Lola Singles: Week 1

Well, it is only sort of Week 1 for Lola, since we've already followed her a bit when she moved in with Ripp Grunt - you can read about that here. 

Anyway, Lola (who by rights should have the surname Curious, as she is one of the Alien babies Glarn Curious had, while his wife Kitty had the entirely human children Jenny, Vidcund, Pascal and Lazlo) was in the last stages of pregnancy last time we saw her.

We're still in Strangetown, but have moved No. 95 Road to Nowhere to No. 51 on the stame street: Home of General Buzz Grunt and his family. 

Lola is expecting her and Ripp's first child - all for the greater good, since it is Ripp's Dad's lifetime want to have six grandchildren. She actually dreams of something entirely different: She wishes to become Hall of Famer, but so far has done precious little to achieve this. Ripp, on the other hand, wants to become Mad Scientist.

The widowed General has married his second wife last round: Camryn Lee, a former townie. The couple have agreed to take her surname, to mark this new chapter in the General's life even more prominently, leaving his old life (and his former grumpiness) behind. Camryn still wishes to have 20 best friends, and on this Sunday makes her 7th.

Ripp and his Dad have never been close, but they have found a civil way to live with each other, even if it means sitting at the opposite end of the long dining table for meals. Still, Ripp has done his bit to help his Dad's dream come true, and it is now probably just a matter of time before they finally become friends. 

This Sunday afternoon, Ripp's brothers Tank (blue jacket) and Buck (blond hair) have come over from uni for a special occasion. The General is happy to see all his sons. 

The cheering begins...

...and the General turns into an Elder. Happy birthday, Buzz! Look at Camryn's loving expression when she sees her husband for the first time with white hair. 

The three brothers now get along really well - pity it took them so long. The two students leave after they've all had their cake; it's back to class for them tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, upstairs Lola has given birth to twins! 

The General is very happy to welcome his first two of six grandchildren (hopefully), green skin or not - his old grudge against Pollination Technician Smith certainly does not extend to his own flesh and blood. Lola has checked both her and Ripp's family trees for suitable names. Ripp suggests to name their daughter Lyla - one last jibe at his "grumpy old Dad"; Lyla was his first wife, Ripp's mother, who one day upped and left and later apparently died on Olive Specter's land. 

The little boy is named Mike, after another relative one or two generations back - sorry, I forgot where exactly in their family trees I found him.

On Monday morning, we find the devoted grandfather giving his first granddaughter her first bottle.

The General is off to work on Monday morning. He still cuts a dashing figure in uniform, doesn't he!

Lola and Camryn could do with some nicer outfits, especially in view of the changing season (it's soon going to be summer). Because of the babies, I can not send all the adults to a community lot (I have no intention to have them hire a nanny), and since I am playing this week at this household only because of Lola, it is her I send to 88 Road to Nowhere.

While she's here, she also stocks up on groceries and greets some fellow Strangetowners, such as Vidcund Curious, who is actually her half-brother - they share the same human father.

Something that would have been unthinkable not that long ago happens that evening when the General returns from work: Ripp congratulates him on his love life! (Maybe not what you'd expect from one of your adult children, but Ripp is a Romance Sim after all, and it goes to show that their relationship has improved a lot - father and son are finally friends.)

Tuesday sees a visit from Olive Spectre, and Lola finally starting on her lifetime want: She is now a Game Mascot but, rather unusually, returns from her first day at work without a promotion. 

Lola is determined to get her first promotion on Wednesday, and spends part of the morning working out even though she already has the skills needed for the next level in her career.

She and the General are at work, with Ripp and Camryn minding the twins and the house. When they are not busy otherwise, I find them in front of the aquarium - a rare sight, two Sims looking at the fish together!

Oh dear... Lola thought she was in for promotion, but instead she lost her job :-( 

Of course this was not really her fault, but mine, because I took the wrong decision with a chance card. Now all her needs are deep orange, and I have a hard time making sure she feels better on all levels - she keeps interrupting what I tell her to do, wanting to "Help with Birthday" with her twins, but being unsuccessful. 

Her mood finally improves when Ripp kisses her, and on her own accord, she jumps into his arms, a happy smile on her face. (The "Help with Birthday" kept getting in the way for the rest of the day, without anyone actually being able to help.) 

For a change, both parents look after their children together - but still no birthday! I guess it'll have to be the cake. 

Just as I have left buy mode and put a cake on the kitchen counter, I realise that Ripp has helped his little daughter to grow up: Here's Lyla as a toddler.

Lola takes Mike to the cake, and he is finally a toddler, too.

It is Thursday, and now the fun begins...!

For a few hours, Ripp escapes the endless round of potty training, getting bottles, putting in crib and other toddler-related activities: At last, he has found a job as Test Subject in the Science career, and is promoted right away to Lab Assistant. 

Lola managed to get back to being a Team Mascot, but will only start again tomorrow. 

In spite of having played this game since it first came out, there are still things I've not noticed before, such as a toddler being able to watch the fish! Little Mike has not yet learned to walk, but he can stand up in front of the aquarium.

By Friday, I have had enough of all four adults constantly traipsing up and down the stairs, outside and in, to get bottles for the twins, give them baths, read to them or otherwise engage in any toddler-related activity. 

One of the two single bedrooms upstairs (it used to be Ripp's, I think) is transformed into a nursery, with direct access to a bathroom, an activity table and a counter for a smartmilk maker. The changing table is still in Lola and Ripp's bathroom, but their bedroom is now toddler-free - these two really need their beauty sleep if they want to advance in their careers, and keep some level of sanity at the same time. 

With the new nursery, things get a little easier, but it is still hard work to teach the toddlers their skills. Not because of the toddlers, but because the adults are very much in each other's way, and you know what our Sims can be like - when they can't get to where they are supposed to be getting, they stamp their feet and act all annoyed, and eventually give up on their assigned task. It all costs a lot of time and constant watching and interfering on my part. 

Although Ripp has been in a good mood after having taught his daughter to walk in the morning, he returns from work with a demotion to Test Subject, of course due to a chance card.

But Lola is promoted to Minor Leaguer and can say goodbye to the llama costume! 

It is Saturday, and with relief I realise that it is the last day for this household, since their week started on Sunday. While their parents are out for work, the most devoted granddad in all of Strangetown is looking after his grandchildren. 

By now, both Lyla and Mike have all their toddler skills, which makes things easier - and it won't be long until they grow into school children. 

Knowing that their twins are in the best hands she could wish for, Lola and Ripp can perform at work with no worries, and are duly rewarded: Lola is now a Rookie (and badly needs a shower!) while Ripp has been given back his former job as Lab Technician.

Phew! That was hard work, honestly. 

Two more babies need to be born to the General's sons in order for him to reach his lifetime want; it seems only fair if Tank and Buck have two children each, but I don't know whether it is realistic for that to happen while their Dad is still around.

Camryn's goal of having 20 best friends is still a long way off, too, but she has met a groceries delivery man who will be befriended because of his playable surname: Gordon Kim.

Ripp finally got started on his own lifetime want, and Lola has made progress as well.