Growing Sims

I played a while back so events are a bit vague.

Serena had another girl and called it Ebony.  Poor Damien has four daughters now.

Mikhail Lillard grew to school age.

His sister, Alexis, hates her stepmother, Robin and has no interest in her little brother.  As soon as she reaches teenhood she can be sent to Amelie's place.  Amelie, meanwhile, keeps visiting unannounced and barging into the house.  Alex locked all doors to allow the household only.  Robin, meanwhile, gave birth to a girl and called it Elizabeth.

At Monique's, her middle son, Jacques, grew to a teenager.  His older brother headed out to uni.

Deon's wife, Angel, finally gave birth to a boy.  He's called Neil.

Robin moved in and made some changes to the property.  She had the high maintenance flower garden at the front of the house replaced by rose bushes and sculptures.  She had some hedges replaced by maintenance-free conifers.  She redecorated the children's room and made some changes to the kitchen with the recently constructed door to a new patio moved.

Amelie turned up without warning and fed her son.  She stared at Robin who studiously ignored her.

Alex found her in the house and asked her to leave before he invited wedding guests for his (third) wedding party.  His father, Jeremy, had made all the friends, so Alex had few to choose from.  Pierre and Philippe Champignon came, as well as Robin's ex-inlaws, Daniel and Margaret Collie, and finally Alex's sister, Victoria.  It was an autumn wedding.

Robin actually used the garden bridge to get to the kitchen.

Some of the wedding guests at the cutting of the wedding cake.

Mikhail grew to a toddler just after the wedding.

He looks like his mother.  Alexis, now school age, must have wondered what it would all mean.

Robin missed out on the honeymoon because the kids would have been left alone.  However, she made up for it when Alex got back and promptly got pregnant.

Alex had met Robin a couple of times including at her place.

They'd got to know each other quite well but had yet to have a proper date. 

So Alex rang Robin and they went on a date to P.U.R.E.  After a soak in the tub they danced.

They kissed.

In short, they had a dream date.  But Robin didn't want to let this moment pass.  This guy was rich and available.  Why waste any more time?

Alex was shocked but accepted.  (After all he needed someone to look after his young kids.)

As Robin left, Alex had to go and sit down to recover from the shock. 

Amelie gave birth to a boy and called him Mikhail.  She was relieved - she didn't want to have another kid.  She seems bored and wants to go out with Kane.

Jeremy managed to see his latest grandson just before he died, age 73.  That night the ghost of his mother had scared him as if in warning.

Alex was upset but no-one else. (I turned the sun on so it's visible)

Alex is aware of Amelie cheating, but he's met Robin Collie (ex-wife of now deceased Leon Collie) and fancies her.  Watch this space.

Update on Victoria under 'Champignon' next.

Alex and Amelie finally married.  It was a private family affair.  Alex didn't want any guests who'd possibly object to his decision this time.

Not long after this wedding, Denny Collie saw something he wasn't supposed to while he was downtown.

It was newlywed Amelie but that wasn't Alex.  It was her old boyfriend Kane Danaher.

Meanwhile over at Kane's in Bluewater village, he was getting to know old ex dorm-mate, now flatmate, Siobhan O'Donnell, better.

Siobhan was in love and proposed to him.

He accepted because he was very attracted to her and maybe thought circumstances might change before the wedding.  Siobhan arranged the wedding party and they married on the balcony.

It was then realisation hit at what he'd actually done.

The guests included some family, but as it was shortly after Penny's death, naturally Kane's mother wasn't there.  This was mentioned by Amelie and Alex seemed a bit miffed at her tactlessness.

Neighbours, Mehrissa and Adrian Lewis were there.  Just opposite is Sophie Landchild's gift shop.  (Sophie had been married to Kane's grandfather).

Siobhan is now pregnant so Kane might be going on dates more often.  A woman came home with Kane after work one day and just sat down and made herself at home while Siobhan was quietly reading.  She had no idea who it was.  (It was Jan Govan who is also in the adventure career.)

While at uni, Marla had done a bit of flirting and 'woohooing' with Damien.

(Even then Marla was lusting after another student.)

Alex had done the same with Amelie.

So it wasn't a surprise that sooner or later one would find out about the other.

Alex and Marla agreed that perhaps they'd made a mistake getting married.  Alex sent Marla on her way...

But he wasn't exactly happy about it.

Alex's mother was upset about the breakup too (thought I'd taken a pic but can't find it).

The reason he'd married Marla instead of Amelie was that he thought Amelie and Kane were in love.  It appeared not.  Amelie walked in on Kane in bed with another woman while at uni and she didn't react.  There were no love hearts.   (I thought I had a pic but I can't find it.)

