Twenty-Third Annual Raabe Reunion

 

Here's the group, missing Ang & John

The Chris Raabe looks forward to this time of summer every year. We are blessed to have a family who we not only love but enjoy. 23 years ago when this all began, none of Chris' cousins were married and Emma was the only great grandchild of Warren Raabe, there were 15 of us. Our group has grown to 31 fun loving, loud, generous, some times controversial, game playing, pizza eating, story telling, Husker loving (except the Iowa bunch) family members. It's awesome!

 

"Like branches on a tree, our lives may grow in different directions yet our roots remain one"

Our weekend began at our house with cornhole, firepit and smores.

Joe wowed us all with his chalk art

See...we like to eat. :)

HyVee breakfast is about the only place all 30+ of us can sit together.

My favorite people!!!

After breakfast we headed north of town about 30 miles to a beautiful little farm with a barn built just for gatherings, space for bocce, a gorgeous pool, fire pit and lots of seating. Tom and Patty who don't even know most of us were fantastic hosts. 

The cousins

missing Angie and Lisa

These 7 cousins grew up together. The stories they tell about sleepovers at "The Place", taking baths together, going to church, grandma cooking whatever they killed on the farm and fishing with grandpa are the best!

This family takes bocce pretty serious

A couple years ago Paul and I won. I thought I had a good chance at a run for gold because I was matched up with Paul's son. We should have won but didn't even come close. HA  In 2022 Emma and Amy take home prize of "Bragging rights for a year"

Nat, Liv and Taylor

Our youngest with Kelly's youngest

Olivia and Selah

Our family reunions have taken us to KC, Lewis & Clark State Park,  Platt River State Park, Honey Creek Resort, Some farm in Iowa, Ponca State Park and now Omaha for the second year. With growing families and lives getting busier it's been a greater challenge to find a time when everyone can attend. I love these people and hope we can keep it going for years to come.

20th Annual Raabe (Ray.be) Reunion

Summer post July 2019...not September

MEET THE LEADERS OF THE FAMILY

Siblings Helen, Dean and Lois

First, I have to give a huge shout out to my hubby for finding an amazing reunion location! If I am going to be honest, I was worried that MAYBE Chris found a place that fit all his requirements but maybe not those of some of the pickier people (I am one of those pickier people). I didn't want to hear complaints. However, over 30 people together and no one complained...not even me. That's what you call a miracle! Thanks Chris, you did a fantatsic job finding our family reunion spot.

This crew comes from DesMoines IA, Omaha NE, Kearney NE and Kansas City MO. It's tough but we try to find a location that is a reasonable drive for everyone without breaking the bank. Tucked away in small town Iowa there is a fantastic B&B that sleeps over 30 people. We had a big house and guest house, lots of green space, pool tables, ping pong, a huge fire pit, 2 small lakes for fishing, swimming and kayaking and a homemade breakfast each day. It was nearly PERFECT! 

 The whole crew. Both Lisa and Emma came late.

Lou & Lois plus their crew of 10

Dean & Linda plus their crew of 9

Lynn & Helen plus their crew of 6

The Dean Raabe Family

THE  BOCCE TOURNAMENT

It's all fun and games...well sort of. We had all kinds of measuring devices out to check and recheck who had the closest bocce toss. And in the end it was a team of in-laws who won it all!!!

Paul you were a great partner!

C H A M P I O N S

The kids had a blast in the water. I just couldn't bring myself to get in there. 

snapping turtles . slimy moss . snakes . who knows what else

Late Night Pool

Big UNO tournament

Girl cousins catching frogs

Arm Workout

Giant Slip N Slide

After 20 consecutive years of reunions with the whole crew, I understood this one to be the last. My family LOVES our long weekends with family so in no way were we ready to let it go. Don't get me wrong, it has been a challenge some years. We have active kids and busy schedules but Chris and I made this a priority for our family. There are some branches of the family who are in those tough years of youth sports and vacations. Every family chooses where their priorities are and we move on. I am thrilled that we have a deposit down for one more year!

This place was great but had it's problems, we are off to southeast Iowa next year. It's going to be a longer drive for us and much longer for Emma. (insert sad face) Here's the issue...what seemed to be a friendly visit by the neighbor turned into a weird interaction with a felon who was most likely high and capable of being dangerous. Geepers, you never know what or who you will run into.

I know not every family is so lucky.
We love each other. We love the Lord. And we know how to have a good time.