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  • Pokèdex with Pokèmon Cards

    My family and I have decided that we are going to combine our cards and create a Pokèdex with them. When we first started this, I was just going to do Generation 1 for it, but we decided to try to get all of the generations completed. The kids came up with the name of our Pokèdex. The name is….. “The Bird Family Pokèdex.”

    So far, this is the total number of each generation of the Pokèdex.

    • Gen 1 – 132/151
    • Gen 2 – 69/100
    • Gen 3 – 88/135
    • Gen 4 – 72/107
    • Gen 5 – 103/156
    • Gen 6 – 38/72
    • Gen 7 – 45/88
    • Gen 8 – 70/96
    • Gen 9 – 51/120

    It is nice to be able to do this as a family. If you would like to donate any cards that we don’t have, you are more than welcome to comment, and I can find a way to message you to send them to.

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  • Day in the life

    So I wanted to give you a day in my life today.

    7:00 am – 10:00 am

    I started to clean up some around the house waiting for my son to wake up so we can go get his labs done.

    Before David woke up and after I had my coffee I began to finish the monthly dinner calendar. Yes I plan out the month for dinners to help budget.

    I also worked on my Bible study that I’m a part of for my church. I do have to take some breaks throughout the day because it is over the Old Testament and I struggle a bit with the Old Testament.

    I had to unpack our sheets and blankets from Bible quizzing regionals from this past Saturday. This week has been pretty rough because I had my dental surgery for my teeth. I’ll go into that on another post.

    I got all the clothes together because I have to go do laundry today.

    10:00 am – 12:00 pm

    It took a while just to get labs for David. He freaks out with needles. We started in the lab area but because of his fear that we ended up going to another area of the hospital.

    Yes it took the full 2 hours because we would be on a good position then he would freak out.

    12:00pm – 1:45 pm

    I had to run a few errands before I picked up Ciera to go do laundry. We wanted to have Whataburger but it was so busy so we decided to just go to McDonald’s.

    1:45pm – 4:45pm

    This was a laundry day so both Ciera and I had to do laundry. There was a lot of laundry for at least my household as it was laundry for 4 people.

    4:45pm – 7:00 pm

    This time was putting away laundry and organizing my desk. Did I finish organizing it? No Im still working on organizing it.

    7:00pm – 9:00 pm

    Dinner with Aaron, David, and Ciera. We went to a Chinese buffet and it was different eating with my new teeth. (I’ll go into that on a different post.)

    8:45 pm – 11:00 pm

    This was just us getting home after dropping off Ciera and just relaxing and going to bed.

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  • Pt 2 of New Story

    Aaron’s fingers tightened slightly on Larissa’s shoulder, his breath warm against her ear. The fair’s noise seemed to fade away, leaving only the pounding of their hearts in the sudden silence. He knew he should pull away, should let the secret remain buried, but the pull between them was too strong. He couldn’t resist the growing tension any longer. “Larissa,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. “I can’t… I can’t keep this from you.” Before she could respond, he gently turned her towards him, his hand cupping her cheek. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, the world around them seemed to disappear. Aaron leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a searing kiss. It was a kiss filled with longing and desire, a kiss that spoke of secrets held too long and passions ignited. Larissa, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment before her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, their bodies pressing together, a dance of passion and need. The fairgrounds faded away, leaving only the two of them, lost in a world of their own making. When they finally pulled away, their breaths ragged, their eyes met, and in that moment, a fiery romance was ignited, a promise of a love story that would test the boundaries of their hearts and souls.

    The sudden downpour caught them off guard, the fair’s once vibrant atmosphere now shrouded in a heavy, cold rain. Aaron and Larissa, their hearts still pounding from their kiss, quickly sought shelter in the nearest building – an abandoned carousel house, its once vibrant colors now faded and weathered. The rain pounded against the tin roof, echoing the drumbeat of their racing hearts. As they huddled together, the sound of footsteps echoed through the building, and a group of men, their faces hidden by hoods, stepped into the dim light. Aaron’s grip on Larissa tightened, his body tensing as he recognized the men from his past – the same thugs who had been following him. “Aaron,” Larissa whispered, her voice barely audible over the storm, “who are they?” Aaron’s jaw set, his dark eyes narrowing as he faced the group. “They’re from my past, Larissa. And they’re not here to make friends.” The men advanced, their eyes locked onto Aaron, a sinister smile playing on their lips. “Aaron,” one of them sneered, his voice a low growl. “We’ve been looking for you. And we’ve got a message from someone who wants you to know… you’re not as safe as you think.” The man’s words sent a chill down Larissa’s spine, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized the danger they were in. She looked at Aaron, his face a mask of controlled anger, and she knew they had to act fast. As the men closed in, Larissa’s mind raced, her photographer’s eye scanning the room for any possible escape. But as she looked closer, she noticed something strange – a faint, familiar scent. She turned to Aaron, her eyes wide with realization. “Aaron,” she whispered, her voice filled with shock. “I know that scent. It’s… it’s the same scent I’ve been smelling around campus.” Aaron’s eyes widened, his grip on her tightening as he realized the truth. “Larissa,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of fear and anger. “That’s not possible. No one knows about my past.” The men laughed, their eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, Aaron,” the leader sneered. “You’re not the only one with secrets.” And as the storm raged on, the true extent of Aaron’s hidden enemy was.

