Exploring the Land of the Long White Cloud

We have sprung ahead so now the time difference between us and most of you is 4 hours (and a day) rather than 5 so we're on the way to easier timing for phone calls and skype! Once you guys fall back it's only 3 (and a day) hours. We've been thinking of that stress scale that you are shown in personnel planning classes in school or at lunch and learn sessions about reducing stress - we've been hitting a lot of the majors lately - Dustin losing his job and starting a new one, taking on a mortgage, upcoming move, me starting a new job, then going back to June some major travel and weddings - we're hoping that once we have moved we'll stop ticking so many off. Although I did look at it recently and home renovations are on the list... So the next few weeks (or 25 sleeps to be exact) may add to the stress but we're hoping our organized preparation will keep it to low levels. I mean we have moved before (as I mentioned last time, 8 times in the last 7 years......

This is a tale about first-time home buyers. It's complete with frustration, excitement, heated negotiations and ultimately a happy ending. Ok so I guess I already gave it away. We bought a house! During the last several weeks we've been through the ringer and back, more than once. But this part starts just under 3 weeks ago... On Father's day we had our usual open home plan for the early afternoon. There were 4 houses on the agenda this particular day. The first two were rather uninspiring but the third gave us pause as we walked into the backyard and heard birds singing and a babbling brook. The house itself is old with some updates made in the 90's/00's but overall not an amazing interior. This isn't too different to most houses in our price range though. So began our veiled infatuation... We returned the next day after work for Dustin to crawl around under the house and in the attic. We had another visit with a plumber to double check some things. Then...