Please & Thank You

A random thought, but an important topic :) Being polite and expressing gratitude with a simple 'please and thank you'. I can't sleep and John is playing zombies on BO2. I love playing BO2, but I hate playing zombies. ANYWAYS...LoL. Going back to the topic...

Mother always taught us how to behave, be respectful and polite, but as a child saying 'please and thank you' was something I would tend to forget to say. Grandma Starr, aka Lucille Starr a widow my mom became good friends with and gave aid to, realized that we (my brothers and I) hardly used the words 'please and thank you'. Before I go on, we called Lucille Starr grandma Starr because we didn't have grandmother's growing up and because how quick we became comfortable with her. Grandma Starr taught us this game called 'chicken foot' using dominos. Every time we played, she always had the best treats and snacks waiting for us. Our favorite was drumsticks. Playing chicken foot, someone would always be in charge of handing out dominos. Whenever we needed a domino, Grandma Starr would tell us we had to ask saying 'please, may I have a domino?' and then acknowledge them with a 'thank you'. If we wanted more munchies we had to ask with a 'please and thank you'. We played chicken foot on several occasions. It became one of our favorite games and then saying 'please and thank you' became a habit. I'm grateful for Grandma Starr for reaching out and teaching us how important it is to say 'please and thank you'. I'm forever saying 'please and thank you' now. When I eat out at restaurants I always order with 'Can I have a...please?' and after ordering I address them with a 'thank you'. With everything I ask, I say 'please' and leave with a 'thank you'. I've noticed that whenever I order food (more so from fast food restaurants) the cashier responds positively and by the sound of their voice, appreciative. People come to respect you more. I hope to do as well teaching Tina manners and may she carry it on to her children.

A little bit about me...

I thought that I'd share a little info about myself. :) It would be neat to have this for my daughter and/or children (if we plan on having anymore) to read if anything were to happen to me. Since we don't have a video camera to document what's going on in our lives, I believe it's important to write about it. It would be sad if something were to happen to me now, Tina wouldn't remember a thing about me or the lovely relationship we have as mother and daugther. Anyways, I dedicate this to my baby girl Tina and any children we might possibly have :)

I was born in Otahuhu Auckland, New Zealand on November 1st, 1990 to Lopelini Tulikihihifo Lasitani and Semisi Fonua Lasitani. I'm full Tongan and I'm proud of it. I have three brothers Tau (the oldest), Vaea (2nd oldest), (me), and Keni (the youngest). I share a birthday with my brother Vaea. My full name is Mahina Kristie Aleyann Lasitani named by one of my mom's sisters, Luse. I was suppose to be named after my dad's mother, but my dad agreed to let Luse name me. Luse named me after her youngest sister (younger than my mom). She got my middle name from that one actress chick named Kristie Aley or something like that. Idk what the whole story is, but that's the info my mom gave me. My mom told me that I was a very quiet and mellow child. I grew up being very shy and reserved. I was not out-going. I think up until I graduated high school and I started attending BYU-Idaho that I started to socialize with people. I regret that I wasn't out-going in high school and didn't attend any activities. The only activities I participated in were church activites. I just went to school and came right back home. I played volleyball my freshman year and part of my sophmore year, but quit because the coaches sucked and they had favorites. I remember coming to practices and I was guranteed a spot on varsity my sophmore year, but didn't end up getting it. Then I find out some chick who just started playing and who never played in her life, joins volleyball and goes straight to varsity because she was a favorite in softball and our volleyball coach also coached softball. LAME! So I quit. One of the coaches came up to me and said he'd heard I was quitting and advised me not to and that I'd regret it. I quit and yes, I regretted it. :( I started playing volleyball with my cousins back in junior high. I played 2 years for a club called Club Union. Oh, the Club Union days. Lol. That's were I began to love volleyball. Anyways, that was the only sport I was involved in. I joined rugby for a short time before my mom told me to quit. I didn't have insurance and my mom wasn't going to pay for any injuries if I were to get hurt. :( I do wish I was more out going and joined more school activities and sports. My parents didn't really push us to. They were busy working to provide and their main focus and goal for us was our education. I was in the poly club for a while, but it wasn't orgnized plus it was small. Lol. So, for me, it was school then home. Tuesdays was mutual and some Saturdays were stake youth activites. I had friends, but never gone out with them. I still talk to a few of them today. I didn't go out to the mall or hang out at the movies. Only time I did was with cousins or with my little brother, but that was rarely. I didn't have a job until I attend Sana Ana Community College, but only lasted for 3 months before I moved to Idaho and attended BYU. My little brother had a job his senior year and he'd invite me to go to the mall with him. He shopped and I approved the outfits. Lol. Then, he'd let me pick 1 or 2 things to buy. He's the sweetest :)

Growing up Keni and I were best buddies. We are today! He is like the sister I never had. Lol.  I can't wait for his return from serving the Lord. I wasn't much of a tomboy or a girly girl. Growing up, my mom wouldn't let me go out and hang out with my brothers. When they went out with my cousins to watch movies, I wasn't allowed to go because I was a girl. I hated that! I remember crying one night because I could hear my brothers talking in their rooms, but I was alone in mine. I wished on serveral occasions that I had a sister, but I'm grateful to have my brothers. They've always been there for me and I know I can always count on them. I'm blessed with the best brothers!

