Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Sweet things my baby says

First and foremost this week "I not a baby, mamma!" very indignantly and with hands on hips.
She's also in a charming baby phase of adding y's on the end of everything. So last night at dinner "Oh, it's goody, goody, goody, mamma!" said while jumping up and down on her chair and scarfing down spagetti squash with a vegetarian tomato sauce.
Or instead of Yoo Hoo, which is quite cute enough, she's yelling "Yoo Hooey! Peek a booey!"
Adorable.
Merry Christmas to all and I hope that your days are filled with joy.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Christmas Events

Here's some pics of Adara and I just before IATSE Christmas and at the Eaton's centre tree. One could be forgiven for thinking that I had posted these purely because I look good in them; because it is true! :)


This morning was the IATSE (theatrical stage hands union) Christmas party. They do a party every year that is just for the kids of the members and the grandkids of the members. It's the rockingest kids Christmas party in town. Even better, it starts at 9 am on a Sunday, a time when no stage hands are working, and is done before the matinee call. Santa was there, and Adara tickled his nose with her cows tail (at her dad's suggestion, as Santa was vaguely familiar).
Here's Adara in front of the massive blow up train. The classic moment of the party was when all of the IATSE parents were desperately trying to hold up the train by sheer strength as it collapsed with kids in it. A kid had opened the end and let all of the air out, resulting in the collapse. Clearly, it was the non IATSE half of the families there that were trying to hold it up. Of course, I'd do the same thing in that situation "ARgh! I shall hold this train up and protect my child by sheer will, argh!"


Here's the overall scene of the IATSE breakfast at nine am. A three piece band, massive blow up train, puppeteer/stilt walker/balloon animal maker, face painting, slides, and a lotta theatrical lighting.


Adara and her dada.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A Few of my Favourite Things

I've had a couple of pretty hard weeks. On weeks like these, it soothes me to take a moment and think about some of my favourite people. Thanks to all of the family and friends for your help this last few weeks; we couldn't do it without you.



Friday, November 20, 2009

Sick It Up!

So, for those who have been missing my scintillating facebook updates, we're all sick.
On Monday, Adara got sent home from daycare with a fever. Len took her to the hospital and she was diagnosed with H1N1. Adara has already had one half of the flu shot for this, but isn't eligible for the 2nd half for another half week. So, I'm doing my biggest fundraiser of the year (raised $40,000 bucks in one night), while Len is home with Adara with H1N1.
Tuesday: We all stay home as Len and I have sore throats and don't want to infect others if we have it. We try to give Adara the tamiflu that she was supposed to have but she throws it up. She's pretty seriously sick with the highest fever we've ever seen. We just hang out, take care of her and watch tv.

Wednesday: Len and I wake up with ridiculously, excrutiatingly painful sore throats and some sniffles. No fever. Adara wakes up with s small fever, but eats. We all stay home again as it's still not clear what the heck is going on. Adara is stupid cranky and mean, but little fever, a bit of sore tummy and it seems like the half dose of anti-virus has done it's job. We stop the tamiflu as it seems to be the only thing making her worse.

Thursday: I hardly sleep all night my throat is so sore and I don't speak unless I have to all day. Adara has no fever but is really tired, Len clearly has a nasty assed cold. I go to the hospital and am diagnosed with..... Strep Throat. What?! So, Len, Adara and I have been managing to be in the same house with H1N1, strep throat and a cold and not passing it to each other. Wicked weird! They give me antibiotics, but I have to grab some codeine because the pain is too bad to eat and I can't take the antibiotics on an empty tummy. We are all advised to still stay home in case we have Adara's H1N1.

Friday: I'm still stupid sick. We've called in the troops and sent Adara home with mom and dad as we're all a little worried that she'll get the strep too. I have slept for the most part, my throat is still killing me and eating turns my tummy.

