Bavarian Food

 Day 3 in Deutschland 

Bavarian Breakfast

Weißwürst, pretzels & beer

We had a non alcoholic beer but I still couldn’t do it. I drank part of it but beer at 8:30am was just too much for me. Chris “suffered” through it. The sausage is a white sausage that you peel the casing off and the pretzel is perfectly warm. Wunderbar!

Many people mistake this for “German” food. It’s really just the Bavarian party of Germany that is known for eating this. It was delicious 

We got to meet Liv’s friend, Fenja.

Fun fact, she was born in the house that connects to the house Olivia is living in now. Fenja and her family live in a different city now.  What a sweet friend for Liv. Just another way God has provided for our daughter. 

While the guys checked out a castle that Olivia and I explored in July, we went to IKEA. 

Roulaude, red cabbage, dumplings and brussel sprouts 

Anika is an excellent cook! 

She has truly gone out of her way to make special food for us. Her typical meal is vegetarian and rather light food, but always includes bread. 

Gondolas for the win

I love it when things work out better than expected. In July I had a list of places we could go. One of them was Rüdesheim to ride the gondola along the Rhein River. For a variety of reasons it didn’t work out but it really wasn’t a big deal. After arriving at Olivia’s host parents’ house they said they really wanted to take us to this great Christmas market and ride the gondolas. What??? This is awesome! 

The food and environment was just what we hoped for and the rise up the mountain was gorgeous 

Day 2 in Deutschland and it was GUDE 

Aunt Angie and Uncle John sent Liv a very thoughtful Christmas gift. 

On our way up

This was funny. 

At the top of the ride we came across this proposal sight. Could have been sweet but it was dinner the top, I expected the bachelor/bachelorette to show up. 

Marry Me sign ✔️ Camera crew ✔️

Red roses ✔️ Red carpet✔️

Violinist ✔️ stage management✔️

And to top it off there were about 15-20 on lookers just waiting for the surprised bride-to-be to pop around the corner. We waited a good 30 minutes but finally gave up. 

I hope they have a happily ever after 

Denis and Chris

Creepy Deutschland Santa 

The food at this market was really good and prices right 

Käsewürst, pommes, smoked salmon, crepes, chocolate covered fruit and Glühwein (hot spiced wine)

Isn’t she the cutest

Here we are in front of the famous street, people travel near and far to see this 

D R O S S E L G A S S E

Only 144 meters long but all is GUDE. 

 

28 and Counting

This year we celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary!

Here are some pictures over the last 30th years

I am so thankful that we chose each other. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s been well worth it. I love you Chris! 

College 1994

Kansas 1996

San Diego 1997

Phoenix 1998

New Home Arizona 1999

Yankton SD 2003

 Around 2006

Grand Island NE 2008

Ugly sweater run Omaha 2012

Book Tour 2013 or 2014

Christmas 2015

Florida 

Grand Canyon 2014

Napa Valley 2016

2019

Emma’s Wedding 2021

25th Anniversary Mexico 2021

Husker soccer Lincoln 2022

Gun Range Omaha 2023

New Grandparents 2023

Denver Broncos NYE 2023

 

Family Fun in Florida 2023

I'm a couple months behind in posting this. Hopefully I can back date the post to June

Our family hasn't taken many vacations over the last 25 year. And of the few we have taken, all of them have consisted of staying with family or friends and always dictated by a soccer trip either before or after the vacation. This time...we took a real vacation, planned months before and dates carefully picked so everyone could take time off work and Reagan had NO conflicts with Husker soccer or school. Chris and I worked extra hours and sold stuff from the basement to pay cash for this trip to Florida with our family of 6.

Bad luck hit when Reagan tore her ACL during a spring game in Colorado in late April. She made the decision to travel with her team to Iceland (duh...trip of a lifetime) in May and then have surgery June 1st (3 days before our flights). I may have cried several times. Thankfully I was able to be with Reagan on surgery day and spend the night the next several nights before jumping on the plane on June 4th. But I really missed her in Florida.

We stayed in a wonderful VRBO owned by someone in Nebraska. The master plan community was perfect until we realized there were no coffee shops within a 30 min drive. WHAT? How is that possible? We had a great pool, golf cart and enough space for everyone in the family.

ME & MY GUY!

I could have spent many more hours/days at the beach

This trip taught me that I am more of an ocean-beach girl than the rest of the Raabe clan

The family at the ocean

Joe's first time at the ocean

Fort Meyers Airport is small enough that this is how we deplaned

Gotta take a selfie

We had the chance to catch up with a couple Nebraska friends who now live in the Fort Myers, FL area. Emma and Sierra graduated HS together. Sierra has a super cute apartment with a great view. She's living her best life.

Chris, Joe and I took a hike and got caught in an absolute downpour about half a mile from the car. After looking for wildlife the entire hike, as we jogged back to the car Joe nearly stepped on a HUGE yellow snake. He tried to warn us but it was raining so hard we couldn't hear him yelling at us.

Who doesn't love this?

Take me back to the beach

One of our favorite parts of the trip was this "SwampTour" down the Peace River on an incredibly LOUD airboat. We saw a gator nest and some gators along the way and then suddenly we turned around to get a closer view of this bad boy...about eight and half feet long.

Our last day we spent some time with Jim and Lindsey Heck and the 3 girls.

Nebraska transplants...oh how I miss them!!

The Heck household has a cute puppy, a snake, and several reptiles.

Liv loves snakes

The eye of Hurricane Ian hit Fort Myers, FL in September 2022, nine months later there were still many signs of the devastation Ian dished out. This picture is a boat graveyard outside of a restaurant. 

Not sure when we will take another vacation but I have started a travel envelope. 

Lots of big things coming up in the Raabe family...

Baby Willow - October

College Graduation - December

High School Graduation - May

When will we find time to travel???