Okay, so Almanzo is making me do a follow-up to my last post when I showed you all this lovely photograph right here:

The normal sign of a healthy relationship? Everything is a competition. Almanzo wanted everyone on the world wide web to witness for themselves who had a better mid-air stance.
Exhibit one:

Exhibit two:

Now I’ve replayed this many times in my head, but for the LIFE of me I just cannot figure out how a man twice my size can do a better russian than me. I’m an ex-ballerina and a yogi for crying out loud. How could I have let this happen? Where did I go so wrong?


I’m demanding a rematch.
It’s not right. It’s just not right.
hippierunner
August 23, 2010 at 10:20 pmIf it goes by votes, you have mine for that awesome kick in the first picture! 😉
Camille
August 23, 2010 at 10:22 pmOh no! This is a travesty! I’m not even being sarcastic… I really don’t understand! Is he a gymnast or something? Cheerleader perhaps?
Sana
August 23, 2010 at 10:30 pmThe man has skills! I say you use this to your advantage 😉
Allie (Live Laugh Eat)
August 23, 2010 at 10:30 pmIt’s the camera angle! 🙂
Katherine
August 23, 2010 at 10:33 pmPractice makes perfect? Maybe Almanzo spends hours perfecting? LOL.
Almanzo
August 23, 2010 at 10:38 pmTruth be told… I’m a ninja.
Suzanne de Cornelia
August 24, 2010 at 9:22 amLOL
Maureen
August 23, 2010 at 10:48 pmI have a feeling that it’s just where you happened to be when whoever had the camera took the shot. Obviously you were coming out of the more perfect jump when the shutter clicked.
Because the camera couldn’t handle the awesome?
Just a suggestion.
Kim
August 23, 2010 at 11:29 pmI agree with Maureen. 🙂
Caryn
August 24, 2010 at 5:39 amhaha, i was going to say the same thing. i’m sure it’s just a timing issue. also, his feet are waaaaay more flexed than yours, so your technique can make up for the height difference in the photo. 🙂
Janna (janna's keeping it real)
August 23, 2010 at 10:49 pmClearly.
The kick gave it away.
Bethany @ More Fruit Please
August 23, 2010 at 10:51 pmIt is quite impressive. Perhaps he has some secret dance training that he’s hiding from you? But a little competition never hurt a relationship!
Cindy
August 23, 2010 at 11:02 pmhaha! I must say, as an ex-cheerleader and dancer, Almanzo does have an impressive Russian. Especially for a guy! wow.
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat)
August 23, 2010 at 11:11 pmI am impressed. Dude! You have to do a rematch.
Holly
August 23, 2010 at 11:16 pmThis is complete awesomeness. Where do I get an Almanzo? I don’t mind if I lose every competition!!
Marina
August 24, 2010 at 12:48 amAmazing photos 🙂 Must have been so much fun 🙂
You’ll beat him next time 😉
ashley
August 24, 2010 at 1:05 amall competitions deserve a little push…that’s all i’m saying…we girls have to stay on top here!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
August 24, 2010 at 3:34 amComing from a former gymnast/dancer, I can’t believe it either!
Laine
August 24, 2010 at 3:59 amI’m shocked. Once again you’ve let down your blog readers with your claims of greatness and then you slack off on your training and lose the Russian contest. Although, he also appears to have levitation skills that one cannot train for, so perhaps we’ll let this slide.
Kate
August 24, 2010 at 4:22 pmIs that a joke or are you serious?
Rose-Anne
January 21, 2013 at 10:54 amKate, are *YOU* serious? She talked about levitation skills!
eatmovelove
August 24, 2010 at 4:13 amLOL I have to give it up to Almanzo, that’s one awesome air-split 🙂
Christie {Honoring Health}
August 24, 2010 at 4:21 amI’m just impressed all around!
But a rematch may be in order, yes.
Chelsey
August 24, 2010 at 4:26 amI am thoroughly impressed by the flexibility Almanzo has shown.
Is that normal?
You win! Isn’t the woman always supposed to?
Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble)
August 24, 2010 at 4:42 amTotally normal- we’re the same way, and I married the guy. 😛
Maybe he’s just got arms and legs like a monkey? 😉
xo
Kris
kaila
August 24, 2010 at 4:45 amwoah you two have major jump shots! you can jump so high!!!! was there a trampoline or something?!?!?!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
August 24, 2010 at 5:00 amAt least you know that if you’re ever in a dark alley at night you have a ninja on your side.
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
August 24, 2010 at 5:10 amYou guys are too adorable together. This completely made me smile. 😀
AngelaOSG
August 24, 2010 at 5:13 amAlmanzo can do the splits!!!
Heather
