Buffalo has always been my favorite summer place. Growing up, my parents used to send us to spend our summers with our cousins and grandparents. Years of visiting Niagara Falls, Olcott Beach, Darien Lake amusement park, playing in basements and backyards, going to Bisons games, having bon fires, and so many hot dogs and ice cream. Pure Americana summer magic. I was lucky enough to relive the beautiful summers of my childhood with my kids. Since they were born, we have brought them to Buffalo to visit their grandparents for the summer. It has become one of their favorite places just like mine.
This summer, the nostalgia took on new meaning. My parents had just sold the house and were planning to move to North Carolina to be closer to my sister and her family. This was going to be our last Buffalove summer. The boys were almost as devastated as me, but we were able to fit in so many classic experience and even make new memories.
Papa John loved exposing them to Buffalo sports including Bisons baseball, a Buffalo Bills training camp, and a real Bill preseason game. They even got to tour the stadium which included running the field, sitting in the lees room, see the Locke room and sitting in the exact same spot as Jose Allen. The indoctrination into the Bulls Mafia is pretty complete.
We made sure to fit in some annual favorites like bowling, the zoo, Niagara Falls, the Strong Museum of Play, and of course lots of ice cream and hot dogs.
We also tried some new experiences like traveling back in time to the 1800s at the Gennesse County Historic Village, a climbing forest in Ellicotville, a Mexican birthday dinner for Papi, and every fair/amusement park ride the boys could find.
The boys also were super brave and took a week long soccer camp. AJC has become a fútbol fanatic, and this was a great way for them to be immersed in the sport. It also was a wake up call about their need to train and condition as their legs were so tired and sore they couldn’t even bend them by the next day.
Of course, we always end the summer with the start of school hair cuts. I’m having a really hard time allowing them to have body autonomy, especially when the practically want mullets. They are copying some famous fútbol stars so I tried to push the clean cut Ronaldo look, but they didn’t go for it.
Of course, we couldn’t say goodbye to Buffalo without stopping by to give some love to Grandma and Papa. While it is special to visit them here, we know their spirit is everywhere and we often see the evidence in the cardinals that come to watch over us.
Before we knew it, our month long visit was over. We were heartbroken to leave knowing it might be a long time before we return. Buffalo has been our foundation throughout our nomadic life, and it holds a special place in all of our hearts.
We retuned it Panama so the boys could start school. 2nd for PJC and 5th grade for AJC. It’s going to be another exciting year!
Family Stoke 