The title of this blog fits our situation just perfectly. I'm having a hard time finding the words to begin the story. I'll start with the background.
JT and I have 2 girls that live in our basement. One really likes animals and said she would be happy to watch ours any time we went out of town. Naturally, we took her up on the offer when we left for California. Things didn't go so well from there on out.
1. Urine...and lots of it. Our carpets were SOAKED! It smelled sooo bad. It took forever to get it under control. Mia is lucky to be alive.
2. Mia chewed up JT's basketball shorts.
3. Mia shredded my boppy. The filling was strewn up and down our hall.
4. Mia chewed up a section of our carpet.
5. Snickers is gone. Our "basement girl" took Mia out once and our cat ran out. It was during a snowstorm so we're hoping she found another home. Either way, she's gone.
It was the worst possible homecoming I could ever imagine! It was very emotional for us. Thank goodness it's over!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Last but not least...
Up until now I have blogged about our trip to California, our visit with the Herrans, the baby blessing itself, and the family time with the Trouts. All that's left is the visit with the Mezas! As I was going through photos picking which ones I would post, I realized that I didn't take any of the kids with either set of grandparents. In fact, the only reason there are pictures of the kids with my parents is because we left our camera at their house and said "have fun" while JT and I left for a date. So Bonnie, in case I forget to ask and you end up reading this, please email some pictures from that weekend if you have any!
Cousin J'Lene and Delilah
Cousin Heather and Delilah.
Tia Kenya and Delilah...I'm beginning to think someone stole Porter.
cousin Sidney and Delilah. Hmmm....
AH! There's Porter! His Tio John stole him. John's girlfriend Kelly held Delilah.
My cousin Hannah and Delilah.
Sweet little Sophie and Eliza holding the twins.
John taking a "nice" picture with Kelly.
My Tia Kembly and the twins. It was at this point that she promptly ran away with them!
Delilah and Grandpa Meza
Porter getting kisses from Grandma Meza
Porter having a funny face moment with Grandma Meza
The twins and great-Lita
The twins and great-Lito
Well, this concludes our baby blessing saga. Thank you to those of you who bore with me. We really are grateful for all the love and support our California and Nevada friends and family have shown us. The kids really are missing out on something special by being so far away. Maybe someday we'll be able to come home for good!
*Back to the story*
After we spent time with the Trouts it was time to head over to my Tia Kembly's for the Meza family gathering. We decided to change the kids. Delilah didn't have a dress to change into but Porter did have a tuxedo. :) I really didn't want him staining his and his daddy's blessing outfit. Plus, he just looked so absolutely adorable in it!
See? I told you so. By the time we actually left for my Tia's house the twins were being anxiously awaited. We got 3 or so phone calls on our way up. When we got there it was the usual chaos. We were happy that JT's parents and Katie were able to come with us. It was sweet of them to come even though it's hard not knowing anyone!
This one is the twins with Bill and Kathryn. They're adopted Tio & Tia. 
Cousin J'Lene and Delilah
Cousin Heather and Delilah. Tia Kenya and Delilah...I'm beginning to think someone stole Porter.
cousin Sidney and Delilah. Hmmm....
AH! There's Porter! His Tio John stole him. John's girlfriend Kelly held Delilah.
My cousin Hannah and Delilah.
Sweet little Sophie and Eliza holding the twins.
John taking a "nice" picture with Kelly.
My Tia Kembly and the twins. It was at this point that she promptly ran away with them!My cousin Karen feeding Porter.
Tia Jillian feeding Delilah. Who stole her headband?!
This is a random one of JT trying to steal Porter's pacifier while at his parents house. I seriously can't believe I didn't get ANY of the grandparents!!! I'm so sorry.
We luckily have these photos thanks to Jillian and Jarom. This is Grandpa Meza with Delilah.
The twins and their great-Lita and great-Lito.
Delilah with a happy great-Lita and Lito.
Tia Jillian feeding Delilah. Who stole her headband?!
This is a random one of JT trying to steal Porter's pacifier while at his parents house. I seriously can't believe I didn't get ANY of the grandparents!!! I'm so sorry.We luckily have these photos thanks to Jillian and Jarom. This is Grandpa Meza with Delilah. The twins and their great-Lita and great-Lito.
Delilah with a happy great-Lita and Lito.
