Surfing for Steph

(Steph 4 months Pregnant Lake Powell Aug 2009)
Two years ago my cousin Steph came out here to Hawaii and stayed with us. It was the first time that I had spent one and one time with Steph since we are 8 years apart. We had so much fun! Her friend wasn't super adventerous so Steph and I ended up doing everything together, we snorkeled, kayaked, hiked and Steph's favorite surfed. We taught her how to surf and she was instantly hooked. Her last day here she was dying to surf again, I had to work so I dropped her off at Waikiki where I knew she would be safe to surf by herself and when I came back she was STILL surfing. I have yet to see anybody surf for as long as she did and that is saying something because Jared can surf for hours.

Since that time I have often thought of Steph while surfing. On the good days where you catch every wave and have so much fun I would think "so this is what Steph fell in love with." and on the bad days where you are constantly getting smacked around and drink a gallon of sea water I would think "how did Steph like this so fast." I have a love- hate relationship with surfing. It took me about 6 months to even say that I liked it and now finally I can say that I love it, But Steph just Loved it right from the beginning and always wanted to come back here.

We lost Steph in a car accident this past October.
Losing her has brought much sorrow into all of our hearts. She was full of so much life and love!
We all miss her so much and pray for her sweet husband and family!

Every time I have been surfing since she died I have thought of her and just felt as though I needed to do something to honor her life and to thank her for inspiring me to continue to surf.
So Jared and I made a video as a memorial for Steph and to honor her memory by doing what she would be doing if she were here.

So this one is for you Stephy although you are probably surfing in heaven!
We Love You.
You taught us to enjoy life while we can, have fun and to not take anything for granted!
May we all try new things and live life to the fullest!!





A very big Mahalo to my friend Cameo who took time out of her life to help film and edit this video for me. Thank you so much!

Aloha Oe Steele Family

Well it is that darn time again. Time where we have to say goodbye to some dear friends. This time it is the Steele family, Matt, Jenni and cute little Abby!! It is crazy that three years ago we all moved here with no kids and all became fast friends and now we are all leaving, moving all across the country and we all have at least one kidlet! We have had so much fun with the Steele's. They have become family and it is going to be weird not to have them here to hang out with and play games.

Matt has been the Young Men's president while I have been in Young women's so we have spent a bunch of time together at mutuals. It was fun working together.
Matt was also our unofficial babysitter. I think he has watched Kailie for us more than anyone else. Good thing he likes babies!

Jenni has been my right hand buddy. We both have the same fears especially when it comes to the ocean. I love this picture of us parasailing, this is right before we got dipped in the ocean and we both looked terrified, which we were. It seems our surf group is getting smaller and smaller! Oh that's right it is!

While surfing Jenni has always been my go to girl cause I know she is at the same level as me and fears the ocean the same. We both still cannot believe that we surf since we are so afraid of sharks. I have learned a lot from Jenni about sewing, cooking, how to take care of babies but the most important thing I learned from Jenni is to chew gum while surfing! It totally takes away the disgusting sea water taste and keeps your mouth from getting dry. Now that advice is priceless.

Me and Jenni at her surprise going away tea party! I had never been to a tea party, it was really fun and the tea was quite good! Thanks Tiff for putting that together! Obviously, I do not know how to hold a tea cup!!

Kailie and Abby were just starting to really play together! It was so cute to watch them interact with each other! There last night together they were laughing together and talking.
Next time we see each other they will probably be so big!

Aloha Steele family, we are going to miss you guys so much! Hope you have fun in Sin city but not too much fun! We shall see you again! Hopefully sooner rather than later.

The Christmas Card!

January 1^st 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

The year 2009 brought us many things; most importantly it brought great joy into our home! We have cherished the hundreds of hugs and thousands of kisses on two perfect little cheeks. We have come to fully realize the meaning of the words Joy in your posterity! This year has been full of adventure and discovery for all of us.

Jared finished his 4^th year of residency and now is in his 5^th and final year. Thank Goodness! This last year has been the busiest for him due to new responsibilities as chief at work and becoming a member of the Bishopric and most recently the Bishop (Yikes!! What were they thinking!!?) Jared got accepted into a Facial Reconstruction Fellowship in Syracuse, New York so this coming June we will be moving across the ocean and country to a new adventure. Jared has been able to participate in a couple of humanitarian missions through work, taking him to the small island countries of Yap and Palau in Micronesia, which he loved and is the reason he became a doctor. He has spent what free time he does have surfing, torturing Kai, and just relaxing. With Jared being gone so much we wondered if Kailie really knew who he was but a few weeks ago she spotted him sitting on the stand at church and got all excited and kept trying to go to him so apparently she does know who her daddy is!

Gina has spent this year enjoying motherhood! Spending her days playing with one little squirt, surfing with wonderful friends, rollerblading, teaching Pilates, taking pictures of Whales, trying out new recipes and serving in the Young Women’s program which she loves! It has been a year full of adventure watching Kailie learn and discover everything for the first time!

Kailie has been busy learning how to be like us. She started with rolling over, sitting, crawling, walking, laughing, semi-talking, eating, swimming and even threw her first temper-tantrum in a store the other day (not that we do that)! She has become quite the traveler in her short life so far and has been on 6 round trip flights from Hawaii to the mainland. Words can’t describe how much we have enjoyed having her in our lives, whoever knew that babies were so much fun!!

As a family we have enjoyed many trips to Utah, Lake Powell, San Diego and for Jared and Gina spending three days kayaking the Na Pali Coast on the island of Kauai.

We have been trying to soak in the last of our Hawaiian sun since we will soon be departing this beautiful place and would like to remind you all that you have only a few more months to come on a beautiful Hawaiian vacation with a place to stay, a car to use and most importantly your own personal tour guide. Any and all are also invited to visit us in New York.

Although 2009 has brought us much joy there has also been much sorrow. I am reminded of the words of one of my favorite poets Kahlil Gibran in his book The Prophet “When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”

This year we have lost some dear loved ones and have loved ones that have lost loved ones. We mourn for their loss and miss them and pray for those left behind. We have learned through these losses to appreciate the time we have on this earth. We never know when it will be over and hence we need to take advantage of every moment before it slips away! Spending quality time together whether it be, going for walks, playing games, surfing or just enjoying the simple things of bath time, reading together, eating dinner and watching Kailie throw her food everywhere. We are so grateful for all the blessing that our Heavenly Father has given us and for the Plan of Salvation. We know that we will see and be with our loved ones again and that brings us great peace!

We hope and pray that 2010 brings much Joy and Peace to each of you and that we will be able to spend time with all of you this year!

With all our love,

The Theler Family,

Jared, Gina & Baby Kailie

Comparision

It is so amazing how fast babies grow!

Here is a comparison of a few favorite moments from last Christmas and this Christmas!

Last year Kailie was our stocking stuffer!

This year only her leg was our stocking stuffer!

Last year, her and the rollerskating Santa bear were the same size

This year she dwarfed him!

And last year she slept through her surf lessons

This year she was all ready to get out there and try it on her own!