THE TRAVELING GARDNERS

This was one of of my favorite days in Buffalo. All of the family getting together and eating some delicious pizza, real Buffalo wings, and Grandma Gardner's delicious dips!!! It was so great to be able to meet all of Dan's family who made you feel just like you were really (in my best Godfather voice) "part of the family". Good food and family - what is better? Dan and Aunt Sue Ben playing with the classic hot wheels with Aunt Sue Scooter time! The "pow wow" with Uncle Chris, Aunt Sue, Dan, and Sammy ~ Aunt Sue cruisin along I think he likes it...... It's the scooter gang....... Back at home....back to the hot wheels...... Aunt JoAnne and Great Great Grandma pose with Ben.....Ben however can not keep his eyes off the cars.... Cousins David and Sammy posing with a sleepy Ben..... Just sitting around the table - Uncle Steve, Dan, Great Grandma, Tommy, and Aunt Kathy Grandma Gardner and Aunt Kathy Dan and Uncle Chuck having a little military ch...

While Benjamin took his afternoon nap, Dan and I snuck off to have a lunch date! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Gardner for watching Ben!! Everyone in Buffalo was talking about Ted's Hot Dogs. Dan insisted that I had to try one. And it was delicious! Dan holding the belly while we pose in front of the main sign. You can't tell in this picture but Dan is showing his New York pride by wearing the Syracuse shirt that Rob got him! Later on back at Grandma and Grandpa Gardner's house - Aunt Sue, and cousins CJ and Sammy came over to visit. Benjamin LOVED spending time with his Great Aunt and cousins! Here Aunt Sue set up a car ramp for Ben to play with - Some of the cars that Ben was playing with were old hot wheels that all of the past generations had played with when they were kids! These cars entertained Ben for hours! Football time! Cousin CJ playing pass with Dan across the lawn Cousin Sammy and Ben playing their own game of pass. Daddy pasisng the ball to Ben Down, ...

Before we headed out to Niagara Falls, we made a quick stop first. This was a very special experience. Ben went to Carmen the barber to get his hair cut. Carmen cut Dan's hair when he was Ben's age, all of Dan's cousins, and even Dan's dad's and Uncles hair too! So this was a generation hair cut. We were excited to have Carmen cut Ben's hair, because he will soon step down and pass the business on to his son. ~Carmen was so patient with Ben. Daddy bribed Ben with grapes through out the hair cut to make sure he sat still. ~ Dan, Ben, and Carmen posing for an after pose. ~ The after pictures in front Carmen's shop.