11 years ago today...

11 years ago today, my father Patrick James Baldwin Sr. passed away from a heart attack. I cant believe time has flown by this fast. It seems as if just yesterday my mom found him dead in his bed. I was obviously young at the time and dont really remember a ton about him but what I do remember will stay with me for forever! Even though he's not here on this earth with our family, I know he's watching over us and loves us very much. I know if he was here today he would be my all time best friend but I know that the Lord is taking care of him at this time. I cant wait until we can meet up again and be together as a family again.

I know that the Lord gives us these trials and tribulations to overcome even though many times it seems as if there is no hope in sight. There is, I promise. Sometimes I feel like "well if I can survive my own father's death to the best of my ability, I can survive & really do practically anything." Thats hard to remember though, so thats why we have those people in our lives to help us with our strengths and also our weaknesses. I really am sooo grateful for the many friends I have and also including the few best friends that have stuck by my side the whole way. I couldnt ask for better people in my life right now.

Also mom, thank you so much for EVERYTHING you have done for me and also the fam. I really dont know where I would be in life right now if I didnt have you beside me every step of the way. I love you so much and I couldnt ask for a better mother, cz I have the best there ever is!

Thanks to everyone in my life who set the great example for me and also for putting up with me really! This time of year is obviously really hard for me and I couldnt make it through if I didnt have you all by my side. I have this feeling in my heart that my dad is thanking each and every single one of you for teaching how to grow up and how to be a better person. When that day comes, you all will be able to meet him and he will be one of the greatest guys you will meet. Like I have mentioned, when that day comes I know that we will be able to be together as a family again and I honestly cant wait for that day.

Dad-I want you to know that even know your up in heaven, I think about you everyday and you are always on my mind. I carry your picture around with me in the car too. I miss you very very much and I love you with my whole heart. I cant wait to see you again and be able to hug and kiss you again. Some days are super hard remembering that you arent here but then I think about things and I want to be just like you and I'm trying my hardest. Dad I know that no guy will be as good as you were but I'll try and find one that you'll approve of and know that I would be happy with. I wont let you down dad, remember I love you so very much.

Brutal car accident

I think that the pictures explain this better and quicker than I can on here. But basically this past Saturday night a bunch of my friends and I were coming back from Park City down Parley's Canyon and he got rear ended and smashed up against the middle concrete barrier of the freeway. Were still dealing with the insurance companies to pay since it wasnt my car's fault and it was the other drivers fault. And if that doesnt work, sueing is my next option that I am not affraid of doing at this point in time. But we'll see how things work out and hopefully keep you all posted. I'll maybe even post the story of the accident here soon but thats only if I have time to sit down and do that lol. (Remember the silver nissan altima is my car and the white super damaged car is the other drivers car). But this is how it looked at the time of the accident....

GoInG pRiVaTe.....

Yes its true, were going private! Hopefully you have access to our blog to be updated with our lives and if you dont, then email me and I will send you an invite! Thanks for being such great friends and for following our blog.
-Marie

Christmas with US!

This was our first Christmas together and lets just say that it was freakin awesome! The two pictures above were from a work Christmas party that we had about a week ago and then this picture here on the right was from The Roof Restaurant where Gary took me for one of my Christmas presents. The food was delicious and the view was spectacular as you can see. And yes, this was our table, it was fabulous!

Gary is such an amazing guy and I couldnt be happier. Now I know most people say this too and also that this is suppose to happen, but Gary is seriously the best guy that I have ever dated by far [and the best looking!]. He makes me wanna be a better person and I have learned so much from him and still am learning [I know hard to believe]. He has taught me so much and I am soooo grateful to have him in my life. I am so blessed to have such a great guy! Thanks for everything you have done for me Gary and also mainly for putting up with me. I love every minute we spend together.

Audrey's 5th Birthday & Christmas 2009

Our little Audrey turned 5 on Christmas this year. I cant believe, time has flown by, she's getting so big! Christmas this year we celebrated it at my uncle Aaron's house again. Almost everyone was there. I love Christmas time with my family. Also the day after Christmas I took my mom to a Jazz Basketball game vs the 76ers for her Christmas present. The Jazz won by 21 points. We had lower bowl tickts practically right on the floor. It was awe-some!!

