The boys catch trout

While they were here Richard and Pet came fishing with us. We all caught fish but only Richard and Aarons were big enough to eat

Richard with a trout on the line

Proud fisherman photographing the dinner he provided

Pet's Bday

Aaron's mum turned 60 and The family came to town

3 generations of Ford's Bowling

Mother and son at the Millhouse

Aunty Sheryl, holly and Patrick

Squeezing one out at the Historic chinese village at Arrowtown

Panning in the Arrow river

Wakatipu grill

Rail trail

Last but not least my Parents in the Summer of Family
We rode the Central otago rail trail over 4 days
Sat night Susan Hasler/ davies came to visit with Her kids and met us again on Sunday
165 km all up.
Don't miss
Omakau- Venison Pies
Oterehua- Gilchists store, Golden mine
Ranfurly- Ali's jewellery Studio

Tim in the tunnel

Big sky Country

Wedderburn Station

Via duct

NZ smallest post office

The whole team

Our last nights accomodation

Nelson and west coast- Hillenaar/Lowes

After returning from seeing Aarons fathers family it was off to his Mums.

It rained so much in Nelson we headed south and took advantage of the fact Aaron was too injured to do anything, and did the tourist stuff we normally rush past. Cape foulwind,  Okarito lagoon, Punakaiki, Jackson bay etc

 Us at Punakaiki

Looking for birds at Okarito marsh

 Old wharf at Okarito

Showing Oma and Pet Photo's of the Rellies in Oz

Family dinner

Nanny- Peg Ford

 Nanny's birthday lunch22/12

Stuffing the Turkey Christmas eve with Cheryl

Christmas day, 18 relies! Barry Ford next to Nanny

Xandars birthday 17th

We had a lovely christmas visit with all the Australian family. Unfortunately On 17/2/2012 Peg Aaron's beloved Nanny passed away. We were very lucky to have spent a few weeks with her recently and have so many wonderful memories.

Gold Coast may

We went to the Gold coast for a weekend to visit the family
We stayed with nanny, Cheryl and Wilson the dog.

Not sure who's having the best time

Learning the family history

Going over my notes with Nanny, she knew so many cool details down to the exact money her grandfather had when he arrived in NZ

A night at the Casino, Playing with wilson, Going to the Markets ( amazing fresh vege's), and a family lunch at Aaron's sisters, with the extended family.

Cahn's 9th birthday! his brand new bike. Conar (Cahn just taught him to ride)

Conar and Codi up a tree. Charlie on ground level

It was really cool to catch up with Dean, Helen, Neil, Xandar, and meet Neils sister and her girls too

Flying about

Aaron started flying lessons (paragliding) after our christmas break and is now qualified to fly without his instructor

I have been keeping busy riding my Bike and went in a local club race with T man and Tim.
Tim behind tagging in Tony( T man) for his lap. They were about 8-10 mins faster a lap than I was but it was a fun day



I have also been riding skyline gondola up and riding my bike down





I have also been working on The ford side family history. Got right back to early 1700's on some branches. The highlights are a convict great, great grandmother called Mary hurst. And a scandal of a  great grandmother running off with a married man two days after her 16th birthday.....  More as I uncover it.

Family /Gold Coast

We went over to the Gold coast to visit Aaron's Nanny
Aaron went on the Monday and I joined him for the weekend.
We had a surfing lesson, swam, shopped on the Saturday.
Surfing is exhausting! Aaron was quite good
On Sunday we had a big Family Meal out at Dean and Helens at Boysland( near Cunundrah , Mt Tamborine) Aarons sister Xander, her man neil and their 4 boys Cahn, codi connor and Charlie came out. Us, nanny and aunty cheryl, dean and Helen, Uncle michael on the Hillenaar side, with Kylie, Evan and Clay( Morgan was working!)

Codi- Cheeky grin, and cuddles

Cahn- big and strong

Shy boy Connor with a special smile

Aaron and Xander

 Little charlie on the right

Evan in the middle

Cahn and Codi eating

Same crew- Kylie with Evan

All the ladies

Hellen,Xander,Kylie,Cheryl ,Nanny

Cousin Evan and nephew Codi

All of us

Dean, Cahn, Me, Connor, Xander, Neil and Charlie, Helen and Molly Cheryl, Kylie and Clay, Mick (Michael) and Evan, Aaron, Nanny

We had a really great time

our love to you all x x x x x x x x x x x 

Merry christmas

We had the Carters down for Chrissie and Predictably we did loads of hikes and Richard got out to fish as much as possible

Our mighty Hunter( didn't catch a thing) Setting off.

We walked Lake hayes and the Moke Lake as a warm up, for the big trip

Dad at Moke lake

The next day mum and Dad headed off to the Greenstone. The following day we got a call from DOC to go pick them up

Mum had a week fall put her arm out and it's dislocated and broken

Back to gentle trips

Skippers was fun we did a walk to a hut and mine site. Explored the ruins

 Aaron trying out the river crossing old style!

 Skippers bridge

A walk up Ben lomond and back for mums next doctors visit

 John and Steph arrived with their little man
Family fun a wee walk for some John boy rode bikes with aaron and I and we all met up at the beach after

 family relaxing as Vinnie and I throw sticks

 Rich fishing again

 John getting in on the fishing action

 Reading a story to my Darling boy!

 Remarks walk with dad and Rich. COLD!!!!! 3 deg and a bitter wind

Vinnie found something that he can read!

we love you all and are so glad that you came all this way to spend time with us
XXXXXXX( one for each including the Bump)
Sally and Aaron