{ i am because we are }

...just a quick update

2011-05-18T15:13:00.000-04:00

it won't be long now.....13 days to be exact...and we will be moving on to our next phase of this crazy military life. next stop SURF CITY, NC. there we will find a lovely beach house only a pebbles through away from the beach waiting for us. the movers come next week to pack us up...then its off to a weekend in the Shenandoah Valley for our 1 year anniversary vacation {more on that later} and then we do our walk through and hand over the keys on the 31st. right now it may be just me and the fur-babies headed to NC on the first and then big poppa will follow up in a few days after he detaches here in quantico. i can't believe its already time to leave this place...seems like we just got here. but its been a great time and we've met so many awesome new friends. see yall in phase 2!

lots of love

...visit from the parents

2011-03-12T13:12:00.006-05:00

Momma Stacy and Chuckie came for a visit a few weeks back. We absolutely loved getting to see them and show them some of our favorite places in and around VA! We had some super amazing food while they were here! The Fish Market in Alexandria, Capital Ale House and Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen in Fredericksburg....just to name a few.....and let me tell you...they are YUMMO!

Of course, we also had to visit the Smithsonian and some battle sites like the civil war battle fields in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania.

We had such a great time and can't wait to have them visit us at our next home...where ever that may be!

Here are some pics from the trip!

Down on the waterfront in Alexandria, Va

...these days

2011-02-24T17:48:00.002-05:00

howdy from the big VA! not too much going on around here these days. the big poppa is working away at TBS while me and my two favorite fur-babies hang out around the house and take it easy. hopefully we will find out soon what his military job will be and then soon after....where we will be stationed! yippee! our first choice is overseas aka okinawa japan. we are keeping our toes crossed that God will bless our next big adventure no matter where we go....{but....we really want okinawa!}

meanwhile we are just trying to prepare as much as possible for wherever we may go and hope for the best.

did i mention i got glasses!? yep...i did. i finally had to accept that my eyes aren't as young as they used to be. here's a pic of shiner b modeling my new spectacles for you.

enjoy!

...blessings

2010-12-08T09:18:00.002-05:00

That's what they are to me. I can't tell you enough what a blessing it is to have four such awesome, beautiful, amazing, strong women I call my best friends {sisters really}. Including myself....we make up the fab5! Cheesy I know....but we are also known as "the girls" or Hat, Kat, Ral, Chel & Stace. I can't imagine my life without them. It is rarity that you find a group of people (especially women) who have been friends as long as we have! Our friendships date back to the beginning of our lives on earth in some cases. I have known Lauren since pretty much the day I was born...then Katrina and I were in the same kindergarten class (even though we did not realize it at the time)....Michelle came along in the third grade...and then Heather Ann in high school. The crazy part is how over time in some way we've all mixed and mingled, coming in and out of each others worlds....and then finally God placed his hand on us and brought us all together in our twenties....to be the best of friends for the rest of our lives. I love that no matter where I go...how far this military life takes Ross and I away from home...my girls will always still be there. Calling in...coming to visit....dropping everything to get together when one of us happens to be in town. We are each so different and still very much the same.

Blessings....each and every one of them.

...gobble gobble

2010-12-02T08:44:00.002-05:00

I'm not going to sit here and write about how it's been a thousand years since I've posted anything on this blog...because you can read...you can see the dates...obviously I've fallen OFF the blogging band wagon. But since I see on most of your blogs that you have in past, written a similar post about how long it's been since you've blogged...and you are going to do better from now on....only to have that be your last posting in a thousand years...well...I'm just saying. I figure it better to just pick back up where I left off...and leave it at that!

Now...anyways...where are we these days. VIRGINIA! That's right...way the heck up here in Virginia. "Virginia is for Lovers"....or so the state motto goes. And so far I would have to say they are correct! I personally LOVE Virginia. (I mean it's not Texas or anything...but...) So far we have really enjoyed everything about this place. The trees are AWESOME! We just got through the fall season and man...I am so glad we made it here for that! The color changes were unbelievable. I've never seen such a variety and when you drove down the road....well....it just took your breath away! The people are very nice here as well. It hasn't taken us long to find a wonderful church and to meet a ton of really great people. Our house is awesome...and huge! Shiner and Elvis love having all this space to run a muck...and I do mean run a muck! They are out of control!! So far we are feeling very at home. Being so close to DC is probably the coolest. We've perfected the Metro system and have made several visits up to the big city to visit all the monuments and a museum or two as well. But my FAVORITE part has been...eating! Love love love to eat and the restaurants we've found have been lip smackin' goodness!

