A new blog

For anyone still looking for photos of Ruby at this blog - we've started a new one. Go have a look at www.thomson-times.blogspot.com

Face paint and potatoes

What a day! First we went to the market, where Ruby had her first ever face painting session. She was a little somber about it at first, but then after several peeks in the mirror, decided she loved it.

Then, in the afternoon, she and Daddy went digging for potatoes and wonder of wonders... found some! Just like buried treasure!!

Summer fun

Here are a few more of Ruby's summer holiday moments...

Talking on the phone ... again! (2 going on 16!)

Having a 'nap' with Uncle Gareth at a work picnic

Her first 'flower in the hair' moment

Giving a tea party for her 'friends'

The fabulous doll-house she got for Xmas from Grandad and Nan.

Summer holidays

Ruby had the great pleasure of her Grandpa-Gillian's company (from Scotland) for 3 weeks of the summer holidays. It's supposed to be Grandpa AND Gillian, but they arrived as a couple and became one in Ruby's vocab. "Who gave that to you?" "Grandpagillian" was the usual answer! We went to some fabulous places in the Upper North Island and Ruby basked in all the attention.

Our first trip together was to the zoo where she and Grandpa looked at the Cheetahs

and Daddy sat with her to watch the elephant display, and she got some close-up time with the giraffe, who was happy to take the celery from her outstretched hand. Quite happy to wander off with Grandpa as they explored together. And we all got reminded that Ruby suits Mummy's glasses far better than Mummy does - it's a certain attitude that goes with it I think!

It wasn't long after Grandpa-Gillian arrived that Ruby discovered Grandpa can be convinced to play 'cars' and that he made a good take-off pad for helicopters.

Of course there were intense discussions about which cars needed petrol next and which needed to go through the carwash. Important stuff!Grandpa discovered that Ruby loves shells, so every trip to the beach resulted in him bringing back more for her collection. She dutifully washed them (great way to keep cool in the summer heat, sitting out on the deck with a bucket of water and some 'dirty' shells), and now they get

driven around in her equally extensive collection of trucks.

Little Miss Cheeky is never far away...

Ruby and Grandpa also discovered a shared delight in Monarch Butterflys.We spent a great deal of time in or around water - in this pool was the first time she announced "my do-it myself!" and struggled to get out of our arms to swim 'herself'. A little over-confident, she did of course, sink, but gave it two good goes before she decided we might be right and a boogy board was the best option!

These are the Kai Iwi lakes just north of Dargaville. So shallow - so blue - so calm!!

As always, ever the adrenalin junky, being bounced down the stairs on a bushwalk was the best fun!

THE tea set

The nature vs nurture debate is over... despite Owen's best attempts with toy cars, trucks, garages and permanent trousers, the girl genes have won through and she is permanently attached to dolly, and the tea set needed no instructions! It's a bit magic, this teapot - apparently it does tea and coffee!

Xmas 2008

As always, Santa and all Ruby's friends and family have been very generous to our girl. Aunty Thirza always wraps pressies in layers and layers of colourful tissue, enhancing the experience no end for a kid who loves to unwrap stuff!!
Brilliant idea Aunty Thirza - mismatched-on-purpose socks! They were a great hit, and when Ruby inspected this photos she said "ha, dat's funny!"

Santa knows that Ruby hates the plug coming out of the bath - or to be more precise, hates the noise it makes - and wondered if a turtle plug might make a difference. Certainly something to try given her love of all things 'turtle'!

Was there ever a more appropriate mask?

Blocks! What every girl wants! (and a pink necklace and matching bracelet!)

A bit of pre-xmas fun!

Hannah and Gareth gave our little girly-girl a fairy costume! The grin says it all, surely!

2008 draws to a close

... and so we look at a few more of Ruby's favourite things.

Cleaning - a new passion, probably more to do with the pink gloves than anything else. Oh and let's not forget the favourite purple pyjamas that match her purple bottle!

Reading - this has long been a fave. However, the reading material hasn't included the NZ Herald until just recently. Probably more interesting than "Spot"!

But - nothing beats being read to by your mates, Anna and Paul!

Showing off - "look at me" is her new favourite phrase. This instance involved her really really really wanting to get up and us really really really not wanting to. Next thing we knew "look at me" and the silly billy had all 3 dummies in her mouth at once. Funny kid!

Uses of steps

This weekend we bought Ruby a set of steps. Supposedly to help her reach the tap to wash her hands, and later on to reach the toilet. Apparently you can use a set of steps for more than just that...

A few of her favourite things

Oh my gosh it's been a long time since updating this! Sorry!! And I don't have much time before I will fall off my chair with tiredness, so I will make this short on comments and long on photos... here are a few of the people, activities and things that make Ruby's world go round ...



Her 'new' cot. In fact it's not new, she's just got a very lazy Mummy & Daddy who had her in a portacot for a long time and have only just got round to moving the proper cot to where we want it. She's in love with her 'big' cot. I don't anticipate any trouble when it comes to moving to a 'big girl's bed'!




Cheesy grins. Nine times out of ten, this is the only kind of grin you get when a camera is about these days. Ridiculous! But check out those curls!!!









Reading. Books. Stories. When she wakes up, the first thing she asks for is a book, and then she will sit in bed (or for a treat, in Mummy's recently vacated side of the bed) and read books for a good half hour.





Mummy's sunglasses! Or anyone's sunglasses actually.












Water play. You will see that Mummy and Daddy have learned to put a towel on the floor first.

Her morning porridge - she can just about make it by herself now, is certainly a very accomplished measurer and stirrer. This time, she had a new book, so was more interested in that while waiting.

Swimming - every Tuesday morning is swimming 'lessons'. She's loved it right from the start and will now happily take a flying leap off the floating mat or side of the pool. The best entertainment in town!

Sleeping on Daddy. Our last-resort trick to get the monster off to sleep on afternoons that have been too exciting. This time Mia the cat thought it looked comfy too. Poor Owen... although he admits to loving it!

Moose (being cuddled) and Piglet (doing pillow duty). Her two best night-time mates.

Presents!!! "open-it!" Well versed in the art of opening presents now. Should have Xmas sorted this year!!

Ice cream. Otherwise known as 'ceam!' And "frozen treat" when we're contemplating getting one but don't want her yelling "ceam" at the top of her voice while we discuss it!

The piano. Loves the keys. Loves the buttons.

Loves the posing possibilities.

Loves making silly faces....

Best friends Amber and Jasmyn (eating chocolate birthday cake)

Baking - this one was a surprise chocolate birthday cake for Daddy

The biggest surprise was that it turned out ok given the amount of flour we lost in the process.

Baking - she was convinced these were meatballs, but they were in fact the most hideous biscuits known to mankind - Molasses cookies - Mummy's seriously misguided attempt to get more iron into our diet. Even Ruby could only eat half before she announced "yukky" and handed it back. Still, they were fun to make!

Drawing on the easel she got for Xmas

And on the other side is a magnetic chalkboard - perfect for letters and numbers!

Dogs. Dogs. Dogs. Any animals in fact. This was our downstairs neighbour's dog for a wee while. It was mutual love at first sight.

The milk at the end of a bowl of ricies. Actually, it was a couple of lovely boys who live in Wgtn that taught her this particular trick. The "mmm" noise coming from within the bowl has to be heard in person for full effect!

Gareth and Hannah - two of her favourite people in the whole wide world. Ruby was very sick on her birthday so we had to cancel her party. G&H came round one weeknight a bit later with party hats and balloons and made a little girl's night.