The Newson-Picaso Family - Week 6

Click here for week 5.

Here is the last house for this round with a Newson in it. Although it looks rather country-like, it is in a quieter part of Downtown New Max.

Paola Picaso and her husband Garrett (formerly Newson) live here. They are both 67 now, and while Garrett has been on Permanent Platinum ever since he became Game Designer 23 days from Elderhood, Paola is still working on her lifetime want of being Education Minister.

Garrett's half-Alien son Ned is my reason for playing here this week. He was born before his human Dad married Paola, and therefore still carries the Newson name.

He is a Romance Sim and has changed his mind about what he really wants since last round; instead of becoming Hall of Famer, he now wants to be a Celebrity Chef.

Here's a better picture of Garrett. Both he and Paola still work, but now that Ned is a teenager, of course they do not have a nanny anymore.

A few minutes past 1:00 am on Tuesday morning, Ned can be seen sneaking out of the house towards a black limousine that has just pulled up in front of the house. What's going on?

Well, Ned had the wish to sneak out with Carmelo Capp, and the latter does not need any convincing!

Fortunately, Ned's parents never know he's been out. He returns home with a few hours to spare before the school bus, but manages to get up in time.

As usual, he is home at 1:00 pm while his parents are still at work. To make up for his sneaking out (even though they don't know), he does all the gardening work; he really is a good kid.

Even Paola's vegetable patch gets all the attention it requires.

When Garrett and Paoloa are home from work, especially Paola is glad for the chance to relax and read the paper. She works so hard, and I very much hope she will soon reach her lifetime want.

Wednesday is a well deserved day off for Paola, but she does not spend it idling her time away. Instead, she works on a budding friendship over the phone, as another friend is a requirement for her next promotion. (Note the picture of Garrett as a young man on the wall.)

She then rolls want after want about plants and other things that have to do with the garden and outdoors: a plant, a tree, a compost bin, and a tent. Seeing as she loves her garden so much, I let her do the gardening today, and it results in her receiving the Golden Talent Badge.

When Garrett returns from work, he is invited into Paola's brand new tent... for some kind of... erm... tent-warming party ;-)

Ned is unaware of the goings-on in the front garden; when he is not busy with a task I give him, he admires himself in the nearest mirror.

Thursday starts in the already well-established manner for this family: Ned goes to school, his parents leave the house an hour or so later. He is home alone from 1:00 pm for the first half of the afternoon but keeps himself busy with homework. Also, it is one of the last warm summer days, and the oranges are ready for harvesting.

Paola "harvests" in a different way today: All her hard work has paid off, and she is finally made Education Minister! Well done, Paola; at 70, you can certainly think about retirement - but I know you won't.

Garrett's younger sister Georgia comes visiting just after sunset on her own accord.

Our aspiring celebrity chef serves delicious spaghetti with meatballs for his auntie.

Paola takes a leisurely bubble bath on Friday morning - her work schedule allows for that, and the autumn day is chilly enough for her to want to start the day soaking in hot water.

It is a sunny day, however, and warm enough by afternoon for Ned to still wear his shorts and sleeveless top when he does some yard work after school.

Garrett is always last to be home. Today, his colleague Tessa Ramirez comes along.

Saturday means the weekend is here - no school until Monday! Ned decides it won't harm his future if he invests a few hours into reading up on cooking; certainly a good idea for someone who wants to be a celebrity chef one day!

Paola has to work, but Garrett doesn't, and so he invites his siblings, nieces and nephews over. The Newsons always love a good family gathering, and today is no exception.

Ned's hamburgers (he made them for everyone on his own intiative) are a big hit with the guests...

...as is fishing at the pond in the garden.

As I said, the Newsons love being together - can't you tell?

It is almost Sunday morning when Ned rolls the want to make juice. I buy a juicer and have him make a Beauty Cocktail - the result is a message that informs me that "Ned is healthy again". Coincidence?

Sunday is the only day this week when both Garrett and Paoloa are not working. Garrett is up first, but quietly stays in bed, letting Paola sleep in after her busy week.

Ned finally makes his Golden Badge for gardening.

