Month: August 2018

First Trip as a Family of Four

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

We survived our first trip as a family of four! This past weekend, B, FW, LM and I took a long car trip to New Jersey for my cousin’s wedding. (Thus the later than typical posting) The wedding was on a Monday, so we decided to make a long weekend out of it, and hit the road Saturday morning, before coming back to Cleveland on Tuesday.

On the way there, we made plenty of stops to break up the trip and also make sure there was some fun involved. First, we stopped at the Shaker Woods Festival, a woodworking festival in Northeast Ohio. B actually bought some handmade wooden brooms for him and FW.

On the way out to Jersey, we also stopped in Pennsylvania to see Mitch, our friend from college. He and his wife, Becca (we went to their amazing lake wedding a few years ago) now live in PA and have a daughter about FW’s age!

FW and their daughter, Natalie, got to play.

It was a perfect place to stop and a great way to catch up. They made us an amazing dinner (there was bacon in every part of the meal) and I wish we could’ve stayed longer.

The next day, we had plans to meet up with my friend Jane, who lives in Brooklyn. It was a gorgeous day, and we decided to visit the Prospect Park Zoo to help entertain FW, who loves any and all animals.

FW also loved all the interactive exhibits.

Jane is one of my best friends from home, and I am so glad we got to catch up and she got to meet LM.

The next day was the wedding! We had the whole day to ourselves, so we first enjoyed breakfast at the hotel. FW liked the waffles.

After, we decided to drive a ways to get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty at Liberty Park.

There was also a playground, so FW was able to get out some energy.

Then, it was wedding time! It was a very traditional Jewish wedding, with many unique customs.

It was great to see my family, most whom I hadn’t seen since Christmas.

Including my brother, Greg, who lives in Berlin.

FW loved seeing his Nonna and Grandpa.

I loved showing everyone LM.

And of course celebrating the BEAUTIFUL bride.

And now we are back to reality … and I’m back to work from maternity leave. It was a nice summer home, and hopefully going back to work won’t be too difficult.

Some questions for you:

  • How many first cousins do you have?
  • Are you done with weddings for the season?

Tuesdays on the Run – BEST Running Week

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

I had the best running week last week since LM was born. It has been 3 months since she came into the world, and running has been going a little slowly. I have felt OK, but been doing 2 minutes per mile slower. This week, though, for most of my runs, I felt good AND found myself going a little faster. And Friday morning, I found myself doing my longest and fastest run since she was born!

Here are the miles:

And some highlights:

The week included 2 stroller runs, one with FW and one with LM.

I got in 1 treadmill run while LM played next to me and slept, but all the rest were outside.

And, as I mentioned, I got in my longest and fastest run!

I am pretty pumped about the progress made last week.

This week, I’ve been traveling, and haven’t been able to run (I have an 8+ hour car trip today and haven’t run yet this week). So hopefully, I’ll rest these active legs and then get more runs in again soon!

Some questions for you:

  • How long does it take you to recover after an injury or giving birth?
  • Do you have a smart watch you use to keep track of your runs?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Tuesdays on the Run – Feeling Better

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

Happy Tuesday! This week I finally started feeling better and my cold was gone. Aside from a few headaches here and there, I felt good enough to get in a few runs.

Here’s a bit how the week looked:

My legs were tired after Friday night’s 5k and Monday morning’s run was a little painful but my fastest yet!

I was pretty proud of the time. The rest of the week was back to normal, though, and slower.

LM and I got to enjoy a run/walk to the lake one day, too.

I am going to miss this SO MUCH when I go back to work next week!

Some questions for you:

  • How many days do you run?
  • Did it cool down near you this week?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

I Love Summertime

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

Summer is officially my favorite season. I know for many girls it’s fall — but I just love summertime and don’t want to see it end!

We had a wonderful summer weekend here. It started early with a date night for B and me – his mom watched both the kids and we got out for dinner and drinks. Getting out with two kids is HARD and I’m so grateful to have family in town to watch them!

Friday night, we got in some time on our porch after the kids were sleeping. We definitely have not done that enough since we moved in a little under a year ago, and sitting on the porch with white wine was pretty much the best way to spend a summer evening.

Saturday morning, we went for a little walk/run to the nearby farmers market. Yet another reason to love summer – all the local produce!

FW loves peaches, and I don’t blame him for not being able to wait to try one.

Saturday afternoon was my friend Cari’s baby shower! She is due in October and is having a little girl.

I’m so excited for her! She is going to be a great mommy- she already loves babies and kids.

That evening, we had plans to meet up with Dave and Anson for dinner- they had slow cooked a pork shoulder all day long and it was SO good.

This is all the meat that was left-

And I love a good cornbread.

After dinner, the kids played and we went for a little walk to a nearby community garden.

Sunday morning, I went for a run with FW. I pushed him in the stroller for 4 miles, a new postpartum record for me!

That afternoon, we took a walk to the bakery to buy some bread. Then, FW and I baked muffins.

See one missing? Someone had to eat one right when they cooled!

That evening, we enjoyed dinner with B’s family. As always, FW got to spend time with his cousins.

Some questions for you:

  • What’s on your end-of-summer bucket list?
  • Do you have any traveling coming up?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!

Tuesdays on the Run: Sick Week

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

Well, just as last week was a GREAT week for running, this week was not so great. It ended alright, but I started off the week with a cold that – combined with 2 kids and little sleep – knocked me out!