Delilah and Grandpa Meza
Porter getting kisses from Grandma Meza
Porter having a funny face moment with Grandma Meza
The twins and great-Lita
The twins and great-Lito
Well, this concludes our baby blessing saga. Thank you to those of you who bore with me. We really are grateful for all the love and support our California and Nevada friends and family have shown us. The kids really are missing out on something special by being so far away. Maybe someday we'll be able to come home for good!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Blessing day with the Trouts
The 4 of us didnt stick around church very long before heading over to Grandma and Grandpa Trouts house. It wasn't long before the rest of the family joined us! Below is Delilah giving Megan a very concerned look.
Kaleen and Porter
Aunt Katie with cousin Reighlynn in-utero :) Did I spell that right?
Great Grandpa Trout chatting with Aunt Katie
Grandpa Trout
JT and his Uncle Rick
Grandma Trout & JT's Aunt Linda
The n we began taking the group shots. This is the twins with their great grandparents.
4 generations of Trout men
The twins with their Great Aunt and Uncle and second (?) cousins
Kaleen and Porter
Aunt Katie with cousin Reighlynn in-utero :) Did I spell that right?
Great Grandpa Trout chatting with Aunt Katie
Grandpa Trout
JT and his Uncle Rick
Grandma Trout & JT's Aunt Linda
The n we began taking the group shots. This is the twins with their great grandparents.
4 generations of Trout men
The twins with their Great Aunt and Uncle and second (?) cousins
Delilah with the Trout men and a very hip grandpa ;)
the twins with the menfolk
YAY! We finally start to have candid photos of the four of us!
The Trout women
The Trout women
A very sweet daddy-son moment
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Baby Blessing
Sunday morning arrived bright and early. We got ourselves dressed and headed out to the church. Delilah's dress was made by her very own Grandma Trout! Since she had also made my wedding dress, she pulled out the extra fabric, lace, and rhinestones she had from my gown and made one for Delilah! Porter got to wear the exact same blessing outfit JT wore when HE was blessed! Back when we began planning it all JT kept telling me how special it all was. It really was.
We knew it was still risky to take the babies directly into a room full of potentially germ-laden people so we kept the twins in the foyer for the beginning of Sacrament. The ward was getting a new bishopric that day and had packed the hall. After the Sacrament had been passed Bishop Jensen announced the baby blessings. JT scooped up Delilah in her beautiful little dress and walked to the front of the congregation. Mike, Uncle Rick, and Grandpa Trout joined JT. From my side of the family he had my dad, John, Lito, Tio Greg, Tio Michael, and Tony join the circle. JT held Delilah in his arms while the men all placed their hands underneath her and bowed their heads for the blessing. Jarom held the microphone for JT as he began to speak. The blessing was beautiful and heartfelt. Delilah's name was added to the records of the church. When he finished the blessing JT held her up for the whole congregation to see. He was met with a general chuckle.
Knowing that my family was extensive and that we wanted everyone involved in the blessing, we decided to split them up between the twins so that the circle wasn't TOO big. I carried Porter up to the front of the congregation and handed him off to JT and took Delilah from his arms. I stepped to the side. JT's side of the family stayed, as did my dad, brother, and grandpa. This time Tio Balta and David joined the circle. Bolton had a cold and wouldn't risk getting Porter sick by joining in. Once again the circle closed and this time JT blessed our little boy.
Looking back on those two blessings I have to say that the experience was all very surreal. You know those moments you wait for all your life that seem to rush past you once they finally arrive? That's how it was for me. I told JT it was the most important day of my life. At first he cocked an eyebrow at me saying "well, what about our wedding day?" Of course I reassured him about our wedding day but explained that the baby blessing was the culmination of what was started that day. The biggest and most wonderful dream of my life wasn't to get married. No, I had dreamt of more. My dream was to marry a wonderful man who loved me and to have children with him that we would raise together in the church. Blessing Porter and Delilah and having their names added to the records of the church was it. No matter how many more children we have now, we've done it! I'm living my dream. I was SO happy. I sincerely hope that Porter and Delilah derive strength from that blessing. As they grow up and prepare to receive their patriarchal blessings, they'll always have this one to look back on. In it they'll feel the love of both their earthly father and their Heavenly Father. There's nothing more I could ask for.
