The Bell-Wirth Family: Week 1

Welcome back to Desiderata Valley, where I began my Fresh Start playing. This is the house of the Bell family, and we will first look at the pictures and biographies Maxis have put together for them. Their family biography reads: "The Bell family is doing wonderfully well, but will Hannah's sister moving in cause a critical disturbance?"

Here are Issac (it still irks me that his name is not spelled Isaac, as it should be in my opinion) and his wife Hannah in front of their house. According to Maxis, "Isaac has a good life and has started climbing the ranks in his dream career. Can he balance both reaching for the stars and keeping his family happy?" He is a Popularity Sim who funnily enough dreams of being a World Class Ballet Dancer but currently works as a Mime. Hannah "... met Elizabeth Aspir in High School. They have been inseparable ever since. Even marriage and raising their own families hasn't weakened their relationship." Although Hannah's current job as a Backup Dancer seems to suit her, she aspires to be a Professional Party Guest, which is rather unusual for a Family Sim.

And here they are again, this time with their son Daniel, and welcoming Hannah's sister Sharon Wirth, who has just arrived by taxi - not just for a visit, but to live with them. Sharon is another Sim whose current job does not match her lifetime want: She is a Romance Sim who wants to become General, but at the moment is trying to make a living as a SimJazzer Instructor. Maxis says about her: "Sharon has decided to move in with her sister's family until she becomes a bit more financially stable. She has found herself very interested in Mr. Mole, but has had a difficult time getting to know him…". 

It looks like Issac and Sharon do not get along all that well. Daniel and his Mum are watching TV together. By the way, Daniel already shows a lifetime want in spite of only being a kid: He dreams of being a Prestidigitator, and his bio reads: "Daniel loves drawing and seems to have inherited his mother's artistic abilities. Will his mother let him develop on his own or only nurture his artistic qualities?"

The order in which Maxis have put the pictures in story mode seems to be in reverse - here we have little Daniel as a toddler with his Dad teaching him to talk, by the looks of it.

Back in the present day, Issac can be seen in the back working out on the ergometer, while Sharon and Hannah practice dancing and Daniel joining them.

From here on, the pictures are my own. The ground floor of the Bells' house shows a generous porch and double front door through which one enters the living room with a TV, settee and armchair. To the left are a kitchen and a dining room, and in the top left corner a single bedroom and bathroom, obviously meant for Sharon. The largest room with big windows and one mirrored wall is taken up by dance and fitness equipment.

Upstairs, Daniel's room is in the bottom left corner. Just across the hallway, he has his own bathroom. The top right corner is Hannah's and Issac's en-suite.

On this Monday, the first thing I want to tackle is to find the adults the jobs they need in order to reach their lifetime wants. Mr. Humble's delivery of a brand new computer will be most helpful with that.

But today, only Hannah is lucky: She will start tomorrow morning as a Golf Caddy. Not sure whether you can tell that I have put a pair of specs on her nose - that should increase the chemistry between her and her husband, and here she seems indeed to be thinking of him.

The welcome committee consists of Marcel Jocque, Faith Goodie and Sanjay Ramaswami. 

A lively meal of lunch meat sandwiches ensues, prepared by Issac. Skills are sadly lacking very much in this family - nobody has more than one cooking point, if that! But I am sure that they will all learn, especially with autumn about to begin. Not much else happens today. Daniel learns how to his homework with his Dad's help, and everybody makes a phone call to a friend.

It is only just gone four on Tuesday morning when Hannah has to get up for work. She certainly did not have such ungodly hours in mind when she decided to pursuit the Slacker career! Loyally, her husband gets up as well.

Sharon finds a job in her dream career and starts as a Recruit right away.

Issac makes use of being up so early and works on his dance moves - he has been lucky, too, and will start work later today as an Aerobics Instructor.

Of course young Daniel is not left all on his own - a Nanny, Mallory Day, looks after him while all the adults are out working.

Hannah starts the promotion round: "Yaaay!! Meet Desiderata Valley's latest Gas Station Attendant!" :-D

Her husband follows an hour or so later with a promotion to Backup Dancer.

This calls for a celebration! Bowls of Comfort Soup are washed down with something bubbly.

Last but not least, Sharon returns with a promotion to the Elite Forces of Desiderata Valley's army.

She has just changed into her everyday clothes and gone out to rake the leaves when townie Christian Love walks by. Of course he is greeted - with this surname, he is eligible to become a proper resident of the 'hood.

When Hannah returns from her night shift at the gas station early on Wednesday morning, it is with a promotion to Convenience Store Clerk.

Sharon has the day off and invites her love interest, John Mole, over for the day. He arrives with friend Marcel Jocque in tow.

They are joined by Mary Gavigan who happens to walk by.

While everyone is tucking into Sharon's lunch offer of grilled cheese sandwiches...

...Issac prefers to boost his energy with a mug of coffee before he is picked up for work. Eating grilled cheese is certainly not advisable when you're about to get on stage and dance!

His wise decision is rewarded - he comes home with a promotion to SimJazzer Instructor. (It really was due to a chance card, but he had all the necessary skills anyway.)

Issac has the day off on Thursday and takes care of household matters, such as paying the bills, before he starts working on the skills needed for his next promotion.

Sharon is now a Drill Instructor. At this rate, she will soon reach her lifetime want!

Hannah has been promoted, too, and proudly announces that she is now a Record Store Clerk.

I have Sharon do a spot of gardening before everyone goes to bed.

Sharon is promoted yet again on Friday. Now that she is a Junior Officer, the career rewards object becomes available, and she runs the obstacle course to increase her body skill. I guess her choice of sports wear does not quite tie in with that!

The Bells are both promoted today, too: Hannah is now Party DJ, and Issac a Pop 'n Lock Performer.

Daniel will soon be a teenager, and there is no need for a nanny anymore. The lady who has just been dismissed here is, by the way, not the same nanny that first came to look after Daniel. This new one's name is Ericka Phelps.

For a change, everyone is here in time for their tea, which consists of spaghetti with meatballs, made by Issac.

There seems to be a misunderstanding with the childcare agency - yet another nanny is sent to the Bells' on Saturday morning. Just like the two before her, she is politely dismissed.

I was waiting for a chance to send the whole family to a community lot, but with their ever-changing work schedules thanks to daily promotions, it just wasn't possible. Therefore, while Issac is at work, his wife and her sister take Daniel to Kiddie Care Castle.

Sharon meets Matthew Smith - a townie who will sooner or later move to Desiderata Valley for good. (He is the elderly gentleman.)

Daniel meets David Ottomas - a teenager, and not all that interested in what the little boy has to say. Maybe they can be friends once Daniel grows up, too.

And it happens that very same evening! I thought he'd had another day, and so did not arrange a party, but Daniel did not seem to mind. Since he already had a lifetime want when the game started, I only needed to select his aspiration. My dice fell on Knowledge. 

The first thing that happens on Sunday morning is Hannah returning from her Party DJ shift with a promotion to Projectionist.

Later that day, she invites her best friend - Elizabeth Aspir - and her family over. Here, she and Hannah patiently wait until Pauline has finished eating. Daniel tells his young friend that it will not be long now before the first snow fall - always an exciting moment for kids!

Issac comes home, greeting the Aspirs who are still there. His smile is not only for his guests - he has just been promoted to Dance Video Star. 

The week seems to have consisted mostly of promotions. Some friendships with townies who will eventually become residents have been struck up, and Daniel has now his teenage years ahead (and a makeover of his room). Who will be first to reach their LTW? Is Daniel going to go to college? Will Sharon pursue her romance with John Mole, or focus on her career?