On Friday, July 20th we buried Grandma Katie.  Since Lee and I had just gotten home three days before, we couldn't turn around and head back to Wisconsin as quickly as we would have liked.  But, we did arrive Friday morning after a short night of sleep on a dreaded red eye.  A few years ago my mom and her siblings thought ahead to what steps would be taken when grandma died.  We had always known that the service at the grave site would be family only and grand kids weren't necessary expected to be able to come back on such short notice to attend.  Thus, the memorial service was always anticipated to be a couple months later so all could make it.  (Yes, we'll be going back in September for this one too).  Surprisingly enough, all but three grand kids were there last weekend.  Although we would have preferred to gather for a happier occasion, it was great to reconnect with everyone.  Unfortunately, two of the missing grand kids were Abbie and Lani, both on their delayed honeymoons out of the country.  It killed them to not be there and we really missed having them there. I'm glad they will be able to attend gram's memorial in the fall.

The weekend was a very mellow one as Tanner gatherings are concerned - although the quantities of food were no less than expected.  Over the course of our three days there were tears, stories, laughter and lots of admiration for our grandma Katie.  What I will remember most (and I'm sure I can say the same for everyone else) is that after we concluded the mini-service for gram at the grave site, Garrick suggested we do the hokey pokey.  So through tears and smiles, we all did one last hokey pokey for grandma Katie. Oh how we'll miss her.