It's always fun when Grandma comes

Last month, Grandma Bailey came to visit!  What a treat.  We partied at the Mall of America Amusement park... 

We took J on the truck and balloon rides, but in classic kid fashion, J he had the most fun on the coin-operated bus, into which we deposited zero coins.

We went to the American Girl Doll Bistro, every little girl's dream.  They had a discount for Toddler Tuesday, it was close by when we got hungry, they had a male doll to accompany J during his lunch...how could we say no?  In truth, the doll kind of freaked him out, but he loved the little tiny teacup.

We drove out to the Lark Toy Company, this amazing place with a toy museum, coolest-toy-store-ever, and a hand-carved carousel that's truly world famous (they said).  This photo does not convey J's genuine enthusiasm!

We toured the Mayo campus and took a trolley tour of Rochester.  We learned some essential facts, including that Will Mayo was an avid conservationist and used old x-ray plates as the panes in his green house.  That's the kind of town we live in :)  We also saw just one of the things that makes Mayo a little different than most other hospitals.  

How many clinics have a donor with "His Highness" and "Sultan" in the same name?

 Mom was very excited to take us on a "Mayo" photo shoot.  Chris and J posed with the Mayo Brothers, who are as famous in Rochester as Thomas Jefferson is in Charlottesville.  They are even quoted along with Ghandi on the walls of the city library.

And mostly, we just loved having Mom here.  

 I am blessed to have this wonderful lady as my mother in law!  Thanks for coming to visit us in the chilly north!