Challenge!

Alexandria went into labor!

(snickers) She looks like a monkey.
     Alexandria: I'M IN LABOR DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME!
   Oh, well then. Let's move on from Cranky here.
     Alexandria: I-
Because the labor process is so long and boring, I usually switch to a different character and play with them until the pop-up asks me to name the baby. As I played with Atalanta, Alexandria and Hunter had apparently taken themselves to the hospital. They emerged with a baby boy.

I named him "Boy" so everyone could cast their votes on what he really should be named. But then, back at home, tragety struck!

I had (quite stupidly) placed Boy's crib right next to the stove and...well, it didn't go well. No one got there in time.

Well, I thought, not a HUGE loss. We didn't even know Boy that well yet. But then Alexandria had her birthday. Her ELDER birthday.

NO NO NO WHY DID YOU HAVE TO TURN OLD?!
     Alexandria: Well thanks for putting it so nicely.
   Oh, sorry. I didn't mean it like THAT, just that you and Hunter were so good-looking, I was looking foreward to seeing what your offsprink came out to be! AND NOW YOU CAN'T HAVE A CHILD.

We had to resort to adopting. Meet Fiona Pride!

Well, I got lucky with adoption AGAIN! She's adorable! We got her as a child, but her child and teen years were REALLY boring. And I'm impatient. So.
     Fiona: Well, thanks for cutting out most of my life!
  Well, sor-ree! You have the biggest role in the Prides history since Aleena! Even bigger! I didn't want to wait!
     Fiona: Oh. Well never mind then.

What do I mean by "biggest role in the Prides history"? Because I have invented a challenge. I know, we just DID  a challenge with Aleena. but this one, I made up. Here's how it rules out:
1. Move Fiona to an empty lot with only 300 simoleons
2. Reach 500,000 simoleons (like at The Splines, but this is harder because of the catch, so instead of 1 million it's 500,000)
3. THE CATCH: THE SIMS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GET REAL JOBS! For example, they cannot be a scientist or teacher. They can't work at a job that pays them regularly. They can only do things like paint, write, fish, etc. It is actually harder than I thought it would be to make money.

So I moved Fiona out on her own on an empty lot. With the 300 simoleons, Fiona was able to afford a bench (cheapest sleeping option) and a bookshelf.

She first went to the library (the nearest place with a computer) to start on a book and "solve the unsolvable" (which comes with the Genius trait, one of my personal favorites).

(she can make extra money that way)
     Fiona: Shut up, I'm concentrating.
  No. Concentrate on your own time.
     Fiona: This is my own time.
  No, this is my time.

Then she took a shower there.

     Fiona: Doodledog! THAT IS INCREADIBLY EMBARRASSING.
  Um, yeah, I don't care.

Then she went home and read. (She's a bookworm)

     Fiona: Do they really need to know that?
  YES, YES THEY DO, THEY NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONLY CURRENT CHARACTER ON THE BLOG.

*ahem* Moving on. Then she got tired and went to sleep.

     Fiona: Ugh, shut up, I'm sleeping.
  Don't tell me what to do. Sleep on your own time.
     Fiona: I-
The next morning, she had an early breakfast at the junkyard. (Ok, seriously, why would you put a fridge in a junkyard? WHO WOULD WANT TO EAT AT A JUNKYARD!!!!!)

But she was still tired after that, so she used the couch there.

     Fiona: *grumble* It's a good think I"m not a Light Sleeper.
  Yes, you're welcome :)

Now, back to the library to work on her book!

Oh! Look who came to visit the library!

     Atalanta: WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU SO CLOSE?!
  Well, excuse me! I USED TO CONTROL YOU!!!
     Atalanta: Oh. Sorry about that.

Um, yeah, I'm just going to leave it at that.

How does everyone know about the creepy smile?!

This post is going to be SLIGHTLY different. I got the idea from Del over at the Genegacy. I'm going to be narrating and the sims will be "talking".

Aleena came, whipped out her (dunno where the heck she got it?) computer.

Aleena: Oh, I got the computer at....well, actually, I'm not sure. I have this huge memory gap between when I died and a little while ago....the computer comes with being dead, I guess. It can be pretty boring.

Okay then. Anyway, she stuck around and then went out to the garden to disappear at 7 (which is a lot later than usual, actually).

Aleena: Ooh, that apple looks loverly. Maybe I'll pick it-woops, sunlight! Gotta zoom up into the beyond!
   Um, yeah, the sun comes up at 6. Little late there?
    Aleena: Well, to my defense, I was playing on the computer. You of all people should understand that.
   ...
   Fair enough.