The family have not yet been to a community lot this week, and Amelia's Closet is where I send them. Ned's wardrobe is well filled, but his parents have only one outfit each.

Paola looks really happy with her choices from the clothes racks, in spite of spending a small fortune on them - she can easily afford it.

Garrett is next, and soon afterwards, the Newson-Picasos head back home.

Husband and wife spend the rest of the evening mostly in animated conversation.

Another week I really enjoyed playing. Ned has not once rolled the wish for college yet; he does not need it for his lifetime want, but it would help. Paola and Garrett are now 74, but it looks like they have still several good years ahead. The garden is thriving, the bank account full to the brim - what more could a Sim want :-)

Gallagher and Jacqueline Newson: Week 4

Click here for week 3 with this family.

Our next-to-last Newson family lives here in this tiny house in Downtown New Max.

Gallagher is a Pleasure Sim and has been on Permanent Platinum ever since he became Game Designer nine days from Elderhood. He has a half-Alien son, little Nero.

His wife (and half-sister to his son - they have the same Alien father) is Jacqueline, née Jacquet; her human Dad was the late Gilbert Jacquet, and Denise Jacquet her grandmother.

Jacqueline has not yet reached her lifetime want of having 50 dream dates, but she is pretty close. From # 12 onwards, all her dream dates have been with Gallagher, her 3-bolt-man.

On this Monday, I take two important decisions for the Newsons:

First, Gallagher quits his job, He has earned enough money to last them comfortably for a long time - probably the rest of their lives. And he really wants to spend as much time as possible with his little boy, while fitting in those last few dream dates with his wife so that she can reach her lifetime want, too.

Second, the tiny house is really way too tiny - it was OK while Nero was a baby, but with him being a toddler and needing more space, it becomes increasingly difficult to play the daily lives of a toddler and his parents.

Their furniture and decorations are put in Gallagher's inventory, and soon the move is complete.

Their new house comes fully furnished. It is not exactly huge, but has two bedrooms and generally a bit more space. Almost everything in here is IKEA - I guess that the house came with the accessory pack.

Not everything is going to stay the way the Newsons find it upon moving in; they have, after all, brought their own furniture.

First things first: Nero needs his potty and is assisted by his Dad, while his half-sister (who acts like his Mum, with the age difference and all) does all the necessary things online to get their address changed and so on.

And guess what - that same Monday night, when little Nero is asleep and the welcome committee enjoy the hot tub at the back of the house, Jacqueline and Gallagher have another dream date, making her lifetime want come true! My count was actually at 48, but somehow I must have missed taking note of one. Never mind! Now the happy couple can relax a little, as much as that is possible with a toddler in the house :-)

Part of the welcome committee is still here (Johnson Fleig is pictured) when, early on Tuesday morning, guess what happens...?

"Gallagher is so lucky," Johnson thinks, "he has been invited aboard the Alien space ship TWICE!" As the former Head of Aspirational Laboratories, Johnson is very interested in all things space.

Gallagher was less keen on a repeat visit. He didn't feel all that good when the trip started, and feels even worse when he is dropped off back home a few hours later.

But it is a beautiful day, the first golden autumn afternoon really, and while Gallagher rests and little Nero is having a nap, Jacqueline rakes the leaves in the garden.

Little Nero is first up on Wednesday morning. Please, Nero, it's only 20 past 4! Give your parents a chance to get enough sleep - they'll be more fun to be with that way, that's for sure.

Gallagher knows the feeling - he's been there before... and yet he looks totally surprised at his baby bump a few hours later.

The rest of the day goes by in the usual manner: Nero gets plenty of attention, the adults grab a bite when he sleeps or is busy with his toy rabbit, and phone calls are made to maintain their friendships.

Although both Gallagher and Jacqueline are on Permanent Platinum, I still control them as long as there are children to look after. Jacqueline is pretty good at doing things without me telling her anyway; here, she makes the bed on Thursday morning on her own accord.

Lightning hits one of the trees in the garden, but the rain is quick to put out the flames, and nobody even noticed the fire.

Gallagher's baby bump is growing, and so do his needs for rest and food.

