Happy Birthday Nate the Great!

It had been a dozen years ago, today, that this remarkable boy popped into our lives.  Nathan wins the prize for being my easiest pregnancy, easiest labor, and even easiest potty training (for which he has won a special place in my heart).  Yep, twelve years ago, today, I was sitting up in a hospital bed with a beautiful new brown-eyed baby feeling pretty terrific!  I still remember looking into that sweet little face and wondering how something so perfect, so wonderful, could exist in this less than perfect world.  But I'm so glad he does!  He has always been such a happy kid, and a real people pleaser.  

Nathan has an amazing grin that has brightened our lives these past 12 years.  

Nate has always been such a happy kid.  This is his famous red stick.  For about a year this red plastic stick (I think it was part of a horseshoes game) was Nate's favorite toy.  He carried it everywhere and used it as a sword, a gun, and any other weapon he could think of with his vivid imagination.

Nate has also always been very dramatic, and feels things deeply.  He loves to read, and loves to recount what he has just read to the last detail.  If you ask him, "Hey, what ya reading?" be prepared for a long play by play.  

Nathan has an amazing mind and a vast store of facts and trivia in his head.  He is inquisitive, loves learning new things, and remembers most of what he learns.  This is especially true with the gospel.  Ask any of his primary or Sunday school teachers and they'll tell you that he loves to raise his hand with the answer, and retell even the lesser known scripture stories to the smallest detail.  

Nate has a fantastic collection of trading pins that he really enjoys, he plays the piano and the saxophone, he loves acting and singing, he is an accomplished boy scout, he loves to cook and wants to be a top chef one day, he is learning French (because chefs must know French, of course), he plays water polo and will be getting his black belt in taekwando very soon.  He would do more, if we would let him.  He loves life and wants to try and do everything!  The trick is convincing him that while he might be able to do anything, he can't do everything, at least not all at once.

Nathan is so excited about getting the Priesthood on Easter Sunday!  We know he will serve the Lord all the days of his life.

We LOVE you, Nate, and thanks again for being so easy on your dear old mom!