Build the Nest to help Adopting Families

My husband and I have been blessed to have three healthy children with little effort conceiving.  However there are many families that are not as fortunate.  Some families choose the adventure of adoption but it is not an easy road.  One organization that supports families with the overwhelming process of international adoption is The Sparrow Fund.  The Sparrow Fund supports adoptive families by providing grants - "grants to pay for the preadoption counseling and support, medical reviews of the file of the child they are referred, and post adoption support as their child becomes part of their family."

During the month of May, many folks have joined forces to Build the Nest by donating 10% of sales to The Sparrow Fund.  So I encourage you to take a look at the long list of businesses and do some shopping this month while supporting charity.  Now is a great time to purchase Father's Day gifts, summer birthday gifts, and what about End-of-the-Year Teacher Gifts?

2013 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship and Giveaway

This June my family and I have been given the opportunity to attend the 2013 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship courtesy of Wells Fargo Center, Comcast-Spectacor.  Not only are they sending us to the Rugby tournament but they are also sending one lucky reader.

We have never been to a Rugby tournament so I am super excited to take the kids into Philly this summer and attend at PPL Park.  Nick loves all sports so I know he will be fascinated by the games , plus one of the top collage teams playing is St. Joseph's University, our alma mater.  Not to mention we have never visited the beautiful PPL Park, home to the Philadelphia Union soccer team.  The tournament will be held at noon on June 1 and 2 at PPL Park just minutes outside of the city. To purchase discounted tickets now visit this link and enter code: BLOG.

The tournament will feature 20 of the nation’s top college teams, including local schools Penn, Temple, Delaware, Penn State, St. Joseph’s, and Kutztown. Throughout the 44 matches in two days, the teams will strive for the championship title and the sought-after Pete Dawkins trophy. 

Now how can you win your FREE 4-pack of tickets?  

Simply leave a comment below and I will pick a winner on Wednesday, May 22nd via random.org.  

Earn additional chances....Leave a comment each time you do the following...

• Become a member and follow this blog 
• "Like" Gunning It on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway (@GunningIt) 
• Pin images from this post and spread the word about the giveaway.  

FarmHouse Markets CSA

Also known as the Milky Way Farm Crop Share Program...

For our Chester County, PA readers, here is some information on the CSA program located at Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs. We have participated in this program for the last few years (splitting with a friend) and I am anxious to start back up this June. Not only is it healthy picking up our fresh produce and fruit, but going to the farm provides a unique experience for the kids.  Each week we split our share and meet up with friends to walk around the farm and visit their animals.  The farm is complete with dairy cows, chickens, pigs, ducks, sheep, and a favorite...kitties.  Not only do the kids love running around to visit with the farm animals, but they appreciate the chance to be outdoors and have some good old-fashioned fun (without technology).  But your stop is not complete without a visit to the Creamery for some ice cream.  Milky Way offers an extensive menu of premium homemade ice cream flavors so you can enjoy a cone, sundae or milkshake.  (Tip: Sign up with their frequent visitor program, "Mooo Bucks." Earn a free quart of Ice Cream by Making 10 Visits to the Creamery and Spending $2.50 or More Each Visit).  MWF also offers fresh eggs, milk, and meat for sale as well, so be sure to check out their website for details.

Now back to the CSA program....here is how it works:

The Co-op brings together a range in local farm produced products grown in our local area. Produce is available for 22 weeks from June to November.  The total cost is $430 for 2013, which compared to other CSA programs in the area, is a great deal.

Weekly pick-up times: Members pick-up their freshly harvested produce once a week at the farm.

Two pick-up options are available:
Wednesday, 3:00pm-8:00pm
Friday, 3:00pm-8:00pm

Co-op Produce Includes:

Apples
Brussel Sprouts
Broccoli
Beans
Beets
Cabbage
Cantaloupes
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Eggplants
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions
Peaches
Peppers
Potatoes
Plums
Pumpkins
Radish
Spinach
Summer Squash
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes
Turnips
Water Melon
Zucchini

So how does this CSA compare to your program?  

Walt Disney World Tips, Part II

So today we are finally posting Part 2 of our Walt Disney World Tips 

(You can find our Tips, Part 1 here if you missed our initial posting).

1. Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World for the first or second time?  There is so much to learn about booking a trip in Disney so have someone book it for you!  Fortunately my friend works for Disney booking trips.  She is FREE to you and earns commission on her bookings through Disney.  She knows the parks like the back of her hand.  She will give you so much info., advice, and special deals as soon as they are made available.  So check her out on Facebook now to get started...Be Our Guest Vacations.  (And for another great tip and review site, visit  www.disneyed.com).

2. Thinking about renting vs. bringing a stroller?  We rented a stroller from Kingdom Strollers and it was by far, worth the money! They will drop off your stroller to the resort (such a pain to travel with strollers) and will then pick it up when you leave from your hotel/resort.  You are also able to choose your stroller whereas some of the other rental companies do not give you a choice.  We wanted the City Elite double so it could hold Nick and Anna's combined weight. They used it all the time...it provided shade for the kids, was roomy enough for them to nap, and when the park was crowded we had them hang in the stroller to keep from getting lost in the sea of people.  Definitely some of the best spent money on our Disney trip!

3. We highly recommend adding the Disney mobile app to your smart phone before going to the parks.  It worked out really well and I preferred it to the other paid apps you can download.  I also used the crowd calculators to determine our park "itinerary" from day-to-day.  We also started the days by grabbing our fast pass for popular rides and then used the Disney app to calculate wait times at nearby rides while waiting for our fastpass time.

4. Hollywood Studios:  We did not have breakfast scheduled at this park (if you read Part 1 you will know that we are big fans of scheduling the character meals in the mornings for breakfast).  At Hollywood Studios we definitely wanted to make sure Nick was signed up for the Jedi Training.  We also wanted to grab a Toy Story Mania fast pass right away as this is an extremely popular ride.  So our plan...we arrived at the park a 1/2 hour before it opened (sometimes they will open the gates a little early, which they did on our day at HS).  As soon as we entered we split up: 2 of us ran to Jedi Training (make sure to take your child that is signing up with you - they have to be there in order to register) and the rest of us ran straight to Toy Story Mania to grab our Fast passes for the family later in the day.  You could probably hop on and ride while your are there too if it's a short wait, but I wanted to wait for the whole family. 

Another tip for Hollywood Studios, we recommend visiting this park the "3rd day" into your trip since there are a variety of shows.  We found the shows to be a good way to relax from all the hustle and bustle at previous parks.

And finally, we highly recommend the Fantasmic! Package at Hollywood Studios. We saved sit-down meal for this package deal.  When you book this lunch or dinner package you will receive VIP tickets to sit up front for the show.  No waiting in line (and the lines were LONG). The night time show itself was fantastic as promised and probably our favorite of all the shows in WDW.  The kids will see all of the popular Disney characters at this show! 

5. We really loved Epcot.  Since we are a "travel family" it was the perfect park for us.  Our tip, purchase the Epcot Passport book for the kids (found in world gift shops).  It made the perfect souvenir while being educational.  As you explore the countries the kids can have their books (which really look like real passports) stamped by the country and have "hello" or their name written inside in the countries language.  The kids really looked forward to each country and it made the learning experience fun.  In addition to the passports, each world showcase country offers "Kidcot stations."  While we were there, the kids were given (yes it's free) a picture of Duffy bear on a stick so it can be handled like a puppet.  The kids can have this stamped by the countries as well as decorate it at the stations.   Great for smaller kids in my opinion.

Another great game for the older kids (which we didn't know about until it was too late) is the Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure.  The kids can "become a secret agent and go undercover on this interactive quest around the world showcase."  My son probably would have loved this...maybe next time!

And finally our last Epcot tip, (my one regret)....I hear the fireworks at Epcot are awesome, however we were all so exhausted (remember we had an early breakfast at the Royal Banquet Hall) we just decided to go back to the resort and get some sleep.  If you do stay (or return later after a nap which we should have done) for the fireworks, my friend offered great advice: Watch the fireworks on the bridge by Paris for the best viewing spot.  And don't forget to grab a glass of champagne from Paris!  FYI, You can watch Epcot fireworks from some nearby resorts (we stayed at the Caribbean and fireworks can be seen from their main pool).

So there you have it.  Our basic Disney tips for Walt Disney World  Part II.  Do not forget to read about our experience and Part 1. Hope this helps with your trip.  We would love for you to add your tips...

Harlem Globetrotters Review

Did you attend the Harlem Globetrotters?  Our family went and had a blast!  Both Nick and Anna really enjoyed the humor and talent of the HG throughout the evening.  Here are some pictures from our experience....

