FREE MARCH MADNESS

In my house, March Madness has always been a kind of religious experience, since I am from the Mid-west.  I love that the NCAA is giving all of us a chance to feel closer to home.  Be sure to thank them for their support of our service.


The 2012 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament is just around the corner - with more ways to follow and watch live games than ever before. In recognition of all those who serve our great country, the NCAA, CBS, and Turner Broadcasting are offering the gift of free access to watch all 67 live games of NCAA March Madness Live using your computer, iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad and select Android phones. Here's how it works!

1. Pre-register
Visit www.ncaa.com/armedforces and enter your .mil email address in the appropriate area. This will generate an email that you will use to redeem your free access. You can do this anytime leading up to, or during, the tournament.


2. Create Your Account
The email you receive will contain a unique link you will use to create a free 2012 NCAAR March Madness Live account. You don't need to use your military email address for your account - but you do need to use the link within the email to get started. This is a unique link that will be assigned to you and your household. The NCAA, CBS, and Turner will not collect any personal information from you with this account.


3. Enjoy The Madness!
Once your account is created, you will be able to login with your computer at www.ncaa.com/marchmadness and login to the NCAA March Madness Live apps on iPhone/iPod touch, iPad and select Android mobile phones to watch all 67 games of the tournament. Download the mobile apps from the Apple App Store and Android Market.

Trunk or Treat!

Decorate your trunk and bring some treats to pass out for all the kiddos.  If you want some super cute ideas for decorations or DIY treat bags, follow me on Pinterest.  http://pinterest.com/lonestar_star

Halloween Bash via our USO

RSVP to the USO San Antonio for a fun and free little Halloween party.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=278270148859709  Open to all ID card holders and a guaranteed good time!

South Texas Fall Fun

If you want to get the feeling of fall here in South Texas, head out to Devine and take advantage of the half price military weekend, http://devineacresfarm.com/blog/half-price-for-military-families-opening-weekend/ with their hayrides, catch and release fish pond, and pumpkin patch it has something for every age!

If you don't have time this weekend, next weekend enjoy a free admission to the South Texas Corn Maize in Hondo. http://southtexasmaize.com/news/2011/09/07/free-military/  If you partake, please send a photo to ombudsman.nioc@gmail.com so that we can see what fun our families are having this year!

Summer Reading Rewards

Wondering what to do with your children as the days run into weeks and the summer is winding down?  How about prepare them for the beginning of the school year in a relaxed and rewarding way with incentives.  Several bookstores have programs that entice young readers to complete those lists by offering freebies.  It's also a great chance to interact with our local community.  The Twig Bookstore is a wonderful resource in the Quarry Market which has a Farmer's Market each Sunday offering fresh locally grown and produced goods.  It's not just fruits and veggies anymore as you can see by the offerings listed on last week's Facebook Page which read like a foodies dream, "Watermelon, tomatoes, peaches, okra, eggs, arugula, Sol y Luna sourdough bread, Edelen Farms' grass-fed beef, South Texas Heritage Pork Polish sausage and pork chops, hummus, lemonade and a smoothie from The Lemonade Company and more."


.http://thetwig.indiebound.com/summer-reading-program The Twig is located at the Quarry Market and have a great relationship with our local community including our San Antonio Museum of Art, a participant in Blue Star Museums, which can be visited until Labor Day by ID card holders for free.

http://img1.imagesbn.com/pImag​es/kids/summerreading/2011/BN-​Tear-Pad.pdf B&N Summer Reading Program Journal that offers rewards.

http://www.borders.com/online/​store/MediaView_double-dog-dar​e Borders rewards readers with free books in-store after completing through this link.

Expand you ideas of how to ease your kids back into the school year and combat those blues of heading back to school!

My Walk for Autism

If you don't know, our son has autism.  At 18 months, I took him to the doctor's office and while he was examining my other twin, I knew that my son wasn't making any of the developmental markers that he should be.  It started what would be a long process to have our family be included in what the military considers "Exceptional Family Member Program".  I have come to love that moniker.  It exemplifies how I view my son.  He is exceptionally gifted in certain areas, such as his disposition.  He is rarely unkind to anyone, unless they take his Toby the Tank Engine train; it's a Thomas thing.  He has an exceptional ability to remember his letters and numbers, and he has an exceptional view of the world.  He is very quiet, and I think that it might be that he doesn't feel the need to comment on the world quite like my daughter does, his twin.  She might just talk enough for the both of them.  They are almost 4 now, and we don't compare their milestones.  My girl makes progress in different ways, like learning when to be silent and my son in when to speak up.

There is a walk taking place here in San Antonio that is close to my heart.  We will be joining forces as Joint Base San Antonio to walk together to bring light to members that share in the common goal of bringing more services to autistic children, and all Exceptional Family Members here in JBSA.  Family members, friends and colleagues can all register using the same criteria.   Find out more information at www.walkforautismsa.com

Lunch with Tim McGraw!

What could be better than steak with Tim McGraw?  I don't really think there could be a much nicer surprise than this one, except the fact that it's completely free.  Thank you Operation Homefront!

http://www.operationhomefront.net/texas/highlights.aspx?id=9088