What I've Learned

I wanted to share some wisdom, some things that I've learned in the past two years since Cara's diagnosis. These things I've learned as I walk down the road of being a parent to a child with special needs--

You will...
**always wonder if you are doing enough for your child and second-guess yourself. Would that test have made a difference? Should we have gone with that doctor?
**be your child's biggest advocate and cheerleader.
**appreciate the small stuff. Every little thing that your child learns to do will seem Earth-scattering. You will also feel guilty for not thinking that your older child's milestones were as important. You will celebrate each of these accomplishments with pomp and circumstance.
**redefine normal. Your special needs child will have their own definition of what is normal and you will embrace it.
**discover a new meaning to unconditional love. Your child will remind you daily of what this means.
**learn new ways of seeing things through the eyes of your special needs child.
**live in constant fear of the unknown, of your child getting sick.
**learn that no one knows a child like its parents and you will learn to trust your instincts.
**it does take a village to raise a child and that it is even more crucial when raising a child with special needs. You need a very special team of people to help care for your child and help him or her reach her potential. Your team will be made up of people that you never thought you'd have the privilege of sharing your parenting journey with but now can't imagine not having by your side.
**be prepared to learn a whole new language called medical jargon and to become almost an expert on your child (all his or her diagnosis or conditions). You will be throwing out medical terminology without even thinking and expecting others to know what you're talking about.
**discover every child is unique and that what works for one child doesn't necessarily work for another. This means that you will learn not to compare your child to others and that you will get creative with how you teach things to your special needs child.
**get frustrated, no matter how patient you are or how much you love your child. When we can't control something, we tend to get frustrated, it's natural and it's okay!
**learn so much more than you ever imagined you could from someone so young.
**feel your heart swell with a love like no other.

Talking Politics & Health Care

With all of the press and media coverage surrounding President Obama's plan for health care reform, I felt compelled to weigh in with my two cents. I will spare you all of the details as I'm sure many of you know of our plight but here are my feelings, as raw as they can be.

Over the past few years, we have had various health insurance providers from a private, specifically negotiated plan to a individually purchased policy. We went from having no medical debt to having debt equal to a year in a public higher education institution. In my eyes, this has happened because hospitals are willing to charge not only for the services provided for the doctor but for the use of the hospital and everything in it. I mean, it is really necessary to charge me $12 for a tube of diaper rash cream and then $63K for a procedure that lasted a whole 30 minutes(yes, we're talking about a shunt surgery here)?

That's not to say that I'm not grateful for the quality care that both myself and my family have received, but must it cost us so dearly?! Should a husband have to work 80+ hours a week? Should a family have to chose between eating or paying the mounting medical bills? Should a medical service provider be able to threaten financial harm to a family despite the fact that this family is doing everything they can to pay their bill on time? Should one have to forgo medical treatment because of the financial impact it will have? Must we live in fear of the "what ifs"...the fear of getting sick?

The way I see it, this shouldn't be allowed to happen in a country that prides itself on being industrialized, modern and forward-thinking. I totally support what President Obama is attempting to do--bring affordable health care to everyone citizen of our country. To end the privatization of health care which has lead to the rising costs and lower standard of care. To make sure that every child born in our country has the equal chance to grow up healthy. To make sure that no one dies because they couldn't afford simple or life-saving treatments or procedures.

For my family, personally, this would relieve us of a huge burden. We wouldn't live in fear of Cara needed a shunt revision or Caitlin needing to visit the ER. Ben & I could get the routine care that we desperately need without having to think about how it will effect our checkbook.

I have to admit that I am a bit naive as to exactly how President Obama plans to accomplish this but from where I stand, thousands of dollars in debt and living paycheck to paycheck, I can't imagine that it could be much worse than this.

One might say that due to the financial gain received from performing top-notch procedures and developing new drugs and treatments, American medicine far out-reaches its socialist counterparts. Without the competition and reward, our standard and expectation of cutting-edge medicine will be diminished. To this, I wonder, why can't the exploration of medicine just be for the betterment of mankind, for the victory over disease, and not for the financial gains or endorsements? We need to return medicine to its core--the want, desire and need to help others. Take away the monetary attachment and replace it with a feeling of charity, pride, empathy--whatever it takes to get people motivated to do something just because, simply put, it's the right thing to do, not because they have something to gain from it.

