Pumpkins in PA

Despite Ryan's back being out and Kate's nauseousness from the pregnancy, we were determined to spend the weekend in PA with Kate and Brett! We left Saturday morning (we attempted to leave at 8am, but somehow packing the car took much longer than expected!)
We left at 9 and got there at 3pm! The ride wasn't bad at all actually.
Kate is by far the best cook I've ever met (ok, besides my mom!) Kate cooks things I would never attempt. Saturday night, her nauseousness was gone, so she was excited to cook (at least she told us that!) And she made stuffed tomatoes for an appetizer and then made pasta with cauliflower as the main dish! Now, I would never have known that I actually DO like cauliflower, but that meal was unbelievable!! And, Maddie had THREE helpings!!! She loved it!!!

I learn so much about cooking when I'm at Kate's. I already made the stuffed tomatoes last night and they were sooo good!

Sunday night she made a stew and butternut squash soup. oh soo good!! The soup seriously tasted like "fall in a cup!"

I bought cauliflower and butternut squash when I went grocery shopping this week and seriously can not wait to cook both meals!!

But more about our time together. Ok, we have a few "couple friends" and Tricia and Mike are our closest... we can be with them and there is no awkward silence, we can do embarrassing things in the same room and just laugh with each other. I think that is because we've known each other for almost 15 years and well, we've traveled together and spent tons of time together... But, we have the same relationship with Kate and Brett, I found, this weekend!

Saturday night we were all just hanging out watching sports or whatever was on, and there was no awkwardness... we weren't searching for stuff to talk about or anything like that. They are so warm, as a couple. I just love them. We have such fun conversations too. And Ryan and Brett are so similar its scary!!

Sunday night Kate had to work, but it was similar; watching football just shooting the breeze. We talked with Brett about the baby and how he felt about it; reassuring him that God would provide all they needed and not to worry too much about being able to afford it. It was so great!

On Sunday we went to this farm and picked out a pumpkin, went on a hayride, bought some apples and freshly made donuts and Maddie loved EVERY minute of it!

I hope they do know how much we appreciated them spending their weekend with us!! It was so great to be away and not have any distractions (no cell service = no blackberry, no work, no facebook, no nothing! and believe it or not, i loved it!)


Here are the pictures....