On Pins & Needles

Right now, Jeff is over with a friend of ours, who is a general contractor, doing an inspection on a house that we're trying to buy. Generally the inspection happens after you have an agreement, but this is a foreclosure & we want to know what we're getting in to in regards to what exactly we're going to have to fix. We know about a few things: new smoke detectors, new light switch plates, new carpet, a stove & a dishwasher, new garage door openers, and new ceiling panels in the basement. But, this house is worth SO much more, that we're willing to take on the responsibilities. We've already been pre-approved for a loan, but the bank that owns the house is being picky, so we have to get all our ducks in a row first. And just praying that someone else doesn't get their paperwork in before we do.
I'm trying not to get my hopes up about this house, but it's wonderful!!! I can't wait to post & say it's ours. We told Emma that if we buy this house (but in reality, any house) that she'll be going to a new school next year. I love her school, but it's a 20 minute drive out of town. It's a Charter school that's gone through many changes in the past 3 years. It's no longer a Charter, for one. We've had 3 different Principals in 3 years, the class sizes have gone from 12 kids to 25, there was even a scare that all the Elementary kids would be put into the same area as the junior high & high school kids (it goes from DK-12th grade) to save on heating! I love the teachers, I love the support that Emma gets there (she has speech & is in the resource room for reading) but with the cost of gas going through the roof, and us still only having 1 car, it's getting progressively more difficult to have her going there. If she went to one of the local public schools she could ride the bus (which she has been bugging me to do since she did it in Kindergarten), and her day wouldn't be as long. Yes, I'm worried that her education won't be as good, but I haven't been to the local schools, so I can't say it won't be. My biggest concern for her was back before K, when she was really behind, and the K system the local schools had in place just weren't what I wanted. But we still have a lot of time to go & check out what the schools are like now. Emma's mostly upset about leaving her friends. But, I told her, we're still going to live in the same town, and her friends will be able to come over & vice versa, even if she goes to a different school. I know it sucks switching schools, I did it a ton when I was younger, but it builds character. :)