We have seen socialized medicine work successfully in other modernized countries. Surely, we have something to learn from them. When a tourist in a foreign country can obtain medical services for less than it would cost an American citizen here in this country, something is fundamentally wrong! Granted, no one wants to have to wait 6 months to have an ultrasound or to receive dialysis but no one wants to go into foreclosure on their home because such things cost them their livelihood. We must task ourselves with the job of finding that happy medium, so that it's not just a dream, an agenda but a reality.

I truly believe that our President has our country's best interest and well-being in mind as he approaches both the Congress and the American people with his plan for health care reform. While he may not have the perfect solution, at least he is moving this country, finally, in a direction to forever change the way we think about health care. It is a right, not a privilege! I have seen what the rising cost of health care can do to a family and it has to stop! It is my sincere hope that something is done, and soon, to fix this mess. I want better for my children.

Writer's Block

I'm suffering from a severe case of writer's block. I have several potential blog posts waiting to be edited, finished and posted but I just cannot get the words to flow. That and the fact that we have been pretty busy around here, which has limited my free time which I would normally use for writing.

Hopefully, along with the changing of seasons, will come a revelation of clarity. Until then, enjoy these last few days of summer!

Then & Now

Then & Now
Originally uploaded by Mountain Chronicles

The same location, a year later. :o)

Coming Soon-Our 2nd Hydrocephalus Walk!

Hello friends and family! We are all really looking forward to participating in the Walk this year on September 7th and raising funds for the research towards better treatments for hydrocephalus. This is our 2nd year participating in the walk and we are hoping to raise even more money for the cause! In case you aren't aware, here is a bit of Cara's story:


Cara was diagnosed with hydrocephalus in August of 2007. She had her VP shunt placed that same month, just one month after her 1st birthday, on August 17, 2007. Since then, we have been very fortunate in that Cara has not had any shunt related issues at all. She is soon to celebrate her 2nd anniversary with this shunt! Cara is doing wonderfully, thanks to the help of some talented therapists, and has started preschool on an IEP. She will be receiving PT, OT, Speech, vision and adaptive learning assistance in the classroom. She has had a great couple of days so far and we are hoping that the positive peer pressure and socialization will be just want Cara needs to continue to make progress.

With your help, we would like to raise awareness and funds for Hydrocephalus. One out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States will have hydrocephalus, yet, it is one of the most under-funded conditions out there. Funds are needed to advance research and explore new treatment options. So, please, won't you pledge your support not only of our family & Cara but for the Hydrocephalus Association? Whatever you can give would be so wonderful! You can donate by clicking here and pledging your support through a secure website. All of your donations are tax deductible!

Thanks again for thinking of us! Many blessings to you & yours!

Laura, Ben, Caitlin & Cara

All it takes is ONE blink!

I woke up this morning and realized, my baby will be going to preschool! I will not have any children home for a few hours for the first time in years! What a change. I swear, it was just a blink ago that Cara was just a tiny 6lb, 6oz baby girl that we brought home from the hospital and now she's a confident preschooler!

We visited her classroom yesterday, met her teacher, Mrs. R, the classroom aide and the therapists that will be working with Cara. Cara made herself at home playing with the toys (purses & dolls were a big hit) while I discussed Cara's IEP with her teachers & other caregivers. I got a really good vibe from her teacher and the therapists and have a good feeling that Cara's needs will be met.

Cara has been so excited to go to school for weeks now, ever since Caitlin started a few weeks ago. Last night, when we were packing her bag with diapers, wipes and a sippy cup, she wanted to carry it around the house like a big girl and would jump up and down when we asked her if she was excited to start school.

This morning, we got to her school early, so Cara played and socialized a bit with the other children on the playground while we waited for her teacher to come out and welcome the class in. There are 16 children in her class with 1 teacher, 2 aides and therapists who visit on a rotating schedule. 7 of the children have special needs, like Cara, while the others are part of the Colorado Preschool Program, so a good mix.

Her teacher welcomed us all into the classroom where the first tasks where to sign in, find their name on a yellow hand print, put it on the felt board, hang up their backpacks, wash their hands and then find a book to look at. We helped Cara through this routine (which happens every day) and then went to say good-bye. She clung to Ben & I, like we knew that she would, but we were determined to make our exit as quickly and as calmly as we could. We hugged her, kissed her and said that we would see her soon and left the classroom. She cried but her seasoned teacher was already at work distracting and calming her.

Ben & I went out to the parking lot and cried. We just cannot believe that Cara is old enough for preschool or that we made it to this point. Those that know Cara's history understand how big this milestone is! We are so proud of our little girl for the progress that she's made and hope that she continues to surprise us!