Good job then that little Nero is not so little anymore! At 6:00 pm, he turns into a child. Now he needs a big bed, but the baby crib and changing table can not be put away yet, with a little brother or sister for him on the way. His room will be a bit cramped now, but as the family have only just moved here, I don't want to uproot them again.

Very early on Friday morning, Jacqueline (who has been in the hot tub) and Gallagher share leftover hamburgers. Gallagher remarks how happy he is that they found each other as 3-bolters and got married, and now their family continues to grow.

Before Nero gets on the bus for his first day at school, he talks to his little brother or sister inside his Dad's belly. "I'll be back this afternoon and will tell you all about school then," he promises.

And guess what - not long afterwards, Gallagher gives birth to not one, but TWO siblings for Nero - he now has a brother and a sister!

The little boy (not pictured) is called Nelson, in honour of the son Gallagher's big sister Ginger lost in a fire at university so many years ago. The little girl is Nelda. The twins are easy to tell apart; Nelda has a nose and human-shaped eyes, while her brother has no nose and bigger eyes.

Now the house really seems very small, and I think the family will have to move once the twins grow up to school age and will need proper beds. For the time being, Nelda's crib is put in the open-plan dining/living/kitchen area, while Nelson can sleep in his big brother's room.

On Saturday, for Nero the night is over at 3:26 am - that's the problem when you share a room with your baby brother. Of course one of the adults is always quick to look after whichever twin needs them, but it takes them long enough for Nero to wake up.

Never mind! It's a beautiful autumn day, and Nero enjoys playing in the garden. Later, he has an afternoon nap to make up for the lost sleep.

He feels very much the big brother of the house when he is the only one to sit down with his Dad for a delicious omelette that evening. In fact, he feels so grown up that he asks his Dad about dating! Nero is way too young for that, of course - but he grew up with Gallagher and Jacqueline forever having dream dates together, so that must have rubbed off on him :-)>

More often than not, Thursday seems to be the most eventful day of a typical Sim-week. Not so in this household; you'll see what I mean when I tell you about Sunday, the last day with this household.

It starts quietly enough with Jacqueline browsing her wardrobe for warmer clothes, as winter has begun.

"This week, we could not make it to have an outing downtown or elsewhere," she says to her husband over breakfast, "what with moving house, looking after the little ones and so on. But maybe we can get away for a few hours next week."

Nero spends some quiet time in the living room, surrounded by books.

And who is this elderly gentleman, heaving a sigh of relief after a quick conversation with Jacqueline?

It is Lee Lewis, who has just quit his job as a Repairman in order to become a proper New Maximilianian, upon Jacqueline's invitation!

Lee is eligible as a resident because his surname is that of a playable Sim in TS4, if you remember.

In spite of having worked as one of New Max' repair team for what feels like decades, he is only 54; a Knowledge Sim with the lifetime want of maxing out all 7 skills, he has a good chance to reach that: 4 of his skills are already maxed, and he can certainly manage the remaining ones.

He adds 16,000 Simoleons to the household account, and unlike with other move-ins, I decide to leave the money with the Newsons. They will soon need to move to a bigger house, whereas Lee is going to live at the Senior Residence, where there is more money than the residents will ever need.

Another event worth mentioning that Sunday is the first snow of the season.

The family (at least those who are big enough to sit on chairs) have chili con carne for dinner, perfect for the first cold winter night. Nero talks about how he definitely wants to visit the space ship and meet his other Dad one day.

The week is not yet over - it is the twins' turns to grow up! Nelda is first.

But before her brother can follow suit, Jacqueline stops, spins around and is now an elderly lady (in an outfit that whispers "change me!").

Then it's Nelson's birthday, and now we have two toddlers, one school boy, an adult and a senior Sim in the house - phew!

This was a great week to play. You know how much I love playing a household with kids, even if the toddlers really require a lot of attention.

Gallagher will cross the threshold to Elderhood on the very first day of the next week with this family, and they definitely have to find a bigger house.

Lee is finally a permanent resident, and I wonder who will take his place in the pool of service NPCs.