As for me...what do I do all day long? Funny you ask. Not too much. Literally. I'm officially a stay-at-home-wife....or a domestic engineer as I like to call it. Not exactly by my choosing, but more because I've been waiting for a substitute teaching job to pan out...and it's taking a little longer than expected. (Not that I don't one day long to be a full-time domestic engineer...because if you know me, then you know I do...I just think it will be a lot more fun when I have little bay-bays to wrangle! Elvis and Shiner keep me busy, but for the most part are fairly self sufficient.) (anyways) Hopefully the ball will get rolling on subbing this month. I've already submitted all my paperwork, had it approved and gone to my orientation. Now the school board simply has to approve my name and...voila!...I'm a substitute. I have no earthly idea if I will be any good at it at all. I'm hoping I don't accidentally say a curse word or try to spank a kid (kidding...haha...kinda)....but most importantly, I hope they don't have me for lunch! Kids can divide and conquer! I'm no fool. Other than that I've mastered the art of staying busy all day via internet, netflix, chores, cooking and working out and my big outing of the week...grocery shopping. It's a tough life...but you know.

Hopefully this holiday season finds you all doing well. We recently celebrated and made our very first Thanksgiving dinner...all on our own. No adults. I know...we were impressed too!

So, I will leave you with a few pics from that .....gobble gobble!

...cooking

...sleeping

...eating

...time for a little fish bowl action (really funny game)

...and then of course we had to get all geared up to watch the Aggies BTHO t.u.......WHOOP!

...the countdown has officially began

2010-04-25T22:19:00.002-04:00

Ok....here goes! It has been seriously FOREVER since I've posted anything to this blog-o-mine (that nobody reads) and considering that the Wedding/Italy/Graduation countdown has officially begun...ie...I've written the number of days down in my day planner that are left until each of these awesome and life changing events occurs...I figure it's time to update our "wedding blog"! I think it's kinda funny that I felt the need to start a wedding blog considering I hardly have time to do anything these days that doesnt fall under the school and work categories...but I did it..and this is the result...bad blogging. As you can imagine life has been seriously nuts! My wonderful Fi and I have been working so hard this whole semester and it has really paid off. WE are all set for the wedding and graduation. I'm pulling off a pretty strong B in my Math class and that smart man of mine is looking like he will be graduating with HONORS! I know...he's impressive! I wonder sometimes how he does it all! Work, school, Corps of Cadets, RVs, keeping me happy....and still getting amazing grades. The man deserves a medal if you ask me! We are really getting excited about everything that is to come. We are finally seeing the light at the end of this long tunnel and both of us our absolutely ready to start this wonderful life and journey that God has blessed us with!! Thanks and GIG'EM!

OH....PS....I can't believe I almost forgot! My absolutely wonderful FAB 5 gave me the best Bachelorette Weekend I could have ever asked for. We had so much fun down in Austin going to the spa, out to eat, shopping, and so much more! I just don't know what my life would be without this special special girls of mine! Love them each more than words can say!

Love you all!

...big prayer request

2010-03-10T16:12:00.002-05:00

Hello all my wonderful friends and family!

I hope you are all having a great day and doing well. I wanted to take few minutes of your time and ask that you all be praying for my Step-Mom, Cathy. She was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her liver. Her doctors are optimistic that they will be able to get it into remission, however this will be a something she will most likely have to seek treatment for the rest of her life. Some of you may already know that about a year ago...she beat lung cancer, so it is a hard hit to take knowing that cancer has once again found its way into her body. I did speak with her yesterday and she has a great attitude about the whole thing and is ready to begin her chemo next week. She will need lots of thoughts and prayers sent her way as this will be a long hard battle. Thank goodness our Good and Mighty God is fighting that battle right along with her. She is also very blessed to have my wonderful sister, Amanda, and my good ol' Pop....there to care for her and support her every step of the way. As my Dad said this morning, "it's time to circle the wagons!" ha...I love him!

So anyways....yes...please keep them all on your prayers and pass this along to anyone you know who wouldn't mind adding a prayer to their list.

Also, a side note....my Aunt Trish (Dad's sister), will be heading to Israel soon with a friend in high places who is somehow connected to a group that can get her in to see the Dalai Lama (who I guess will be in Israel at the time...not sure)....so apparently she is going to give him Cathy's name and he will be praying for her too! ha! .....doesn't hurt to have a few extra "heavy hitters' praying for you!

God Bless,

Stacey and Ross

...engagement pictures

2010-03-02T18:03:00.002-05:00

Howdy Friends and Fam!