At pick up, Cara was happy to see me and ran right for me as soon as I came into the room. One of the aides reported that she had a good day and only cried for a few minutes after we left. She was using some of her sign language (I think we are going to have to teach the staff) and enjoyed the activities. She received a smiley face stamp on her hand for doing very well on her first day. As we were walking out of school, I asked Cara if she liked various things, if she did various activities and every question got a very enthusiastic response. Judging by that and the big smile on her face, I'm concluding that she had a great 1st day! She even wants to go back tomorrow. We came home, had a quick lunch and now Cara is down for a nap, probably very tired from her busy day!

I am so glad that she's in preschool, for I know how great it will be for Cara, in so many ways. Just why must children grow up so quickly?! Don't blink or it will happen to you too.

Enjoy some pictures of Cara's first day or preschool---

We have an official 1st Grader in the house!

Caitlin had a great first day of 1st grade on August 5th (yes, I slacked in posting this)! She really liked her teacher and was happy to discover that because the classes are set up as "villages" and they try to keep "villages" intact every year, a lot of her classmates from Kindergarten were also in her class this year. She reported that she liked eating lunch at school and having recess. I have a feeling that we are going to have to keep her challenged at home for the first couple of weeks as her teacher is going to be reviewing the basics to get a feel for where everyone is before assigning students to different learning groups. I have already purchased a math workbook (her favorite subject) and am planning to buy a Brain Quest workbook too, just to provide her brain with some extra stimulation while everything gets sorted out. Caitlin is learning early the realities of friendships as her best friend from last year isn't sticking by her side this year. Thankfully, she had found some new friends and seems to be adjusting well socially. She will be starting Girl Scouts next week as well as gymnastics so, once again, our after school schedule will be full! I cannot wait to see how Caitlin progresses as the year goes on!

A Glance Back & A Tribute to Caitlin

Caitlin, words can not begin to describe how much you mean to Daddy & I. When you were born, 6 years ago, a new chapter of our lives began. We began parents for the first time and we were so excited to welcome you, our firstborn, into the family! Over the years, we have elated in your milestones and watched you go from a cuddly baby to a very confident and smart little girl.

Last year, you started down the path of your educational future. You looked so confident and excited to start Kindergarten and came home beaming and with a wonderful report of your first day. You just totally blossomed, both academically and socially.

Since then, you have:
-discovered a love for reading,math and gym
-made several great friends
-participated in a dance class & recital
-impressed your teacher with your knowledge and maturity
-managed to learn a lot of sign language to aid in communicating with your sister
-played baseball
-mastered riding a two-wheeler sans training wheels
-gotten completely over your fear of the water (and even went down a big water slide)

-become a Junior National Park Ranger just like your uncles
-graduated from Kindergarten with pomp & circumstance
-lost your first 2 teeth on the same day
-grown like a weed
-actively participated in the election of President Obama
-and asserted your independence and opinions, as always!

You are such of a bright and energetic girl, never afraid to speak your mind (Daddy's right, you should be a lawyer as your defenses and debates are so convincing that sometimes, it's hard to punish you!) and always curious to discover new things. You've asked us questions that have led mommy & daddy to ponder and search for answers. We love your curiosity, your imagination and your sweetness. Such qualities make for a wonderful little girl.

Now, you are about to embark on another major milestone, attending school for a full day! While I will miss having you around the house, I know that you will just absorb all of the extra learning and fun that you will have at school. Daddy & I just know that your education is in good hands with your teacher this year, and are confident that you will be challenged. At Back-to-School night, you where joyous to meet up with your good friends Amaya & Isabella, ran to find your beloved Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Brock and were just excited to be among the familiarity of school. See, you are going to do just fine!

It's so hard, yet so wonderful, to believe that you've been in our lives for 6 years! You are truly a blessing and a joy! We hope you know how much we love you and how much we look forward to being a part of your ever-changing world for years to come.

We love you Princess!

Mommy & Dadd

Caitlin is 6!

6 years and about 7 hours ago, I became a mommy for the 1st time. Time certainly has flown by! I cannot believe that my "baby" is 6 years old today.

I will write a memoir later on, but I just want to say:

Happy 6th Birthday Princess Caitie!

Cara's Totally Sweet Birthday

We took Cara out to celebrate her 3rd birthday yesterday. We began with lunch at one of the girls' favorite places, Applebee's. Cara had a grilled cheese sandwich with applesauce and when she finished, our waitress brought out a celebratory scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for Cara. As you can see, she enjoyed the lunch, but especially the ice cream!




