The Webb Family: October 2008

October was definitely a lighter, more festive month for the Webbs of Texas. Ashley's best friend Ella (who lives 4 doors down from us) was keen for herself and Ashley to man their first lemonade stand. The signs were posted, the lemonade was made and as we live in a circular street with little through traffic, the friends were called and told to come to buy lemonade or else! The two were well organised and entrepreneurial to the point of spreuking to passers by.

To start with 25 cents got you a cup of lemonade

Then it included a slice of cake

And eventually a free strip show. The girls made a few dollars and Ashley went to The Dollar Tree (where everything is as it says, a dollar) where she could pick anything storewide. She is now the proud owner of a Cinderella skipping rope and has had her first lesson it economics. Simon presented again this year at the Titleist Performance Institute's Golf Fitness Summit. He discussed early motor patterns in young children and how these innate movements are lost over time. He tied this into golf specific training and highlighted the need for juniors to be trained according to their developmental stage rather than how it is typically done ie. with adult orientated or wizz bang 'Tiger' workouts.

The upshot of this gig was that it was in Anaheim, California just a skip, hop and a jump from DISNEYLAND. What better time to jump on the band wagon than now - the Webbs were going to see Mickey. Ashley had been counting down to this holiday almost as much as she's been counting down to coming home (sometimes at night after lights out we'll still hear her say Coo-ee Mimi). Anyway we had two days there. Simon was able to come along for one and a half of those days which was great because we all had a magical time.

Face painting

Cuddling Goofy

We couldn't wipe the smile off Ashleys face

The infamous castle

Minnie in her Halloween colours

We discovered that Ashley and Liam are not afraid of heights or rollercoasters (confirmation that Simon is indeed their father). It was me who had to slow the pace sometimes to stop thw world spinning.

We booked in to have dinner at Ariel's Grotto where we had a 3 course meal and got to meet all the princesses, get their autograph and have your picture taken with them.

Of course Ashley was like a pig in poop

Dumbo ride - nice and gentle right? That big eared elephant had a lever in it that could make you go up and down. If you've got a funny stomach like me be advised, don't go on this ride with Liam. We were up, then down, no up and up again and so on and so forth.

Alice in wonderland's teacup ride

Halloween Mickey

We love this photo of Ash, she was so smitten.

After we had said G'day to Mickey and Liam had done his solo song and dance routine for him "Hotdog, hotdog hot-diggity-dog" we continued on looking through Mickey's house. Liam was spinning the world globe around when along comes Mickey on his way to the men's room (yes even Mickey gets a smoko). He had picked up that we were from Australia so he stops in his tracks, taps Liam on the shoulder and points to Australia. The kids were like 'wow'.

Woody tried for a good 2 minutes to have a game of 'draw' with the kids. As we have not yet introduced them to the concept of guns (I know, an amazing feat living in the heart of Texas) they kept putting their hands up for a Hi-5 instead.

This is Ashley and I just before we hopped on the Grizzly River Run. The after picture shows 2 very wet but happy ride wild river rafters.

We couldn't go to Disneyland and NOT buy the Mickey Mouse ears

The parades were fantastic. The traditional one with the princesses, Beauty and the beast etc were at night time and the pictures didn't turn out well. The Pixar parade was in the arvo and were so good the kids nearly pee'd their pants. All the floats had water guns on them that sprayed you as they went past.

A bugs life

This one's for you Noah - Ke chow!!

Crush from Nemo - Duude

Cars: See yer later Mater

Waiting for the evening parade

A self portrait

A zonked Princess and Liam but a brilliant time had by all.

The kids and I left Simon in California for 5.5 weeks straight without him - the longest and hardest stretch we've ever done. After a week and half we'd all had it and Simon flew home for an unplanned 36 hour homecoming. 6 hours into it Liam threw up all over the car, his bed, the house - everywhere and into the night. So Simon's time at home was spent washing linen, washing Liam and holding the bowl in attempt to catch the next lot. 6am the next morning Liam wakes up bright as a button and Simon and I are bleary eyed and exhausted. We drive Simon to the airport at 5.30am the next day and Ashley throws up in the car on the way home and Simon calls from Florida to say he's got it!! I endure a total of 10 days!! of children vomiting as Liam somehow gets it again after Ashley is sick for a week. It will be remembered as the Webb Days of Chunder.

Ashley pulled herself out of her lifeless, empty stomach state to get dressed for Halloween. This was the closest I could get to a smile.