We had our Cahoon reunion during Heritage Day weekend. It was oh, so much fun. It was also the first time to Canada without having a place of our own to stay. Happy to say that it was still as beautiful and peaceful as ever. We had the opportunity to stay at Grandma Cahoon's (which brought back so many memories). Rob and I both said we wanted to come back every year and just stay for a week. There's really something therapeutic about southern Alberta. Everything is simple, slow, gorgeous. This is a picture I took from the top of 27 (our family swimming hole). Chief Mountain, love the Rockies. 
One thing that's a bit disconcerting about being up here is the number of bears roaming around. So I carry my handy dandy bear spray. Jodi and I are ready for anything:) Bring it on furry friends. 
Isn't it ironic that the very next picture I took after the bear spray was this one in Waterton. We drove away from the ticket booth and I looked across the lake and saw something. I said, "Look at that fox over there!" Dad said, "That's not a fox, that's a bear!" Closely behind the first one appeared 2 little cubs. They started to swim across the lake. We followed the road to where they got out and they crossed it right in front of us! 
First thing on the agenda was to hike to Crandell lake. Great little hike, beautiful lake. The kids had a fabulous time in the water (which was surprisingly warm for Waterton). Brooky loved playing with the rocks (had to watch that close, many headed straight for the mouth). Livvy almost instantly soaked her clothes through so we said what the heck and stripped her down to her diaper. She sure plays hard!
My best friend and I had a great time. Can't remember why we're cracking up here. Just lucky to have Rob by my side. They just don't come better than him.
Just hanging out with my gorgeous cousins, Jena and Michelle.
Of course there has to be a little rock skipping. Come on Brad, you can do better than that! :)
Our hike back was a bit traumatic. Livvy was wiped out and would only let me hold her, as you can see. My back started killing me! So I tried to gently transfer her to the big back pack that Rob was carrying, but she wouldn't have it and neither would Brooky, so after much tears and strife on both our little girls' parts, and Rob and I inwardly:), I ended up just carrying her anyway. Somehow we made it! It made me appreciate the pioneers! 
Next on the agenda were the races at the park, though, we at first thought we might have to share it with a herd of deer. Sam and Megan took care of that:)
Following the races was the classic Cahoon program, all of the in-laws' favorite part. Mom spent countless hours on the song we sang. Grandma Cahoon loves birds and talks about them often. So Mom made up "The Bird Song," and changed the words to Johnny Cash's "I've been everywhere man" to "I've seen every bird kids." It was really creative. We sang it for Grandma, who of course loved it. Brooky is the darling little chicken Rob's holding. Sooo cute.
Saturday was the annual Heritage Days parade in Cardston. We took up almost half a block on both sides. Brooky is ready for some action!
Liv was funny. She had a bag for candy, but after the first few candies she was happy to just sit in her chair and eat them. We tried to get her to stand out where the other kids were and get more (something wrong with that picture, the parents trying to get the kid to get more candy)? But she just wanted to sit in her Canada chair. "What in the world?" What the heck kind of candy is this?" She bit into the shell of a peanut - it wasn't quite what she expected.
Had to get a shot of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police!
After the parade we all went out to 27 (named after section 27 on a land map). This has been a special place for the Cahoons for years and years. All growing up we would come out here and camp - catch minnows, swim, roast weinies and smores, build dams. I admit I was a little nervous fitting the whole Cahoon clan here, but it actually worked. The bank is much longer now, we just spread out all along it, it was so much fun. This shot is from the top on the way down to the swimming hole.
The cousins had a splendid time going up and down the creek with Grandma pushing them. 
Uncle Renny pulled us in the raft for a bit. Hard to believe that we all fit here at 27. Pretty sure I'm not alone when I say that this is a special place and I was happy Mom included it in the plans (and that Aunt Kathy brought those amazing chocolate cookies for the smores, mmmmm!. 
Hmmm. These men look quite pensive. What could they be talking about? Fish? The weather? Fox News?
