Nathan's Summer in a Nutshell

Here's a picture summary of Nathan's summer in PA. He left Provo with a girlfriend, short hair and hopes to come home and make lots of money at BAE with his Engineering Internship. How things change! =)  Here he is with Robyn, but unfortunately, they broke up a few weeks later.

  

He got busy right away painting garage doors, organizing the basement, and building a ramp for poor old Phoebe who was having trouble getting up and down the back steps.  She loves it!


He set some goals for himself, including musical ones.  He's been learning to play Church Hymns on the piano so he can accompany when needed, and he's learned and memorized several classical and popular pieces.  He even played in my piano recital in June!

Nathan sang with the alumni York County Honors Choir in a beautiful concert at the Strand Theater on Father's Day.  I also had him sing a duet with me in Sacrament Meeting that morning.  Dad loved it!

He was called to be a counselor in the Elder's Quorum presidency for the summer, and that kind of forced him to get involved with the Single's Branch, which was great!  He's also had lots of great experiences with Institute, including a wonderful trip to Kirtland.  Here's a picture in front of the temple with his friend Becky.  They drive to the Branch together each week, and she's been so nice to share her family's new swimming pool with him this summer.

Here he is with Bree's friends Ann Marie and Sara, at a Branch Pirate-themed Murder Mystery Dinner, and a fun day at the beach.
Nathan has always loved a good bargain, and found a fun new tux (with tails!) at Goodwill with his friend Ashley. She's an old high school girlfriend, but they've remained good friends over the years. They had some fun times together before she left for the Dominican Republic on a "mission trip" for the summer.
While I was in Utah, Nathan and Curt had lots quality father and son time! They hiked and camped at Tuckahoe where Curt had hiked with the YW and would be going with the Scouts...
They watched the 4th of July fireworks from the mall in DC...
and then spent an entire day watching the Civil War re-enactment in Gettysburg. Dad was in heaven!

Nathan planned a last minute 2-day Branch trip to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Curt went along, and Nathan's best friend Alberto flew in from Chicago to go with them. They always have a great time together. Here they are before the Pageant with friends Rebecca and Amber...

...and in the Sacred Grove.
Couldn't resist adding this shot of the grove Nathan took- so beautiful!

This last week, Nathan took a couple of days off work to help Curt with rappelling at Scout Camp. It was an all LDS camp with boys from 8 stakes. Here he's teaching a group some gospel principles that relate to rappelling...and then a picture of him belaying Scouts off the cliff. His hips and hands were sore after two days of that, but Curt was sure glad he was there to help!

So, Nathan's been a great friend and help to both Dad and me this summer.  We'll hate to see him leave!  Even Phoebe had some bonding moments....here Nathan's holding her while Dad cut her toenails, and in the next one, they fell asleep on the floor.  Brianna would approve!

There were some days when Nathan had way too much time on his hands!  Here's a video he sent one Sunday while I was in Utah, showing the results of his hair that hasn't been cut all summer!  The song is one that he sang with Men's Choir- silly, silly.

Way too often he's come downstairs lately looking nerdy just to get my reaction...and this was a few weeks ago, so you can imagine how his morning "Kramer" hair looks now. I just shake my head...
Well, that's why we call Nathan quirky, but we sure love him!  =)  He'll be leaving in a couple of weeks, and he and Robyn are talking on the phone a lot more again....so maybe we'll be seeing more pictures like this from Utah....

But for now, this is what Nathan looks like tonight! =)