August 24, 2010 at 5:21 amgirl, i’m impressed with both of y’alls russians! and this totally sounds like an argument my hubby and i would have…we might get a little too competitive sometimes… 🙂
Brooke - One Healthy Cookie
August 24, 2010 at 5:38 amwow! both of your jumps are SUPER impressive.
Jaya
August 24, 2010 at 5:43 amHahaha. Competitive? Never heard of it 🙂
My husband is 6’6″ and around 240 and he can do the splits both ways, handsprings, roundoffs, aerials, russians and all kinds of stuff. He credits his background in pole vault and hurdles. I haven’t quite mastered the cartwheel. I credit my background in clumsiness.
Those photos are fantastic!!
allison @ livingoneday
August 24, 2010 at 5:53 amok mayyyybe almanzo is slow on the shot and captured you coming out of the russian. youre just a better photographer and caught him right at the perfect moment 🙂
Katryn@rampantcuisine
August 24, 2010 at 5:59 amHahaha, this is hilarious…a good start to my day. 🙂
Barbara(Blood, Sweat and Heels)
August 24, 2010 at 6:02 amOMG..you two are so freaking adorable! 🙂
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf
August 24, 2010 at 6:11 amMy goodness! I’m glad to know that my husband is not more flexible than I, especially since I lost a ton of flexibility during puberty (I grew 8 inches taller in one year, all in my femurs, and my hamstrings obviously couldn’t keep up).
Lauren at KeepItSweet
August 24, 2010 at 6:12 amLove your new header!
Kacy
August 24, 2010 at 6:24 amThat’s impressive! He looks like Roberto from So You Think You Can Dance kinda since it’s just a sillhouette. Maybe he should try out for the show?
Lauren @ louisianagrown
August 24, 2010 at 6:45 amMaybe your jeans were tighter! Maybe he didn’t snap the camera at the right time!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers
August 24, 2010 at 6:54 amYou totally need a rematch- you can take him!!!
Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/
August 24, 2010 at 6:57 amThat’s funny. Yes you are going to have to work on that and have a rematch.
Nelly@CrazySexyFit
August 24, 2010 at 7:02 amYou guys are adorable and you make me smile 🙂
Also, a suggestion for the rematch: video? So we can really tell that it IS you who is jumping higher and not just the camera catching the end of the jump!
Caitlin @ Right Foot Forward
August 24, 2010 at 7:08 amI think we need to see a video to get the full effect. Rematch?
Krista (kristastes)
August 24, 2010 at 7:09 amThe real question is how did either of you manage to do those in jeans?! 🙂
rachel
August 24, 2010 at 7:22 amyou should go to the Odd Duck (farm to trailer) and Eastside Cafe when you go to Austin next week…two of my favorites!
Megan
August 24, 2010 at 7:26 amEx-college cheerleader here, married to an ex-college cheerleader (my old stunting partner) and I’ve gotta say, that’s impressive. My hubby could NEVER pull that off!!
Marcia
August 24, 2010 at 7:30 amhe does look pretty awesome
AshleyH
August 24, 2010 at 7:41 amyou two are so cute. I can tell you are very in love.
Becca
August 24, 2010 at 7:42 amcompetition is totally part of a healthy relationship 🙂 My husband and I fought to see who could do the longest bar hang and the most pull ups last night. He won. Obviously.
Nancy @ The Wife of a Dairyman
August 24, 2010 at 7:46 amWow! Was Almanzo a college cheerleader in his younger days?! He’s so flexible! Love it!
Megan (Braise The Roof)
August 24, 2010 at 7:53 amOh the shame! It’s alright, my boyfriend has hamstrings that are flexible to a degree mine will never know. It is freakish and awe-inspiring.
Suzanne de Cornelia
August 24, 2010 at 9:26 amYou two are darling together and remind me how my husband (who I met when I was 14 and unfortunately died way too young) could be such buds together. That feeling lasts through eternity. I’d say you both won 😉
jeri
August 24, 2010 at 10:47 amyou both need to point your toes!!!! :p
Allison K
August 24, 2010 at 10:48 amI think it has to do with how men’s hips are……well just how they are. While women are more likely to practice this move, men can do it more easily.
At least, that is what I am remembering when we used to complain to our gym coach about it. Maybe she made that up to make us feel better?!?
Corinne
August 24, 2010 at 10:56 amHAHA! “The normal sign of a healthy relationship? Everything is a competition” made me crack up because it defines my relationship too 🙂 your russian beats my russian!
Hayley
August 24, 2010 at 5:37 pmHahahaha. This made me smile 🙂 Thanks for brightening my day!
Kim (Imperfectly Perfect)
August 25, 2010 at 8:41 amThis was so cute! Thanks for making a sick chick smile. 🙂
elise
September 8, 2010 at 12:22 amhahahha. great post! love it.