An Uneventful Weekend

September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

We had a pretty normal and nice weekend at home! It was really uneventful – we pretty much did NOTHING but work on the house, clean up the yard, and get in some indoor and outdoor time. Here’s a look at it, one-sentence-per-photo style.The hole in our house is not fixed, but right now it’s at least covered up!Out to dinner for pizza.Saturday morning indoor arts & crafts while B cleans up the yard.Even superheros need to eat.Grocery shopping is a must on weekends.When it still feels like summer, you need to relax on the porch.Stroller runs and walks are good for the soul.Making nut butter is easy when you have a Vitamix; we replenished our peanut and almond butter supply.

FW got a big kid carseat!

And LM likes playing with the box.

LM also enjoyed ending the weekend with a visit with her baby cousin.

Questions for you:

Do you like uneventful weekends?
How often do you grocery shop?

Weekly Running Update: Just Some Miles

September 29, 2019September 27, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

This week was a pretty normal week in terms of running. Got in some miles, did some runs, you know, the usual. Here were the runs:

Some highlights from the week include:

Sunday I didn’t get any miles, because B and I were in Hocking Hills with friends. We did, however, get in a hike before we got in the car for the trip home. It was nice to get in a walk in nature.

The rest of the week included some runs in semi-fall like temps. The weather was in the 70s and 80s during the week, but in the mornings it was nice and cool. I even got in two 10ks! Wednesday’s 10K meant that I met my step goal around 8 a.m., which was great.

Some questions for you:

Has it been fall-like where you are?
Do you run when it’s dark outside?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

A Weekend Away With Friends: Hocking Hills

September 23, 2019September 22, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

B and I just got back from a weekend away with the kids. It was our first trip since our summer getaway to Toronto and Ithaca, and it was our first trip ever with some other couples with kids. And it was a success! We all got (some) sleep, had good food and had fun on some hiking trails. We spent the weekend away in Hocking Hills, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from our house (longer if you’re traveling with 2 kids and one gets carsick about halfway through …).We got into town around 8 ish or so on Friday night. We had dinner with the kids and just hung out for a while talking after the kids went to bed late. We were beat – the car ride down had not been easy. LM cried for a good portion of the trip, FW needed to get out to go to the bathroom when we were in the middle of nowhere, and then LM got carsick twice. But we did have this pie waiting for us when we got there (made by my friend Anson).Saturday, we started off with breakfast. I had made a French toast casserole that we just had to heat up before the day began. Our activities began with a drive to Ash Cave and a hike to the cave. We hiked the Gorge and Rim Trail. Those trails were only about 1/2 mile or so, so we ended up walking a bit on the Grandma Gatewood Trail before turning around and making it back to our car for a picnic lunch.After lunch, we opted for another trail – this time to Old Man’s Cave! We hiked the lower falls and Gorge Trail, both of which were fun and not too hard to do with the kids – we had the little ones in backpacks and preschoolers with us at all times (basically FW was holding my hand as we walked up the tons and tons of stairs and anytime we were along the cliffs).Then, back to the cabin for nap time. We finished the afternoon with a cookout, complete with s’mores and the s’mores cookie bars I had brought.

These were pretty good 🙂

Sunday morning we had to pack it up and leave. But not before one last hike! This time we walked a little around the property. It was 80s and the kids were getting tired so it wasn’t too long of a walk – just enough to get out some energy before the car ride home.

All in all, it was a great weekend. Being around 5 children at a time could be a little overwhelming, but I would definitely do it again!

Questions for you:

Have you been to Hocking Hills?
Have you done a trip with other couples and their families?

