Update 12/18/21

 I'm still going strong on my legacy at the moment, but I'll probably be wrapping up by the end of the year, at which point I'll work on another neighborhood that I'll likely post about here.  In the meantime, Happy Holidays and Happy Simming!

Update 11/29/21

 I'm finished with Belladonna for the time being.  I've spent the last several days copying over some stories that I wrote for a forum I was on years ago back over into my game, which has been pretty time consuming.  Now that I'm done with that, I'm playing the legacy that one of the stories was about and continuing the story.  I'm not going to post any of that here, as it's a lot of work to get the pics copied over, not to mention copying all the text over yet again.  When I finish playing the legacy I'll probably move on to the other story/challenge, which is longer and more story driven.  I will also not be putting that on here, so I'll likely be away for a while.  However, once I'm done with that, I'll be back to regular updates with whichever 'hood I decide to play.  Until then - Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/24/21

 Dec 2016

Isaiah Gavigan moved back home after graduation and was lucky enough to get hired on as an executive assistant right away, which is a huge help to the family finances.  Nathan is grateful to his son for being willing to help out; two paychecks are better than one.  The other kids have been doing a lot to help out around the house as well, which gives Nathan more time to focus on his career.  Hopefully his hard work will lead to a bonus soon.

Marcus Baldwin finished the semester with a 3.0 GPA and is ready to head into his final term of junior year.  The dorm has become pretty quiet recently with so many sims either graduating or dropping out.  He's still seeing Cat, however, and is thinking of proposing.

Etsu Cho maintained her 4.0 GPA.  She will also be heading into her final semester of junior year.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/23/21

 Nov 2016

Ever since Courtney turned two in March, Samantha Green has been thinking about having another baby.  She knows it's a long shot at her age, but Gabe is game so they've started trying.  In the meantime, Gabe brought home another dog for Tucker to play with since he doesn't really get along with Sam's cats.  If they don't have another child, at least Courtney will have lots of animal friends to play with.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/20/21

 Oct 2016

Geoff Rutherford had a night off and decided to invite over his sister's family.  He wanted to meet his new brother-in-law and get to know Justin's husband and daughter a little better.  Unfortunately, Leo couldn't make it, but they all still had a great time watching movies together and telling stories about old times.  Geoff really needed the family bonding time.  He's feeling much more positive about the future now.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/19/21

 Aug 2016

Everyone maintained the status quo in the Riley household.  Tim is loving hanging out with Adam more.  Sally continues to love her job and reject the idea of a serious relationship, much to Vivian's chagrin.  Vivian is still ruling the roost, but she really misses Etsu.

Sept 2016

In the wake of Gavin's departure from SSU, he and Ginger decided to move into their own place together.  Faith and Herb were sad to see them go, but they can't afford to support them without the benefit of foster child payments which ended when they turned 18.  The younger siblings will stay, of course, but Gavin and Ginger assured them they'd visit as often as possible once they get settled somewhere.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/18/21

 July 2016

Ana Patel's patience has paid off.  She discovered that she is pregnant with her fifth child, who will be due next April.  Ramir is less excited, but at least it'll keep his wife busy.  She won't have time to snoop and uncover his affair.  Ryman and Delia are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new sibling, but Bharat and Kaja think it's kind of gross that their parents are still having babies in their forties.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/17/21

 June 2016

Benjamin Baldwin was elected to Congress recently, which came with a substantial pay raise.  The family has finally turned a corner, financially, and things are looking up.  Sofia finally had some time off from work to spend with Almeric, but it just didn't feel the same.  She still loves him, but is beginning to wonder if she's in love with him.  Ethan finally finished all the makeup work his teacher sent home for him, so hopefully his grades will be on the rise soon.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/16/21

 May 2016

The wedding of Marissa Cleveland and Leo Wilkie went off without a hitch.  It was a small ceremony in the park with only Justin, Vincent, and a few close friends gathered.  Afterwards, much to the delight of her son and son-in-law, Marissa announced that she and Leo would be remaining in the family home.  They want nothing more than to spend the rest of their days surrounded by their loved ones.

Isaiah Gavigan graduated with a 3.3 GPA and a degree in economics.  He'll be moving back home to help his dad out with his younger siblings.

Marcus Baldwin is still holding his own, maintaining a 3.1 GPA heading into his junior year.

