So Many Tanners

It has been 10 years since the last official Tanner family reunion. Although rounding up 200+ Tanners is no easy feat, the family was past due for an official gathering. The plans for a Tanner reunion have been in the works for over a year. It finally became a reality over the weekend when over 150 Tanners gathered for an overnight reunion. We missed those who live in other states and countries, but it was pretty incredible to have a lot of the posterity of 13 children all in one place!

The reunion also doubled as a 90th birthday celebration for this amazing mother of 13 children, grandmother of 78 grandchildren, and great-grandmother of so many that we have lost count. What is amazing about this woman (among many things) is that even though she has a whole slew of grandchildren, she has already taken a personal role in the lives of our boys. This hip-hoppin' grandma went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood with us last year! She is the most in shape 90 year old I have ever seen. She goes on walks and does stretching exercises every day, travels back and forth from Utah to California each month so that she can be present at graduations, sporting events, and weddings, and is up to date with email, blackberry phones, and ipods. We are so happy to have such a spunky grandmother in our lives. And seriously, who looks this great at 90?

Each of the 13 families was given five minutes to present themselves in a creative way. There were songs, skits, props, and instruments involved. Each family's presentation was completely unique. Man alive those Tanners are hilarious and clever!

Our family performed a perfect rendition of "America the Beautiful" on the chimes (just kidding, it was pretty bad). Since it is our Christmas Eve tradition to pull out the chimes for carols, we thought we were ready for a live performance.

I think we may have to practice a little more before we move to larger venues.

Can you tell how thrilled Blake is about the experience?

Poor guy had an awful cold and didn't enjoy much of the reunion. He did state on several occasions that there were "so many Tanners" as he looked around, completely overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance.

Our other son mastered the ability to soak his shirt with massive amounts of drool.

The combination of drooly-drooler and sick-o didn't make for the best family picture, but what situation really does when you have little ones?

Among other festivities was a rockin' volleyball tournament. Just look at that amazing setting in the mountains!

Blake really enjoyed playing the sand. Sand from the volleyball court is the closet thing to Lake Michigan beaches we are going to get this summer.

Troy gloated in his team's victory.

Bro and Sis.

The last activity on the agenda was a tribute to Grandma where her children shared stories, memories, and wisdom. She is pictured with 11 of her 13 children (2 were missing because of traveling in Europe and presiding over the Russian Moscow mission). It was pretty amazing to have so many Tanners gathered in one place; where we could appreciate the vision that Grandma and her late husband had for their posterity.