So anyway, now Alex was free to marry Amelie and Amelie loved him so he proposed.

Amelie accepted but there was no option to move in.  So I had her drop out of uni and move in anyway.  Another wedding soon.

Meanwhile, Marla moved to a house facing the river in Veronaville and got a job in the gamer career.  Damien finished his psychology degree

and moved in with her.  He got a job as a psychic.  They got married quietly.  Again I thought I had a pic but I can't find the bloody thing.  (Despite trying to arrange the pics in order of being taken, they're not! Grrr.)

No plans for kids just yet.

It was winter when Marla moved in and she wanted a winter wedding anyway.  So she went to town and bought suitable clothes.  Alex invited the wedding guests.  The garden was white with snow.

But of course, the snow disappeared the minute the wedding guests turned up...

Clockwise from top left: Victoria, Philippe, the gardener, Francois, Devon, some guy from uni, Katya, Richard Danaher and Denise Jacquet.

The wedding went ahead.

It soon got dark and the guests dispersed but Francois and Katya Champignon hung around.  Out of the blue Katya started poking Marla and then Alex.

Francois did the same.

They were both pretty angry at Alex.  Obviously Amelie had let them know about their relationship and her parents expected Alex to marry her!

Alex asked them to leave.  But, after they'd left, Richard came over and poked Marla - obviously he felt she'd betrayed Damien.

Oh dear.  Not a very happy wedding.  (Ironically the party went off fine - the rest of the guests were ignorant and happy.)

The friendship between the Lillards and Champignons were now on uneasy terms.  Not a good start to a marriage.  I'd guess there'd be questions in the bedroom that night.

Once the wedding had finished, it snowed...

I suppose I should make Lillard a separate category...

Alex was at university studying physics.  He didn't specifically have a girlfriend but a red-headed black woman named Marie Chen showed a lot of interest.

They started off as friends and got close enough to share kissing.  However, a new student moved in - Marla Biggs, a student that comes with the game.  Originally she was fat, wore a boring top and skirt, plaits and round glasses.  She looked nerdy.  But I got rid of the glasses and gave her a makeover and she was definitely interested in Alex.

But she first had to lose weight.  So she exercised until she had and finally Alex noticed her.

Marla didn't push it and made sure to avoid coming onto Alex when Marie was around.

But their luck didn't hold out.  It just so happened that Marie was passing by outside the dorm when they'd been flirting.

With that relationship down the tubes, Alex could concentrate on Marla.  In the meantime he had extensive phone conversations with Amelie Champignon.  But he eventually decided on proposing to Marla.

She accepted.

Time passed...

Alex completed his degree 3 semesters before Marla did and had a graduation party.

Alex farewelled Marla and headed home.

Marla moved out of that dorm and moved in with Richard Danaher and Damien Tan (so I could work on more than one student at a time).

At first Marla didn't take any notice of Damien and he was oblivious to her and most other females.

But Marla was turned on by beards, so the inevitable finally happened.

Damien held a sports party and invited his father, Kenny, over.  He witnessed the passion (as did Richard as they woohooed in a double bed in the middle of the dorm).

Back at the Lillard's Alex invited his sister's sister-in-law, Amelie, over and before he knew it, they were in bed together.

He wanted to get engaged to Amelie even though he was already engaged to Marla.  Hmmm.

Finally, Marla graduated but she didn't have a party and invite Alex - in case Damien saw them kissing or vice versa.

She headed back to Veronaville and moved in with the Lillards where Alex had had the bedroom extended.

Alex, meanwhile, had found a job in the science field.

Part two next.

Penny Danaher finally became an elder.

Here she is dealing with all those pesky phone calls - thanks to Edward's ambitions.  He got promoted to Business Tycoon - at the top of his career.  Unfortunately that wasn't his LTW.

The twins grew into teens.  First Kane.

then Richard

Over at Devon Lillard's place, Jeremy also got a promotion - to medical researcher.

Daughter, Victoria, went off to university just before Alex grew into a teen.

He looks like his dad.

And now over to Devon at Capp Manor.  Alex grew into a toddler.

He was a clever little bugger.  He figured out how to get out of the cot - only the second toddler to do so in my game.  First the side goes down.

Then see if the coast is clear:

Then over he goes:

Freedom!

Devon didn't work so she had more time to devote to looking after Alex and Victoria.  Alex learned to walk and talk but didn't quite get potty trained.

Having learned to walk he was off to see the fish, just like his sister before him.

So Alex grew up well.

He has his father's long chin.