Gavin Newson, however, did not fare so well.  He flunked out and will be headed home.  He and Ginger are considering getting a place together to save on expenses while they look for work.

Etsu Cho maintained her standard of excellence with a perfect 4.0 and is more than ready to start junior year.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/14/21

 Apr 2016

Four-month-old Willa Sharpe is keeping her parents on their toes.  She needs a lot of attention.  Luckily Edwin has chosen to be a stay-at-home dad for the time being so that all of their princess's needs can be met.  It's a tough job and he's already thinking about a vacation, but Willa's much too young to go with them and they wouldn't want to be away from her for too long either, so it'll have to wait a while.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/12/21

 Mar 2016

Though she doesn't have as much time as she used to, between running her salon and running after two kids, Jessica Contender has continued her affair with Glen.  She knocks off early some days and heads downtown to meet him for a few hours before the children get home from school and while Carlos is napping.  Glen is really keen to marry Jessica, but she's not willing to get divorced.  Carlos is turning 99 next month, so there's no point in rocking the boat she thinks.  It's only a matter of time anyway.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/11/21

 Feb 2016

Talia DeBateau got accepted into private school, more because of her last name than her stellar grades, but she plans to work on getting her marks up.  She wants to make her parents proud.  Armand and Kimberly are planning a family vacation, but they're debating between a tropical beach destination or a cultural immersion experience.  Talia doesn't care; she's just excited to be travelling to another country!

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/10/21

 Jan 2016

Jason Cleveland decided he needed to get away from everything for a while to hopefully get his life back on track.  He travelled to Twikki Island for a weekend, where he spent his time on the beach watching waves and the local wildlife.  He didn't venture far from his bungalow, mostly continuing to keep to himself, but by the time he returned home he was feeling refreshed and much more grounded.  He even had the motivation to finally finish his novel.  Maybe life is finally starting to go his way.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/8/21

 Dec 2015

The Greens have settled into life with a baby.  They tag team infant care, pet care, and household chores quite effectively.  Samantha's sister Kim can't imagine how they manage without a butler, but Sam is proud of her little family and their down-to-earth lifestyle.

Isaiah Gavigan finished the semester with an A+ and is heading into his final semester of Uni, after which he'll finally be able to move back home and help his dad.

Marcus Baldwin also finished with an A+; he's going into his second term of sophomore year.  He's still dating Cat and their relationship is getting more serious.

Gavin Newson did not fare as well as his dormmates.  He finished with a D average and is now on academic probation.  He fears he'll be expelled like so many others he's heard about.

Etsu Cho continues to rock college with her perfect 4.0 GPA.  She is laser focused on her goals and no one is going to stop her.

Birth Announcement: Edwin and Tara Sharpe welcomed a baby girl named Willa,

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/6/21

 Nov 2015

Jason Cleveland has been in an emotional funk since Sierra died nearly two years ago.  He realized he was never going to get the promotion he's been working towards for years, so decided to take early retirement.  Since then he spends his days alone, working on a sci-fi novel by day, stargazing by night, and generally avoiding people.  He talks to only his closest friends (Carlos and Geoff) usually, but has recently begun to hang out with Nathan Gavigan quite a bit.  Nathan also lost his wife last year, so they've found they have some common ground there, though Nathan's situation is admittedly worse since his wife killed herself and he's got several young children to care for.  At least he's not alone though.  Sometimes Jason really hates the solitude.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/5/21

 Oct 2015

Marissa Cleveland got the surprise of her life when Leo proposed to her.  She hadn't really been thinking about marriage, what with her new grandbaby and all, but she was delighted to accept his proposal.  Justin and Vincent suggested that Leo move in while they plan the wedding.  Afterwards, if they want to get a place of their own, they are welcome to do so.  They're secretly hoping that they decided to stay, however, because Jill loves having her grandmother around full-time.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/4/21

 Sept 2015

Nothing much has changed for Geoff Rutherford in the past year.  Things are going a little better at work, but he still hasn't heard from Talin.  He assumes he's been "ghosted".  It was always risky with the age difference and all, but he'd thought they were dealing with that.  Guess not.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/3/21

 Aug 2015

Gavin Newson was accepted to Sim State University, but unfortunately his sister Ginger was not.  She assured him that she didn't really want to go anyway and encouraged him to have a good time and make lots of friends.  Secretly, she was disappointed, but always felt college was a long shot for her.  She'll be fine.  She'll get a job and maybe an apartment.  Everything will work out.