So, the good thing about being sick is that you're free to watch as much tv and read as many crappy magazines as you want. The bad thing about being sick with a two year old is that you're free to watch as much treehouse tv as you want and be poked, kicked and whined at while you try to read your magazine.
Tonight, with Adara safely home with mom and dad, I'm watching Ellen while blogging and all hopped up on codeine. Woo HOO!
Tomorrow morning I will sleep in for as long as I want with no guilt for the first time in seventeen months(when Len took Adara out west).
So, that's it from the Stannard-Fry house. Pity us, love us, but don't hug us, at least until our contagious period passes, which is tomorrow morning according to public health.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Goin' On a Lion Hunt


This is how Adara dresses up when she's "Goin' huntin' for bears!!! Growl!!!"

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I not Seepin'!



This is Adara, "not tired and not seepin'". Len and I were running around the house doing housework and cooking one sunday morning and suddenly looked up to find her asleep on the futon. This has never happened before; she simply doesn't fall asleep unless put in her bed or the carseat. I think that she must have just had the wonderful comfy warm feeling of activity around her and just gave in.

Tricks

The other day Adara asked me to call "Yiam" which is what she calls her cousin Liam. So, I went and got the phone, put it on speaker and started dialing. As I dialed I heard the upstairs extension ringing. I figured that I must have miss pressed something and ran upstairs to see what had happened and turn it off. Then, ran back down, turned the phone that I was using on and off, back on speaker phone and started dialing. Immediately, the upstairs phone started ringing again. Thinking "man I'm dumb,how did I do that twice" I ran back up. The upstairs phone stopped ringing, I came back down and started the dialing sequence again. The third time that this happened I came running back downstairs to see Adara, standing at the base of the phone, pushing the page other phone button and smiling like an angel.
Devil Child.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I love my Doctor

I really do,he's an awesome man,and his staff rock too. We went out yesterday and got Adara's H1N1 shot. It was one hour, in and out, no problems, no long waits. But more importantly, in the midst of all of this chaos of fear mongering and worry over H1N1 they were cheerful, joking and human. In discussing last week at Adara's checkup if I should get her the shot, my Doctor started the conversation with "Look, I'm suspicious of "the man" too, but I think that we gotta stop being paranoid and just do it this time". I love that summing up of all of my fears.
I think that we all spend a lot of time putting down our healthcare system and bitching about the people who work in it. I just wanted to give a quick shout out to some truly fantastic people in the lives of my family.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Halloween- First trick or Treat


For Adara's first time trick or treating we were joined by Griffin (in the cowboy Woody outfit) and Diego who was a bumblebee. It was a wild afternoon in our house of babies and families (6 adults, 3 babies, one more on the way) and eating and drinking and food making. But, miraculously we all sat down to dinner at one table at 5:30pm,had a somewhat calm dinner and made it out trick or treating for 6:30pm. Adara loved trotting right up to neighbours houses and saying hello. However, as always, she refused to eat chocolate, so she had three suckers from her candy,and that was about it.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A week of opposites

Good 1) I got to negotiate a contract with a major producer here in Toronto that I've always wanted to work with, and I did a good job
Bad : I wasn't very excited by it and didn't have the energy, time or babysitter to celebrate

Good 2) We're getting to know our neighbours finally after five years here. They speak to us on the street, people are friendly and kind and I'm looking forward to Halloween
Bad: I got pushed down three stairs by an angry woman on the subway who was determined to reach her train. Stupid Toronto, stupidity.

Good 3) Adara is full of out of nowhere statements that "she loves us"

Bad: This morning she walked towards me with her hand raised and said "I'm going to hit you" and then did. And then over the course of the next twenty minutes of being kept in time out in her room, did it four more times. Just because she can.

What a strange week of ups and downs.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Box Series




I think that every kid has one of these, a favourite box that gets used in a variety of ways. Adara's best loved box activity is to sit in it naked except for her new pink/camoflauge winter boots.

