Week 5 - We have a SLAB (of the concrete variety)

Wowzers!! A slab has been poured! We're so super excited!

Concrete doesn't get much better looking than this! The frames have now been delivered and week 6 should see the erection of the walls downstairs!

Week 4 - Form work

We've had a busy time on the block recently (well not us so much, rather the workmen) with form work being completed!

Last Sunday (9/3) we spent some time on the block with the boys looking at where their bedrooms will be. As Matt showed Ashton where his room would be located he responded by saying, "but I don't want to sleep outside!" Perhaps we needed to be more specific that walls and a roof will be in place before he actually sleeps in there! Ashton and Ryan enjoyed 'working' on the site, playing in the dirt and rocks and climbing the hills.

We decided to take a walk to the top of the hill to look at the gorgeous outlook!

 Ryan was so exhausted when we returned he decided to have a lay down in the rocks!

Week 3 - Piers

This week we had some more movement on the block. Piers and lots of them (an extra 2K worth) were poured. We can see where our house will sit and where the patio/deck will be, despite just still being holes in the ground. Lots and lots of rain teamed down after the piers were poured, but I am assured that they had enough time to set. Fingers crossed the rain stays away for a while so we can move onto the slab sooner rather than later!

Weeks 1 & 2

The 11th February 2014 marked the first day on site! We met Rodney Tullipan at the block and were very excited that our construction will be in more than capable hands. The excavator was ready to go and in 2 days the site was transformed, giving us a good idea as to where our house will sit on the land. On day 3 we drove past to see the fence erected and day 4 the signage up. In 34 weeks (7th October) we will have a home - a big Happy 5th Birthday to Ashton :)

After

Before

Ashton and Ryan were most excited to finally see some action on the site, considering the hundreds of times we've driven past with the only difference being the length of the grass. Unfortunately there were no changes in the second week due to rain. Our fingers are crossed that the rain will not hinder our timeline too much!

The boys excavating (with a little help)

Dirt... and lots of it!

We are here.

Where is 'here'?

• Almost 3 years after purchasing a sloping block of land in Lucilla Ridge Macquarie Hills.
• Approximately 2 years of researching, designing, re-designing the floor plan of our house with numerous builders including Hotondo Homes, Huxley Homes, Montgomery Homes and Tullipan Homes.
• 7 months since we received a tender from Tullipan Homes for a custom design home.
• 2 months after receiving Council approval of our development application.

 and...

A day after signing contracts with Tullipan Homes.

A feeling of relief, happiness, joy and a whole lot of anxiousness has come over us... however mainly excitement!

In March 2011 we bought a block of land in Lucilla Ridge Macquarie Hills after my Mum & Dad had purchased a block for themselves. Who wouldn't want to live two doors away from their parents/in-laws? Well, we would :D

I've decided to create a blog mainly to document the process of our build and record significant dates. I am completely new to blogging, but thought this would be an ideal place to start. While this has been a long process for us, it was always our goal to save as much as we could to commence building at the beginning of 2014 in order to be settled into our new house before Ashton starts school. Having bought the block when Ashton was about 18 months old and pregnant with Ryan, it's hard to believe that construction will be starting very soon.

Ashton - March 2011

We are thrilled with the custom home design that we have created over the years to fit in with our family's needs. We have 'future-proofed' our house not with NBN requirements but with an extra bedroom if a baby #3 were to arrive* as well as downstairs being reserved primarily for the children as their 'haven' something they'll appreciate even more when they're older (as will we)!

Enter on ground level - two stories at the back

Downstairs

The 'selections' process is now complete (and if I can work out how to upload pictures, I will!) and we're very pleased with our choice of colours throughout the home.... fingers crossed it all comes together!

A short (but steep) walk up the hill near our house

*Matt wanted me to remove that section.