Autumn in New York (Rochester That Is)

We have made it a priority to see our good friends the Lecces at least every year. Last year they came to visit us here in Phoenix. This year it was our turn to go out there, Rochester, New York.

For those of you who don't know them, Sheila and Vin both went to Cornell with Matty, and it was Matty who introduced them to each other. Plus Matty is their son Vincent's Godfather (said in Marlon Brando voice), and Sheila and Savannah have grown really close over the years, even taking girl trips together. In fact, the two of them look so similar that many people think they are sisters.

Not only do we enjoy seeing them and spending time with them, but we love getting the kids together and seeing them bond. It is quite amazing how close they are considering how far apart they live.

THURSDAY
We took the red-eye flight so that we could be there early Thursday morning. We were a little worried about it with the girls being so young. Fortunately they did okay. On only one occasion during the night did Hayden act up a bit so overall it worked out.

A beautiful day to complement the beautiful course.

Once we landed, Vinny and I immediately scooted off to go play golf at Oak Hill Country Club, home of one of the best golf courses in the country and where the pros have played many big tournaments including US Opens and the Ryder Cup. It will also host the 2013 PGA Championship so it's kind of a big deal. I told Vinny how jealous I am that the course is right by him and that he gets to be a Member. To repay his guilt I threw on him, he hosted me for a day. This guilting thing works.

We had an amazing time and it was such a beautiful fall day. The course is as great as advertised so it was an awesome experience for me.

"This one is perfect!"

Afterwards we met up with the ladies and the kiddos at a farm for some apple picking. The weather was still amazing so we were able to go up and down the orchard looking for that perfect choice.

The kiddos absolutely loved it and it was fun to watch them take joy in finding just the right one.

We also got to play in the teepee they had there and look around their farmer's market. Our introduction to fall in upstate New York was going well.

Four Little Pumpkins

Afterwards we went to dinner at The Distillery and off to home where the little ones had baths and went off to bed in their matching pumpkin jammies that Sheila got for them (it has become 'tradition' for the host mommy to get matching jammies for all 4 kiddos.

A great first day was in the books.

FRIDAY

On Friday we went to the National Museum of Play, one of the best children's museums in America (at least to me and I have visited all of four so that must mean I am an expert). But also to these people. This place is incredible with many different rooms and exhibits and it's all hands on.

"Price Check!"

There is a mini Wegmans (famous northeast grocery store) for the kids to shop and checkout, complete with kid size shopping carts. They absolutely love acting like grown-ups and going through the store picking out their items. At the checkouts there are working conveyor belts and the registers actually scan the UPC and log it, then they create an actual receipt with Wegmans printed at the top (genious).

Other top attractions include a Sesame Street area, a TV news center, a fantasyland with a giant, a restaurant, and a vintage video game area (most popular with Vinny and me who re-lived highlights from our youth like Pole Position, Gauntlet, and Tron). So it was a great time for kids and adults alike.

That night we had an adult night out as we got a babysitter for the kids. Sheila and Vin took us on a tour of Rochester. First we went to a swanky lounge to get some drinks. Then we went to Oak Hill Country Club for dinner in the Oak Room. This place is really nice and many consider it to be the best restaurant in Rochester. It is so nice that I had to bring a sport coat as they are required for gentlemen.

After dinner we went to Chocolate & Vines, a wine and dessert bar. This has our name all over it. We had some delectable treats and some great wine, along with some great conversation, mostly about the top movies of all time and how Sheila and Vin are on a mission to watch the entire AFI top 100.

It was an amazing evening and a perfect cap to our second day.

SATURDAY

"Weeeee!"

The next morning we went to Stokoe Farms (pronounced STO-key) for a fall pumpkin festival. This place was great as they had all kinds of fun things to do. For one, there is a giant 3 story slide that Hayden did about 43 times.

They also have tractor and tricycle rides, hay wagon rides, zip lines, a corn maze (which we didn't do), and more big slides, which all the kids did lots of times. It was a seriously fun time. We also got to eat cider donuts, a specialty in upstate NY.

That night we had barbeque for dinner at the house in order to wind down a bit. We also got a chance to play some Euchre, something we have done together for years.

SUNDAY
Sunday was the day of our departure. But before we left we had to hit up a diner for a great Sunday breakfast, so we went to Peppermints. It was yummy but we were all sad as we knew we had to say goodbye.

Nonetheless, the trip left us with memories we will cherish forever. Thank you, Lecces, for such an awesome weekend.

More pictures from the weekend are here:

Rochester Trip