Chick-Fil-A Baby!

On October 20th a very lucky Sydney got to have a SECOND 1st birthday party...this one thrown for her by the Mishawaka Chick-Fil-A (a very family friendly local restaurant of a national chain for those who have no idea what it is)!

Yep, I said thrown for her BY Chick-Fil-A! For those of you who don't know our fondness for Chick-Fil-A let me fill you in:



In the summer of 2004, my dad and I (Danny) stayed the night in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot the night before the grand opening, so that we could receive free Chicken Meals for a Year. We did this and created a new friendship with a great staff/restaurant. We started going on many Saturday mornings for breakfast. It got to the point where when we would walk in on Saturday morning, they would ask if we want the regular and start making our food before we ever ordered. So that is where our relationship started.

Later when they found out Jamie and I were expecting they were constantly trying to get information out of me ("Tell us if its a boy or girl, we won't tell anyone!"). So, the day after Sydney was born my father-in-law and I went out to pickup lunch for everyone back at the hospital. We stopped by Chick-Fil-A, and mentioned about Sydney just being born and they gave us all of our lunches for free as a congratulations! We took the food back and fed everyone. Then I got creative and took all the boxes and set them in the basinet with tiny Sydney and took a picture. We later gave the picture to the staff at Chick-Fil-A as a thank-you, she then got the named the offical 'Chick-Fil-A Baby' :-). We had to go in every couple of months so they could get another polaroid of her for their office wall. Here is a collage they made of the results of those pictures that they gave us at Syd's Birthday party.



So, after going in with Sydney all year long "our" manager (the one we talk to the most) Jessica came over and said that they wanted to throw Sydney a party! They invited us, Sydney (of course) and her grandparents. When we got to the resturant for her party it was so cool. We were treated like VIPs or family. They had LOTS of ballons, birthday signs, and had decorated a high chair for Syd (and got her a crown and sceptre). They treated us all to a free lunch and a birthday cake with Syd's name on it. Then Jessica, the store owner Kathy, more staff and THE COW (their mascot is a cow -- "Eat more chicken") came out.



The cow helped Sydney open her presents -- yep, Chick-Fil-A and the staff even got Sydney presents (such a lucky girl!). She got books, sippy cups, a blankie, a baby doll...



...which she immediately hugged and patted on the back. AND a 3 foot Chick-Fil-A Cow of her very own!



What a party! It was so much fun and Sydney loved it. Thank you to Chick-Fil-A, you guys are awesome and we look forward to many years to family, food and fun!



Thanks again!