Gavin wants to feel confident about leaving home and embarking on this new adventure, but he's not sure he's up to the task.  He's met a couple of other guys in the dorm and they seem to have everything together, but Gavin is completely lost in his classes.  He worries he won't have what it takes to survive here.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 11/2/21

 June 2015

The Gavigan family is hanging in there in the wake of Mary's death.  Nathan's tax refund was almost large enough to pay all his bills, though he did have to take on a little more debt to manage everything.  Noah, who is 12, has really stepped up to help with his younger siblings, which is a great relief to his father.  Isaiah checks in every day by phone and visits on a regular basis to pitch in as well.  Emotionally, everyone is coping as well as can be expected, though Thomas is taking it the hardest.  He's convinced that it was his birthday that upset his mother so much that she chose to end her life.  She was always sad when his birthday rolled around.  Nathan has tried to talk him out of the idea, but in his mind he wonders if it's true.  Mary always wanted babies and every time Thomas' birthday rolled around, she was reminded of the fact that her "baby" wasn't a baby anymore.

July 2015

Kimberly DeBateau has finally worked her way back up to campaign manager, which is where she was before she took time off to have Talia.  She'll be on her way to running for office herself in no time and the timing couldn't be better.  Talia turned five in February and will be starting school in the fall, which means she'll be a little more independent and a little less hands-on.  While she and Armand are still open to the possibility of having another baby, neither really thinks it'll happen.  

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/31/21

 May 2015

The Contender twins are thriving in private school, bringing home great report cards.  As a reward, Jessica bought them a video game console and some games.  Hopefully it'll keep them busy during the afternoons when she's still taking care of clients.  Whenever it's warm enough, Carlos takes the kids outside for swimming lessons.  He's hoping to pass along his love of fitness to his children.

Isaiah Gavigan managed to finish junior year with a 3.3 GPA, despite the tragic loss of his mother.  He feels he'd be more useful at home, helping his dad with the kids and the bills, but Nathan insists that he stay the course and finish his degree.  He hopes his family can hold out for one more year.

Marcus Baldwin got a C this semester, bringing his perfect 4.0 down to 3.0.  Why the sudden shift in attentiveness?  Girls.  Marcus had been flirting with a girl in his dorm, thinking of asking her out, when out of the blue a friend of his, Catalina, called and asked him on a date.  They had a great time bowling and before Marcus even knew what hit him, they were hooking up in a photo booth.  Back at the dorm, Lydia continued to be flirtatious and another girl started chatting him up as well.  Who could possibly focus on studying with all these girls after him?

Etsu Cho did not suffer from any such distraction.  She maintained her 4.0 heading into her sophomore year and is well-prepared to do it again next term.  Though she's friendly with some of the guys in her dorm, she doesn't feel "that way" about any of them.  It's for the best though; she needs to focus all her attention on her studies.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/30/21

 Apr 2015

Ramir Patel's affair may have started because of stress, but it continues because it's exactly what he wants.  His family is financially stable, Ana has even gone back to work part-time, and the children are all happy and healthy.  Yet for some reason, Ramir can't bring himself to end his relationship with Diane.  He's never made any promises that he'll leave his wife for her and she seems content with that status.  He tells himself that as long as no one finds out there's no harm being done.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/29/21

 Mar 2015

Just four months after their first date Tara DeBateau and Edwin Sharpe tied the knot.  Others might have thought they were moving too fast, but when you know, you know and they didn't want to wait a minute longer to start their lives together.  They moved into a very modern apartment complex not too far from her dad's place.  Shortly after they moved in, Tara was given the opportunity to shift her focus at work to Natural Science, which is something she's been working towards for a while.  As if all that wasn't enough change for these two, Tara discovered she's expecting a baby in December.  Life is moving like a rocket for the Sharpes.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/28/21

 Feb 2015

Sofia Baldwin finally landed a job as a blog writer and she's very excited about her new job.  Ben continues to serve in the state assembly and Isabel's cookbooks are still all the rage.  Marcus is doing well at college, though they don't get to see him as often as they'd like.  Ethan got into a little trouble at school for not doing his homework, so his parents have had to crack down on him to get his grades back up.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/27/21

 Jan 2015

Tim Riley did score that promotion, moving from the surgical team to a strictly research position, which will give him more time off with his family.  He's really looking forward to diving into his new job, but also wants to spend some quality time with his son before he's too old to want to hang out with his dad.  Vivian thinks Sally should find a nice guy to settle down with, but right now Sally's just enjoying the single life.  She's not ready to be tied down.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/25/21

 Nov 2014

Tara DeBateau ran into an old college friend, Edwin Sharpe, while touring the museum in town.  She'd forgotten how much fun they used to have during their late night study sessions.  They spent the rest of the day together and, when Edwin leaned in for a kiss, Tara kissed him right back.  He admitted that he'd always had a crush on her.  How did she never see it?  She can't wait for their next date.