Don't forget to visit the family tree if you're hazy on who's who.  The link is also on the sidebar menu (under Links funnily enough).

I might have to split up the Collie family category - at least Penny and Devon who are now Danaher and Lillard...

Penny had had a daughter, Harriett.  It was several tries before she got pregnant again.  Edward was hoping for a boy.  Well she got twins!  (And I didn't use the dessert cheat.)  She got two boys in fact.  Should keep Edward happy.  They're called Richard and Kane.  Kane's a stupid name but I was sitting there unprepared and couldn't think of a suitable name.  In desperation I entered one that didn't seem totally ridiculous.  Lesson to self - always have several names prepared. I'd only had one boy's and one girl's.  Richard, the oldest by a few seconds, is darker skinned like his father.  Kane is lighter like his mother.  Penny found it tough looking after 3 demanding kiddies during the day.

Luckily a day after the boys were born Harriett grew into a child. 

Over at Devon's Victor was still pretty happy at having a granddaughter and he was still platinum when he died aged 67.  I nearly missed it.  He had Hawaiian dancers and I wondered why before I realised he was platinum still.  

I just caught it as Victor faded into a ghost. 

Victor had already lost his friend Jonathan Ternynck.  Jonathan died a few days after Genieve.  They were 67 and 66.  Jonathan didn't even mourn Genieve because he caught some random visiting guy caressing her.  I didn't have a clue about that relationship!  So he was still fuming days later, even after Genieve's death.  He was near to promotion too when he carked it.

So Victor was dead and Devon and Jeremy tried for another baby.  Devon got pregnant first try.  The pregnancy didn't go well though and she was starving - thanks to waiting for Victoria to hurry up and turn into a toddler - she wouldn't eat or sleep until the little brat had changed. 

Here's Victoria the toddler.

She stands a lot but isn't walking yet.

The Grim Reaper arrived for Devon just as she was about to finally eat dinner and she fell to the dining room floor and curled up.  Luckily Jeremy was there and he sobbed and pleaded for his wife (and baby)'s life.  He had visions of having to find another wife to get a son and it was all too much when his heavily pregnant wife was just there on the floor before him.  The Grim Reaper reluctantly let Jeremy have his way and Devon was alive again. 

She gave birth a day or so later to a boy - Alex.

Then the computer crashed, fuck it.  I'm hoping I saved it. 

While Jeremy was at uni he invited Devon Landchild around and he proposed to her.

She, not being foolish enough to refuse such an offer, accepted.

In the same dorm was another Lillard.

Her name was Elizabeth Lillard - distant cousins?

Anyway, Jeremy finished university and became an adult.

Once home it was time for a bit of a makeover.

He immediately got a job as an intern and was promoted twice and got to GP before inviting Devon over.  Everything was prepared for their wedding.

With each promotion Jeremy's free days got pushed out, so he decided to invite Devon over to move in at least and have the wedding the next day before his mother carked it.  But the minute Devon walked up the path towards the house, Mariane's end had come.

She could have waited one more day!  She was due to be promoted from president as well as see her son's wedding.  Sigh.  She died at 68.

Devon went home immediately, so Jeremy had to try again another day.

Victor, surprisingly, mourned for his late wife.

So finally Devon moved in and the wedding party was arranged.  Victor went to work but that didn't stop them.

Mr and Mrs Lillard - but where were the guests?

Standing round drinking booze!  I'm going to have to do without the damned champers - the guests are far too interested in it instead of the actual ceremony.

Even after most people had gone to eat cake or turkey....

Edward D, Kenny C, Francois C and Jeremy.

When everyone had gone, Victor returned from work.

So more celebrating was in order.

Luckily the wedding couple had just returned from their brief honeymoon.  Victor would have continued pouring and toasting if I hadn't made him dispose of the bottle!

PS Devon is also pregnant.

Back to my more normal characters.  These experiments are fun for a bit but I find they get a bit tedious.  Short and sweet is good.  The Freaks, for example, are deadly dull.

Over to Mariane's house.  She had a son, Jeremy, as you know.  So let's look at some family pics.

Victor and toddler son, Jeremy.

Jeremy learned to walk and talk and was potty trained.

So as a bright kid, he went to private school.

The family having dinner.

Jeremy welcomes Victor home.

Party time for Jeremy's birthday.  He grew up in his bedroom before anyone got any cake.  These three are Leo Bachman, Mariane and Raoul Champignon.

Dinner time again.

Jeremy now a teen.  He reminds me of some Disney prince with the long chin and haircut.

And here's the bridge and pond which I ended up doing at the Lillard house instead of the Huntingdon's.