Joining the Ranks

Wow~

I finally take the plunge to create a blog for our family and I am not even sure what to write; possibly not a good sign! Anyone who knows me understands that I am usually not as a loss for words but this may be that moment.

So, a little about our family. First off, we live in Japan...actually, the island of Okinawa. Dana is a dentist for the Air Force and we are lucky enough to live on a tropical island for a few years (ask me how lucky I am in the summer~not so much!). It is beautiful and busy all in the same breath. A massive coral reef surrounds the island so it is a haven for snorkelers and divers. We have lived here for about 5 months and are just now starting to feel a bit "settled in." Our boys don't realize how good they have it to live within walking distance to a great beach. The ocean, the East China Sea, is right out our door (well, technically just past the parking garage but STILL!).

Where did I come up with the name of our blog you ask (you were asking weren't you)? Well, let me tell you. Hermit crabs are everywhere on the beaches here; big ones and little ones. The boys LOVE to find the crabs! The tide pools and the beach are crawling with them (and once even my laundry basket when Logan put some "neat shells" in his pocket for a collection~ACK!). So, that covers the crabs~n~shells portion. Now, for Shisa Dogs; they are so neat! They are a symbolic creature in statue form that many Japanese homes and businesses use for "protection." Here is a link to Wikipedia for a quick read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shisa . We LOVE the Shisa! They are also called ShiShi. They usually come in pairs one "dog" being female and the other male. The male is to ward of any evil and usually has his mouth open. The female will have her mouth closed as to keep in the "happiness" of the home. Love it! So, there you have it...the name of our blog.

To sum up our life here we:

• Live in an apartment (mommy DOES NOT want to sleep with geckos)


• drive old cars


• don't watch TV (costs to much to put up the satellite only to take it down every typhoon)


• explore neato castle ruins


• play on the beach


• snorkel to find Nemo and his friends


• watch the whale sharks in the biggest aquarium ever (well 2nd biggest!)


• eat lots of yummy Japanese food


• learning karate to burn off said Japanese food


• drive really far for Church

Ok, not the most exciting list but we do really like it here! So, sit back and be ready for lots of pictures as the camera is almost always in action.

I will end for now because you know what? It is bedtime for kids and we looooove bedtime. :)