Dec 2014

Both Isaiah Gavigan and Marcus Baldwin finished the semester with an A+, bringing Isaiah's GPA up to 3.4, while Marcus is maintaining a perfect 4.0.

Etsu Cho also scored a perfect 4.0 GPA, as if there was ever any doubt.  She's fully prepared for the second half of freshman year already and will likely knock it out of the park once more.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/24/21

 Oct 2014

Nathan Gavigan returned home from work to find his wife missing.  After an extensive search, during which residents of Belladonna Cove, as well as the neighboring town of Hilldale, reported seeing Mary wandering aimlessly in various places, she was found in the cemetery near her home, dead of an apparent suicide.  Nathan blames himself for not noticing his wife's distress.  He's always know she was fragile, but he never thought it was this bad.  Evidently the days spent at home alone while everyone else was at work or school finally took such a toll on her that she couldn't bear to go on.  Isaiah wanted to drop out of school and come home to help out, but Nathan insisted that he stay and finish his degree.  He'll cope somehow on his own, though he doesn't know how given that he's in even more debt now than before and can't even think about moving the family after everything that's happened.

Isaiah Gavigan tries to push through his classes, but it's difficult to concentrate on anything in the wake of his mother's death.  Luckily, he'd put enough in prior to the tragedy to carry him through the term.

Marcus Baldwin is beginning to settle into college life.  He's actually loving it and wishing it would last longer than just four years.

Etsu Cho is thriving in academic life and she's even made a couple of friends while working on research projects.  She does miss her family though, so she spends a lot of time on the phone with them.  She doesn't want to miss out on anything while she's away.

*Note: Mary's story came from watching too much true crime and "You" lately.  Game-wise, she was in a red aspiration and had to roll for depression/suicide and I rolled a "death" ROS for the family as well, so I decided to count Mary's suicide for that as well, rather than have two deaths at once.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/23/21

 Sept 2014

Ana Patel celebrated her birthday surrounded by her family.  She couldn't be happier with her life, though she wouldn't object to another baby.  She knows Ramir's not really on board for another, but it it happens, it happens.  In the meantime, she's pacifying him by taking the odd shift at the restaurant.  Bharat is old enough to take care of his younger siblings for a couple of hours until Ramir gets home from work.  Ryman has turned into quite the social butterfly; their house is always full of kids that he brings home from school or invites over on the weekends.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/22/21

 Aug 2014

Life is pretty lousy for Geoff Rutherford at the moment.  On top of being broke, he also got reprimanded at work and nearly lost his job, and Talin has been MIA recently, which is never a good sign in a relationship.

Isaiah Gavigan is beginning his junior year at Sim State.  He's learned how to balance his studies with real life, which makes things much easier.  He feels a little sorry for the new freshmen arriving in the dorm.  They haven't got a clue.

Marcus Baldwin is one of those new freshmen, but he feels confident in his ability to handle things.  He chose Psychology as his major, with the intent to go into the SCIA after graduation.  

Etsu Cho is beginning her freshman year at La Fiesta Tech, where she'll be majoring in Biology and preparing for a career in Oceanography.  She's always been very studious, so should have no problems at all with keeping her grades up.  In fact, she got an early start on her term paper already!