Afterward, we wanted to treat her to a very special cupcake. Awhile back, I happened across the website for Lovely Confections in Denver. They are a local shop that specializes in organic cupcakes (and cakes). We found the shop located "on the Fax", walked in and received a very warm greeting from the store owner and employees. Cara picked a chocolate cupcake with vanilla bean butter cream icing, I had a red velvet cupcake with the same icing and Caitlin had a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing (Ben helped Cara with her cupcake and had a few bites of mine). The cupcakes were AMAZING! Rich, moist and full of flavor. The icing was definitely a favorite all around, which they put on right in front of us and the cupcakes were still warm from the oven! If you are in the Denver area, a Lovely Confection cupcake is a must!




We wrapped up the day by heading to our good friends' house to socialize, let the kids play and so that Ben could troubleshoot a computer problem. We rolled into bed rather late, but had a wonderful day, and no doubt, Cara did too!

3 Years Ago

Three years ago, we went from being a family of 3 to a family of 4.
Three years ago, I became the mother of TWO of the cutest little girls ever.
Three years ago, I realized it was possible to love the 2nd child just as much as the 1st.
Three years ago, I held a 6 pound, 6 ounce peanut in my arms.

Fast forward to today. Our youngest daughter is THREE years old! I cannot believe how quickly time has gone by. It is amazing to look back and see how much has happened in the short span of 12 months. Running, jumping, coloring, panting, walking up steps, making animal sounds, discovering her imagination, learning to love books, dancing, vocalizing, using a big girl swing...all of these wonderful things (and many more) have happened this year.

One of our favorite things has been watching Cara grow and mature & watching her personality develop. She is such of a sweet, caring, smart and rambunctious little girl.

This is Cara, as we've come to know & love her--
She loves to run to you, full force, and embrace you in a hug with surprising strength. She is a diva at heart and longs to be bedecked in necklaces, bracelets and fancy dresses. She adores playing outside and exploring nature (which includes picking things off of trees & bushes). She has an obsession with balloons (the movie Up was a hit) and Elmo. She would drink nothing but milk with a squirt of chocolate syrup if we had access to a cow with an unending milk supply. She loves to be a big girl by "vacuuming", putting her dishes away and washing her hands. She is a momma at heart and hates to see people upset or crying. She still realizes the importance of naps and will put herself down for one if she's tired. She would rather have a pile of books than a toy box full of toys (a girl after her mother's heart). She knows how to wrap you around her little finger with her adorable smile, but watch out, she often has a mischievous glint in her eye! She understands the wonders and miracles of the world and delights in experiencing and discovering them--every day is something new.

We are greatly looking forward to what this year brings as Cara enters the world of preschool. We are excited for the friends that she'll make and the things that she'll learn. It's hard to believe that she's THREE, but oh my, she's come so far! May the future be bright & happy for her.

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY Cara, we love you, always!

Cara JUMPS!

Cara mastered the art of jumping on Monday! She finally learned how to get both of her feet off of the ground at the same time. Those that know her story, know how long this has been in the making--lots and lots of physical therapy. We are SO proud of her!

I have noticed a trend though, that Cara seems to accomplish a big gross motor skill just before she has a birthday. Last year, it was walking and this year, it's jumping!

Just a bit of Denver (LoDo) pride

I was just made aware that Denver's LoDo was ranked America's 10th most walkable city! I couldn't agree more except that I think it should be ranked higher. Our family loves to walk downtown and we always feel safe doing so. We love the selection of stores & boutiques, cafes, restaurants, museums, libraries and parks that this diverse district has to offer. I'm so psyched and appreciative to live close to a walkable city. Check the article to see if your city made the list.

