Kevin Beare - Week 1

Click here for Kevin's final days at college.

In Downtown Desiderata Valley, many recent college graduates have found a home after leaving campus, and Kevin Beare is one of them. He has bought this very neat looking small townhouse at No. 207 Custer Boulevard, which left his funds at 2.294 Simoleons. Not to worry, though - he has saved most of his student grant money and brought some things in his backpack to sell. 

Here he is, still in the ill-fitting suit he age-transitioned into. 

While at first he seemed to have been a bit careless about what was expected of him at college, he eventually became a top grade student who saw his name more than once on the Dean's List. He even has college incorporated into his lifetime want: A typical Family Sim, he dreams of seeing three of his own children graduate one day. 

First, though, the house needs a makeover. Only the most basic furniture is here, and it's not really to Kevin's liking. Also, the bathroom is tiny and windowless, and the kitchen is so cramped he can't imagine cooking in there for the family he is about to start. 

Once all the furniture and the contents of his backpack are sold and the floors and walls are stripped bare, he has over 13,000 Simoleons to play with. 

And play he does! The bathroom is enlarged, and the kitchen is made open-plan. Floors and walls have a more modern and cosy look. Some things will have to wait, such as a bathtub - for now, a shower will do. The small empty room near the front door is going to be the nursery, but that can wait until it is needed.

Most importantly, Vamsi has to agree to move in! Hardly surprising, she doesn't have to think twice; after all, the two have been three-bolters from the moment they first met each other, and became engaged before Kevin graduated. 

Formerly an NPC student, Vamsi Simpson would not have been eligible to become a playable resident at The Valley but for her being Kevin's 3-bolt-love. She is also a Family Sim but fortunately, she sees herself as The Valley's future Education Minister - that'll ensure the family having an income. 

Of course, they celebrate their moving in together properly ;-) (And I am pleased to tell you that baby chimes were heard not long after this picture was taken!)

The Welcome Committee consists of Faith and Herbert Goodie and Matthew Picaso. I think the two newcomers will settle in nicely.

Vamsi's breakfast doesn't stay down on Tuesday morning, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the food :-) Having not yet found a job in Education but still wanting to work, she has taken a position in Journalism and leaves for work around lunch time.

While she's out, Kevin takes care of friendships via the phone and household matters such as paying the bills - much to his relief, they only amount to 82 Simoleons for the modest house.

After a Yoga session, he feels so relaxed that he falls asleep on the settee. 

When Vamsi is dropped off after work, she wakes him up by calling out to him before she's even through the door: "Kevin, I'm home, and I bring money - I've been promoted!" And indeed, from a humble blog writer she has moved up to movie critic, and the household now has just over 2,000 Simoleons. 

And that's important, because Vamsi's pregancy is now obvious and she is placed on maternity leave. "We're starting a family! We're really going to be parents!" The couple couldn't be happier. 

The time off work in view of her soon-to-be born baby allows Vamsi to thoroughly search the simternet for a job in her coveted career on Wednesday morning, and she does indeed find a position as Teacher's Aide. Of course she'll start only after the baby is born, while Kevin is going to be the stay-at-home Dad.

On the same day, a number of Sims in fine attire are seen walking up to the house. You know them all - there are Allegra Gorey, Erik Swain, Joshua Ruben, Brittany Upsnott, Genesis Lee, Castor Nova, Toby Scott and Tiffany Sampson. 

They have come to attend Vamsi and Kevin's wedding! A wedding arch and chairs have been borrowed from an events firm and set up in the garden, and once everybody has taken their seats, Vamsi Simpson becomes Mrs. Beare. 

The cake is cut, and after the newlyweds have started, everybody else gets a generous piece. 

It's funny how the girls all end up sitting together on the settee...

...while the boys join Kevin and Vamsi at the table. A bit like it sometimes happens in real life at a party, isn't it! 

Kevin has heard stories about Sims who found chests full of gold and jewels in their garden, and he starts digging for treasure on Thursday morning. However, all he finds are rocks and bones.

At around 4:20 that afternoon, Vamsi goes into labour. 

Meet Thursday, the first child of the three that the Beares will eventually have! (Had she been born a day earlier, of course she would have been Wednesday.) 

As Vamsi is hugging the toilet early on Friday morning, she wonders whether her upset tummy is the belated result of too much wedding cake or another baby on the way. (Of course we know it's the latter!) 