Some random facts. My favorite color is blue and yellow. The only school dance I attended was senior prom and it was LAME! Went with my date, my bf at the time, ate, walked around downtown  disney, stopped by the dance, then went home at 11pm, my curfew. I love the beach! I love to work out. I started working out in junior high and it slowly died after I got married. Lol. Making time is hard now that I'm married and have a child. I love sea food. I just love to eat. I love Italian food. Pepperoni pizza is my all time fav :) I'm a nice person. I look very serious on the outside, but I'm really not. Lol. I might look like I'm mean mugging, but I'm not. I'm friendly, easy going, and get along well with pretty much everyone. I don't care involve myself in drama. I don't like to gossip, if I have something to say I'll say it to your face. I don't care about other peoples lives or problems. I like to just be by myself. I do a lot of things by myself and I have been since I was a little girl. I enjoy hiking. The longest hike I've gone on was a 17 mile hike I believe it was. It was at young women's camp and I was a beehive. It was suppose to be a total of 24 or something miles, but because there was lightning and pouring rain we headed back to the campsite. I'm a clean freak. My room has never been dirty. You can ask any of my family members. I pick up after myself. After I wear something, I hang it up or fold it and put it away. I've been doing my own laundry since I was in elemantary. I hate living in mess! I cannot sleep when my room, now house is dirty. I'm a CLEAN&ORGANIZED freak. Ask my college roommates. Lol. They'll tell ya! I only went to BYU for one year and returned home. I love to play the piano. I took lessons for about 4 years when I was 11. I play the organ. I love to draw. I won two art contests in middle school. One was for $500 bucks and the other $160. I don't draw at all now, but I'd love to get back into it again. I don't fluently talk tongan, but I understand it. I can say a few things, but not a lot. I love playing video games. I've been playing video games with my brothers from way back when. I love cartoons. I watched cartoons with my brothers saturday mornings on abc channel 4. Lol. Our favorite was dragon ball Z. Haha. I've out grown a few of those cartoons though, but I do find myself watching it sometimes now. Lol. I love listening to music. I enjoy listening to reggae, instrumentals, country, rap, hip-hop, but none of that hard rock stuff. I love action movies. I'm not much of chick flick, but I do watch it once in a while. I love to read a good book. I don't read much, but I need too! Well, something other than the Ensign or BofM. I told my dad that I wanted to be body builder. Sometimes, I still do...:) I love to lift weights.My first boyfriend was in junior high in the 7th grade. Did nothing, but see each other at school. Had my first kiss with him. A small peck of course. We broke up because his cousin told him I wanted to break up with him, and then told me he wanted to break up with me. That was the end of it. Lol. I had my first real kiss when I was a senior in high school. I bawled my eyes out and he felt terrible. He asked me why I was crying and I told him because I felt the spirit leave. Lol. I love to take walks. It clears my mind and fresh air will always do you good. I love clothes and shoes, but I hate shopping. I hate grocery shopping and clothes shopping. I'm not big on buying brand named clothing. I'm all for whatever I can afford and all about clearance :) .......

Anyways, I think I'll leave it at that. Lol. Before I bore you. There's a little bit of me :) I'm still much of the same person today, except that I'm less reserved and out going. A lot of my old hobbies like volleyball, piano, and drawing I do less of now because of time, but I'd love and should pursue my talent in playing the piano and drawing.

THE END.

2013

It's a new year y'all! I'm gratefull for everyone and everything that has transpired this past year that has brought me to where I am today. Most importantly, the man upstairs. Without Him, nothing would be possible.

We didn't do much to celebrate because baby girl and I were sick. We both had strep throat. :(  We just kept warm and watched TV at home with my parents. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just grateful that my baby girl is doing well. But man, after Christmas dinner with my family I fell asleep and I woke up sick. I caught a fever and then strep thorat...and diarrhea AND...two of my wisdom teeth started coming in. I had to have everything come at once. Hoiiii. Lol. I'm blessed with great parents and husband who helped take care of me and my baby.

I missed several weeks now with blogging, but I don't feel like going back re-writting everything that has already passed. My family is healthy, we have food in our fridge, Christmas was great, my parents came down to celebrate it with us, Tina turns 10 months in 3 days....oh yeah, I got to speak with my lil bro Elder Lasitani over the phone. Since my mom was down here, we all had a chance to talk to him. He could've skyped with us, but he preferred not to. He didn't want to get 'trunky' (term used by missionaries when they're home sick), especially since he still has 10 months left. We only had 30 minutes to talk with him, but it was a great 30 minutes. He left us with his last words baring his testimony in Spanish. It was pretty crazy.

My family and I have been looking forward for this year. My brother Vaea in prison will be released in May and hopefully will be able to continue to stay with us in the states AND Elder Lasitani will be returning home in September. We'll finally get to take a family pic with all of us and we're planning to take a trip. We've been talking about a cruise, but we'll see. :) YAY!!!!

As for my lil family's goals...We're living in my parents house that they left here in Utah and sharing it with my older bro Tau and his family. We plan to save up this year and hopefully move out by next year. It'll take a lot of sacrifice and hard work, but we're willing to pull through it. My parents want us to pay off all our debt while living in their house before we become home owners, that way we're not building up more debt. I'm eternally grateful for them for their hard work and help!!!! I also want my husband to return back to school and finish getting his degree. I might join him and take just two night classes. But we'll see, with John's work schedule now, it seems impossible for me to go back and it's been hard going to the gym. I was doing so good going to the gym everyday. I lost 5 lbs and I was gaining muscles in every right spot..and then his schedule changed and I haven't been back to the gym in 2 weeks. Ugh...FAIL! Lol. Anyways, I've set new goals and making the changes to make them come to pass!

This year is going to be a great year!!!! 2013. GRATEFUL&BLESSED!