Lots going on and lots of updates (especially considering how I am the worst blogger EVER)! First, I need to let everyone know that there has been a little bit of post-Italy change of plans. After much debate...Ross and I have decided not to have a big party when we get back aka no reception. There are several contributing reasons to this...but I would say the biggest reason is the STRESS of planning such a big event (especially right now while we are still in school and about to graduate). The whole reason that Ross and I chose to get married in Italy in the first place is because a wedding here would be no small endeavor. Our guest list would have been easily 200+ and I would have had 10 bridesmaids (at least)!!!! AND besides, never in a million years could I have chosen which of my Fab Five (my 4 best girlfriends {+ me=5} in the world) to be my MOH…and therefore would have had to have 4 MOHs. Not to mention the expense of throwing such a huge shin-dig for all those people. Anyways….you see where this is going? Ross and I made the executive decision long ago to take our humble budget and spend it on 2 weeks of heaven in Italy rather than one very stressful to plan-day in Texas. NOW….somewhere in my brain I managed to convince myself along the way that we would go away and get married and just come back and have a ‘little party’. YEAH RIGHT! What the heck was I thinking…..IM ITALIAN! MY family and friends list alone topped 150+ and that was with “trimming the fat”. As my very wise and dear Aunt Susan said, “there’s nothing small about a party with over 200 people”…..even though my brother and sis-in-law had graciously offered their new Mini-Farm to host this ‘little’ party….their poor septic tank couldn’t handle that big of a bunch. SO….with that said…party is off. Ross and I will go about celebrating our matrimony in smaller increments with several showers across Texas both before and after our trip to Italia. I know that I’ve already told a lot of you and I appreciate all the encouragement and support on our decision. WE LOVE YOU ALL.

………Now for the goods….we FINALLY took engagement pics!! Yah! My sweet and very talented bf Heather Kimbrow came down for the weekend to support her hubs while he played a gig at a local College Station bar. The next day she went out with Ross and I and snapped a few (400+) pics for us to have as memories of this very special time in our lives. Thanks HAT!

Here are some samples of her work….

She did such an amazing job!!

Lots of Love~

Stacey and Ross

...I know...Im really bad about posting!

2009-12-05T12:55:00.000-05:00

Is it possible to be absolutely obsessed with reading others blogs and not be so great at updating your own!? That would be me! However, I want to do better. So, the latest I've got to tell you is that wedding plans are coming along great. Ross and I ordered our travel packs for Italy a few days ago and got a GREAT DEAL! They were each $100 off...so my smart Fi jumped on the deal! (http://www.ospreypacks.com/)

Ross' Pack

Stacey's Pack

Aren't they awesome!!! I can't wait to get them in so we can try them on. I've already had a few friends ask to be packed inside to take along for the trip :)

Also, new news....Brad and Nick have both declared to be purchasing tickets to come on the trip!! Yah...more friends! They will be taking advantage of being so close to Greece and visiting there as well. Well, that's it for now. I plan to start shopping for my dress next month. I'm looking forward to trying to find something beautiful, low-priced, and very "Italy". My top picks so far can be found on the J.Crew website...(http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WeddingParties/Wedding_Bride.jsp)

Lots of Love~

...our plan

2009-10-20T19:52:00.003-04:00

Ross and I are leaving Houston on the 17th (Monday) arriving in Rome on the 18th (Tuesday). We will then take a train from there to Florence for one night to handle paperwork and do some touring the next day. The next day (the 19th - Wednesday) we will head to Barga most likely via train to Lucca and then rental car from Lucca to Barga. Mostly because Barga is in the mountains and its easiest to access via car. We will then check in to Casa Fontana and handle any details/legalities we need to there on Thursday. Over the weekend we thought we could all (whoever wants to) take a day trip to Lucca or Pisa or where ever the wind blows us. Monday hangout in Barga...get ready for the wedding. Tuesday, May 25th....wedding!!!! Then on Wednesday Ross and I will depart for our "honeymoon" ie...go see more of Italy. Our flight home leaves Rome on the 31st...so we will make our way back there a day or so before and tour Rome on our way out.

...who is going so far

2009-10-13T14:53:00.002-04:00

OK...here is the "Going to Italy" list....so far:

Stacey Moorhead

Ross Mohr

Stacy Mohr

Charlie Mohr

Alison Mohr

Gran Moore

Pop Moore

Janine Abella

Bill Swaboda

Just FYI.....Bill and Janine were able to get a really good "student rate" on plane tickets for all of you who might qualify!

Just FYII.....the B&B we are staying at, said they would give us all a 10% discount if we got enough people to go.....I believe they have 12 rooms total.

Love~ Stacey and Ross

...we have a date

2009-09-29T12:03:00.002-04:00

Just this morning Ross received word from our new friend, Mr. Gauld (the very nice Scottish man who owns CASA FONTANA…the B&B where we will be staying in Barga), and he said that we are all set for TUESDAY, MAY 25th 2010 to be married in the Palazzo Pancrazi, which is the Comune (aka City Hall) in downtown historic Barga, Italy!

We are very excited about the news and hope that all who wish to join us will jump on board and start planning your trips! We are checking with Mr. Gauld to see just how many rooms he has at the B&B, available for the time that we will be there…..and will let you all know as soon as we hear back from him!