The Great Cake Debate--Solved

There has been an on-going debate--err, discussion--going on between myself & the soon-to-be 6 year old member of the family. This discussion has focused on birthday cakes for the upcoming celebration. Originally, Caitlin wanted the theme to be polka dots & balloons (polka dots for her, balloons for Cara) which I thought was cute. Caitlin also voiced a preference for an ice cream cake. I began looking around and found the cutest polka dot ice cream cake at Baskin Robbins. Problem is, those things aren't cheap, even with a $3 off birthday coupon. So, I approached Caitlin with the idea that she & Cara could share the cake--we'd write both names on the cake--but each girl would get a cupcake with the appropriate number candle to blow out. Sharing the cake was a total deal breaker apparently. Why I decided to let my child run the show, I'll never know--I guess I'm a softie when it comes to allowing her to make her birthday her special day. Since we seemed to be at a stalemate, I decided to temporarily table the debate.
Fast forward a week or so to today. The party is now 10 days away, so having a game plan is becoming crucial. I was online, chatting with my mom and brainstorming other party details when I had a glorious vision. We could make our OWN cakes! What a totally marvelous and unique idea--not! When I mentioned it to Caitlin, she was so psyched and started thinking of how she would like to decorate her cake. So...I've decided to buy another round cake pan so that I can make each girl their own two layer cake and then we will go to Sweet Factory to get a variety of candies. I'm thinking round candies like M&Ms, Skittles, Necco wafers & candy buttons. A friend also told me that I can melt Starbursts to make colorful circles. I may get bold and try fondant for the 1st time too, since it gives a much flatter surface to decorate on. Can you tell that I'm excited?! It is my sincere hope that this will be both a fun & cost-saving alternative to purchasing bakery cakes. I will do a test run on both the cake & icing before the big day to work out any creative difficulties.
All in all, I'm excited to see how the cakes turn out! One debate solved and one cake crisis adverted!

It is my hope that the cake will look something like this when finished. At least in terms of being colorful...I don't know if I have to artistic ability to pull off the rest!

Celebrating Freedom

Happy 4th of July all of our family & friends. Go out, celebrate our freedom, be with friends & family, and be safe!



We are headed to my brother & sister-in-law's new place west of Denver for a BBQ and good times. Following dinner, we will trek to Golden, CO for their 4th of July celebration & fireworks.

Bargain Hunting

One of the things that I try so hard to do, being a SAHM, is to make Ben's hard-earned income go as far as possible. This means clipping coupons, watching sale ads, buying generic, finding cheap and free activities for the girls and for our family to do and...bargain hunting for clothing.

Cara is usually pretty set because I have, thankfully, saved hand-me-downs from Caitlin and, double thankfully, she was very nice to her clothes. I do try to get her a few brand-new outfits, just to balance things out. Unfortunately, it is harder for Caitlin as I do not have anyone to bless me with some gently-used (and free) hand-me-downs, so I have to work harder to find deals.

I have to admit, I struck gold in this past week thanks to a referral from one of my best buddies to a children's resale shop called Tumbleweeds. If you live in the Aurora/Parker area, you must visit this shop. The owner only sells name brand (think Children's Place, Gymboree), high-quality & gentle used clothing. Before this experience, I haven't had much luck finding a decent selection of used clothes for Caitlin. It seems that kids wear out their clothing before it makes to the resale shop. At Tumbleweeds though, the owner had several adorable outfits with the promise of more to come in a few weeks. I really had to restrain myself and to stick to my budget. I could've easily spent $100 in there! I am proud of my end result though, and the outfits I chose received two thumbs up from Caitlin. Here are my great steals:



L to R:
-Outfit one is from Gymboree and when I looked online, a similar outfit would go for over $40 in the store, I paid $15.99 for both pieces.

-Two long sleeved shirts, one from Gymboree and the other is a Macy's brand. $5/each. The top shirt retails for $12.99 @ Gymboree.

-Outfit two's top is from JCPenney and would sell for about $12 and the skirt is from Gymboree. I found one very similar online and it was $28. I paid $5 for the top and $9 for the skirt.

++My grand total for these outfits *drumroll*--$40+tax plus a $6 credit to use the next time I shop there!++

Earlier this week, a Freecycler posted an offer for girls size 7-10 clothes. Somehow, the stars were aligned in my favor, because I was the first responder and got a great lot of clothes. On top of all of this, the woman said that she would call me if she found anymore clothes. Here is what I received:

Three pairs of jeans, a pair of brown lounge/yoga pants, a pair of brown cords, two summer t-shirts, two pairs of shorts, a pair of pajama pants, three pairs of capris, a pair of pink yoga pants and a black velvet skirt (not pictured).

Now, I will just have to watch sales to get a few more outfits and pieces to complete outfits that we already have as well as under garments. I'm keeping my eye out for Kohl's and Old Navy ads, two of our favorite places to go to for back-to-school shopping.

Some Monkeying Around

Last week, at the conclusion of Bible Sports Camp (I tried to post some video, but my file's too large) for Caitlin, we met up with some good friends at Little Monkey Bizness to let the kids romp around and burn off energy. It also gave me a chance to catch up with one of my bestest buddies and sneak over to a wonderful children's resale shop where I scored some adorable fall outfits for Caitlin. Little Monkey Bizness is so neat. For a very modest price, kids 2-6 can climb on play structures, go down slides, bounce in a bounce house, swing on a disc swing, play dress up and even make artistic masterpieces. For the adult set, there's coffee bar with drinks and snacks as well as a cafe seating area in full view of the kids playing. It was so nice! I hope that we can go back again this summer, especially as our high temperatures creep up into the 90's.

