Melissa and Benjamin Wagner have built a life filled with creativity, community, and family traditions on Crabapple Drive.

The couple has been married for ten years, though their story began long before that. After meeting through mutual friends, Melissa and Ben dated for eight years before he proposed. Today they share their home with their energetic four-year-old boy-girl twins, Lucian and Luella, along with their senior shih tzu, Eichel. The family recently said goodbye to their beloved dog Belle, who lived an incredible 18 years and was a cherished part of their family.

Melissa grew up in Elma, while Ben is originally from East Amherst. The couple moved into their home in September of 2016 and quickly fell in love with the neighborhood. One of the biggest selling points was the sense of community.

“We chose this neighborhood because we loved the idea of raising kids here and the ability to walk to future friends’ houses,” Melissa says. “What really sold us was meeting our future neighbors, the Morgans.”

That welcoming feeling has only grown stronger over the years, with friendships forming throughout the neighborhood.

Lucian and Luella currently attend the half-day preschool program at Court Street and stay busy with activities. Both children dance at Elite, taking Tiny Tots Tap, Tiny Tots Acro, and Starburst classes. Soon, they’ll add ice hockey to their schedule, a natural fit considering Ben has played hockey since he was twelve.

Melissa brings her own passion for movement to the family as well. She began dancing at just two and a half years old and continued for decades, even performing professionally with Torn Space and in other productions before the pandemic closed her adult studio. Earlier this year, she was able to return to the stage for the first annual Dance Griffs reunion performance. During her time at Canisius College, she also served as vice president of the school’s dance team.

Today the Wagner family enjoys sharing their favorite activities with the twins through short seasonal programs such as swim lessons, soccer, floor hockey, football, and library reading hours. They also make good use of family memberships to the Buffalo Zoo and the Buffalo Museum of Science. Summer days are often spent at Como Park’s playground or swimming in friends’ pools, while fall brings family hikes through Letchworth State Park.

But if there is one season that truly belongs to the Wagner family, it is Halloween.

Their love of the holiday runs deep. Melissa and Ben even held a masquerade-themed wedding the day before Halloween so they would not interfere with anyone’s actual Halloween plans. Ben has become something of a neighborhood legend for the elaborate graveyard display he creates each year.

“He spends all year working on his graveyard creations,” Melissa says.

The family’s Halloween traditions hold even deeper meaning. Their twins were born three months early and spent their very first Halloween in the NICU. Ever since, the Wagners have made the most of the holiday, filling October with costumes, decorations, and celebrations.

To mark their tenth anniversary, the family even celebrated with a Halloween-themed Disney cruise alongside extended family.

When Ben is not designing haunted displays, he works as a physician assistant at Dent Neurologic Institute in the Behavioral Health department. It is his third role since becoming a PA, but one where he has truly found his calling. Ben is passionate about helping others and often researches holistic lifestyle approaches to support both his patients and his own family.

Melissa stepped away from her career in the court system when the twins were born. Between the challenges of daycare for two children and the twins’ early medical needs, she chose to become a stay-at-home mom.

“I love being home with my twins,” she says.

Still, Melissa keeps her creative side alive through sewing. She creates children’s clothing, primarily dresses for girls, under the name Thread Boss, inspired by Luella’s nickname, “Little Boss.” Melissa also works as a pattern tester for the children’s clothing company Little Lizard King and enjoys creating coordinating outfits, including vests, bow ties, and shirts for Lucian.

Faith and community are also important parts of Wagner family life. They attend Annunciation Church and enjoy participating in parish activities whenever they can.

From hockey and dance to haunted graveyards and handmade dresses, life for the Wagner family is always full of movement, creativity, and connection. Most of all, Melissa and Ben are grateful for the friendships they’ve built in their neighborhood.