Congrats, tamarindball! Enjoy your flagpoling experience and all the best as you shift from visitor to PR of Canada!
Chickie, *hugs* and howdy and keep the faith. *Waves* to everyone.
Sebella, if you are willing to devote some time and energy and your kitchen table (where most of us did ours, I think), you can do this on your own, as many people before have said. First, download the Guide. Before you do anything else, just read it, preferably with your spouse so you both have an idea what is going on and what will be required. One of you will end up being responsible for most of the work, usually whoever is better with details and organization.
Second thing you want to do is consider your budget. There are fees for the application itself, plus "ancillary" fees for things like photos, police certificates, printing supplies, and other little things. You and your spouse need to divvy up the list and work out how you will pay for these things.
Once your budget is at least considered and discussed, and the Guide read, you can start drafting your application and gathering supporting documents.
