Christmas 2011

We had a great Christmas again this year with all of our family. Celebrated five Christmas in four days and I can safely say I'm completely wore out!
This was the first 'brown' Christmas I can remember and I'm not complaining; this weather has been amazing.
My last Christmas as a Storhoff was a great one!

Steven and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by the ones you love most!
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Aren't my future in-laws adorable!?! 

Sister-In-Law, Brother-In-Law and the Nieces

Ahh I just love these girls!

Here is our 2011 Christmas Card

- Laura Beth

Thank a Farmer

Wow it has been two weeks already since my last post, I think this blogging thing is going to be harder to keep up on than I thought!

I've been meaning to write a post about agriculture and try to utilize one of my minors from college (Ag Comm) haha...Steve and I both said the other day it has been such a long time since we've had to write a paper for school I think we've forgotten how to properly write one so bear with me on my posts :-)

My soon to be Sister-In-Law sent me this video the other day about why God made farmers, I thought it was a really good reminder of all the things farmers do on a daily basis. It also reminded me a lot of my childhood because the narration is done by Paul Harvey and his was one voice that could always be heard in my house around lunch!

Thinking about my childhood I'm reminded that life on the farm wasn't for me; I was always to far away from my friends and I didn't understand why we couldn't live in town too. I always told my dad that I would never live on a farm when I grew up, ya that idea totally backfired on me huh?! I met and fell in love with a farm boy in college and in less than a year I will be a farmer's wife just like my mom. I've since grown to appreciate all the things farm life can teach you and started to embrace my roots. Steve and I lived in Fargo for 5 years and that was enough 'city' life for the both of us we are so happy to be living on the farm again!

This Thanksgiving I hope everyone remembers to thank the people who provide us with the gift of food...especially the North Dakota Farmers they are truly amazing, check out the following ND Ag Facts!

Oh and did I mention the average American farmer feeds 155 people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4vvPPNyQ5g&sns=fb ... seriously go thank a farmer today!! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

- Laura Beth

Lumberjack Casserole

I'm surrounded by people who love meat, which isn't a big surprise considering we raise beef cattle and well, I'm mostly surrounded by men. Typically I could base every meal I eat around pasta (my soon to be father-in-law often wonders if I'm a vegetarian, I'm not, I like meat but I just enjoy pasta more). I'd have to say though this is one of my favorite meals to eat and make, because it's super easy!

I'm not crazy about the name of the dish but I didn't make it up so I guess I'll leave the name!

Lumberjack Casserole altered from Meals for 2 by Lindsay Siebert

This recipe feeds 4 hungry people!

Ingredients 

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can (15 or 16 oz) pork and beans
• 1/2 cup honey BBQ sauce
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 10 refrigerator biscuits
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Brown Hamburger and drain
• Add beans, BBQ sauce and brown sugar to hamburger
• Mix thoroughly 
• Grease a 2 quart casserole dish and put the meat and bean mixture in
• Place the biscuits on top and sprinkle with cheese
• Bake for 20 minutes

If you make this let me know how it is.

Enjoy!

- Laura Beth

Gunner's Mysterious Fall

Sunday was not such a good day...  

Recap:

It was mid-afternoon and Kayla came to tell us that Gunner fell and was in the basement.  In our house we have steps in our garage leading down to our basement; we aren't sure how it happened but Gunner ended up and the bottom of the stairs and was crying and really scared. It was probably about a 7 foot fall and he was in shock after the fall, he couldn’t walk and kept falling over; I was so worried he was either blind or had brain damage. The rest of the day he just bummed around the house but thankfully by the end of the evening he could walk without falling over.  I took him to the vet on Tuesday and he checked out great and did very well at the vet!!

Gunner is back to normal now, yep, back to his biting self haha seriously he’s so darn cute but I really wish he’d stop biting me! 

Gunner 10 Weeks Old

- Laura Beth

Halloween 2011

Sorry you won't be seeing any pictures of Steve and I dressed up this year but it was a treat to see Rylee and Kaylee all dressed up!! Rylee was a purple butterfly and Kaylee was cow.

- Laura Beth

Our New Family Member

We began the journey to get our puppy on Sunday morning. We knew it was going to be a long trip and 750 miles later it was indeed!

Steve, Tyler and I headed to Ray, ND to pick up the baby German Shepard now known as Gunner.  Steve and I already love him to pieces; he is starting to get his own personality and warming up to life on the farm.

He had his first bath on Monday and let’s just say he was not a fan…next time Steve is going to help so Gunner stays in the tub! 

Gunner isn’t going to be a house dog but so far that is what he appears to be, with us being so busy and the cold weather he gets to come inside a lot. I’ve come to the conclusion that getting a puppy during harvest and right before winter was not smart on our part! Oh well harvest is almost done and then Steven will have more time during the day to play and train him. 


We are trying to potty train him and some days I feel like he understands and other days I don’t think he gets it at all. So if anyone has any great potty training tips let me know!! Oh and if you have tips on how to get him to stop biting at our clothes and hands while playing let me know because, holy crap his teeth are sharp!


Gunner is two months old already, 9 weeks old yesterday (Friday 21^st) he almost has the sit command down but now we have to really work on getting him to come when we call his name. One of his favorite things to eat right now besides his dog food is gravel, don’t know what he tastes in it but he thinks it’s yummy!


All in all he is an adorable puppy, well behaved and we couldn't be more excited to have a German Shepard on the farm again. Check back often to read more about Gunner!!