Weekly Running Update: Power Outage

September 22, 2019September 22, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 9 Comments

We survived nearly a week without power! Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but we survived FIVE days with no power and it really wasn’t that bad.One of the worst parts? How DARK the mornings were when I went out for runs. Luckily the power outage was centered around my neighborhood, so as soon as I got a few blocks away, I could see again. But man, it was so dark out on my street for those mornings that I was scared I was going to trip on something (including some debris from the storm). But, my anxiety was at an all-time high this week, and I needed those runs to help soothe my mind.Some highlights from the week:We started the week off with a race! There was a local 5k that we had signed up for and decided to push the kids in their strollers. The race was only 1 mile away from our house, so they also didn’t have power. They also had to change the course due to all the trees down. But, it was great to get out of the house with the kids in the midst of the power outage on the weekend. I’m also pretty proud of how I did. My first mile split was 10:00 minutes but as soon as I got away from the crowd, I was able to push FW pretty fast (for me).Saturday, our family spent the day in Hocking Hills and went for a few hikes with some friends. We hiked Ash Cave and Old Man’s Cave and I was able to meet my step goal that way.Isn’t this a gorgeous place to hike?I guess the power returning is another BIG highlight as well, but I don’t have any pictures of that.Some questions for you:

Do you have streetlights near you when you run?
How long have you been without power before?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

A Stormy Weekend: One Sentence Per Photo

September 17, 2019September 16, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 1 Comment

This post will be semi short (in terms of words), because we are still without power and internet. So in the meantime, here are some photos from our weekend, oneish-sentence-per-photo style.

We went out to breakfast for B’s birthday on Friday! The restaurant sang him happy birthday and he got to blow out a candle on a muffin 🙂

We had a date night and tried duck tongue for an appetizer.

Friday night we had a SERIOUS storm hit our neighborhood. Our neighbor’s tree limbs fell on our power and cable lines.

While we did have some car issues with the storm, thank goodness this was not my car (but it was on my street. There was a line of cars hit by a line of trees that all went down.

You can’t tell from the photo, but my driveway is between that down tree and the down power line in the distance. We were stuck in our driveway for a bit on Saturday.

That didn’t stop us from having fun at our block party! LM enjoyed some watermelon.

And FW and B did an egg toss (and lost).

Sunday morning included a 5k – we ran with the kids in stroller.

And the rest of the weekend included buying ice (for our coolers, since we have no working electricity/fridges), cleaning up our yards and dealing with the electric company. Here’s to hoping we get power back soon!

Some questions for you:

What’s the longest you’ve been without power?
Does your neighborhood have block parties?

Weekly Running Update: Sick Kids and Crazy Storms

September 16, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

We had an eventful week last week.

Sunday night brought the stomach flu to our house – FW was up throwing at night and spent Monday home sick from school. B got sick on Wednesday, but thankfully so far LM and I got spared. I was still able to get in a run most days, but took Monday off as we were up most of the night with the sick kiddo and I was also afraid to be out running while he was sick.

sick day

Then Friday night, our neighborhood got hit by a crazy storm – a microburst is what they’re calling it (similar to a tornado but part of a thunderstorm). We were out when it happened and barely made it home – each street we drove down had tree after tree down in the street, power lines down and even some wires AND trees on fire. It was crazy. Needless to say, Saturday I did not get in a run. We were without power and the streets were filled with downed power lines, smashed cars, debris, etc. I spent the day trying to help clean up and figure out what we had to do next to get our home back in order.

tree down on side of my driveway, power line on the otherside

there was some damage to one of our cars during the storm — but nothing like this!

Even with all of that, it was a good week mileage wise. This week we are without internet and power for some time, so blogging may be minimal, but I’m going to keep trying to run in the mornings. Hopefully power goes back on soon so the streets are brighter!

Some questions for you:

How do you fit in runs when you’re sick or taking care of sick family members?
Have you ever run in a crazy storm?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

B Goes Away, My Parents Come Visit

September 9, 2019September 8, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 2 Comments

My weekend was full of family, food and fun.

Friday night started with pizza at my sister-in-law’s house. The boys were out of town for my brother-in-law’s bachelor party, so my sisters-in-law, mother-in-law, the cousins, me, LM and FW got together for dinner.

But Saturday was when the real fun started. My parents had come in late Friday night, so when FW and LM woke up, they were so excited to see them. First thing, we walked to Luna for breakfast.

After breakfast, we headed to the aquarium. It was Grandparents Weekend and they were celebrating by having free admission for grandparents!

LM enjoyed seeing the fish.