Friday, October 16, 2009


Hello my gorgeous, smart, funny two year old. Happy birthday.
Two years ago today Len and I were in hospital, half asleep watching you sleeping in the isolette beside us. You fit in your fathers hand.
In the past year, the big milestones have all been language. You've gone from "ma ma" to " I kiss the boys and then I chase them". Quite a leap! You are also full of love lately telling me "I love you mamma" but also "go way mama, I do self (myself)". You are sweet and kind and genuine, and occasionally a bit of a monster!
Lately you talk a lot about how you need a "pak pak to go to school" This kind of breaks my heart, because suddenly I can see the day coming when it will be true; and then, I find that I can see all of your days ahead. I want to hold you forever in my arms and sing you "rock a bye, baby" like you ask for all of the time now. Those moments are so precioius as I'm starting to realize just how fleeting they are.
I love you baby and I'm so proud of who you've become this year; gentle and loving, pushy and demanding, you are MY daughter to the core!
Happy Birthday!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

My Baby

Is awesome right now. Fun and silly, full of imaginative games. The latest thing is the addition of an imaginary friend Gabrielle. (the name of one of our friends 10 month old baby). Gabrielle is often hungry or wants a "ba-ba" (bottle) or a cuddle. Because he is a baby, we must concede to these requests, and Adara is happy to be the recipient of the things that Gabrielle would like.
There's also been lots of discussion of going to school lately and the need for a "pak-pak" (backpack). She's in such a hurry to be a big girl now, I wish I could reverse time.
Two years old next week...

Monday, October 5, 2009

Swimming, Swimming in my swimming pool...


This is Adara's new "swimming Pool". She pulls the cushion off the chaise, then lays on it on her belly and pretends to swim. Or sometimes just hangs out in her little fort with a pile of books and a nice soft cushion (supplied by dada) behind her back. Ah, the sweet life of a toddler!

Friday, October 2, 2009

Cute things Adara says

Adara's newest thing is calling me by my name. At the park the other day she informed someone as she pointed at me "That my mamma, her name Kwendwa". I asked her what daddy's name was, and she responded "Da-Da". Of course.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Adara's really very early 2nd birthday party

We celebrated Adara's birthday this past weekend as it was the only weekend day that we all had together until mid November. We had some friends over with their kids and just hung out in the backyard and house, had some food, adults drank some beer, kids played with playdough. All in all, very low tech and easy.
The highlight of the event was definitely this cake...
When I asked a week or so a go if she wanted a cake for her birthday she said yes and promptly went and got a magazine that we had been looking at earlier that week and pointed out this aquarium cake that she wanted. Fortunately, it was super easy and Adara loved helping me mix the batter and put on the little fish.
When I lit the candles and everyone started singing happy birthday to her, it was like it was the best moment of her life. She was in complete awe of the fact that she was the centre of attention and this was her moment. I, of course, missed videoing it, because I was busy holding the cake and such.

So, we're going to do the whole cake and candles thing again when my parents come for thanksgiving, only with pie ('cause none of us like cake, except for Adara) and this time with a video camera ready and running. I can't wait to catch some of that two year old pure joy!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Weekend of Play

Here are the long ago promised pics of Adara at play at Kristen's house with Griffin and Liam. So many cute babies, so little time to remember to post!


And before you ask me Liam, I have no idea why the photo of you and Adara is so small. If you were here I'm sure that you could fix it in a second smarty pants, but I'm newish to this computer thing ya know! Sheesh, nine year old tech geniuses! :)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Phantom Fantastic

