Mel's Musings: visitors

Ben's cousin David (or as Greyson says, "Cubin Dabid") came to visit last weekend. Fun was had by all! I don't think that it is possible to not have fun when David is around though... he is such a funny, lovable, all-around great guy. One thing I learned about him over the weekend though, was how great he is with children. Wow is all I can say. My kids really showed their colors and he was super with them.

While David was here we did some tourist-y stuff that we haven't done much of before - the Sculpture Gardens , seeing the St. Paul Saints (a local minor league baseball team), and Mall of America , included the indoor theme park there . At the Sculpture Gardens, we had fun taking interesting pictures and just letting the kids run some. The baseball game was tre' fun! Their games aren't just the normal stuff - they have funny skits and games and a pig that tromps around the home plate between innings. Greyson brought his toy bat and kept asking "my turn?" Too funny... We went the Mall of America (or megamall as the locals call it) on Monday while Ben was at work and David treated us to a few rides at the theme park there - the ferris wheel, a roller coast, and the carousel. So fun!

We also ate really well while David was here. I don't remember the last time we ate so many of our favorites foods in the same weekend. For lunch after going to the Sculpture Gardens, we went to a restaurant/ethnic grocery store that we love - Holy Land. It is middle-eastern and has really great food! I need to go back some time and just look around the store (with little hands). That night, we went to Famous Dave's (awesome BBQ) in Uptown and enjoyed listening to a guy playing the guitar and singing like Leon Redbone. When Ben and the kids went up to inspect his setup (Greyson wanted to check out his guitar), he even played "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" for them. The next night we went to check out new place looking for walleye; a place called Tavern on Grand. The boys got battered walleye and I got the blackened walleye. I have to say all of it was good but the blackened walleye was phenomenal! I was surprised because it is unusual to have good blackened anything here in the great state of MN. We'll be going back....

All said, it was a great (and exhausting) weekend. We feel so priveleged that he would drive here from Dallas to spend time with us. Thanks, Cubin Dabid!! Come back and visit us again! You are welcome anytime!