The Gavigan Family: Week 2

Click here for the first week with the Gavigans.

This house at No. 1051 West Leisure Lane in Desiderata Valley is our next stop. It is the home of the Gavigans, where I last played in November 2023 - almost two years ago!

We arrive just in time on this Monday morning to witness little Joseph growing up to a toddler, helped by his Dad.

Mary gets up, feeling as if she's only gone to bed a minute ago - well, the joys of parenthood... But she, the Family Sim, loves her children dearly, even if it means to lose a few hours of sleep and not getting much time to herself, or with her husband. She dreams of six grandchildren, which was the reason for the Gavigans to have a second child - it seemed a bit unfair to leave all the responsibility for his Mum's lifetime want on their firstborn.

Here he is, Isaiah, on his way to the school bus. He used to have a different bed and bedside table, but everything from the IKEA pack has vanished from the house. This meant I had to start the week by replacing the most important items without spending too much, leaving the Gavigans with about 3,000 Simoleons in cash.

But not to worry: Nathan, who aspires to become General one day, returns from work that afternoon with a promotion to Counter Intelligence. His wage and the bonus just about make up for the money the family had to spend to replace the missing furniture.

Upstairs, the second birthday of today saw Isaiah growing up into a handsome teenager. He can now finally play with his little brother! My dice landed on Pleasure, although the young man was probably meant to be a Romance Sim - he wishes to have 50 Dream Dates, and I'll have him starting on that as soon as possible.

With her husband at work and Isaiah at school, Mary takes care of houshold matters such as paying the bills. By now, little Joseph has learned all his toddler skills and can be trusted to use the potty when he needs it, giving her a bit more time to do other things. She even manages to make phonecalls to her friends now.

Isaiah returns from school in an outfit that looks as if he's been the lead in the school's play, but this is apparently his outdoor wear now! I really must send the family to a clothes shop very soon.

Meet Flight Officer Gavigan! Another bonus means there is now a healthy 9,000 Simoleons in the bank, and Fortune Sim Nathan instantly starts rolling wants for better furniture. I still believe clothes should come first; it won't be long until the next promotion, I hope, and then some improvements can be made to the home.

First, though, Nathan needs to acquire another body point. He puts the obstacle course to good use and is later joined there by his wife, who has been wishing to get fit.

Nathan is up early on Wednesday morning and lets his wife sleep when Joseph wakes up. Finally, he can spend a bit of time with his younger son before he needs to go to work. He gives him a bath and even manages to teach him a nursery rhyme before his car pool arrives.

Mary feels much refreshed when she gets up later that morning. She potters about the house and plays with Joseph when the doorbell rings - the Travellers are here! Trisha and Trent have been friends with the Gavigans almost from the moment both families moved to The Valley, and now they have come for a surprise visit.

Trent heads straight upstairs where Joseph has just woken up from his afternoon nap. "Hello little man!" (I found that rather sweet - and it was not to give him a bath or a bottle, really just to talk!)

Shortly afterwards, Nathan returns from work. He smiles not only because he is happy to see Trisha and Trent, but also because... "Y'all can help me celebrate my promotion to Senior Officer!" he announces.

As is so often the case in my game, Thursday is one of the busiest days of the week for the family. Nathan is promoted yet again! Now Commander, he needs three more skill points for the next step on the career ladder.

Joseph's toddler days are over, and his Mum is not the only one to sigh with relief! Even though he was a good little kid, learning fast and being looked after by his Dad and big brother whenever they could, Mary will now have more time to pursue her own interests and friendships.

Isaiah makes a start on his lifetime want and asks classmate Veronica Long on a date. In his outfit, where else would he chose but Rod's Famous 50's Diner :-)

He and Veronica get along very well in spite of there not being any chemistry bolts between them, and it does not take long for Isaiah to get his first ever kiss from someone other than his parents or baby brother. Needless to say, the evening turns out a Dream Date. One down, 49 to go!

Several other playables appear at the Diner, among them Pauline Aspir, but she's on her own.

Back home, Isaiah places the roses Veronica has left for him on his new bedside table. The room has received a little makeover; gone is the deep red carpet, and at the other end of the room a second bed is set up for Joseph. (Some hours later, Veronica appears a second time and leaves a 12th Century Song Dynasty Sculped Vase, worth 4,000 Simoleons, on the porch for her Dream Date! It is put into Isaiah's backpack; it might come in useful some day when he needs money.)

After her sons have left for school and her husband for work, Mary walks to The Frippery Frock to finally do something about the family's wardrobe. She is happy to spot her best friend Sam Thomas just reaching the front door as she approaches the shop.

Mary buys outfits for everyone and changes into a cosy jumper and pair of jeans, much better suited for the chilly spring weather than her summerly dress, and then catches up with Sam. The two ladies enjoy their chat until it is time for Mary to head home; she wants to be there when her little boy returns from his first day at school.

Much earlier than expected, Nathan returns from work at the same time as Mary is back from the shop. He has a colleague in an Astronaut suit accompanying him home, and is happy to tell his wife that he has just been promoted to Astronaut - thanks to a chance card, but also because he had all the skills. After the colleague has shown Nathan how to suit up for his first mission in space, he is sent on his way.

Once the boys are both home from school, the family sit down for their first meal when all four of them can be at the table at the same time. "This calls for a celebration!" It certainly does, and all except for Joseph raise their glasses of sparkling wine.

It is already dark outside by the time Mary gets around to helping Joseph with his first homework. But he is a clever lad, and all that smart milk when he was a toddler pays off.

Nathan has the entire weekend off, and of course there is no school, either, and so the family head to Greaves Greener Gardens on Saturday. I am sure all four were included when I told them to walk there, but Mary must have decided to stay home on the last minute.

Joseph asks his big brother to swing him around.

Then Isaiah spots a girl his age by the chess tables and greets her. The crossed-out bolt stops him pursuing her any further as a potential candidate for a dream date.

Back home, Joseph "shows off" to his Dad on his own accord.

Isaiah invites class mate Lainey over and has a Dream Date with her right there and then, not for a minute bothered by his parents as well as his little brother being around. Only 48 more, and he'll be on Permanent Platinum :-D

By Sunday, Nathan has all the skills required for his next promotion and can dedicate some time to make phonecalls to his friends - as we all know, friends are just as important for our Sims' careers as skills and going to work in a good enough mood. Isaiah and Lainey are at it again while Nathan politely looks away, and before the afternoon ends, the boy has 3 Dream Dates under his belt. (By the way, while Lainey leaves roses after both dream dates, unlike Veronica, she doesn't bring anything else.)

Joseph knows few people outside his family and has been wishing to make a friend from the moment he grew up from toddler to child. When he spots Georgia Newson walking by, he runs out to greet her, and they get along fine. But she has to go home before they reach friendship status.

The week ends with Nathan making sure his younger son sleeps well. This was a great week for the family, especially once the initial financial struggle was over (not that it really was a struggle, but they had to be careful with their money).

I have a bit of a soft spot for Isaiah, and hope that Joseph will make a friend in Georgia next time I play this household (which will hopefully not take another two years in real life!).

Mary seems to have been a bit neglected this week, but now that her children don't need her all the time, she will be able to focus on her friendships and hobbies. Also, she and her husband have been rolling many romantic wishes about each other, which means I won't be worried even though I have found out that she has 3 bolts for her friend Trisha's husband, Trent Traveller.