Harlem Globetrotters' winner and discount code...

Congratulations to Lori Z. the winner of our Harlem Globetrotter giveaway!

Have a fabulous time & make sure to share your experience with us on Facebook.

For those of you that did not win this time, you can still purchase tickets for $7 off.

Click on this link and use password HGMOM to save $7 off your tickets!

(And stay tuned for our next giveaway...Chesapeake Ribbons' Gift Certificate).

The Harlem Globetrotters in Philadelphia

 

 As we are coming to the end of Nick's basketball season in the Gunn house, we are very excited for the Harlem Globetrotters coming to Philly. This will make a great family night for all to enjoy. And for the first time ever, fans will decide the rules for the game that could affect the final outcome. Possible rule changes could include playing with two basketballs at once or getting double the points for each basket made. 

 "Known as innovators of the game of basketball for decades, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters are once again introducing something unparalleled in the history of sports and family entertainment, when they visit the Greater Philadelphia Region for four games, including at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday March 9 at 1 p.m. the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, NJ, on Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. and at the Liacouras Center on the Temple University campus on Sunday, March 10 at 5 p.m." 

 And once again, we have two sets one set of four ticket vouchers to give away! 
To enter the giveaway and win your free ticket vouchers, simply leave a comment below with your email address.  Giveaway closes on Wednesday, February 27th at 11 pm (ET).  We will email our winners and then post here and on Facebook.

And as always, you can earn extra chances:

1. Follow our page Gunning It on Facebook then come back here and leave a comment letting us know you followed.

2. Follow us on Twitter: @GunningIt, then come back here to leave a comment.

3. Tweet about our giveaway and include @GunningIt for an entry, then come back to leave a comment. (Daily tweets are allowed but make sure to leave a comment here letting us know).

GOOD LUCK!

To purchase discounted tickets, click on this link and use password HGMOM to save $7 off tickets!

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus " Built to Amaze"

On Wednesday night we were fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to attend the circus in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center.  This year's theme was "Built to Amaze" which incorporated a construction theme, perfect for little boys.

Here are some pictures of the "greatest show on earth..."

Anna's Picks:

• As always Anna loved the entire show but especially the animal acts such as the ponies.  One pony decided to make a run from it which had everyone laughing. 
• Box of circus popcorn.

Nick's Picks:

• Nick enjoyed the tigers and the human cannon ball acts.
• And of course, getting his picture with the Chick Fil A cow and Flyer's hockey player.  

TIP: If you keep your circus ticket stub, you can turn it in at Chick Fil A for a free 8-pack of chicken nuggets!

 


And once again, if you would like to purchase discounted tickets ($15) visit this link and enter code: MOM for the best seats available!  The show is here through the weekend.

Did you attend the show yet?  What was your favorite part of the circus?

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus ticket giveaway:

Our giveaway for  two sets of FOUR ticket vouchers begins today!  

Ticket vouchers can be exchanged for one reserved seat ticket at the box office & can only be redeemed for weekday performances, except Friday night).

So how do you enter to win tickets?  Simply leave a comment below by February 9th and you will be entered.

Earn extra chances by:

1. Follow our page Gunning It on Facebook then come back here and leave a comment letting us know you followed.

2. Follow us on Twitter: @GunningIt, then come back here to leave a comment.

3. Tweet about our giveaway and include @GunningIt for an entry, then come back to leave a comment. (Daily tweets are allowed but make sure to leave a comment here letting us know).



And remember, if you would like to purchase discounted tickets ($15) hurry up and visit this link and enter code: MOM for the best seats available!

The circus is almost here!

There is nothing like experiencing the excitement of the circus as a family.  When I hear the circus is coming to town I immediately think...Cotton candy, popcorn and "light-up" snow cone drinks, tigers, elephants and motorcycles in the metal ball.  Our family is super excited to attend this year's circus on opening night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia thanks to Comcast-Spectacor/Feld Entertainment.

We have also been given the opportunity once again to give away two sets of 4 FREE ticket vouchers for your family to attend the Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey Circus "Built to Amaze" show.  Our giveaway will be posted this weekend...be sure to follow us here and on Facebook so you do not miss out on how to enter. (Please note these complimentary vouchers can be exchanged for one reserved seat ticket at the box office AND can only be redeemed for weekday performances, except Friday night).