Last night was the 20th anniversary party for the original cast and crew of The Phantom of The Opera, a production that took Toronto by storm, upped the standards of commercial Canadian theatre and transformed many peoples lives. Len, as a very young man, worked on the show. I, as a highschool student came to see the show while he was working on it, although I did not know it at the time.
So, Len went to the amazing party last night with lots of wonderful folks, and came home, amongst other things, with a phantom of the opera reunion t-shirt signed by Neve Campbell, Rebecca Caine and Colm Wilkinson. I accepted it as typical theatre swag, threw it on and merrily went on doing the dishes.
Until it suddenly struck me. As a fourteen year old, seeing Phantom was life changing. I couldn't stop talking about it. I bought a souvenir poster and a ridiculous pendant necklace. I was completely swept away by this bigger then life, romantic, gorgeous production, and by the idea that people lived their lives and made their living by creating these fantasies. It's one of the reasons (along with Anne of Green Gables at Charlottetown, Cats at the Kitchener arena, and The Black Bonspiel of Willy Macrimmon at Blyth) that I went into theatre. To create this kind of magic.
So, here I am twenty years later, being all "been there, done that" about a phantom tshirt signed by two of it's stars, and one who became a great star after the fact. Amazing actor/singers who have played all over the world. Damn, that's exciting! So, I'm going to put my super casual, never star struck producer persona to the side for a minute. I'm going to take a moment to be star struck, to be grateful and stunned for how the world brought me to marry this man, and to remember how it feels to be fourteen, in love with theatre and life and convinced that making theatre would be the best job in the world. Because, really, it is.

Sunday, September 20, 2009



Today, Adara and I had a great morning out with Zoe and Alex for Alex's second birthday at Whittamore farm.

We drove tractors, played in houses and ran through tree houses with very large slides that Adara fearlessly threw herself down headfirst.

Adara also went into her 2nd bouncy house ( a pumpkin actually) and it went far better then the one at Christmas where she simply cried her head off until I took her out. This time she didn't want to come out and I felt very guilty when I pulled her out, only to go on to other fun.
We didn't get a chance to do the kids racetrack (on rider vehicles), the corn maze or the spiders web, so we'll definitely have to go back again.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Fountain Fun

Tonight Adara wandered into the middle of the gushing founts of the local water park. I thought about stopping her because it was cold and we didn't have other clothes, and all kinds of other things. But then, as I watched her leap in the water in sheer abandon, I remembered a wonderful evening in Goderich when I was about sixteen. I found myself spontaneously diving in the town fountain with my best friend and some older teenagers who I really admired and was kind of scared of. It was an awesome night that I had forgotten until I saw Adara leaping into foreign and forbidden waters today. So, we came home very dirty and very wet.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Here's some pics from our weekend in Owen Sound. More to come with the gorgeous Griffin and Liam in them too.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Magic

If I hit you with my wand, you WILL turn into a frog! So don't even think about "time out"....

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

33 and Phtttt.... (say it out loud to yourself)

I decided tonight that after having had a lovely early birthday party with friends on sunday and being treated to breakfast and lunch out for the past two days, that I would complete my lovely bday week by refusing to do any laundry, dishes or housecleaning on my actual bday, today. A good theory...
Until the baby peed on the couch (you have to be a parent to understand how this occurs). Thus, I had to take the couch cover and pillows off, and wash everything. Which resulted in me finding the "cheese cup". Again, other parents will be familiar with the cheese cup/bottle/sippy cup that once was glorious milk. How long ago is the question... This was my first cheese cup and I hope never to do this again.
So, now I'm doing what any sensible mom does in these situations, drink. Thanks for the crazy blueberry wheat beer, Dennie!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Piggy Tails



Yep, it's official. My baby is grown up enough for piggy tails. She's so sweet, but man is time flying!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Flat or Fat

Over the last few weeks I have been desperately searching for a new pair of jeans. This has never been a problem for me before, I try on four pairs at the gap and buy one. But, suddenly the gap fits me all wrong. So, since I don't have any time to shop when I'm with the baby, I've been fitting in five minutes of shopping here and there between meetings and events, which fortunately take me all over town, so to lots of shops. I've tried on probably 20 pairs in the last three weeks and didn't like any of them.
I was in Bayfield with my sister on the weekend and tried on a pair that she thought looked great. I thought that they looked ok, but maybe made my butt look a bit flat. Kristen says "Flat, right, not fat? "... thanks Kris. So, I didn't buy the $100 pair of jeans, because I was certain that my butt looked flat, and nothing could shake the idea. On a patio after I asked Kristen if she thought that the problem was that I wasn't thrilled with how I looked right now as opposed to not being thrilled with the jeans. We reached no conclusions, but had a good conversation/beer, as is my families tradition!
So, yesterday before a meeting at 10 am, I rip into the Bay to check out their jeans. And, lo and behold, find a perfect pair of jeans, that do not flatten my bum, are DKNY and are on sale for $40! This was meant to be, the gods were lookin' out for me! They made my butt look Flat, so that my wallet could stay Fat!