Meanwhile, Kevin has been digging some more, and this time he has found an ancient urn - I don't think any of my Sims has found one before! So far, it's always been bones, rocks, sometimes a map to one of the secret lots at a holiday destination, or the treasure chest. The urn is sold for 500 Simoleons, and the four bones add up to another 220 - not quite the 5,000 Simoleons the treasure chest is worth, but not too bad, either.

With Vamsi off to work, Kevin gets his first taste of being a stay-at-home Dad. There is nappy-changing to do...

...and bottle-feeding, but of course he loves every minute of it - he's a true Family Sim! 

Vamsi's one and only working day of this week in her dream career results in a promotion to Substitute Teacher, and with her salary plus bonus, the family account is at just under 3,200 Simoleons. 

Strangely, Vamsi has not changed into a work outfit, and that's not the only bug she has: I actually wanted the two of them go get married on a community lot, but no matter what I tried - group or no group, taxi or walking - she would not leave the home lot, and Kevin ended up at the community lot without her. That's the reason why they got married in their garden.

With both Kevin and Vamsi at home to look after little Thursday and do whatever household tasks need doing, there is enough time for Kevin on Saturday to greet Castor Nova, his old friend and frat brother from uni. 

Later, he goes jogging - he really has changed in that he is now into a healthy lifestyle! Gone are the days when he lived on pizza and couldn't care less about his expanding midriff. 

It took several attempts, but eventually Vamsi is able to help Thursday grow up into a toddler. 

It is Sunday, and Kevin is the proudest and happiest Dad in the world when his little girl masters the art of walking, taking her first wobbly steps towards him.

The day goes by in a whirl of (mostly) toddler-related activities, and at a quarter past ten that night, the Beare's second child is about to make its entrance into the world.

Welcome, little Valerian! You could not have been born to more loving parents than Kevin and Vamsi.

The first week with the Beare family was busy without being stressful, but now that there will be a combination of toddlers and babies, their next week will be somewhat different! 

Hopefully, Vamsi will advance in her career, providing the money the family needs, especially in view of moving house; they'll have to, since there is no way this small house can hold a family of five. I enjoyed playing Kevin, Vamsi and their children - a 3-bolt-love is always special, isn't it.

The Beaker Family: Week 2

The first week with the Beakers is here.

We're going to spend a week with the Beaker family at their castle-like home at #1 Tesla Court in Strangetown.

 

Remember, last round Loki was taking the first step towards his lifetime want of marrying off six children when Circe had little Bella, who is so far their only child. 

Also last round, Nervous Subject moved out in order to give the Beakers more space for their growing family, and to find for himself a place better suited to further his own pet-related LTW. 

Circe is still diligently working her way up the medical career ladder, with the goal of becoming Chief of Staff. 

To make the house more family-friendly, I get rid of the small cellar room and make a few minor adujstments to the upper floor. More will happen as the need arises.

On this Thursday, Loki makes two important phonecalls: He quits his job, explaining that he is now a full-time Dad, and - per his wish - employs a maid.

Townie Blake Cho walks by and is invited to stay for lunch. The Beakers need friends in order to help Circe's career, and I am not sure whether Blake Cho is already known to other Strangetown residents; with his playable surname, he is certainly eligible to become a resident himself. 

Before leaving for work on Friday, Circe changes her baby daughter's nappy. 

Shortly after she has left, the Social Worker arrives with a boy in tow: Alon has just been adopted by the Beakers, and strangely enough, he is wearing a swim suit. Never mind - I just hope I'll be able to send someone to a community lot for new clothes without the game crashing on me.

It is also the maid's first day, and Loki tips her generously, hoping it'll make her do a good job. (Besides, it won't hurt to befriend her, since Circe needs more friends to advance in her career.)

This is what the house looks like upstairs now. 

The top left corner is still the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom. In the lower left corner is Bella's nursery with crib and changing table. Across the landing is another, smaller bathroom, and next to the staircase is Alon's room with enough space for a second bed (Loki wants to marry off six, after all). 

Alon's arrival is not the only important event for the Beakers that day: Bella turns into a toddler! Unfortunately, she has inherited her Dad's eyebrows, but she looks a cheerful little girl nonetheless. 

While her Dad is teaching Bella to walk, Alon is learning how to do his homework from his super-intelligent Mum, still in her lab coat from work.

There is no work or school on Saturday, and so Circe has time to teach her little daughter to talk. 