Chick Flicks

A couple of weeks ago Gary and I went to dinner and then back to my house to watch a movie. He let me pick the movie that night so what did I pick.....Bride Wars. He was suprisngly willing to watch it and barely survived it. lol. So last night, I was at Smiths and I rented 2 movies, Ice Age and Julie & Julia. Later that night, after I made dinner we put in Ice Age (Gary hates Ice Age). So 10 minutes into this movie he started falling asleep, so I decided to put in the Julie & Julia movie and to see if he would stay awake for that. Yes, he did stay awake even though he critized most of the movie, he still was willing to watch.

Now here's the question, what guy sits down and watches 2 chick flick movies with their girlfriend and still is in a good mood about it? It just makes you realize what kind of a guy you have and how much they really honestly do care.

Christmas cards

UGH......Christmas cards are such a great idea but they take soooooo much time! This year, I wrote up a letter about each of the family members past year in their life and it took a page and a half! I couldnt believe it but yeah alot happens in a year. Most of you will get yours but if you dont, here is our lovely 2009 Christmas Card. With the mailed ones, we sent a family picture too.
More to come this month but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Last November, most of us spent a lot of our time at Intermountain Medical Center with Grandma Zona. As you can remember, she had a heart-attack and was taken to the ER. A few days later, she underwent a quadruple bypass heart surgery. Which later we had the disheartening news of finding out that only one of the four bypasses actually worked and still work still this day. With all the prayers and thoughts, today grandma is doing better than she has in the past year. It was a little rocky at first but now she’s doing well. She has always said that she never wanted to be a pill popper, but I guess if that’s what it comes down to, you gotta keep pressing on. She gets tired easily but she still has that eagerly mind to get housework and other such things done.
Now grandma wasn’t the only one with health problems, Lisa had a few of her own unfortunately. To this day, Mom is struggling with some bladder problems but is still trekin’ on. The doctors first suspected there was a tumor on her bladder but later figured out that that was false. They don’t quite know what’s wrong. She’s a fighter if I ever knew one. Albertsons was bought out and is now Associated Foods Market, a little different atmosphere for her, but still giving it her all like she’s always done. Lisa not only keeps busy with work but also somehow makes time to tear up bushes in the backyard. After all the hard work it looks better out there, I know hard to believe. She’s always doing housework to make our home cleaner and a more attractive place.
David still lives in Cedar City, Utah and is doing great. Hard to believe but he has gained a few pounds. His instructors are working with him on getting back to his normal weight. He still is involved with the Chrysalis program and gets to do many activities and sports. Speaking of sports, we know David has a little competitive side; he has participated in many Special Olympic sports thru this past year. He has walked away with numerous medals and trophies for sporting events such as bowling, basketball and bike riding. Yes, he still rides his bike non-stop. David comes home for the major holidays throughout the year, which it’s really good to see him.
After Marie totaled grandma’s car late last year, she has a new car in which she treats like her pride and joy. Marie also reunited with her older brother Patrick who lives in Grantsville, who’s a son of her biological father. Now she wishes to reunite with her other siblings that have her same father. Over the summer Marie learned how to “professionally” decorate cakes. She has made many cakes for many different events already even if she’s still in the learning stage. She also decided that she was sick of the big bushes in the front yard so she tore them out last year and made a new front porch. Marie has lost some friends and made many great ones over the past year, but couldn’t be happier with the choices she has made for herself.
Little Muff [the dog] has had quite a hard year for herself. She is getting old and has arthritis in her joints. There’s times when she can hardly walk on her legs. She has a suspected non-cancerous tumor on one of her hind legs. Recently she was diagnosed with an ACL tear in which makes her un-steady and not able to hardly walk at all. We realize she’s a dog but she’s our dog and she’s just as apart of the family just as anyone else is.
Some other big events in our families life whether uplifting or not was Aunt Welmia’s death. She was 88 years old and was a true fighter. She had many health problems but still kicked it full throttle all the way till the end. She’s thought of every day and is greatly missed. On a lighter and much happier note, we have been blessed with two new additions to our extended family. Alysse and Kindra both married into the family this year and we couldn’t be happier. With the three little kids; Audrey, Charlie, and Baylee, their keeping us all young or at least young at heart. With the exciting news of another little baby addition next year, our whole family is ecstatic. Slowly our family is growing with all these little ones.
From driving down to Cedar City to taking annoying family pictures, we come together. Even though were spread out across the state, were one, one family. As we sit down our family realizes that these worldly things and events don’t matter. It’s you as our family and friends that matter the most. Thank you for being apart of our lives, we love you.