- Laura Beth

** Update ** Our poor Gunner was killed and taken from us way to soon, he was 9 months and 13 days old and we miss him everyday. We don't know who did this horrible thing to our baby but I can only believe that in some way they will be punished for this terrible act. Rest In Peace Gunner Baby.  

Engagement Party

A week ago my parents had an engagement party for Steve and I. We both had a great time and can't wait for the wedding. Thanks to all our friends and family that came out to help us celebrate!

I love these pictures by the chestnut trees ... I love fall the colors are so great!!

- Laura Beth

We're Getting a Puppy

Steven and I are getting a puppy and we are both so excited!! We are getting a male German Shepard and should be able to go get him sometime next week.  Here are two pictures, one of these is our puppy we just don't know which one yet!

- Laura Beth

Save Your Corks!

I am a HUGE wine freak, wino, lush; take your pick at a name but the bottom line is, I love wine! I was able to go to Napa Valley this past March and I couldn't have been more excited; I hope I can go back soon!  I want my love of wine to play some part in our wedding and I've decided to have corks as part of the decorations.

I'm asking you to help contribute to the decor by saving me your wine corks!! If you save corks, and want them back don't worry I'll give them back after the wedding. So if you love wine as much as I do, drink the bottles with corks and don't you dare throw them away, save them and send them my way!!

Thanks in Advance :-)
- Laura Beth

Spirit Lake Connections

As most of you know I'm obsessed with the lake. I've always wished we had a lake to go to in MN; I've went with my best friend to her lake since early middle school and LOVED it! To my delight my parents bought an AWESOME lake home on Spirit Lake almost 3 years ago and Erika and I are both in Love with it! 


Last summer I was lucky enough to live at the lake with Eri, even though we were home at opposite hours it was great to live there with my 'lil sis. Last summer (2010) I got a job as a waitress at Billy's Bar and Grill in Vergas, MN. It was great and I met so many amazing friends because of this job! This summer, however, my current employer wouldn't let me take the summer off so I could work at the lake again, I know, bummer! :-) But I was hoping to work at Billy's during Looney Daze (Vergas's town celebration) this summer unfortunately that didn't happen. Luckily I met some great people last summer and I got the chance to help out at Skål, the newest bar/grill in town, during Looney Daze! I had a blast helping my friends at Skål and was super excited when my friend, co-owner of Skål and Spanky's Stone Hearth, asked me to help him out at some events over the summer. 


I'm a sad this summer is over but through all of my little jobs this summer and last I've realized how small the world is! I've met unforgettable people and I can't wait for another summer at Spirit Lake with all of my friends from Vergas! Good thing my parent's bought a year round lake home though so I don't have to wait a whole year; and Billy's, Skål and Spanky's are open year round even better!! Oh and if you haven't eaten (or had a cocktail) at one of these places please go check them out...I PrOmIsE the people are Awesome!


- Laura Beth

Twins Game!

I finally made it to Target Field for a Twins game. The weekend of the 16th Steve my parents and I headed to the cities for a Friday night game. It was a pretty chilly weekend and we didn't even think about bringing a blanket to the game! The Twins lost (no surprise) but it was still exciting to be there and they only lost by a run so it was a good game!

On our cities trip we went to IKEA and ended up spending 4 hours there ... holy crap I love that store. I need to bring my sister there for sure, she would love it!

We are lucky to have a big family and love that some of them live in the Cities. We didn't have to stay at a hotel either night there. On Friday night we stayed at Aunt Judy's (my mom's sister) and on Saturday we stayed at Aunt Angie's (Steve's Dad's sister). We had a great time it was nice to just to get away from home for a couple days!

We made a pit-stop at the lake on the way home...it was Beautiful!

- Laura Beth

Save the Date!

We have set the date. September 8th 2012!

We didn't even last a week...

We've been engaged for One Week!!

 Photo By: Stacy Erdmann

It was harder than we thought to not tell people we were engaged so we told people before the weekend. On Wednesday we told Steve's family and on Thursday we went to Nome to tell my family.

The biggest response has been people telling us it was about time; and I'd have to say I agree :-) Once the word was out everything has been moving so fast; I want to get the planning done and enjoy as much as we can of our engagement because I can already tell it'll be over before we know it! We are hoping to get married sometime in fall of 2012 there are just some places we need to get finalized for the big day then we'll announce the date!

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend with this lovely fall weather. Steve and I hung out with the Froemke family today down at the River it was a great relaxing Labor Day. 'Captain' Ryan even gave us a ride up river on the new River Queen (pontoon) it was such a nice evening!

- Laura Beth

Welcome To Our Blog

Welcome to Our (well my) Blog...I doubt Steve will be writing many posts so this is more my blog about the two of us and our life together!

I always told myself when I get married and have a family I want to have a blog!! Well I'm not married ... yet but I figured why not start this now! Yep emphasis on yet because yesterday on Monday August 29, 2011 something pretty awesome happened. We got Engaged!!!!!!

It was perfect and I was totally surprised.  He proposed in the pasture south of the farm at sunset with just the cows as our witness :-) it was perfect!!

We are waiting to tell people so don't feel bad that you didn't find out for a week!! I want to tell my parents face to face so we decided to wait until after the weekend since it's labor day and everything is really hectic! I've had to refrain myself from calling or texting people because I don't want it to slip and I've been taking my ring off at work so no one there knows before our parents. This secret is killing me but at the same time it is fun to know that Steven and I are the only one's who know!! :-)

I hope you enjoy this blog and I'm going to try to update on a regular basis!

- Laura Beth