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/21/21

 July 2014

Jessica Contender felt very strongly about getting the twins into private school, so they decided to invite the headmaster over for dinner in the hopes of increasing their chances of getting in.  It worked like a charm (no man can resist Jessica's charms) and they're in.  Jessica has also been getting more clients via word-of-mouth.  It helps that she's improved her styling skills enough to result in fewer bad reviews.  Carlos is still in great shape, but finds that with each day that passes he feels more and more tired.  He doesn't know how many years he has left with his children, but he wants to spend as much time with them as he can so that they'll have lots of good memories of him when he's gone.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/20/21

 June 2014

Ginger Newson was able to get her grades up, though she's not sure if it'll be enough to get into college.  She never really thought she'd go, but lately she's been thinking about it.  She knows Gavin wants to go and wonders if it might be kind of an adventure.  Faith and Herb can't afford it, of course, but maybe they can get loans?  The younger kids have been focused on making friends.  It seems like every day there are at least one or two extra kids in the house because they're always bringing their friends home from school.  Their foster parents don't mind at all; the more, the merrier.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/19/21

 May 2014

Justin and Vicent Cleveland have finally become parents with the adoption of a little girl named Jill.  She's nearly three years old and the most beautiful child they've ever laid eyes on (though they might be biased).  They nearly emptied their bank account at the toy store, so they'll need to get back to work and bring home some bacon.  Luckily Marissa will be happy to take charge of Jill during the day, so they won't need to incur any nanny expenses.

Isaiah Gavigan finished his sophomore year with an A+ and is looking solid for the next term as well.  He's been focusing on school so much, however, that his love life has taken a back seat.  Maybe he'll get back to looking for Ms. Right again soon.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/18/21

 Mar 2014

The Greens had one wild ride of a night when a burglar broke into their house.  Thankfully they have a burglar alarm and the criminal was caught.  In all the commotion, however, Samantha went into labor, giving birth to a baby girl named Courtney.  Since this may be their only child, Sam is happy it's a girl so that hopefully she'll grow up to be good friends with Kim's daughter Talia.

Isaiah Gavigan is still doing well in his classes.  Looks like he might score Dean's List this semester.  He never realized how thrilling education could be.

Apr 2014

Vivian Riley can hardly believe that her little girl is all grown up and preparing to start college in the fall.  Etsu was accepted to La Fiesta Tech, which specializes in math and science.  Etsu wants to study biology and eventually pursue a career in oceanography.  Sally continues to thrive at her job, moving from backup dancer to instructing the dancers.  Timothy has been hearing rumors lately that someone at the hospital will be promoted in the near future and he's keeping his fingers crossed that he's the one.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/17/21

 Jan 2014

Jason Cleveland was stunned when he received the news that his wife had been killed during a routine military training session.  Never had he imagined a scenario in which Sierra died before him.  But, hadn't he just been feeling sorry for himself that she was so young and had so much time left?  Maybe he subconsciously wished for this to happen?  Maybe it's all his fault.  They had so much to celebrate with Sierra's 28th birthday coming up next month and their 3rd anniversary happening in June.  Why didn't he appreciate what he had?

Isaiah Gavigan is still in the groove and jumps right into the semester by completing his term paper early.  He's starting to feel as if he's got everything under control.  Feels good.

Feb 2014

Sofia Baldwin has been unable to find a job so far.  She'd have thought her father's political connections would help, but it turns out he's not well-liked professionally.  She's still dating Almeric, but she just doesn't feel like there's any rush to move forward with their relationship.  Isabel's cookbooks have been doing so well lately that she could justify quitting the dead end job she's been working for the past few years.  Marcus is nearly finished with high school; he'll be starting SSU in the fall.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/16/21

 Oct 2013

Geoff Rutherford's luck took a turn when he lost his entire savings on a bad investment.  Though things are still solid with Talin, Geoff doesn't feel he can ask him to move in now, as it would seem like he was just doing it for financial reasons.  He'll need to build his bank balance back up some before committing.

Isaiah Gavigan continued to plug along, doing fine, but not spectacular.  He's thinking he'd really like to find someone to date, but so far no one has struck his fancy.

Nov 2013

The Gavigans are in serious financial trouble.  They had to take out a loan just to pay the bills they already have and it's unlikely they'll be able to continue much longer with the way things are.  Nathan has been considering selling the house and moving the family back into an apartment.  It would be a shame if things came to that after he worked so hard to become a homeowner, but it might be the only option to get them out of this crushing debt.

Dec 2013

As the term came to a close, Isaiah was suddenly bitten by the studying bug and finished the semester with an A+, snagging a spot for himself on the Dean's List.  One more semester and he's officially halfway through college.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/15/21

 Sept 2013

Ginger Newson hasn't been doing very well in school.  She's skipped a few times and it's taking a toll on her grades.  She's hoping she can bring them back up before her teachers decide to contact Faith and Herb.  Faith has been doing a lot of sewing.  She made some teddy bears for the kids and sold a few online.  She's thinking of making new curtains for the house as well.  Herb still hasn't had any luck in the job search, but he knows something will come up eventually.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/14/21

 Aug 2013

Time flies with a newborn!  Delia Patel celebrated her first birthday this month.  It won't be long now before she's toddling around and getting into mischief.  Bharat decided he wanted to get a job and his parents agreed, as long as it doesn't interfere with his studies.

