The Picaso-Newson Household: Week 6

Paola and Garrett Picaso are now both 60. They married at the end of their previous week, when they were both already seniors, after having lived together all their adult lives.

While Garrett has reached his lifetime want of becoming Game Designer already a long time ago (23 days from Elderhood), his wife is still working on hers. She wants to be Education Minister and is currently working as a College Senior Professor.

Garrett's half-Alien son Ned started school last round. He and his Dad have kept their favourite ritual from his toddler days: Every morning, Garrett reads to Ned.

Later that day, Garrett recycles yesterday's newspaper on his own accord.

Paola would actually need four friends for her next promotion, but she returns from work as College Dean of Students anyway - thanks to a chance card.
Now she needs six friends and three skill points. Hard work!

Last round, Ned announced that he intended to bring home his first A+ report pretty soon, and today he makes true on his promise.

He then greets Chris Capp, but sits down to do his homework instead of playing with her. Disappointed, Chris leaves before dinner time.

It is already Tuesday morning when I realise that I have not startet this chapter with a picture of the house. Well, it looked almost the same on Monday, with the exception of the vegetable beds - they were empty and have now been planted with new seeds.
We're still in early spring, and although all snow has gone, the pond is still frozen.

Ned brings home from school one of his many half-siblings, related to him through their Alien father: Mary Riley. The children become friends, and Paola makes a friend, too: the nanny.

Garrett begins Wednesday morning with the beloved family tradition of a bit of father-son time, reading to Ned before school. Not much longer and Ned will be a teenager - unable to be read to.

When Ned is at school and Garrett at work, Paola uses her day off to work on her skills and making friends.

A smiling Ned returns from school with half-brother Paul Patel in tow.

At bedtime, Garrett looks wistfully at his son - those wonderful years of Ned's childhood are almost over, and he won't be able anymore to tuck his boy in at night.

Thursday morning sees Garrett and Ned perform another child-and-parent activity for the last time.

Back from school today with Ned is Param Patel, Paul's brother (and thus another half-brother for Ned).

Ned finds out that he can increase his fun level after school by taking care of his Mum's vegetable garden.

Just as he wants to sit down and do his home work, he grows up to a teenager, and I must admit I am a little sorry that I did not let him have a birthday party. Nobody rolled the wish, and nobody really had time, but it would have been nice.
My dice is rolled, and Ned's aspiration turns out to be Romance.

It is almost summer now, and on this Friday morning, the vegetable patch in one corner of the garden requires Paola's attention.

With both is parents still at work, Ned is the first one home at 1:00 pm. He pays the bills that arrived yesterday, talks to friends on the phone and finally sits down to do his homework.

Paola comes home from work with Nellie Newson, her colleague and her husband's niece.

Saturday means no school and no work. Garrett and Ned spend some valuable father-son time fishing.

Aunt Ginger, his Dad's big sister, comes visiting on her own accord and is greeted by Ned.

Ned is a diligent boy and can often be seen cleaning or doing other house work. He also made the lunchmeat sandwiches the family are eating here.

He feels unwell on Sunday morning (nothing to do with yesterday's sandwiches!).

Fresh air is helpful, and after a spot of gardening he feels up to jumping rope until he has reached full body skill points - a bug that I have not seen in my game in a while, but which will come in useful towards Ned's lifetime want of becoming Hall of Famer.

Paola goes to work, and so it is just father and son at the breakfast table. "Last week you said we could go on a holiday," Ned remarks. Garrett has to admit he has forgotten all about it, what with the excitement of Ned growing up, he and Paola working and everything else.

One of Ned's wishes is to buy new clothes, and since his Dad does not want to disappoint him even more, they take the car - Ned is driving - to...

...H&M, where they have not only the opportunity to buy new outfits, but also to meet other New Maximilianians.

Ned makes his choice (money is not an issue) while Garrett talks to a few neighbours.

Back home, he invites some of his younger siblings and their partners over. Candice Walter, recently moved to New Max (the red-haired lady next to the tree), is just walking by and is asked to join the lively group of Newsons who mainly gather around the pond.

It is a beautiful summery Sunday, and when Paola returns from work, she is happy to have so many visitors, as she is always on the lookout for more friends.

The week ends with the elderly couple retreating to bed while the younger folks are still around, now chatting in the kitchen over plates of sandwich.

Will Paola manage to acquire enough friends for her next promotion? Is Ned going to move to college next round? Are they ever going on that promised holiday?