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.)
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.