Isaiah Gavigan is beginning his sophomore year and things are still going well.  He's met so many new people and had the opportunity to try so many new things.  College is fun!

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/13/21

 June 2013

The Greens got an early anniversary present when Samantha discovered she's pregnant.  Baby Green is due in March and they can't wait to become parents.  After everything these two have been through, they deserve some happiness.

July 2013

Sofia Baldwin is getting adjusted to living back at home.  It's kind of weird being back in her old room after years away at school.  Her brother Marcus seems annoyed with her for some reason, but she doesn't know what she could've possibly done to upset him.  She's been looking for a job, but so far no luck.  She needs to get something soon because she has a sizable student loan that needs to be paid.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/12/21

 Apr 2013

Tara DeBateau is thinking about getting her own place soon.  Her baby sister will need a proper bedroom before much longer and, though they haven't said as much, she knows her father and Kim would rather put Talia in her room than in the tiny room off her dad's office.  It's just time.  

May 2013

Justin and Vincent Cleveland have been approved for adoption!  Now it's just a matter of waiting for a child to be placed with them.  Marissa is really looking forward to being a grandmother as well.  She's been a little down since her cat Missy passed away.

Sofia Baldwin has graduated at long last.  She finished with a 2.9 GPA, which is not quite the B average she was hoping for, but it's good enough to earn her a degree in philosophy which is what matters.  She'll be moving back home with her parents for the time being.

Isaiah Gavigan is feeling pretty confident after finishing his freshman year.  His GPA isn't stellar, but it's fine.  No need to work harder than necessary, right?  He'll miss Sofia though.  They've become friends over the past year and it'll be weird not seeing her every day.  Hopefully they'll keep in touch.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/11/21

 Feb 2013

Not much has changed in the Riley household in the past year.  Timothy and Vivian continue to focus on work, which is beginning to take a toll on their relationship.  Sally got noticed during one of her aerobics classes and was offered a position as a backup dancer in music videos.  Etsu has just one more year of high school and she'll be off to college.  Adam has discovered that he really likes sports, but still wants to try everything.

Mar 2013

Sierra Cleveland has thrown herself into her work, much to her husband's dismay.  He's never felt older than he does now.  He turned 60 in January and is still stuck in the same position at work, no closer to a promotion and rapidly approaching retirement.  Meanwhile, his young wife has her whole life ahead of her and is taking advantage of it.  He's beginning to wonder if he made a mistake in marrying someone so young.

Sofia Baldwin decided to knuckle down and push through because she definitely does not want to spend another semester here.  It's been fun at times, but she's really ready to graduate and move on with life.

Isaiah is still coasting.  He hasn't needed to exert much effort yet.  Sofia warned him that it will get harder, but he'll cross that bridge when he comes to it.  He finally got a chance to invite his family over so he could give the robots he made to his siblings.  They've officially named him "coolest big brother ever" and he couldn't be happier.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/10/21

Jan 2013

The Contender twins celebrated their fifth birthday this month and their mother couldn't be happier.  It'll be nice to concentrate on building her stylist business without two kids underfoot all day.  Carlos tries to help out with them, but even on his best day he can't keep up with one boisterous youngster, let alone two.

Sofia Baldwin's final semester is starting off rough.  She's struggling to keep up and isn't sure she's going to pull through, which will land her on academic probation and cause her to have to repeat the term.

Isaiah Gavigan is still breezing through without putting in much effort, but Sofia has warned him that it will get tougher and he should prepare for the increased workload.

Happy Simming! 

Belladonna 10/9/21

 Nov 2012

The plans are underway for the renovation of the Contender house.  Jessica has already commandeered a corner of Carlos' gym for her "salon"; the rest will be divided into two bedrooms for the twins.  Carlos is sad to see his gym go, but he has to agree that it's the only viable choice.  Maybe it won't be so bad because now he'll have to go to the public gym, which will at least allow him to get out of the house once in a while.

