buffalo trip

This weekend we drove to Buffalo, NY to visit with Nick's family.  His aunt Kristie and uncle Ed were visiting from Denver, Colorado so it was a family reunion of sorts.  We were staying with Nick's best friend and Bennett's godfather, Scott.  He bought a house close to downtown Buffalo last year.  Since we haven't had a chance to visit yet, we took the opportunity to do so this weekend.  Saturday we were spending the day catching up with Scott and some of my oldest friends from college, Mary and Scott.  Sunday, we were doing a family day.  We were up early Saturday.  Bennett doesn't usually sleep in when we travel.  It was 6:30 AM when he woke us up.  Bennett went into explorer mode.  Downstairs he got into Scott's video games and was busy bringing over the controllers to show me.

Then, he jumped on uncle Scott's bed after getting dressed.

And, he had to make sure the grill was ready for tonight once we went outside.  Bennett is very thoughtful.

He loved pulling uncle Scott's markers out of the mulch.  He did put them back once he was done with them, which was really nice of him.

The afternoon we spent out Canalside.  It's an up and coming area in Buffalo where they have craft booths, bands, free yoga classes and games set up for people to enjoy.  

There is a Naval and Military Park Canalside.  It is home to several decommissioned US Naval vessels, including the Cleveland-class cruiser USS Little Rock, the Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans, and the submarine USS Croaker.  

For lunch, we went to a restaurant nearby called Liberty Hound.  Mary and her kids, Elana and Liam, joined us.  We spent sometime in the gift shop before we set down for a table.  I can't believe I got a picture of him smiling in a hat!

Too bad it was a rainy day because the outdoor seating here has amazing views.

It was still rainy after lunch so we headed back to uncle Scott's house.  We drove by the Darwin Martin house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  It is right down the street from Scott's house.  The house was built in 1903.  It is considered to be one of the most important projects from Wright's Prairie School era, and ranks along with The Guggenheim in New York City and Fallingwater in Pennsylvania among his greatest works.  I wish we had more time to actually go in and tour the house today but we had dinner plans and some grocery shopping to do as a result.

My old roommates from Rochester, NY when I was a junior at RIT came over for a BBQ dinner.  It was nice to catch up and see them.  I met Mary's husband, Mike, and saw Marcie, Scott's wife, as well. 

It was a long and busy day but I am happy we got to see so many of our friends.  Elana and Liam did a great job watching B for us when we got busy with the cooking and conversation.  I really hope Bennett sleeps in tomorrow.