Back at Grandma's. It was wonderful to stay with her. I remember these huge sinks growing up. Great for bathing! Liv and Brooks got a kick out of bathing in a sink!
"I think I'm having fun but I think I might also be stuck in this strange contraption!" This is the organ that has been here since before I can remember.
After the reunion, the Monson family camped in Mom and Dad's trailer in Waterton for a couple of days. We of course got Big Scoop ice cream everyday (at my insistence), played at the park, got penny candy and rented surreys at Pats, played at the lake, the usual Waterton activities. It was a grand time.
While we were riding our surreys, it started to rain and by the time we took them back it was pouring. We had to find shelter in Akamina along with buy umbrellas for the walk back to the trailer. I had Brooklyn in the hiking pack and carried Livvy and our umbrella and we stayed quite dry:) It was an adventure!
So, inspired by Rob's uncle and aunt - Ted and Sheila, we decided to do a 21 day cycle for cleansing and good health. This means an 8 day fresh veggie/fruit juice fast, 3 days raw food, 10 days 75% raw and 25% grains, beans, etc. (no meat). Here's a little synopsis of our fast. Day 1 - Both of us felt pretty good, normal fast but with juice. Thoughts: "We can totally do this!" Day 2 - Rob: awful, tired, yucky, canker sores. "I think my body's detoxing. Something's definitely happening." Jami: actually pretty good other than a bit tired. "This isn't as bad as I thought." Day 3 - Rob: good, had energy. "Maybe I can do this." Jami - woke up feeling like I might pass out, nauseous, headache, seriously all I could think about was food. While reading The 3 Little Pigs to Livvy, started to salivate thinking about ham and bacon. Passed In-n-Out with the kiddies. "No one would know. I could pull over, gorge myself, keep on going." "This is crazy, what the heck are we doing?" Not a great day, definitely detoxing. Day 4 - Rob: not great, tired and a little foggy. Jami - much better than day 3, stopped craving food, more energy, nausea gone, shocked that I could go 4 days without eating solid food. Day 5 - Both of us felt pretty good. An anonymous friend dropped off some fresh grape juice. Mmmm so good.
Day 6 - Rob: great, more energy, clearer mind. "I might want to do the 21 day fast!"
Jami: body feels good, happy to be losing weight, nearly gagged on the veggie juice, planning for healthy meals and cooking for Livvy, food on mind a lot. "No way am I doing the 21 day fast. So ready to not drink veggie juice anymore!" "Glad I'm doing this because I cleaned all the junk food out of our house and am planning to cook much healthier from now on." "Raw food sounds soooo good to me, which it has never done before!!"
Day 7 - Good for both. Rob - sinus pressure still buggin'! Jami - I miss food, but I'm okay.
Day 8 - The end is near, so ready to eat. Jami had plans for exactly what to eat to break our fast - raspberries, blueberries, pineapple, Mmmmmm.
Here's an idea of what we drank. Carrot, celery, apple, strawberry juice, and once in a while a bit of coconut milk for a nutty creaminess. Best thing - fresh apple juice heated up with a little cinnamon. This was all done by Rob's juicer that he got from Grandma Cooper.
Rob has struggled a lot with allergies (a family curse) and so has eaten really healthy and tried lots of different diets to try and get rid of them. He doesn't mind these nasty concoctions, just look at that smile:)
Mmm. Drink it down.
I, on the other hand, am not used to yucky concoctions, though I do eat and cook pretty healthy (healthily?) and have come a long way from eating mostly processed foods like corn dogs and tater tots, (still love them, by the way).
We have now done the 3 days raw food only and are on the 10 days of 75% raw, 25% other, but no meat. I am actually learning to cook vegetarian meals and they're delicious! For a long time I've wanted to cook with less meat. Now that we can eat again, any food sounds good, so it's easier to load up on the healthy stuff and it tastes wonderful! We've eaten so many fruit and green salads with cottage cheese and I think I'm addicted! It's definitely more expensive to eat like this, but so worth it. We're also eating with "Hara hachi bu" in mind. This is a Japanese phrase that means "eat til' you're 80% full." I didn't really know what that meant, so I've just been trying to stop after the first helping and pay attention to how I feel. Rob's a pro at this.
