Spring Break, Tulips, Parties, and Causes

How is that for an all-encompassing blog title?! :) Prepare for picture diarrhea...I've had a lot of events in recent weeks!

First, my dear parentals came to visit during my mom's spring break. Nothing is more fun that family time! I took a day and half off work to play with them for my own little spring break. Here is my momma and little Sophie Bug.
This picture makes me laugh so much. I had to include it. Getting that vomit out made Buggy so happy. Look at my mom's face! Hahah! I love it!Me and Ame
This picture makes me so happy too. Jack was being 2, and Deeds was copying him. Haha!
My next adventure was my first visit to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Holy lovely! I never knew how big and beautiful that place is. My friends, Heather and Emily, joined me. Emily refuses to be in pictures, so here is me and Heather with Emily as photographer.
Here are a few shots that I took there.
Let the parties begin...the first was a party that Heather organized with some friends who were in the Midvale East 7th ward back when I first started going to the ward. Me, Heather, Casey Meek, and Adrien Swenson. Marchelle Morley came too, but I forgot to bust out the camera until after she had left. Lame me! It was soooo nice to catch up with these amazing women! Casey is actually in the family ward that I am attending now. Side note...yes, I am officially too old to be in a YSA ward, so I have started going to a family ward. I still frequently have moments of panic about being in a ward where I know next to no one and I have no church-related social activities. My social life used to revolve around the ward, so it is a continual adjustment, but my new ward is great! And thank heaven for Casey being there!
The next party was for Cinco de Mayo. We had a pinata, enchiladas, chips, salsa and guacamole, and Spanish rice. Yummmm! It was really just a good excuse to throw a party and play with friends. So much fun! Here is Brett destroying the pinata.
Some peeps at the party - Eric Campbell, Nathan Jones, Brian Lambson, and Brett.
Me and Brian
We had to get creative on how to hang the pinata. Thank goodness Kendall is to tall and Tricia is so brave to be up on that ladder while people swing a bat below. Kendall, Brett, me, Preston (hiding behind Mario), Olivia, and Tricia. What a great party! Feliz Cinco de Mayo!First of the causes...Tricia had told me about the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure months and months ago, and we planned on running it. Olivia, Tricia, and I volunteered at the registration desk the night before the race. There was a great atmosphere there. Everyone was so excited for this event. We even got free purple volunteer t-shirts. I love purple!
Then we got up bright and early Saturday morning for the 5k race. It was held downtown at the Gateway Mall. This was the first race that Amy and I were able to run together. It was hopefully the first of many! I never thought in a million years that we would run a race together. I once upon a time was very anti-running (and when I say "anti", I mean "ANTI"!). Well, I have changed my ways, friends! So fun! I'm trying to talk her into doing a half marathon with me this summer.
These are my running buddies. We run every Saturday morning, and we have started running 2-3 nights a week. That half marathon is coming faster than we realize! Brett, Olivia, me and Heather.

This was the whole crew...Olivia, Heather, Amy, me, Brett, Tricia, Tricia's mom, and Paige (Tricia's sister).
Post race with my "pink eye".
I'm a nerd! This really was such a fun race! So inspiring to see all the people there with peoples' names pinned on their back who had either died from breast cancer or were breast cancer survivors. Amy wrote "Earl the Pearl" on her paper in remembrance of Dan's stellar awesome grandpa who passed away from breast cancer. You can definitely count me in for this race next year! There were over 18,000 people there for the race. So much pink!
The next cause was the walk for Crohn's and Colitis. For those who don't know, my bro-in-law, Dan, has Crohn's disease. Ever since he was diagnosed, we have participated in this walk. It is a great time every year! Sophie had an ear infection at the time and had a rash everywhere from her antibiotics. Poor little Buggy! She's still the cutest on the earth!
Jack had a smashing good time jumping in the bounce house.
I love Buggy's little flip flops so I had to include this picture.
Sophie didn't last long once we started walking. It was held at Liberty Park downtown. The loop around the park is about 2 miles. She's such a little doll face!
Jack was a little less pleasant than Sophie during the walk. He just wanted to run and play and pick dandelions and be his usual crazy self. Instead he spent a significant amount of time on each of our shoulders and wasn't very happy about it.
The Grossen fam walking for Crohn's.
And the last of the parties...my dear friend, Brett, turned 30. Welcome to the club!! We had a group of friends over for dinner and then had cake and ice cream and pie.
Brett loves my apple pie more than anyone I know, so I made him one for this birthday. He blew out his candles in the pie.
I was so happy that my friend, Haley, and her fiancee, Brandon, could be there. Engaged people fall off the face of the earth and I don't really love it! Love these two!
More friends - Melissa Soria, Brenna Larkin, Brett, and Olivia.
So this picture is funny! I wanted to know what it felt like to lean my head down on someone like everyone on earth does to me. So Haley hunkered down and tippy toed it. Haha!
Since I'm pretty sure Brett doesn't read my blog, I will just say a little blurb about him. I love this guy! He is the kindest, most caring, thoughtful, and loyal person I know. Not to mention he is so stinkin' funny! I've known him for years, but we didn't really become good friends until last summer. We both love to hike, camp, and run. We have big plans for this summer if it will ever stop raining and snowing here! I have been blessed with truly incredible friends who love me and want the best for me. What a priceless gift! Brett is one of these friends. I don't know what I would do without him! Happy Birthday, friend!
And that is my last few weeks. I'm staying busy, staying healthy, and having all sorts of fun! Sorry about the picture diarrhea...I hope there's medication for that!