Dec 2012

Sofia Baldwin finished the semester with passing grades, but her final term is going to be tough.  Her class will be focusing in on her weakest skills, so it'll definitely be an uphill battle to graduate.

Isaiah passed as well, though he could have done much better.  He has a tendency to jump from one activity to another, loving the variety, which is both a blessing and a curse.  He's a jack of all trades, but a master of none.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/8/21

 Oct 2012

Marissa Cleveland has met a man who she's quite taken with.  And unlike her ex Jason's new wife, Leo is of an appropriate age.  They've just started dating, but she feels good about their future.  Justin and Vincent should be able to start adoption proceedings within the next year, so they're pretty excited as well.

Sofia Baldwin is still doing well in her classes.  She should be set to graduate in May.

Isaiah Gavigan took up a new hobby and has been making toy robots for his younger siblings.  He plans to invite his family for a visit so he can give them to them.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/7/21

 Sept 2012

Marcus Baldwin is suffering from "middle child syndrome".  His parents never have time for him.  If they're not working, their lives revolve around Ethan.  He still can't go to private school because they don't have the money after buying new furniture for Ethan's room which, by the way, is actually Marcus' room.  That's right, he has to share his small room with his not even five-year-old brother, while his sister Sofia, who lives in a dorm at college, continues to occupy the big bedroom.  His parents reason that Sofia only has one more year of school and then she'll be home, at which point he'll only have one more year until he goes off to college himself, so it's not that big a deal.  Marcus thinks it's a very big deal.  He decides to use their inattention to his benefit and starts sneaking out with his friend Bharat Patel.  He never gets caught, even if his parents are awake by the time he sneaks back in.  Piece of cake.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/6/21

 Aug 2012

Isaiah Gavigan got accepted to all the schools he applied to, but decided to stay close to home and attend SSU.  That'll make his mother happy for sure, since she's still sad about Thomas starting school.  Nathan is still stress about finances, given they've now got two more private school tuitions to cover.  On top of that, they were hacked and had their bank account drained, which means they can't afford Isaiah's tuition.  He have to rely on a student loan for the first year at least.

Isaiah moved into Sim State Dorm, where he met Sofia Baldwin and Almeric Davis.  The latter didn't seem to have any hard feelings that Isaiah was assigned to the room next door to him, which was recently vacated by his twin brother who was expelled.  Isaiah thinks Almeric's girlfriend Sofia is one of the most beautiful girls he's ever seen.  She was pleasant to him, but clearly only has eyes for Almeric, so he just jumped right into his studies.  He chose economics as his major because he wants to pursue a career in Business when he graduates.

Sofia is still doing well academically, though she can't really say the same for her boyfriend who barely escaped his brother's fate and could very well end up right back on academic probation if he's not careful.

Birth Announcement: The Patels welcomed a baby girl named Delia.

Belladonna 10/5/21

 June 2012

Talia DeBateau turned two a few months ago and Armand has been thinking it might be nice to have another baby.  Kimberly is all for it, but doesn't want to obsess about it like she did last time.  If it happens, it happens.  She already got one miracle baby, so she's content.

July 2012

A lot has happened in the year since Gabriel Green moved in with Samantha Cordial.  After a few months of living together, Sam worked up the courage to confess her crush.  Gabe was game and they started dating, followed quickly by a proposal from Gabe.  Neither is getting any younger and they didn't want to wait forever to make things official.  They celebrated their wedding in a backyard ceremony with their family and friends.  They're both keen to have a baby right away.  Sam doesn't have the fertility issues her sister has (as far as she knows), but she is pushing 40, so there's no time to waste.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/4/21

 Apr 2012

Sierra Cleveland enjoyed her job in Law Enforcement, but she's always wanted to go into the Military, so when she was offered a job with the elite forces she didn't even think twice about accepting it.  She'll miss working with Jason at the station, but she's very excited about this new opportunity.

May 2012

Things are looking up for Geoff Rutherford.  Not only did his win a $5000 lottery prize, but his relationship with Talin is going great.  They spend nearly every waking moment together.  Geoff is thinking he might ask him to move in soon.