We knew it was still risky to take the babies directly into a room full of potentially germ-laden people so we kept the twins in the foyer for the beginning of Sacrament. The ward was getting a new bishopric that day and had packed the hall. After the Sacrament had been passed Bishop Jensen announced the baby blessings. JT scooped up Delilah in her beautiful little dress and walked to the front of the congregation. Mike, Uncle Rick, and Grandpa Trout joined JT. From my side of the family he had my dad, John, Lito, Tio Greg, Tio Michael, and Tony join the circle. JT held Delilah in his arms while the men all placed their hands underneath her and bowed their heads for the blessing. Jarom held the microphone for JT as he began to speak. The blessing was beautiful and heartfelt. Delilah's name was added to the records of the church. When he finished the blessing JT held her up for the whole congregation to see. He was met with a general chuckle.
Knowing that my family was extensive and that we wanted everyone involved in the blessing, we decided to split them up between the twins so that the circle wasn't TOO big. I carried Porter up to the front of the congregation and handed him off to JT and took Delilah from his arms. I stepped to the side. JT's side of the family stayed, as did my dad, brother, and grandpa. This time Tio Balta and David joined the circle. Bolton had a cold and wouldn't risk getting Porter sick by joining in. Once again the circle closed and this time JT blessed our little boy.
Looking back on those two blessings I have to say that the experience was all very surreal. You know those moments you wait for all your life that seem to rush past you once they finally arrive? That's how it was for me. I told JT it was the most important day of my life. At first he cocked an eyebrow at me saying "well, what about our wedding day?" Of course I reassured him about our wedding day but explained that the baby blessing was the culmination of what was started that day. The biggest and most wonderful dream of my life wasn't to get married. No, I had dreamt of more. My dream was to marry a wonderful man who loved me and to have children with him that we would raise together in the church. Blessing Porter and Delilah and having their names added to the records of the church was it. No matter how many more children we have now, we've done it! I'm living my dream. I was SO happy. I sincerely hope that Porter and Delilah derive strength from that blessing. As they grow up and prepare to receive their patriarchal blessings, they'll always have this one to look back on. In it they'll feel the love of both their earthly father and their Heavenly Father. There's nothing more I could ask for.
Babies 1st visit to Caliornia--Herran style
We survived it! We packed the kids into the car and arrived in Las Vegas without any problems. JT and I had fun playing ridiculous games along the way. One was naming as many animals as we could think of. When it looked like I might win JT began saying "black bear...brown bear...black bear". He still thinks he won. 
Porter and Delilah got to meet their Great Great Grandma Herran. She looked pretty spiffy for the event!
We were also happy to have them meet their Great Grandma Trout. Porter loved her cuddling abilities from the start.
Cheryl talking with Grandma Trout. The table behind them is filled with Bear Pit BBQ food. It's AWESOME. Seriously.
These pictures were so adorable! Both of Dawn's kids held the babies like seasoned pros.
Great Great Grandma was brave enough to tackle them both at once! It took me forever to try that one.
Pictures with the menfolk:
Pictures with the girls:
I love the chaos that breaks out directly after a photo has been taken. Unfortunately, this is the only photo we have of Wendy holding one of the kids.
Great Great Grandma Herran holding Porter and Great Grandma Trout holding Delilah
Both babies with their Great Grandma and Grandpa Trout
Lastly, one more group shot:
I had been concerned because previous car rides hadn't gone as smoothly, but I guess I underestimated the power of the freeway. The babies enjoyed being pampered by Aunt Linda before heading into California the next morning. We spent some time with JT's parents and my own the rest of the day.
Saturday we all piled into the Trout van and drove to San Fernando to visit the Herran side of the family. I thought the babies would've been sick of driving, but they were perfectly serene!
Porter and Delilah got to meet their Great Great Grandma Herran. She looked pretty spiffy for the event!We were also happy to have them meet their Great Grandma Trout. Porter loved her cuddling abilities from the start.
Cheryl talking with Grandma Trout. The table behind them is filled with Bear Pit BBQ food. It's AWESOME. Seriously.
These pictures were so adorable! Both of Dawn's kids held the babies like seasoned pros.
Great Great Grandma was brave enough to tackle them both at once! It took me forever to try that one.
Pictures with the menfolk:
Pictures with the girls:
I love the chaos that breaks out directly after a photo has been taken. Unfortunately, this is the only photo we have of Wendy holding one of the kids.
Great Great Grandma Herran holding Porter and Great Grandma Trout holding Delilah
Both babies with their Great Grandma and Grandpa Trout
Lastly, one more group shot:
We were happy that the babies had the opportunity to meet the Herran side of the family. It was especially important to JT. He will definitely cherish those memories.
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