Meanwhile, check out website for the B&B

http://www.casa-fontana.com/

Also, I know this is in Italian….but here is the website for the Palazzo Pancrazi…if you click on pictures you can see the inside

http://www.comune.barga.lu.it/INDEX.htm

Another great website (in English) for Barga is the local news website, which has lots of helpful info

http://www.barganews.com/

...let the trip planning begin

2009-09-24T11:08:00.003-04:00

Ok people....while reading my daily eblast newsletter "The Daily Beast", I discovered this great website http://bitchesonabudget.com/ (sorry for the language...but thats what it is called!) written by Author Rosalyn Hoffman! It gives you all sorts of cool information on how to be a savvy consumer during these rough economic times. She covers topics like "shopping", "beauty and grooming", "health & fitness", and yes......"travel & entertainment"...which is exactly what this Bride-to-Be is looking for! Anyways...this led me to the most amazing website I have seen when it comes to booking your travel needs......http://www.kayak.com/. It is here that you can "search thousands of travel sites at once!" Now that is handy!!!! So, I wanted to share this with all of you who might be considering taking the trip across (what I like to call) THE BIG POND with us. USE a KAYAK! haha JK.

But seriously, Ross and I have already found some really great deals on airfare at kayak.com....around $750-$800 roundtrip....thats pretty dang cheap! Just plug in the dates you are looking for (once we give them to you) and where you want to go (flying in/out of Rome is the cheapest)...and POOF...PRESTO...WHAMO....here are tons of prices, airlines, routes, etc. to choose from! I just love the internet!

...and she said yes

2009-09-21T12:44:00.003-04:00

Ross had been telling me for weeks that we had a “Corps Cocktail Party” at the Administration Building, to attend. So, that Friday I got all dressed up (as did he) and we headed out to a very nice dinner at Luigi’s Patio Ristorante! (He said this was because they wouldn’t have dinner at the party and he wanted to wear his custom suit he bought while traveling in China this past summer!) (clue #1). I thought this seemed a bit odd, since Ross and I rarely go out to eat, but hey…I wasn’t going to argue…I jumped right on board! The whole night he was acting sort of strange…wanting to talk a lot about plans we had previously discussed to be married in Italy and such. In the back of my mind, I thought, hmmmmmm…I wonder if he’s going to propose tonight at dinner??? But we finished our lovely meal and left Luigi’s without a ring in sight! RATS! We headed back to Ross’ dorm, so he could change into his Midnights (his nicest Corps uniform) before heading to the party. It was raining buckets outside….so I waited in the car. I noticed a Ross Volunteer walk by (in full uniform) but, just figured he was going to the party too (clue #2). Finally, Ross returned to the truck…looking very NICE in his uniform. I mentioned the RV to him, and he just said, “yeah, they will be there too”…which satisfied my curiosity. We drove through campus to the Administration Building, where I mentioned to Ross, that “the parking lot was looking kinda empty considering there was this big event going on!” (clue #3) To which he quickly responded, “I’m sure a lot of people just walked over.” Now this is where things got really fishy….Ross, who is the most punctual person I’ve ever known in my life, says, “we will wait in the car for a little bit.” (clue #4) It was already time to be at the party so I couldn’t understand, why the wait? He sat there texting on his phone and telling me all the names of all the important Corps and TAMU people who would be there...that way I would know who everyone was as I was being introduced. Then suddenly, he got one more text and said, “Ok, lets go!” We got out of the truck and I covered myself with Ross’ coat (I didn’t want my hair to get messed up in the rain!) and we walked towards the building. I couldn’t see anything from under the coat, but I could hear Brad (Ross’ BFFE) and John Dobbins instructing Ross to walk around the front in order to avoid puddles (aka….lining us up for a straight walk up the stairs) which I stepped in anyway because all I could see was my feet!!! (clue #5) When we got to the top and I came out from under the coat, Brad and John each handed Ross a yellow rose for me…..and Ross confessed that we were not there for a “Corps Cocktail Party.” It was then that an entire pack of fellow Corps members, every other one dressed in Midnights and RV uniforms, filed out passed us down the steps to form the lines for a saber arch! (no clue needed…I knew what was happening!!!) I was blown away. I think there were 29 in all. Ross recited a poem to me that he had written and then got down on his knee to ask me to MARRY HIM!! It was so beautiful and a true “Ross Mohr” way of doing it! Of course, I said YES!...and that’s when they all raised their sabers…we walked back down the stairs while the photographer (Brad’s brother) snapped more pics…and when we got to the end, the last RV swatted me on the behind …and they all gave a big loud Texas Aggie WHOOP!!! I can’t imagine a more romantic way to propose and will forever remember the night Ross Mohr asked me to be his wife.

Thank you to everyone who came out in the rain to make this such a beautiful occassion!!

Love~

Ross and Stacey