Often times, I’ll try to power through a run when I’m sick. This week, however, all I wanted to do was sleep! I finally felt a little better Wednesday, but LM woke up at 2:30 a.m. (after also being up at midnight with me) and just wouldn’t go back to sleep until nearly 7 a.m. (and FW got up at 6:30). I decided that running on 2.5 hours of sleep and being sick wasn’t the best idea, and thus the low mileage this week.

It wasn’t all bad this week, though – I got to do my first race since LM was born! Having only been cleared to run for a little over 4 weeks, I had no real time goals in mind and just wanted to run the whole time. I’m proud to say not only did I run the entire time, but it was my fastest run in ages!

Me and my cheering squad at the race

Some questions for you:

  • Do you prefer running at night or morning?
  • Have you done a nighttime race?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Friends Visit Plus a 5K and Triathlon

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

To say we had a busy weekend is an understatement. From 5 pm Friday through Sunday, we had something going on pretty much at ALL times! The weekend started with a 5K (for me) and ended with a triathlon (for B), but also included some park time, a cookout and friends visiting.

Friday night started with a race! It was actually my first race since LM was born. One of the boards that B is on was hosting a 5k fundraiser (The Sunset Sprint 5k) to kick off the USA Triathlon weekend that was taking place in Cleveland. The course finished through the triathletes’ finish chute and included most of the sprint’s 5k course.

I was excited to race in my first 5k since baby #2 was born and had really no expectations. I knew it was a semi-hilly course, and my goal was just to not walk it and perhaps get under 10 min/miles (my typical not-sprinting pace these days is slower). AND I was going to be running it with Mary who is faster than I am, so I was hoping to keep up with her for maybe a half a mile or so.

I was pleasantly surprised- maybe it was the race adrenaline, but I finished with a much better time than I expected, including running the first mile in the 8s!

Saturday, we got to spend part of the day with some friends who were in town with their kids. In the morning, we started the day with a playground and park followed by lunch. That night, everyone came over to our house for a cookout. B made chicken, eggplant, green onions, and I made a salad and cookies to go along with the meal.

It was fun to see all the kids together – but wow, 7 kids in our house was a little overwhelming.

Sunday morning started EARLY – I got up at 4:30 to feed LM before getting FW ready — we were headed out to watch B compete in his first triathlon! I’m so proud of B – he didn’t have much time to train after LM was born, and all his runs and bike rides were done with a kid either in a trailer or stroller.

Some of our friends came to celebrate B at the finish line – and brought donuts!

And we got a pic of most of the kids- minus Maddie and LM.

That afternoon, the four of us took a little walk out to lunch. I don’t know how B was still moving after his race but I was happy to get in some activity.

Sunday evening usually includes dinner with B’s family, but this Sunday instead was pizza night! We enjoyed pizza from Geraci’s before taking a family walk. Two family walks in one day (plus a triathlon for B) makes me a happy camper 🙂

Some questions for you:

  • Have you ever competed in a triathlon? Which was your hardest event?
  • How often do you eat pizza?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps.

Tuesdays on the Run – Best Week in a While

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 1 Comment

It was a GREAT week or me last week in terms in terms of running – I reached 20+ miles total for the week for the first time in a while! Woohoo! Excuse me while I do a happy dance.

And also, while I take a nap after that dance. Because I’ve been sick so I actually haven’t run since last Friday (womp womp),

So, while last week was pretty amazing (for me) in terms of running, I’m expecting much fewer mileage this week.

In the meantime, here are some photo highlights of last week’s runs:

A run/walk with LM

FW and I after Sunday’s stroller run

Highlights from the run … while my pace isn’t where it used to be, I’m hopefully getting there!

Some questions for you:

  • When was the last time you were sick?
  • Any tips for stroller running- what TO do or NOT to do?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

The Weekend We Got a Pool

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

Okay, the title is a bit misleading. Why? First, we didn’t get a REAL pool. Just a kiddie pool – but still a big one! Second, we didn’t just get it this weekend – we ordered it on Prime Day and are just finally using it because it’s been relatively cool the past few weekends!

With temps projected to be in the upper 80s to 90s this weekend, we knew it was finally time to blow it up and relax.

Here are a few highlights from the weekend:

Friday night included homemade pizza! B and FW made some pizza and we ended up eating it on the porch.

Saturday morning, B and FW went to get donuts and I stayed in bed (see aforementioned comment about feeling sick). When I did finally get up, I hung out with LM on the porch, made some cookies with FW and then we chilled in the pool.

Saturday night, we already had tickets to the Indians game, so B, FW and I went downtown to cheer on the Tribe (Grandma came over to babysit LM).

It was fun to hang out with just the three of us and I know FW enjoyed being the center of attention for a little bit.

Sunday was another pool day! This time, we invited Dave, Anson and their kids Celia and Maura over for some fun in the sun. We enjoyed lunch, pool time and some wagon rides.

Sunday ended – as usual – with dinner at B’s parents’ house. FW got in some good cousin time, playing games (including dominoes!).

Notice anything missing from our usual weekend activities? A run! I woke up feeling sick Saturday, do I played it pretty low key and only got in a few walls (which tired me out). Hopefully I’ll be feeling better soon!

Some questions for you:

  • Do you have a pool?
  • Do you have any weekend traditions?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!