Corn Maze Fail

A few weeks ago, when the kids had a day off school, I suggested to a friend that we take all the kids to pick apples and go through the corn maze. Nothing says fall like apple picking and corn mazes! Because I am smart, I checked the website to make sure that the orchard was still open to the public and that there were still apples to pick. It was and there were! So, I noted the hours and planned accordingly - we would all gather at 9:15 a.m. so that we could be there when it opened at 10 a.m. As you may have noticed from that time frame, it takes approximately 45 minutes to get to the place. There were six kids and two adults so we had to take two cars. My friend somehow got the three girls and I got the three boys. I love all the children equally but I will say that the boys tend to be louder and much less tolerant of my musical choices.

We were late leaving, though I don't remember why, and we arrived at 10:15 a.m. and the parking lot was nearly empty. I parked and got out of the car full of energy and excited that there were so few people there . Our little group headed towards the corn maze because the kids wanted to do that first...and it was closed. Apparently, the corn maze was only open in the evenings.

Everyone was very disappointed, including me. The corn maze is the best part of this annual Fun Fall Outing.

I should also note that it was cloudy, 35 degrees and windy as hell. I think we were also looking forward to being in the maze because the corn would block the wind and keep us warm.

We rallied the troops and headed to the orchard  and just as we got to the entrance,school busses began to arrive. Bus after bus after bus. Then, the kids noticed the price of admission and my son said, "We could all go to Chipotle for that amount of money!" and then someone else said, "Oh my god. We should totally go to Chipotle!" and then another kid said, "YES! Chipotle!" and as the exclamations continued, we learned that the kids don't really like apple picking.

My friend Kristen and I looked at each other and she was shivering and I knew what her vote was so I said, "But we drove all this way!" but then everyone started complaining about the cold and the busloads of children and, truth be told, I don't even really like apples.

So, we left. We got back in the car and drove to a pumpkin patch we'd passed on the way. The kids got pumpkins and I got a few pictures for Instagram and then...we went to Chipotle.

We did make memories, though. As we drove home, Miguel said, "Remember that time we drove 45 minutes out of the city to eat at Chipotle and then drove 45 minutes back home?" Good times.