Apollo's favorite activity at the playground is trying to crawl up the slide. He loves getting halfway and then sliding down. Basically I just follow him around and try to keep him from getting killed! He is not at all shy, which is kind of nerve-wracking because he will approach anyone and try to get them to play. Sharing is something he understands very well. He "shares" other kids' toys all the time! He has two more new teeth and can say "mama," "dada," and "bah-bye." It is one of the greatest things in the world to hear him call me mama. This last weekend he enjoyed playing with Grandma and Grandpa Higley and waking up Uncle Chris by crawling all over him! I love my sweet, happy little hellion!

Back to My Husband!

After being in St. George for a week where my mom could help me take care of Apollo, it is great to come home to my husband. I really missed Brian and it is so much fun to be with him again for Apollo and me. Thanks to everyone who has offered to help as my arm heels. It is getting much better and I am encouraged everyday. 

Broken Arm!

This week I was riding my bike and had a bit of a crash! At first I just thought it was bruising and road rash but after noticing pain at any attempt to lift anything, I went to the hospital to find out that I have a fracture in the head of my radius! What a crappy fall! I have a hard time picking up Apollo, let alone scooping him up out of the car seat so Brian stayed home Thursday and Friday to take care of him. Saturday Brian's mom brought me down to Saint George so that my mom can help me with Apollo and Brian doesn't have to miss any more class. We were planning on competing in two more triathlons this year but it looks like my season has ended short. Look out next year though, because once I am recovered I will be a force to reckon with! It's very hard not to be able to pick up Apollo and comfort him as usual but I am grateful that nothing was torn and that surgery is not needed. I miss being around my husband and I feel bad for having to depend so much on my mom for the care of my son. Apollo really misses his dad, Brian is usually the one who gets Apollo to bed and he misses playing with him.

Catching Up Again

I thought that I would have more time to stay caught up with the blogging once school started for Brian again, nope!  This first week has been hard not having Brian around all day.  I miss my husband.  I can't complain though, at least we had a couple weeks to relax a bit before his classes started.  

Yesterday we went to Richard's birthday party and had fun hanging out and eating some awesome food.  Happy Birthday Richard! 

We then went to our nephew Chandler's baptism.  It was great to see the innocence and excitement that Chandler had.  Congratulations Chandler, we love you and are very proud of you.  

Brian also finally got his F.E. test result back.  He took the test way back in April and kept waiting for the result to come in the mail.  He found out recently that they e mail the results, the testing website still says via mail. Anyways Brian passed and is very relieved that he doesn't have to repeat the 8 hour test.  He only wishes they would let him know the break down of his scoring, which they only do if a person fails.  Way to go Brian!  I love you!  You are so smart!

Now that Brian is not around to play with, I have been taking Apollo to the park more often and I can't keep him out of dirt or the sand of the volleyball courts.  What a fun boy, I love my son so much!  I have also been trying to cook more and actually made a really good Thai chicken soup. Even Brian, who is no fan of soups, loved it! Okay, I think that gets me caught up with our life story!

Apollo had another cold a few weeks ago, it got to me too.  He gets very clingy when he is sick, I don't mind!

Apollo always wants to take the camera when we try to take his picture

Brian has made sure that Apollo knows what team he will root for during football season

Apollo's reaction at the Utes beating Michigan...okay not really but he is so cute with his little sharp teeth!

Apollo loves trying to catch our cat, Luna.  Every once in a while he is able to corner her!

Our Trip to Saint George

For a vacation during the time between semesters we decided to take a trip down to Saint George and stay at my mom's house.  We were there for almost a week and had a great time relaxing and playing.  Apollo had a lot of fun exploring his grandma's house and crawling up her stairs.  We also celebrated my dad's birthday right before he jetted off to Scotland and Italy.  Happy birthday Dad!  We love you and appreciate all you do for us! Here are some pictures of our stay: 

Apollo and his dad watching the tube, we seem to always get sucked in to the television when we are with someone that has more than two channels. 

Apollo is so cute, and even more so when he falls asleep in your arms.  What a sweet moment between him and his grandma

Apollo playing with Tinker Toys, and Brian joined in as well of course.

We all enjoyed a picnic in Pine Valley

My mom's house has a huge tub so we took advantage of it and dressed in our swim suits and hopped in to play with Apollo.  He loved being able to crawl through the water and splash to his hearts content

Playing at the neighborhood pool with my mom and son

Apollo loves the water!

we LOVE the OLYMPICS

Brian and I love watching the olympics together.  Brian has really gotten into swimming, my fault, and we both cheered for Phelps during the 400 I.M. and then the amazing finish in the 4 x 100, especially after the trash talk from the Frenchies.  Way to go Phelps!  Only 6 golds to go.

Brian thinks the buildings are slightly cool and a bit ridiculous.