We went to Park City during our 3 days of raw foods and visited our favorite grocery store - Whole Foods. It's so pricey but the minute you walk in you just feel healthier and like you're saving the planet somehow, it's weird. So we gorged ourselves on the salad bar and of course, cottage cheese. Also, have you ever tried chocolate almond milk? Good stuff. On the whole, we'd have to say this was definitely worth it in so many ways. Weight loss, feel better generally, eating much healthier (trying to pass that on to Olivia - though salad hasn't meshed with her yet - she's got the chewing down, just not the swallowing - it usually ends up back in her bowl:( ).
Rob really doesn't like parades, but do I really need to say that? Look at that fake smile! We actually got up early to see the hot air balloons go up, but got stuck behind a 5K run and missed it. So we did the next best thing and went to the parade:) 
Look at these faces. It's worth sitting through a parade just to see them get so excited! 
Livvy's favorite things were the bands and the balloons.
Later on that evening we went to Ted and Sheila's for food, family, fun, and fireworks! It was a great time. Liv immediately went downstairs to retrieve her favorite doll and proceeded to snuggle with her on the couch.
Ted and Sheila really know how to have a great time. I wish I would have taken pictures of all the beautiful dishes Sheila had (I have her blog - Sheila, just click on it if you want to get great party food ideas). 
What a cutie pie!
Everyone got a kick out of Livvy downing one of Ted's spectacular hamburgers. She's got an appetite like her mother, that girl.
I took Olivia swimming a couple of weeks ago and she went under water just long enough to panic. So now she has a bit of an aversion to water:( Hopefully with swimming lessons starting next week, she'll get over it. 
Part of the festivities included a relay in the pool. We had to put on a swim cap, then put on this big ol' t-shirt and swim to the end, take it off and give it to your teammate. It was a great time.
It's harder than it looks!
Can you say pyro? Rob was giddy (pretty sure Ted was too) to have a torch and a load of fireworks - great combination. With the new law allowing aerials, we had a great show. There were several fireworks going off at the same time in different areas. It was a mini Stadium of Fire there in Draper.
Male bonding over torches.
Now if this isn't just the cutest picture. Livvy started out timid, but after holding her first sparkler, she couldn't get enough. She did get burned, but was a great sport. She loved the fireworks - no sign of fatigue:)
Just enjoying the show. We think the neighbors easily spent a few thousand on their fireworks. They were pretty awesome.
What a fun evening. Olivia was attached to Amber and Garrett. When she first saw Garrett, she ran up to him and hugged his legs. He was shocked that she remembered him from our last visit. She's pretty amazing that way. Thanks for a great time Ted and Sheila!
This was our first official Canada Day celebration at Mom and Dad's house. Notice the fantastic job Mom did on the maple leaf? Those things are hard to draw, let alone ice! Way to go Mom.
First matter of business - the trampoline. Brooky wasn't quite sure what to make of it - but she did get laughing after a bit.
I think Olivia could jump all day long. Last time we visited, we couldn't find her anywhere in the house, so everybody looked outside. We found her at the neighbor's jumping on their tramp. Since then Dad has set up his tramp so we don't lose anymore grandkids:)
So Tyson's sister-in-law was visiting from Canada and got a bunch of dorky Canada stuff, and, here we are. Rob you're such a great sport!
Tyson, with his new father's day gift - a portable barbeque, was the master BBQ man. 
Livvy had a great time, as always, with her cousins.
We had some rockin' fireworks to end the night. Actually, it was the same firework for most of the night, just different packages:) The grand finale was Steve, who picked up the firework and started running around the field - just to give it a little extra spice. It was pretty funny.
Our sweet early bird Brooky, up at 6:00 a.m. sharp! 
