Mesilla Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Today, we joined a bunch of our friends for a full day of fun in the sun at the Mesilla Valley Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Mesilla, New Mexico, which is about a 45-minute drive west from our house.  Man, you wouldn't know that it's autumn here in this part of Texas or New Mexico because it was so hot out there today.  Must have been in the 90s.  Despite this, it sure felt like fall the way we were out there amidst the cornfields, pumpkins and bales of hay. 

There were 18 of us altogether and we started out with breakfast at the Cracker Barrel here in El Paso.  Big mistake...when there's only one Cracker Barrel in all of El Paso you should probably steer clear on a Saturday morning.  It was packed.  But the food was delicious as usual.  I love that place.

Baby V had no idea what was going on, so I think this trip was a little bit more for me than for her.  Excuse me for being selfish :)  Would you believe that our parents never took us (as in my siblings and I) to a pumpkin patch growing up?  Perhaps it's because we lived in Hawaii when we were really young.  And by the time we'd gotten to a place that had pumpkin patches...well, we were too grown up by then.  Malu and I can't wait for Baby V to get to the age where she understands what these pumpkins and mazes are all about.  It's going to be tons of fun.  But she did try to lug this big pumpkin back home with us!  Isn't she cute?

What I really ended up snagging was one small itty bitty pumpkin for Baby V and two medium-sized pumpkins that I can do some baking with.  I plan on making my own pumpkin puree.  Yummy!

Anyway...just wanted to show you guys some of the pictures I took.  This place was amazing!  They had hayrides and other rides for the kiddies, the corn mazes (one for kids and one for adults), a country store (where I scored on some fresh honey and sweet potato pecan butter), arts and crafts vendors, and food (which I managed to steer clear of--I know, surprised me too). 

Afterwards, we joined our friends Leah and Jay for an early dinner at Landry's where we had a three-course meal.  I had a dish that had bacon-wrapped stuffed shrimp and bananas foster for dessert.  We were stuffed!

Now, my two loves are crashed out on the couch...and I'm going to join them. 

Thanks to all of our friends who were out there with us today!  It was tons of fun!

Oh, and don't forget to enter my giveaway for a $40 gift certificate to a CSN Store of your choice.  Giveaway ends October 13th.  I will announce a winner on October 15th!