The circus will be in town starting February 13th and will run through February 17th.  If you would like to purchase discounted tickets hurry up and visit this link and enter code: MOM for the best seats available!

   
Link to purchase $15 tickets:  http://ev15.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/EVExecMacro?linkID=global-wachovia&evm=prmo&RSRC=gunningit&RDAT=Mblog

How cute are these Shetland ponies in their Scottish cardigans?

Source: visitscotland.tumblr.com via Margie on Pinterest

A New Addition to the Gunn Clan

Gunning It has been a little quiet the last couple of weeks but for good reason...we were welcoming a new member of the Gunn Clan! William (Liam) John Gunn was born on January 8^th at 3:04 pm. He weighed in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. Our post on the Sandy Hook tragedy tried to explain the unexplainable. In it, we stated the belief that there is good and evil in this world and the murder of innocence in Newtown was the personification of evil. Fortunately for all of us, there is far greater good in the world than evil. Good is around us all the time. We may not stop long enough to witness it or fully appreciate it but it is envelops us. Some life experiences are so powerful, so intense and so purely good that we can't help but recognize it. The birth of a child is one of those experiences.

We are so absolutely fortunate to have experienced birth with great regularity. We experienced it with our son Nicholas, then our daughter Anna and now with Liam. We've experienced it fourteen other times as an Aunt and Uncle. Though we may have experienced it often, we don't take it for granted. The birth of a child is all that is right with the world. It is a magical, emotional event that brings some of the best of humanity to the forefront. Personal sacrifice, unconditional love, joy, family, generosity...it's all part of the experience. Gunning It is all about promoting the merits of an 'Experience Based Lifestyle' and showing how travel and other experiences bring a family closer together. Experiencing the birth of a new family member is the ultimate family experience.

Our experience started in the Spring when Margie surprised me with a wrapped present after one of Nicholas' baseball games. It was a watch box with a positive pregnancy test inside. The look on Nicholas and Anna's face when we said that we're having a baby was a couple of big smiles that will stay with me until the end. It continued over the Summer as we all heard the heartbeat in utero and started talking about whether the baby was a boy or a girl. By the Fall we started our nesting and Anna moved out of the nursery into her “big girl” bedroom. Christmas was especially memorable because of the added anticipation of our new arrival. Finally, the big day arrived. In our family, the birth of a child is a family event. Margie's Mom was in the delivery room with us and Nicholas, Anna and my Dad arrived shortly after Liam's birth. Before too long, my sister Maureen, her husband and three children visited. My sister Mary visited with my niece Erin. Calls, texts and Facebook messages poured in. The steady stream of visitors continued into the next day as Margie's friends visited and my sister Donna and niece Meggan visited. Anna and Nicholas arrived after school and set up camp in the hospital room as if it were our family room.

The birth experience wasn't all about the the hospital room though...with Margie in the hospital, her Mom, my Dad and I juggled the day to day home routine. My Dad got to experience Anna's stubbornness over lunch at Chick-Fil-A (she absolutely refused to go into the Men's bathroom to go to the bathroom!)...I picked Anna up from preschool and saw the proud smile on her face as she skipped out the door at 11 am each day...Nicholas was big man in second grade for a couple days as he was excused early from school and got all the extra attention from his teacher and classmates about the birth of his baby brother. One night as I was putting Anna to bed I asked if she wanted to do something after school the next day. She didn't hesitate and told me that she wanted to go to a “fancy restaurant”, get all dressed up and wanted me to get dressed up too. How could a Dad say no to that? We went to lunch at the Ship Inn the next day and had a great discussion about preschool, Irish dancing and why people put butter on rolls. The next day I offered to take Nicholas to lunch and take him anywhere he wanted. His choice? McDonalds...he said he doesn't get to go very often and just really wanted a cheeseburger. We talked about his basketball team, why soda isn't good for your body and about the 'round the world trip that our family is planning (not for another 5 years though!). I'll never forget how mature Anna looked as she sat across from me at the Ship Inn or Nicholas spinning around on his stool occasionally cracking his trademark smile.

Liam's birth was about welcoming Liam to the Gunn clan but it was about much more. It was a celebration of family, friendship and love. It was about many family members and friends coming together to help us celebrate. It was about taking a pause from our busy lives to spend extra quality 1:1 time together. It was all that is good in this world. It was the ultimate family experience.