could this be the one?

i think i've read somewhere that buying/selling a house is one of the top stressors in life- that and starting a new job (mike last year), having children (one two years ago, one on the way)... we're maxed out on stress!

but this, my friends, will hopefully be our next house.

we toured a very similar house 3 times in the same neighborhood but were beat out on offers (it was a little high for us anyway). this house went up for sale around the same time and while it looks the same, the same details are not there as the first house. however, after we sat on it for a while, they dropped the price and now we're in the middle of settling on a price. we put in an offer yesterday and we just got a email from our realtor that they'll counter offer. we figure after going in that other home so many times, we can make some upgrades (in time) on this one based on what we saw there.

today is the 4th of july- i'm not sure if we'll hear anything more.

we're so looking forward to being in this house, despite the little things here and there that we'll want to fix up. the inside is gorgeous- the main things have been done- all refinished hardwood floors (in every room!), granite countertops, new kitchens and baths, etc., a nice 1st floor laundry with a window, bathrooms with windows (we don't have this now), little built in nooks and crannies and charm... the outside needs some tlc (landscaping, cleaning it up, fix the patio and driveway eventually, etc) but it's a little more space and we plan to finish the rest of the basement so we'll have more living space for 2 adults and 2 kiddos. it's also in a very safe and nice neighborhood with lots of kids (some being students of mike's) and it's closer to the highway and city, which we like. the trees are mature and established (much different than what we'll have here)

of course we'll have to say goodbye to our neighbors which is really sad. they have 3 kids with one more due in august. their youngest 2 are the same age (will be) as jack and this baby and already this summer jack has been playing with the 3 Shannon kids all the time. we'll miss that. although in our second walk through of this house we met the next door neighbors, who seem very nice, and have a daughter going into to 6th grade and a 9th grade son. hmm... next door babysitters, perhaps?

tradeoffs. my father in law always says that about life and this time he's right. we'll be getting more space, a nicer neighborhood, bigger trees, great school district, lower taxes, and a house that reminds me of new england. we'll be getting that in exchange for the newer area of town, where things are a little brighter and fresher.