Upstairs, Alon makes his own breakfast - or attempts to, I should say; the muffin he produces is VERY dark, and not from chocolate :-D

His Dad later shows him the science toy he's always carrying around. The boy is fascinated, and admires his Dad for being so clever, just like his Mum. [I managed to play the entire Saturday without the game crashing, but soon into Sunday, it happened again...] 

On Sunday morning, Alon's muffin looks and tastes much better already. 

At 10:00, the Social Worker's car pulls up in front of the house, and another boy Alon's age is introduced to the family - also named Alon. This is impractical, of course, and the decision is made to rename the second Alon to Bjorn, after Loki's father. 

"I hope you don't mind..." Loki hesitates, but Bjorn-formerly-known-as-Alon smiles and says: "I now have a new Mum and Dad, a new brother and little sister and a new life - why not a new name!" Loki breathes a sigh of relief. Young Bjorn is so very reasonable!

But of course the Beakers can't stop at three children. Another one is in the making that afternoon :-) 

Both Circe and Loki enjoy the first meal with their growing family.

The children happily play together at the activity table. Alon says that tomorrow, he and Bjorn will go to school together while little Bella has to wait a bit before she can join them on the school bus.

Two beds are now in the room upstairs. There is not enough space in here for a third bed, but part of downstairs will be converted.

It is 10:00 am on Monday when the Social Worker and the maid's cars pull up in front of the house at the same time again. 

The boys are at school, Circe is at work, and so there are only Loki and little Bella to welcome the latest addition to the Beaker family: A girl named Brittany (she does not need renaming, fortunately).

The new bedroom on the ground floor is much to her liking! When Bella outgrows her baby bed, she'll join Brittany here; there is enough space for up to three beds.

Since her new brothers won't be home from school until 3:00 pm and her little sister is having a nap, Brittany is happy to greet Jill Smith as she walks by the house.

Finally, the school bus drops off her new brothers - Brittany is quite excited to meet them. Alon has brought along Zo Curious; unfortunately, she only gets along with Bjorn but not with any of the other children.

While Bjorn and Zo are playing catch outside, Circe returns from work. She has just been promoted to Specialist! Four skill points (and I think at least one more friend as well) are needed for the next step on her career ladder, but she won't be needing them all that soon - she heads to the bedroom immediately and pulls out the maternity gear she last wore when she was expecting Bella. If only she'd have twins! Then the Beakers would have the half dozen complete that Loki needs for his lifetime want. 

Good job Circe has a well equipped lab at home. That way, she can keep on top of her skills during maternity leave, and she spends good part of Tuesday doing just that. 

First Alon...

...and then Bjorn bring their first A+ reports home from school. For Brittany, it's only been her first day, and she has not yet learned to study, but I am sure she will soon catch up with her brothers.

That evening, a proud Loki watches his (so far) only biological child grow up. The "Beaker eyebrows" aren't that bad when she smiles such a happy smile! 

Wednesday is the last day of our week with the Beakers, since they started on a Thursday. With the kids all at school, Circe and Loki enjoy a quiet late breakfast - especially important right now for Circe, who is close to giving birth.

The peace & quiet last until 3:00 pm, when the school bus drops off Alon, Bjorn, Bella and Brittany, who runs straight into the lab to show her Dad her first A+ report. 

At 5:15 pm, Circe goes into labour (not in the bathroom, as seems to be the rule with most Sims, but in the bedroom!). 

Little Grainne has brown eyes like her Mum and pale skin like her Dad. She is named after Circe's mother. Boosting the family to five children is good, but Loki wants six... he does not want to risk the additional time for another pregnancy, and instead rings the adoption service for the fourth and final time. 

First, though, he comes to see his youngest daughter, and introduces her to Bella, who is the only one of the older four children to be awake at the moment - the others all had to have an urgent nap after school, before they can even think about eating, playing or doing their homework. 

We have to wait until next round to meet the last child the Beakers will be adopting. Loki is six days from Elderhood, and it's really going to require careful time management from my part if he is to see his lifetime want come true, all six getting married. 

Circe is done with having babies; she'll focus on her career again but of course will also be the best mother possible to the half dozen of young Beakers.

A community lot visit was not practical - there was too much going on with the children, plus I had enough crashes as it was... It still puzzles me what causes them; sometimes I am pretty sure it's the EA app updating, but that's not always the case when I check after a crash.