This and that

November 4th and I'm just getting to my first November post.  And please don't remind me that my blog header says "Summer 2013."  Needless to say, things around here have been active, slightly crazy, and very computer unfriendly.  And this picture may help explain things:

This is the first leotard I've worn since I was 20-years-old.  Gulp.

I have (unwisely?) signed up for the Mid-Atlantic USA Yoga competition that takes place later this month and the incredible yogis at my studio and I have been knee-deep in backbends, standing bows, and camel poses.  It is simultaneously the most exhilarating and the hardest thing I have done in a long time - and so of course, I love it!  When he's not making a joke about competitive yoga ("are you judged by how much zen you have?"), Will has been incredibly supportive:

2014 competitor?  I think so!

I'll keep you posted on how things go.  As silly as it sounds, I am overly superstitious so I don't like to talk about goals too much ahead of time just in case things don't turn out how I had hoped.  But I also have to remind myself that this is my first competition after 14 months of practicing and it is supposed to be fun.  In fact, that's my mantra as I'm up on stage trying desperately to relax in these poses - "this is FUUUUUUNNNNN!!!"  Wish me luck!

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The kids have a four-day weekend for Election Day.

Great for them.  Hard on momma.  So the story goes.

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George proudly displaying his Halloween loot, organized by brand of candy.

He is officially obsessed with how much candy is waiting for him to consume, which is hilarious since he doesn't really like sweets (unlike my little sugar hoarder, Frances).  I think he just likes the idea that it is his and he earned it.

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Before Halloween, we visited a small, local pumpkin patch and had the best time:

We were one of maybe three families there, so the kids had two entire moon bounces to themselves and two of these huge parachutes:

My pumpkins on the winning pumpkin:

My other pumpkin attempting to dead lift the giant pumpkin.  I tried to make fun of his protruding tush, but according to Will his form is "not too bad."  Who knew.

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George and I often take mid-morning walks around the neighborhood on his days off from school.  Last week, the fall colors suddenly popped and I couldn't stop taking pictures.  George was not going to be outdone by some silly trees:

Elvis lives.

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Sometimes she just takes my breath away.

On her once-monthly early release day, Frances and I had an hour of alone time before picking George up from school.  I could have had eight more hours of this princess and still not had enough.  She is such a joy.

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George's latest trick - reading books to an imaginary class as though he's a teacher.

If he sees you watching him, he clams up so it's very hard to get a picture of him.  But I snapped this one the other day while we were waiting for Frances's dance class to finish up.  It gets me every time.

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As of last week, we have a lefty and a righty.  And no elbow fights.

Miracles never cease.

Happy Monday, everyone!