Buffalo Weekend

This past weekend we took Benjamin on our first official roadtrip. We went to Buffalo, NY to spend some time with Andrew's extended family and specifically to go to our Aunt Diane's wedding. The drive took us about seven hours since we stopped a few times to tend to the baby and to eat lunch. Ben was - surprisingly, since we didn't know how he'd take to a long drive - very content on the drive up and babbled most of the trip away in the backseat. In fact, he babbled and squealed so much that he didn't sleep as much as he usually does for his two naps so he paid for this later at night when he was a tad grouchy and had to go to sleep halfway through the rehearsal dinner in which he was (behind the bride and groom of course!) intended to be the guest of honor! Here are a few photos of Ben meeting the Gaczewski side of the family on Friday night at Aunt Diane's house:

Ben with Great Grandma Alice. He's the first great grandchild in a family of eight children and seventeen grandchildren! Ben definitely has the big "Gaczewski eyes" that just about all of the grandkids (including Andrew) also have. We've been told his eyes are as big as saucers so many times already, sometimes by strangers!


Ben with bride-to-be Aunt Diane. We're so glad we were able to visit to celebrate the big day with Ian and her.


Here's a photo of all of the women who were able to make it on Friday night. (front (l-r): me, Aunt Linda, Aunt Sharon, Aunt Cinty; middle (l-r): Aunt Darlene, cousin Kim, Aunt Polly; back (l-r): Aunt Diane, Aunt Judy, Grandma).

We had a great time seeing both sides of Andrew's family throughout our visit. Some members of every family on his mom's side were in town for the wedding so we saw them on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We also visited with his dad's side of the family for lunch on Saturday because they were nice enough to watch Ben for us while we went to Aunt Diane's wedding.

Here's a picture of Auntie Marian and Uncle Dave with Ben. They both helped to babysit for him while we were at the wedding and Auntie had a good time meeting her first great great nephew.

The wedding on Saturday was a wonderful time and Aunt Diane looked beautiful! Ian and his best man - son-in-law Jason - wore traditional Scottish kilts and they even had a bagpiper play during the ceremony and reception. Aunt Judy stood up as the Matron of Honor and also looked great! Andrew and I were touched to hear the word of remembrance for his mom that Aunt Diane had the priest recite during the ceremony since we know how happy she would have been to see her sister get married.

Mr. and Mrs. Ian Currie:

So many sisters!!

But, wait! There are more...this one also has Uncle Ron, Uncle Paul, Grandpa and Grandma:

...And more. Here's everyone with spouses included:

...And even more!! This one includes the spouses and immediate cousins (although less than half of them were in attendance!):

Aunt Cinty's husband David congratulating the groom:

And here he is congratulating the bride:

And here he is "gettin' jiggy wit it" at the reception. We have an inside joke that David's "shy" (said with sarcasm) personality lands him in pictures with just about everyone at every family function. I think he's photographed with at least half the guests at my and Andrew's wedding so we tried to make the tradition continue this weekend!!

Some reception photos:

Here are two of me and Andrew:

Kim and boyfriend Taylor:

Janine and Aunt Cinty:

Grandma gettin' down with Jake:

We drove home yesterday after spending a few more hours with the family at the Lipuma's house for one of Uncle Jim's famous brunches. After not really being the life of the party on Friday evening, Ben had an opportunity to redeem himself and was (lucky for our ride home!) back to his usual content self after a full day to recooperate.

Here he is being enticed by Aunt Sharon's tasty necklace. Jewelry is a favorite these days and when he finds one he likes, it immediately goes into his mouth, no matter if it's on someone's neck or not!

I guess Ben can tell that Aunt Sharon is used to baby boys (she has four boys!) because he was very comfortable with her and was cooing and babbling away as she held him and he mouthed her necklace (it's at moments like this when I wish the blog had sound).

Finally, Ben says goodbye to Great Grandpa Hank and Great Grandma Alice before we headed out on our 7 hour tour back to PA!