But then she came BACK!!!

She sat down to eat, but never got the chance. Left at 8, and left for good. Well, until the next night.
    Aleena: Bummer, the cereal looked good.

At this point, I realized that Charlie had a level 6 in gardening skill. I sent him out to garden. He had just been badly singed by attempting to fix the TV.

    Charlie: Did you really have to include that picture? It's embarrassing.
   Well, that's what you get for trying to fix the TV. That's Atalanta's job.
    Charlie: Why is it always her that does everything?
   Um...I'm your creator, don't judge me.

Speaking of Atalanta, someone pointed out to me that I haven't had a picture of her face in many many posts! Here she is, in all of her gorgeousness:

Hunter and Alexandria are keeping the relationship alive.

     Hunter: Really, Doodledog? Can't anyone get any privacy around here?
   No.
   Moving on.

Alexandria detached herself from Hunter and went over to talk to Atalanta about- *GASP!* THE CREEPY SMILE RETURNS!!!

     Alexandria: So I heard that Briana dreampt about a creepy smile before she became an elder. Do you think it's true?
   HOW THE HECK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?!
     Alexandria: Hey, this is a private conversation!
   You seriously think I care?

Then CHARLIE came to join the conversation!

     Charlie: My wife had a dream about a creepy smile? What do you think that means?
   Dunno. Maybe she has perfect teeth.
     Charlie: You ever seen her mouth?
   Um, no!
     Charlie: Exactly. It's me who has the perfect teeth in our relationship.
   Oh. Well maybe she's attracted to perfect teeth. Let's not forget, you were still deleted then! Maybe she missed you.
     Charlie: Oh. Well okay then.

Alexandria finally left to watch TV.

     Alexandria: Let me alone, I'm watching football!

_____
So how did you like the sims talking? Do you think I should do it more often (or always)? Or do you like my old way of doing things, just narrating? Please comment and let me know!

Sports

Hunter had his birthday! He grew into a (balding?!) old-looking young adult (?)

Um, yeah, had to change that one.

Muuuuch better!


The first thing he did as a young adult was join the Proffesional Sports career. But then my game spazzed out, and I had to redo everything. But it's all good now.

"Girl" (still haven't got enough votes to swing her to either which name, it's either Atalanta or Alice) got an opportunity saying that, if she caught a fish, her grades would improve. Off you go!

Brian burnt Macaroni and Cheese.

He just left it there, instead of cleaning it up, and went to clean the stove instead.

Then he complained about the smell.

You want to complain? FINE THEN. UPGRADE THE STOVE TO BE SELF CLEANING.

Then I let him catch a nap, cuz I'm nice like that.

Oh, you're up? Good! Fix the shower.

Briana finally reached Level 10 of the Guitar skill. She celebrated with this extremely creepy smile:

Aleena came to visit again. She floated around and thought about...monkeys?

I dunno. Ghosts are weird.

Skills

Brian is still using his free time to care for his garden.

Meanwhile, Hunter keeps working at his martial arts skills. He's advanced a few levels and earned a few new outfits.

Every time he advances, he does this weird move. It's funny, because it makes him seem so professional, while he still hasn't improved at all at that stick thingy in the backround.

Brian, meanwhile, only just has time to catch a nap before going on with daily buisness.

More socialness! Hunter and "Girl" talk while doing homework.

SPEAKING of "Girl", I have narrowed it down to two names I like: "Atalanta" and "Alice". Please comment and tell me which of them you think I should do!

Aleena paid us a visit. She took out a computer that she did not own when she was living and started chatting with friends.

Here's a random picture of gameplay: Briana walks to the fridge, Brian washes his hands, and Hunter works out.

The family is becoming more social. I found Brian and Hunter in the middle of a conversation!

Then Brian left to cook food so he could sleep in. Which I didn't let him do anyway, he had gardening to do!

And a computer to fix!

George came to visit for the first time. He went to play on the computer.

It was then time for "Girl" (remember to comment!) to become a teen. She's so pretty!

After her, it was time for Brian to age up into a "Mature Adult".

(I love this picture. His facial expression is so afraid and surprised, and his hands accent it.)

Hunter had a wish to "meditate", which I didn't know how to do. But I figured it out!

(I love how his green belt uniform comes with glasses)

He's getting good at breaking foam boards!

Also, I was surprised when Briana managed to sleep through the night again!

She dreamt about a creepy smile.

Remember to comment and vote for the name for "Girl!" The choices are "Atalanta" and "Alice". Which do you think fits her better?