Over the festive period, I was unable to update as much as I liked. However, subsequently, this episode is going to be a very big one!
So the Activity Table is turning out to be a very good investment. It boosts fun and the Creative skill, too! At the moment, Tada is filling the place up with drawings, which are mostly boats ( Rudolph, oddly enough, draws rainbows like there's no tomorrow).
So, seeing as Vino's birthday had rolled around, I started fixing up the nursery to turn it into a single bedroom. And yes, when I say fixing up, I do mean literally just adding a bed after moving stuff around.
Not long after this, Vino did age up! Here's our first look at him...
And once more, the Randomizer has hurt me terribly.
Before I could change that, though, he decided to bond with his older brother. What even. Did I mention I love how the whole Sims hugging each other thing works?
I mean, I don't know about you, but I always contort my neck to the left when hugging another person.
Thankfully, I was then able to change his hair and outfit! So here we go - the last of the potential heirs, Vino Waveborn! He's Lazy, with the Social Butterfly aspiration, and he's the only one to inherit Issac's hair colour, which really made me happy (I thought he might also have the nice chestnut hair that Mariana has). He's actually quite a sweet looking kid!
Another look at his outfit. I just really love this mouse tee! It's custom content, and it's so sweet. I've made it blue in keeping with the whole 'sea' theme I try to bring in every now and then.
And here we have Mariana tending to the garden! She's reached Level 6 of the Gardening skill, but we still don't have a Cowberry from our Grafted plant. Boo hiss.
I've been putting the pictures drawn on the Activity Table in Tada and Rudolph's room. They really give it a nice feel of being a children's bedroom, and they don't cost a thing!
But all good things have a plumbing disaster, and indeed, the sink broke. Again. I can't remember whether Mariana or Issac repaired it, but it was a bit exasperating. Why this happens all the time, I still don't know.
While that mess was happening, though, Vino got to try out the Activity Table!
The amount of glitter this kid uses, though. Like, seriously, I'm pretty sure that the Activity Table's countertop is 50% glitter by now.
While doing this, he decided to make his first impression with his dad by apparently doing the Funky Chicken. Nice.
It being the first day of his childhood, everyone of course headed off to school/work, leaving him alone to amuse himself.
Fun fact: as I was playing this on the train, my mother was leaning over and making comments about all the things that could go wrong while he was on his own. 'Oh look, a bee. Can he spell anaphylactic shock?'
Thanks, Mum.
BUT ANYWAY-- he honoured the time old tradition of playing on the monkey bars and talking to strangers while I wasn't looking. Yippee!
Vino also does homework. I'm going to try and get him a musical instrument, too, because I really want him to be like the genius baby of the family, but hey, homework is a good start.
A closer look at his rainbow painting. D'aww.
And here we have the child who spontaneously cleans up after himself! Yay for Rudolph!
Now I'm not going to lie to you, it's pretty cool that he takes after Issac in that respect. It's good. It keeps the place tidy, and it makes us all happy. However, I'm hoping he doesn't take too much after Muscleman Babydad, because guess where I found our founder's spouse-to-be again?
Yup. On the yoga mat.
I have got to change that outfit.
Tada and Vino are also getting along well, in that they seem to enjoy hanging out and reading together in the main kids' room. I mean, look at this! So cute!
At the same time, though, Rudolph is just sat over here with a sour expression. I guess even though he likes Vino, he doesn't exactly appreciate him in his room.
(Also, Rudolph surrounded by drawings. Yus.)
Seeing as Christmas is unfortunately over, I've changed Rudolph's t-shirt to the moose one that comes with the Outdoor Retreat pack. It's really cute! And it suits him well, too. To be honest, I don't have a lot of selection for looks when it comes to boys, if you compare it to the selection I have for girls - not that I don't download custom content, there's just not a big range, and to find something official that is this fitting is really nice.
Also, Tada dancing. You had the proof here first, ladies, gents, and other distinguished persons. Tada dances like this.
To classical music, no less.
The younger Waveborns, off to school and recreating the Beatles' photo.
And new shower! Yay! No more queues, right? It's so complicated when they all queue for the same thing...
A sleepy Vino at the end of a long first day at school. Just don't dream about adult responsibilities yet, kid. You've got a few more days before those hit you.
Macaroni truck for your thoughts, courtesy of Tada.
And the very last masterpiece before a very big day...
People.
We've seen him grow from a bump, to a baby, to a child, and now to a teen. I kind of feel like a grandma looking back on the years (it's been like maybe a month or so, in reality).
First order of business... A new oven (not shown), countertop and bin! I was so proud to have saved up enough for what would usually be so easy to get. Small pleasures.
And here we have Mariana, baking a cake.
WHAT. COULD. GO. WRONG.
Mum (leaning over my shoulder at this point): Are you sure she should be doing that?
Me: She's baking a cake. For her son's birthday, Mum. It's fine.
Mum: She might set everything on fire.
Me: She's not going to--
That was the point I looked down at my screen.
I'm generally a quiet person on trains. I really am. I'm too socially awkward not to be. But at this point, I went on a LOUD RANT about the idiocy of Sims.
HOW DO YOU DO THIS.
HOW.
EVEN.
IT'S A BIRTHDAY CAKE, YOU CHICKEN NUGGET HEAD. HOW.
OH LOOK. A SCORCHED OVEN. WONDER HOW THAT HAPPENED.
I seriously hope these kids will be alright.
In this pic, they have all been evacuated out of the kitchen, due to the whole FIRE IN THE OVEN THING.
And finally, after much effort and selling things like the stereo to replace the oven, the cake!
The big moment!(Complete with Princess Uranus party dress for Mariana.)
The initial look.
Yup, I choked on my Pringles too. Don't sweat it.
And...the finished product!
He really does have his mother's looks. Aw. I also stuck with the blue theme with his clothing, and I'm pretty pleased by the result.
(I'm so trying not to play favourites.)
However, this definitely meant that rearrangements were in order. Hence, Rudolph and Vino are now sharing the Totoro room...
While Tada has this snazzy little nautical room! (I downloaded the wallpaper especially.) It's sort of both grown up and not too far removed from childhood, and I like to think that he will like it. Happy birthday again!
Issac upgraded the kitchen sink. I'm hoping it will break less, now.
And the genes of Muscleman Babydad surface! So, apparently, Tada is joining family yoga. Oh well. It was probably going to happen eventually.
Finally, Tada is asleep in his new, teen-worthy bed in his new room. It's...been a long birthday, I think.
And that's good night from him, and good night from me!
See you next episode!
-lilypadmeulin
