Elsa's Christening

On the Sunday after Christmas, the Nisewaner family and Stokstad family headed to Ocean Beach in San Francisco to baptize baby Elsa.



It was a perfect day. Elsa was a well behaved and happy baby the whole time. Erik (Arne's brother) and Amanda (Karna's sister) became godparents for Elsa.



Grandma Julie performed the baptism with water from Lake Michigan. Elsa's cousins Erika and Sonja were also baptized by Julie, on the beach at Lake Michigan.



After the baptism, we took a walk along the beach and grandpa took lots of pictures. We did manage to get one of him with Elsa.



The grandmas were happy.



And we got a shot of 3 generations of Nisewaners.



We ended the morning by having a lovely brunch at the historic Beach Chalet at the west end of Golden Gate Park.



It was a great day to celebrate baby Elsa.

Elsa's First Christmas

On Christmas Eve day we headed to Arne's parents home in Berkeley to join up with the rest of the Stokstads. Paul and Paula brought their daughters Erika and Sonja from Michigan and Erik was in town from Washington DC. Sonja enjoyed playing with her newest cousin.



We went to the 5 PM Christmas eve family service at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, during which all the children participated in a nativity play--Erika was an Angel, Sonja a sheep, and Elsa a cow.



Back at home and out of her cow costume, Elsa had some quality grandma time



and participated in a long standing Stokstad tradition: the Christmas family picture in front of the hearth.



Here's an example of an early 1980's version. Julie (Arne's mom) is not in the picture - maybe she was behind the camera. The bottom three on the right were guests. Arne's uncle Paul is in the top left and his grandparents are in the middle.



Christmas morning, Elsa got to open her first Christmas stocking.



Then we opened presents under the tree. Elsa had a lot of fun.



Then we headed to Millbrae for Christmas morning with my Mom



and sister Amanda.



In Millbrae, Santa filled all our stockings. Julie (Arne's mom) knit stockings for Arne and Elsa to match mine.



Christmas Afternoon we spent in San Francisco with my aunts



and cousins



at my cousin Matt & Warren's home. It was a wonderful Christmas night.



The holiday season was even more joyful with Elsa. After the events were all over, she got to play with all of her gifts.