Senior Show choir season

 

Premier Night-MWHS

Showchoir season kicked off with our annual premier night where all 3 groups perform their show at home  It’s where they figure out what works and what doesn’t work before hitting the first competition  it usually a super fun and exciting evening  

This particular year we faced some painful challenges  Papa had been in the hospital for over a week and just wasn’t getting better  This day, January 15th we said good-bye to Papa as Jesus welcomed Dean into heaven. Somehow Olivia had the strength to go on stage. Papa would have been so proud of his granddaughter. 

Such brave souls ❤️

Music Lives- MWHS

Just 4 days later Millard West hosted its annual competition, you know it, the Raabes were knee deep in volunteering. Chris spent Friday evening and all day Saturday in the frozen tundra of a parking lot. Seriously the temperature and wind chill was unbearable.

Over the next 2 months Olivia and her show choir family traveled to…

Lincoln East, Lincoln NE

Troy Buchanan, St Louis MO

Omaha South, Omaha, NE

Lewis Central, Council Bluffs IA

Mitchell, SD

That Show Choir Show- MWHS

Olivia cheered on the prep group Swing Cats, performed with the all girls group Uptown and was a backstage roadie for West In The Grove (WIG)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I LOVE watching this girl on stage!!! She transforms into something or someone new when the music starts. She’s fabulous! 

After a very successful day on the road 

Olivia Peyton & Michelle

Olivia & Jersi 

Olivia & JNew, director

Abby Kirlin, Morgan Reid & Liv 

It’s not about the trophies but here are the insane amount of trophies the 3 groups won this season 

Dad, Aunt Holly, Shirley H, Liv, Oma, Nana, Mom

She’s still smiling even after the parent dance and final performances 

So proud of our senior and so happy to celebrate her 

Millard West loved Michigan Ave

Basically every trip we have ever taken has been due to a kid’s activity. This one is no different. It has been a blast following Olivia and her Show Choir around Nebraska and Iowa for high school competitions. (Have I said this before…if you haven’t attended one of these events you must. It’s like NOTHING I have ever experienced before.) Anyway, Millard West HS show choirs went to the Heart of America (HOA) competition in Chicago. The hype for this event was remarkable. If I’m honest, the actual event did not live up to the cost or the hype. None the less, it was a great experience for the kids and an opportunity for Chris and I hang out in Michigan Ave. Plus we started a great podcast on the 7 hour commute, The Exorcist Files.

Our friend’s FAVORITE pizza place in Chicago is Lou Malnati’s. We agree, I wanna go back! 

Tall buildings and city lights at the Intercontinental Hotel

I’ll be honest, I’ve heard so many bad things about the lawlessness in Chicago, I was a bit nervous about going there. What surprised us was the lack of people. We pulled in at 4:30pm on Friday only to find the streets bare. This has got to be a first. I was a bit worried that Rapture happened and we  were “Left Behind”. Ha We had a great trip and we’re relieved to find the believers still roaming the streets. 

The Bean

Millennium Park 

I spent a little time at the 5-story Starbucks

🌟Reserve Roasterie🌟

Uptown Girls

Oh my beautiful singer!!!

Uptown Girls & West In The Groove

 

Uptown Girls Dripping in Diamonds and Pearls

Here she is…my favorite singing and dancing queen!! 

Liv is having a ball this year with her all girls varsity show choir. These ladies are amazing!! Every performance blows me away! 

“Uptown Girls” is made up of 53 sophomore, junior and senior high school girls. They officially rehearse 2 days a week after school but our UTG never stops singing and dancing at home. 

The choirs have 5 competitions plus our own show which we perform but don’t compete due to we hire the judges and all. The season kicked off with our home opener called Music Lives  Holy cow! What a crazy busy weekend. I fully know some other parents put in more time than we did but I was shocked by the need and expectations of volunteers. Chris and I helped set up, check in, parking lot, back stage and tear down  Whew!! 

Moving risers and building the stage

Here’s proof, I wore my mask a few times during the days of Rona. To be honest, I wear the dumb thing in school mostly so my daughter doesn’t get in trouble. Praise God elections are coming so all the politicians decided to get rid of the insane mandates. 

Outfit #1

Outfit #2 

Outfit #3 

Backstage

Parents take selfies too

Grandparents supporting our favorite performer

Millard West :Exhibition Performance 

Westside: 1st place women’s division 

Omaha South: 4th over all divisions

Totino Grace, Minnesota: 3/5

Millard North: 3/12

Mitchell, So Dakota: 3/19

These competitions start at 8am and end about 11pm. It’s a high energy grueling day of excitement. Chris and I are looking forward to seeing all new groups in Minnesota. 

🎶🎶🎶

So this picture has nothing to do with Showchoir but this is what we do when we aren’t doing all the fun stuff that comes with having kids…we go for walks, even in the cold. 

 

She Will Drive Soon (& more Dec fun)

O L I V I A 

IS

S I X T E E N

What? Wait how is this possible? 

This girl has a huge heart for others. She is so fun to walk beside as she grows and learns more of who she is. Liv is compassionate, tender hearted, friendly, and in love with Jesus. She loves music, her sisters (joe too), her friends, show choir and funny TikToks. She’s so smart, a bit messy and procrastinates whenever possible. 

Now it’s time to start driving. I’m both excited and sad for this part of her growing up. Sometimes I just don’t have time to run her back and forth to school, rehearsal and friends’ houses and yet when she drives herself all those places I will then lose out on all that one-on-one time in the car. Kiddos growing up is full of ups and downs for this mom. 

 

The BDay crew

Family Birthday Party

She was willing to let me take a quick picture as I dropped her off for school on her birthday. Such a cutie! 

GAME NIGHT

This was so fun! Olivia and Addison wanted to do a little game night to celebrate their birthdays with their youth group friends. I had a blast creating decorations and they had lots of laughs! 

High School Christmas concert

As always, I love the way our HS directors have the kids singing Christmas songs about Jesus. All 3 choirs sounded amazing and then they ended the evening with a candle light event. B e a u t i f u l ! 

It’s so great to have Emma back in town so she can come to Olivia’s concerts. 

Papa celebrated his 75th birthday with family and great friends at his favorite pizza joint, Sam & Louie’s Pizza a few days early. Thankfully the snow that morning did not dampen our fun. 

(On Dean’s actual birthday Linda had a pacemaker put in)

One of my fun little signs 

The Raabe Crew! 

Reagan was studying for finals

Joe was sick

Holly & Stephen were out of town