Lair of the Bear 2011

This was Elsa's second year at the Lair of the Bear! Last year was a lot of fun, but we did not do very much. This year was all about Elsa exploring.



She loved the water, playing in it every day. The baby pool was shallow enough so she could walk around. She also got very good at climbing out of the pool. Every day she got to swim and that was a real treat for our water-loving baby.



Elsa also got to play on the Kub Korral play structure. She enjoyed climbing up and then flinging herself down the slide. She would laugh and laugh.



After each of the meals, Elsa would do her "rounds", walking around the dining hall and checking out all the people and then wander outside to play with plants.



Well, except when she slept through meals!



Elsa enjoyed her tent time too - getting to play in her chair and with her shoes.



and take naps.



Arne and I also had fun. We played volleyball (together!). Arne and Erik played shuffleboard.



I did tie-dye for Elsa and her cousins.



Arne even went on a lovely wildflower hike,



and took great pictures of flowers and bugs.


In the late afternoons, we would socialize with friends, like my friend Julia and her little baby.



Elsa enjoyed eating snacks, just like her daddy.



Elsa got to show off her new tie-dye dress to all her fans - mostly 3 year olds who wanted to play with her, pet her or hold her.



My mom and Arne's brother Erik were also at the Lair. They were great at taking pictures of Elsa and playing with Elsa to give us a break. My mom loved holding Elsa.



Next year maybe her cousins and the Stokstad grandparents can join in the fun!

Fun with Elsa at One

Elsa is a joy. She just loves everything. The water is one of her favorite things. Elsa is now a very confident walker. She is a very confident girl overall. This month I captured her a number of times on my iPhone just being Elsa. She loves it when Daddy comes home.


Daddy Home

She loves to garden. She sometimes kills plants, but she is trying to mimic her daddy's good work with plants.


Elsa Gardening

She loves music and to dance.


Elsa Dancing

She loves her clothes - especially her shoes!



I enjoy watching her have fun.

Happy First Birthday Elsa

Today Elsa turned one year old! It has been such an amazing year since she was born last July. She is now over 30 inches long and 21.5 pounds.



On Sunday we had a birthday picnic for Elsa at Heritage park in Palo Alto. She was a great party girl, enjoying hanging out with some of her baby friends and playing with some of her big friends.



After singing happy birthday to Elsa, we gave her her first chocolate cupcake. Yummy!



She enjoyed the cupcake, as seen by all the chocolate that got on her face.



I made a video of the event.

Elsa's First Birthday from Arne Stokstad on Vimeo.

Just for fun I also made a video of the old Super 8 film my father took at my first birthday.



We are so lucky to have such a great girl.

4th of July Fun

The Fourth of July is not just our nation's birthday, but also Elsa's grandmother's birthday. We were lucky to celebrate Elsa's first 4th of July with Arne's family. Julie took us on a lovely walk around the Berkeley waterfront. Elsa showed off her walking skills, but after walking into the wind, she ended up preferring to be in the stroller.



It was fun to see Elsa hang out with the boys - her granddad, Uncle/Godfather Erik and Dad.



She liked to show off her new "high five" skills.



It was a great day to celebrate Grandma Julie.



and family.



Bob took many great pictures of the day you can see here.

Father's Day Fun

We had a wonderful Father's Day lunch at the Stokstad's home. Elsa likes spending time with her Grandpa.



Elsa toddled about checking out everything. That's her Grandpa's watch in her right hand.



We then enjoyed a wonderful lunch prepared by Arne's mom. Elsa had a lot of fun eating her pork chop.



We played with one of Arne's childhood toys - a truck that Elsa could sit in and be pushed around. It gave her great joy.



It was a great family Father's Day.

May is for Mothers

May was a wonderful month for me. I had my first mother's day, my first anniversary, a new job, my 15th Princeton Reunions and lots of great time with Arne and Elsa.



The month started off with a lovely Mother's Day hike with the dogs at Fort Funston. We enjoyed the sea and the sand and great friends.



For our anniversary, Arne took me out to a lovely dinner in the city and walk along Crissy Field. I got him an Oscillating sander. We took Elsa out for her first bike ride, pulled behind my bike, laughing and hating her helmet.



She also continued her swim lesson. She loves water.



Just after starting my new job with Cadence, we flew out to New Jersey with Elsa for my 15th Reunion.



After fun in the airport and not enough sleep, we arrived in Princeton to heat and humidity. The heat was exhausting.



I showed Arne lots of the old buildings, the great library, where I lived and had classes.



I think Elsa enjoyed the fountain, where she got to swim and play.



On Saturday, I did a reunion row with other '96ers.



Elsa had fun at the boathouse and by the water.



Then it was time to dress up for the P-Rade.



I had fun introducing Elsa and Arne to classmates.



Elsa had fun playing with the cold beer. Elsa spent the nights in Tiger camp, while Arne and I enjoyed the parties and music, including the Beach Boys.



We had a great trip home and end to a wonderful weekend and wonderful May!