Angel, my Bella

Monday, August 17, 2009

Feeling Virtous, er virtuos... smug!

About three weekends ago I decided that this was the day, I would wash all of the windows in the house. Now, you must understand that in the five years that we've lived in this house, I have every summer washed either the upstairs or downstairs windows, but never both. For, while there are only eight windows in my house, they are old double sliders, so there are 37 panes of glass. Really, a lot of glass. So, Adara, decided to be quite helpful really and with some soapy sponges and much "Here mamma, I wash, I wash", I got through 27 panes of glass and was feeling quite proud of myself and like I might even brag to my mother (who washes all of her windows twice yearly and always has) about this. And then, Adara knocked over a bottle of bubble soap and had a fit about it, and my window cleaning ended, alas, short of my goal for yet another year. Because, really, that was the moment, and it ain't comin' again and that, dear readers, is that.

Friday, August 14, 2009

The Hat



My mother purchased a funky safari style hat for Adara with frogs and lizards on it. A week after, Mason Adara's best friend at daycare, was crying and Adara offered him the hat to make him feel better. He took it and our daycare worker Paula, sheepishly admitted that it had become his favourite hat and I said " No problem, keep it , Adara has lots". About 2 months later, Adara decided that she wanted the hat back and Mason didn't care at that point, so it came home.
About two weeks after that, Diego visited with his parents Julia and Rafa. They all took a liking to the hat. Adara decided that it looked cute on Diego, and lo and behold, it went home with Diego as Adara incessantly said "Here, for Iego"
So, Grammy and Poppa, I'm sorry that Adara isn't wearing it, but this is surely the most beloved and well traveled hat in our baby circle!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Lovin' On DaDa

Thanks for the New Duds Auntie Kristen

Tonight's Dinner

Len asked what I wanted for dinner tonight when I got home and he went to work and I said just a cold summer dinner nothing fancy.


This is what we got: a picnic for two done up on all of my favourite colourful summer dishes. Olives, bread, crackers, roasted red pepper dip, 3 kinds of my favourite stinky cheeses, cheddar for Adara, cold roast beef, pears, strawberries and peaches.
Delightful and little miss was very pleased to have a picnic, naked except for a bib!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Two more pics

Here's Adara expressing her joy over some roaster red pepper dip and babba ganoush and potato chips. And the awesome Liam and Adara pairing!


In her Glory


This is just one of many pics from our beach weekend with Aunt's Ruth and Carole along with the entirety of my mother's family, Aunt Lois, Uncle Roy, Cousins, Shelly, Mike, Lana and Blair, my sister Kristen, her husband Greg, my nephew Liam, plus my parents. The last time that I saw all of my mom's family in the same weekend like that was at my own wedding weekend. It was great, and the focus of beach activities and the two little kids, made it fantastic! Liam was a super star babysitter as always and Adara just couldn't get enough of him!
In other recent events, Len took me out for an amazing evening and spoiled me rotten for our anniversary. He showed up at my office with appropriate clothes for me, plus the entirety of my makeup case from home just so I'd have everything that I needed, then whisked me off to dinner.
Last weekend, we joined Jenn, Steve, Griffin and friends for one day camping excursion near Alliston. The rain stayed away for a good four hours so we got in a swim and outside play before hiding under the many and various tarps that Jenn the tarp master set up.
More pics from the cottage will be coming as there were some fantastic ones!