ooops....forgot to post..

...and a few things have happened...
The Bricklayer is almost done....another week and Im sure he will be finished.... its looking wonderful.....and we are so pleased we chose the red brick.... cant wait to see the quoins added. The Gyprockers have finished this evening..... I cant believe they worked all weekend ... and as Ian left there tonight at 7pm...they were sweeping up the floor ... so all the cornice is up....and all the flushing complete... ...tomorrow the painter arrives.... so it will all gets its first coat.....it was actually fun working out the colour choice the other day..... and I hope it looks ok on the walls.

Ian and Brent managed (with my help) to get all the air conditioner duct into the roof.

Ian has shoveled dirt.... shoveled dirt.....shoveled dirt.... and finally got the shed floor filled...level...packed down...boarded up and ready for concrete.

...and at the end of this week...

... our home looks like this.




...pretty cool hey!

....and this week...

...the progress continues... the house it now totally gyprocked....the bricklayer is working his way around the house....and is over half way....in fact I need to get my camera out again..... my photos are already out of date. That can be tomorrow afternoons job.
We spent some time at the house tonight.... Dad and Mum....and all the kids.... we swept and swept to try and get some of the dust off the floor.... I cant wait for lock up.... hopefully that will stop some of the dust filling every nook and crevice.

...so the cabinets are all final and ordered.
The vanity basins....bath and toilets ordered.
The tiles chosen...just waiting for the quote to see if we can afford my choices.....eeeek
The ceiling fans and outdoor lights are ordered.
The laundry tub to be finalised..... Im waiting to see if I have space for a draining board with it.
We need to meet with Pat this week to choose doors and locks.
and our latest major decision.... paint colours! ...any suggestions for a nice white?

...they are back...

...yippee.....the progress began again today!
The Bricklayer is back on site and we have an entire new wall.....its so exciting watching his progress.....
...and the piles of Gyprock were also delivered ...and some ceilings went up......the garage...the family room and hallway all have gyprocked ceilings now. Check out this view through our front door...... the ceilings are up...woohoo!...and this view of the family kitchen dining area...it looks lovely and big..... perfect!
..so tonight Ian and Dad have been running speaker wires in the lounge room....and they have started the duct work for the Evaporative Air conditioner...... I LOVE progress.

.. and right up to Christmas...

...the progress continued. We couldn't believe it.... the weather was stinking hot.... and our Builders managed to get out roof on..... so not only do we have the bricks going up.....we now have a complete roof as well. Its taking shape and looking fabulous.....we have also had our kitchen and vanities measured...and have had the fun part of choosing all our colours.....I cant wait to see them finally installed..... we have chosen an off white for all the cabinets......a black granite bench top in the kitchen.....and some lovely pale stone looking tops for the bathroom vanities..... lots of drawers in the kitchen.....and nice big stainless steel handles.... this was definitely the fun part.

Im guessing the progress will slow now throughout January as most tradesmen take a well deserved rest.....but our Bricklayer is planning on continuing....so it will be nice to watch the walls grow throughout this month....

so far....Ive loved every minute of the process...and cant wait to see what takes shape next.

windows....bricks and wiring...

...I haven't updated for a few days and so much has happened.... first the mad rush to buy tap fittings as the plumber was installing the shower taps ect....I hadnt even given thought to whether I wanted taps or mixers..... so as they say....." a quick decision is a good decision"....and we have mixers!
The plumbers finished up yesterday I think..... all the pipes are in....the shower fittings....the outdoor taps..... you name it....its plumbed. Once that was finished they used a bobcat to level the site and fill the trenches......it looks so flat and clean there now.

....the next bit of excitement yesterday was the windows were in....and we are really pleased with them.....they slide well....and look neat.....very happy!
...then this morning the bricks were delivered.....and I met the electrician at 8am to work out all the power point placements.... that isn't as easy as you imagine either....there is lots to consider.
so it was exciting tonight to walk through and see all the wiring snaking its way through the walls....and the kids role played their rooms.....imagining where they would have their beds...and how close to the power points and fan controls they would be.

Then it was time for a quick site clean before it got dark.....this is our neighbors house in the background.....she would be very excited as the brickies and painters are at her house today.
...so I think that is about all the progress this week to date.... and it is really taking shape now... ohh...and the brickies begin next week....our roof is ordered...and our tank is ordered....I guess it will soon be time to choose our kitchen....tiles....bathroom fittings....who knows?

Friday and Saturday...

Friday was the day it really sunk in.....we are building a house!

The block was a hive of industry..... we had builders working on the roof.... plumbers running pipes...a trench digger digging trenches.... the septic was in the ground.... outside taps on risers installed..... Ians Dad...my Dad...Mitch and Ian (and Brent) all working on the shed.... and decisions needed to be made.
Where was the tank to go?.... what size?...what colour?...where was the rain water pump to go?...where did I want the outdoor taps?....how many did I want?... eeeeekkk....so many things I hadn't given any thought to....
SO heres the progress in pictures.... the view this morning of the front of the house.... all the trenches are yet to be filled.....as the plumber has more work to do next week.
... just a view of the back yard.... the new shed...and our family room.....this view taken from the shed...looking out toward the front...the side of the family room....my scrap room...and the carport....the septic tank in the ground...it looks like 'Thomas the tank engine'....lol...oops double up...
...the new shed...very nearly complete.... (thanks Dads..xx)
...and today just before lunch...the last of the iron was being put on the roof of the shed...
...Briony out the front.... the front door visible right behind her..... taken this morning ..

so.. what else do I know....
the bricks should be delivered Monday or Tuesday
The roof has another two days work until its complete...
the plumber has another days work.... Monday
the shed will be completed tomorrow...and Ian will need to order concrete for the floor.
our tank is ordered... and we up-sized it..... and changed its location on the block.
We need to mark out the placement of lights and power points for the Electrician...
...all in all its been an amazing week....and I cant wait to see what next week brings...