    The rain continued to pour, the sound of the storm echoing through the abandoned carousel house. Larissa and Aaron huddled closer, their bodies pressed together for warmth. The scent of rain and the faint hint of cotton candy lingered in the air, but it was the heat of their embrace that truly warmed them. Aaron’s hand rested on Larissa’s waist, his thumb tracing small circles on her skin, a silent promise of the passion that lay beneath the surface. “I’m scared, Aaron,” Larissa confessed, her voice barely audible over the storm. “I don’t want to lose you.” Aaron’s dark eyes softened, his other hand cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “You won’t, Larissa,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of tenderness and determination. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not again.” Larissa’s heart swelled with emotion, her eyes meeting his gaze. “Aaron, I need to know… who are those men? What do they want with you?” Aaron hesitated, his thumb pausing on her cheek. “They’re from my past, Larissa. A past I’ve tried to leave behind. But they’ve found me, and now they’re after me.” He paused, his eyes searching hers. “And you.” Larissa’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with questions. “Aaron, what are we going to do?” Aaron’s grip on her tightened, his voice filled with a newfound resolve. “We’re going to face them together, Larissa. And we’re going to fight for our future.” As they stood there, their bodies pressed together, the rain continued to pour, but the storm within them seemed to fade, replaced by a newfound determination. They had each other, and that was enough to face whatever came their way.

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  • New Story

    Under the vast, star-studded sky, the annual Carnival of Harmony unfurled its vibrant tapestry in the heart of the country town. The air was thick with the scent of popcorn and cotton candy, the distant hum of laughter and music creating a symphony that danced on the breeze. Strings of colorful lights twinkled like distant stars, casting a warm glow over the bustling fairgrounds. The Ferris wheel, a towering giant of painted steel and twinkling bulbs, loomed over the scene, its slow rotation a silent sentinel.

    Amidst the chaos, Larissa, with her camera slung around her neck, navigated the crowd with a practiced ease. Her hazel eyes, reflecting the fair’s kaleidoscope of colors, scanned the scene, capturing the essence of the night. She was a single mother, a college student, and a photographer/videographer, her life a tapestry of responsibilities and passions. Her heart was pure, her spirit unyielding, and her smile, a beacon of warmth in the crowd.

    Aaron, a tall figure with dark hair and eyes, moved through the crowd with a quiet intensity. His blue-collar hands, calloused from years of labor, were a stark contrast to the polished world of the fair. A former football player, he carried an aura of danger and mystery, his emotions locked away behind a wall of secrecy. His gaze, a dark and stormy sea, swept over the crowd, seeking something, or perhaps someone.

    As their paths crossed, Larissa felt a sudden chill, a shiver that had nothing to do with the cool night air. Aaron’s eyes, dark and intense, held hers for a moment before he moved on, leaving her with a sense of unease and a flicker of intrigue. The fair, once a place of joy and wonder, now held a new allure, a promise of secrets and hidden depths.

    Aaron, noticing Larissa’s interest, felt a strange mix of unease and satisfaction. He had seen the way her eyes followed him, the curiosity that lingered in her gaze. It was a dangerous game he played, drawing attention to himself, especially to someone as pure and innocent as she seemed. Yet, he couldn’t deny the pull, the need to protect her from the darkness he carried. He began to follow her, keeping a safe distance, his eyes never leaving her form as she moved through the crowd.

    Larissa, oblivious to his scrutiny, continued to capture the essence of the night. She felt a strange awareness, a sense that she was being watched. She turned, her eyes scanning the crowd, and for a moment, she thought she saw Aaron, his dark form disappearing into the crowd. She shook her head, dismissing the thought, but the feeling lingered, a tingling awareness that sent a shiver down her spine. She didn’t know it yet, but her life was about to become intertwined with Aaron’s, a dance of danger and desire that would test the limits of her heart and her courage.

    As Larissa paused by the carousel, her camera capturing the whimsical scene of children laughing and horses painted in vibrant colors, Aaron found himself drawn closer. The scent of popcorn and the sweet aroma of cotton candy filled the air, but it was the warmth radiating from Larissa that truly captivated him. He stepped behind her, his hand reaching out to gently touch her shoulder. She turned, her hazel eyes meeting his dark gaze, a soft smile playing on her lips.

    “Is everything alright?” she asked, her voice a gentle melody that seemed to soothe the storm within him. Aaron hesitated, his fingers still resting on her shoulder, feeling the softness of her skin beneath his calloused hand. He could see the curiosity in her eyes, the questions she was holding back, and he knew his secret was about to come crashing down. “Aaron, you’re making me nervous,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant hum of the fair. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke, his voice a low rumble. “I have something to tell you, Larissa. Something from my past that could change everything.”

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  • Book Review – From Blood and Ash

    Title: From Blood and Ash

    Author: Jennifer Armentrout

    Theme: Romantsy

    Characters: Penallphe, aka Poppy, Maiden, and Princess. Hawke who is a royal guard. There are many side characters that pull the story together.

    Places: Masadonia, there are smaller areas that are apart of this kingdom.

    Thoughts: I was recommended this book by a friend and I fell in love with the story line. I was sitting up in my recliner while reading at the end of the book and the final twist.

    Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

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  • Why dancing is a fun way to exercise.

    Many people thing of exercise think of running or going to an actual gym to workout. Me I personally thing that dancing is a fun way to exercise. It gives you a way to just dance and be yourself and not care about what people think about.

    What is your favorite or fun way to exercise?

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the most fun way to exercise?
    View all responses

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