Sisters of Summer

It seems that summer is finally here to stay in our neck of the woods, after weeks of cooler than average and severe weather. We had our first completely sunny day yesterday and you know that we took advantage of it! Here are some pictures from our day at the local sprayground & park. Yesterday was a day of firsts for both of the girls. Cara, for the first time, independently played in the water, though she wasn't found of getting too wet; Caitlin crossed the monkey bars on her own and has learned how to "pump" a swing. I have a feeling that this is going to one fun-filled and amazing summer! Bring it on!

Our weekend in pictures

Enjoy these pictures from our day up at Rocky Mountain National Park for Father's Day. We had been wanting to go to the park for some time but never have, so with it being a holiday weekend and free enterance, we took advantage. We headed up the Grand Lake side of the park, stopped to take in some pretty sights on the way up and then partook in a picnic once we were in the park. Overall, we had a great time but we will have to go back soon to see parts of the park that we missed. You certainly can't see everything in one day! Too much beauty to be seen. We are very blessed to live in such of a beautiful state.












From top to bottom:
-Our family in front of a beautiful roadside waterfall on the way up to Rocky Mountain National Park from the Grand Lake side.
-Cara, pointing to the roaring waters.
-Caitlin up at Berthoud Pass & the Continential Divide. Notice the elevation and presence of snow!
-Our family up at one of the highest points on Trail Ridge Road. The wind was blowing something fierce!
-Caitlin, being sworn in as an official Junior Park Ranger for Rocky Mountain National Park. The ranger made an announcement, people clapped for her, and she got her badge pinned on. Quite the ceremony.
-A snowfield up at the Alpine Visitor's Center. We are up at 11,700+ feet. As were were leaving, it was snowing, which quickly turned into hail and then rain.
-Ben & the girls in front of one the snowfields. Look how high the snow is--in June! Doesn't Ben look like such of a proud dad?
-Elevation at the "top of the trail" of Trail Ridge Road. At this point, we think that Cara was suffering from a pressure headache. BIG change in elevation from our place (a mile high) to here (more than TWO MILES high). We forgot that her shunt might protest to the change. Poor girl just slept it off.
-Beautiful Never Summer Mountains
-A very bold and beautiful rainbow as we were exiting the park. We went from wind, snow/rain and 46 degrees to partly sunny and 78!

P.S. If you click the individual pictures, they will open up to a larger size. :)

Chick Fil A, how we *heart* you!

Do you have a Chick Fil A near you? If so, maybe you'll understand my undying love for this fast food chain. We just recently discovered it thanks to a friend of ours who is also a fan. Let me attempt to list the reasons why this is our favorite low-cost destination (at least the two that we frequent).

1. The employees always seem glad to be there. They smile, are polite and friendly. I got called Ma'am the other day. I was talking to one of the girls who was off-shift and asked her if she genuinely liked her job and she said that she did, that her co-workers and the management are awesome. She's pregnant and they threw her a very nice baby shower.
2. They are closed on Sundays so that their employees can spend time with their families. What?! You mean, it's not all about the money?! Someone actually still cares about family values!
3. Someone brings your food out to you, comes around and asks if you need anything else. The last few times, a manager has come out with disposable place mats for the girls to eat on.
4. The food is good and inexpensive. We can feed our family for $20 and we like the options with the meals. In this day & age, getting the most for your buck is paramount.
5. They have some of the cleanest restrooms I've ever had the pleasure of being in.
6. The play area is clean and gets wiped down, throughout, twice a day and there are anti-bacterial wipes at the entrance.
7. Several times a month, Chick Fil A holds Family Fun Nights and other kid-geared activities. We've been to a Bingo Night and just recently, to a crown-making activity. In most cases, you can score a free or reduced cost meal for your child, just for showing up. We love to go and participate. It's good, cheap interaction for the girls. The other night, I fed the girls & I for...$9 including ice cream cones! Can't beat that. We plan to go back in a week or so for the "Prince & Princess Party". Part of the dining room will be set up like a castle. Should be fun for two girls who love to dress up and strut their stuff!

As long as we continue to have pleasant experiences, Chick Fil A will continue to get our patronage. To the managers and crew of our local joint, we love you guys!