But not as much as FW. He was so excited to spend time with my parents and see the sharks, turtles, etc.

After the aquarium and naptime, we hit up the nearby playground. The kids burned off some energy with my parents’ dog.

After takeout dinner, it was time to put the kids to bed and watch some TV. My parents and I watched a few episodes of Jack Ryan — I had never seen it before, but B has and now I’m hooked!

Sunday included a lot of stuff- but no real pictures! My parents left around 10 a.m. but we still managed to have a full day without them. The day included:

B getting home and picking up FW for his family’s golf outing
Some grocery shopping
A 5 mile run
A walk with LM while FW was golfing
Some playing outside

And now, I’m tired. I need a day to recover – having the kids to myself is hard!

Questions for you:

When was the last time you went to an aquarium?
Do you golf?

Weekly Running Update: Uneven Mileage

September 8, 2019September 7, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Do you try to run an evenish number of miles when you run?

I mean, if you get to 3.42 miles, do you keep going to get to 3.5? Or if you’re at 2.14 do you run to 2.2 or even 2.25 or 2.5?

I don’t (as you can see) at all. It doesn’t bother me to run 3.52 miles or anything like that. In fact, this week I almost hit 30 miles, but because I don’t run even numbers, I jusssst missed it. Here’s how the week turned out:

Some highlights from the week include:

Sunday I got in another bagel run with FW. We took the stroller out for a run to the bagel shop, picked up some fresh bagels and then ran back. It actually rained the whole time, but FW was a good sport.

I actually got in 2 stroller runs last week – because school was closed on Monday, we were home with the kids and I took FW out Sunday and Monday.

Okay, this is a non-running related highlight, but I also saw Mindy Kaling speak last week! She was a keynote at Content Marketing World and I was fangirling the entire time.

Some questions for you:

Do you run even numbers?
Have you ever seen a celebrity speak?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

3x The Weekend Fun

September 3, 2019September 3, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

What a fun long weekend! I wish it didn’t have to end. It was full of plenty of outdoor time, good food and even some work.

The weekend started with this amazing treat. Ham and cheese croissant from Stone Oven.

And it also included a pedicure and some reading.

Followed by watching the delivery truck drop off some supplies – B is redoing our back patio!

After much of the work was done, I took FW out for a short stroller run and we hit up the library on the way back.

We had our favorite pizza for dinner on the porch.

Sunday morning started with a stroller run – FW and I ran to the bagel shop again and brought home breakfast.

After breakfast, it was time to head the our favorite playground for a playdate.

Having friends with kids is amazing.

Then it was time to pick up some groceries. They had free ice cream samples!

And then we headed home for lunch on the porch.

The afternoon included more work on the patio and finding ways to stay entertained without getting in the way.

It was SO nice to also have Monday off and “sleep in” (as much as you can with a toddler and preschooler). Since the four of us were all home again, I took out FW for another stroller run.

It rained the entire time and I ended up soaked! But FW was a good sport.

The weather cleared up, and the afternoon included more work on the patio, and then we took a break to watch some of the airshow. Every Labor Day weekend in Cleveland, there is an airshow and tons of airplanes perform.

We then got in some quick playground time.

But then it was time to head home for dinner. B grilled for a nice Labor Day meal.

And just like that, our long weekend had come to an end. Between work and after work commitments, it’s going to be a busy week, so hopefully that means it goes by fast!

Questions for you:

Have you ever seen an airshow? My first one was in Cleveland.
Did you grill or cook out for Labor Day?

Weekly Running Update: 33 Miles

September 1, 2019September 1, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

This week was another great week in terms of running and mileage. I somehow ended up with 33+ miles and I’m pretty happy with it.

The mornings have been getting cooler, too – it’s been in the upper sixties and lower seventies when I go out, and that makes for a pretty pleasant run. Can the weather stay this way all year? I’m not ready for fall/winter yet!

Here’s a look at the weekly mileage:

Some highlights from the week include:

Sunday I got in a bagel run with FW. We took the stroller out for a run to the bagel shop, which is just 2ish miles or so away. We picked up some fresh bagels and then ran back.