GO USA!!

The First H.O.T. (Higleys and Others Triathlon)

Brian hosted the first HOT race!  It was a shortened version of a sprint triathlon for the family and it was really fun.  We were really glad that it did not rain and drop to around 50 degrees like last time.  I finally got to show off my new skills too.  I feel like I am getting better and better on the bike.  Thanks Mom for watching Apollo and our equipment!  Thanks Courtney for the pictures, next time you should join in!  Brian says he wants to do another race in September so his brother Chris can get in on the fun, so anyone else is interested let us know!  The results were: Brian won (way to go hubby!), Nate Hughes, ME! (Carly Higley), Rachael Rose, Nick Hughes, then Kate and Ted. Here are some of the pics that Courtney snapped for us.

Having Brian cheer me in is always a plus!

Kate didn't like her bike very much and Brian had a pretty steep route planned.  Sorry Kate!

The sprinklers suddenly turning on turned out to be a nice surprise.

Nick finished the swim pretty quickly, even though we heard he paddled with one hand and pulled himself along on the side of the pool with the other!

We hope those involved had a good time, Brian and I both love these events and hope to have many more in the years to come.  Some highlights were: 

Nate sprinting out of the pool area shouting: "I'll get you Rachael!  I smell your Fear!"

The close finish between Nick and Rachael, she had the running experience to pull ahead at the end!

Apollo's First Birthday Celebration!

Let them eat cake!  We pretty much bathed in it, at least, Apollo did!  He also managed to wipe it all over Brian and I.  We are so grateful to have this little guy in our life.  His laugh makes us laugh and his smiles always make us smile.  We can't believe he is already one!  Time flies when you are so busy changing diapers and trying to survive on minimal sleep.  Thanks to everyone who has helped us along the the way, and thanks to everyone who helped make Apollo's birthday celebration fun.

Finally Posting Again

We got through the summer semester!  What a pain to take classes during the time when we want to get out and have fun.  Anyways here are some pictures of things that happened along the way.

Apollo and his dad always have fun together

Me doing some miming so that Brian would laugh hard enough to lose his hiccups.  Sure made me feel like a dork.

Still one of Apollo's favorite times, bath time!

Apollo loves being outside and loves watching everything from cars to people go by.

I look forward to being able to more posting now that I don't have any classes to worry about. I am really going to try to start taking my camera with me too!

A short video of a nature boy

Here is a short clip of our son playing on the lawn, he really loves being outside and it gives us all a break from being stuck inside.

Update of Sorts

It's been a while since we last posted anything so I thought that I would throw some pictures on the computer and write a little message.  Things have been going very well for Brian, Apollo and I.  Brian is taking some "very boring classes" over the summer and I have been taking a pretty challenging Chemistry class.  This is the my last pre requisite for nursing school so I am anxious to do well.  Brian says his classes could be much better and much more challenging but oh well.  Apollo keeps growing in leaps and bounds.  In two weeks he learned to army crawl, then crawl and sit up on his own.  He is becoming very unstoppable.  We need to start hiding our books and everything else on the bottom shelves!  We have also been watching the olympic trials and we are both very excited to see how the United States fares in Beijing.  

Apollo and Brian on the computer, Apollo wanted to write an e mail to everyone

Apollo really loves his baths and playing in the water, he always has fun until he splashes himself in the face

Apollo is finally a bit more accustomed to the camera and actually smiles at it

Apollo found his Dad's water bottle and decided to help himself

Our Short Vacation to Newport Beach

Apollo having a great time with his dad in the pool!

On their way to check out the tide pools.

Overlooking Corona del Mar, part of the stomping grounds of my Dad's youth. 

Too concentrated on holding breath to smile!  I love my hubby even when he acts like a seal in front of everyone!

Just one of the picturesque areas of the beaches in Southern California.

My Dad invited us down to spend time with him in California.  So we flew to Orange County on Friday morning and stayed in an awesome resort in Newport Beach.  Brian had a great time seeing all the expensive cars and car dealerships and I had a fun time with Apollo and chatting with my Dad.  Thanks Dad for the awesome trip.  We were sad to leave Monday morning.  Apollo did great this time on the plane and we feel we did better taking care of him too.

Our water-loving family

Me in the pool!  Brian and I took turns holding Apollo and playing in the water.  The weather was great!

We forgot our digital camera so we bought a disposable.  The pictures didn't turn out as clear but at least it was water proof.

Apollo loved the water more than he does baths!  He laughed and smiled the whole time.

I love my happy boy!

More on The Memorial Day Family Triathlon

Here's some more pictures of yesterday's triathlon.  The picture order, starting with the closest person, Richard Rose, Brian Higley, Nate Hughes, and Rachael Rose.

AND THEY'RE OFF!!

Rachael, Richard, Brian, Nate