Sofia Baldwin finished junior year with a 2.9 GPA.  It's not great, but it's improved.  She's thinks Almeric might just scrape by and get off academic probation, but she has doubts about his twin.  They're just waiting for the results of their finals to be posted and then they'll know for sure what the future holds.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/3/21

 Mar 2012

Time marches on for the Goodie/Newson clan.  The twins celebrated their fifth birthday and will be heading off to school in the fall.  Faith plans to make good use of her time while all the kids are out of the house during the day by getting back into her sewing.  She's confident she can sell her creations online for a nice little profit.  Herb is looking for a part-time job, but wants one that'll be mentally stimulating; leave those burger flipping jobs to the kids.  Gavin and Ginger are beginning to think about college.  They both had an interest in private school, but they know their foster parents can't afford that on the small sum they receive each month, so they didn't mention it.

Sofia Baldwin is nearing the end of junior year.  She's confident she'll do well this semester, but fears her boyfriend and his brother will be expelled.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/2/21

 Feb 2012

All of Ana Patel's pregnancies have been difficult, but this one is especially so.  She feels her age probably has something to do with it, but since this will likely be her last child she's trying to enjoy of much of this time as she can.  Ryman celebrated his fifth birthday this month and will therefore be starting school in the fall at around the same time the baby comes.  Bharat turns 12 next month and has been talking about becoming a lawyer someday.  Kaja will be eight in June and is an absolute joy to be around.  Ana is secretly hoping for another baby girl, though she knows her husband would prefer a boy.  Time will tell.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 10/1/21

 Jan 2012

Sally Riley got a job as an aerobics instructor, which should pacify her parents.  Vivian has settled into her job at the nursing home.  She'd forgotten how much she missed helping people.  Little Adam is quite the firecracker, zipping from one activity to the next, always in search of something new to try.  Etsu remains focused on school and getting into college so she can pursue her dream of becoming an oceanographer.

Sofia Baldwin began her spring term and all is going well for her.  She can't say the same for her boyfriend and his brother who are not taking academic probation very seriously.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/30/21

 Nov 2011

Ramir Patel agreed to have another baby, but didn't really think it would happen once Ana passed her 40th birthday.  Therefore he was shocked to learn that Ana is pregnant with baby #4, due next summer.  He'll have to work that much harder for a promotion, given that Ana will not be returning to work any time soon.

Dec 2011

Geoff Rutherford has spent the past year and a half, not only grieving for yet another friend lost too soon, but also suffering the worst guilt that the last words he said to Chastity were in anger.  He's only worked sporadically and it's a miracle he still has a job.  Finally, he pulled himself up out of his depression to start living again.  As tragic as it was for Gabe and Chastity's love story to be cut short, how much worse if the story had never been written in the first place?  He decides to ask out that cute guy he met at the gym.  Talin is a fair bit younger, which might be a problem going forward, but Geoff decides to go for it anyway.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Sofia Baldwin finished the semester with an A+.  Switching majors was definitely the right move for her.  Her boyfriend Almeric, however, is not doing so well and will be on academic probation next term.  She hopes he'll get back on track because she'd hate to have to spend senior year apart.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/29/21

 Sept 2011

Jessica Contender is making decent money as a stylist, despite not being very good at it.  While she works, Carlos takes care of the twins, which is no easy feat for a 94-year-old.  They also need to start considering renovating the house, given the kids will be four in January and will need proper bedrooms.

Oct 2011

Sally Riley graduated high school but, as expected, did not get accepted into college.  She was a little sad to watch her friends go off without her, but mostly she's relieved that she doesn't have to spend the next four years doing boring assignments and term papers.  Her parents have made it clear, however, that if she's not going to school she's going to need to get a job.  She's not really sure what sort of job it'll be just yet, but she'll figure something out.  Vivian took a part-time job as a nursing home attendant, which she's more than qualified for, and will give her plenty of time still with Adam.

Sofia Baldwin feels she made a good decision in switching majors because Philosophy just seems like a better fit.  She's finding the coursework to be much less demanding and more enjoyable.  She might even make the dean's list this term.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/28/21

 Aug 2011

Faith and Herbert Goodie have never been busier in their lives, but they've also never been more fulfilled.  Though the older kids were wary at first and protective of their younger siblings, Herb and Faith feel that they're beginning to open up a bit and trust their foster parents.  They've had an easier time of it with Gabi and Gally and, of course, the twins are too precious for words.  At the end of the day, they couldn't be happier with their family.

Sofia Baldwin began her junior year, but was really struggling with her classes.  She decided she might be better suited to the Philosophy major, so she switched over.  She's doing well so far, so it looks like it was a good call.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/27/21

 May 2011

Samantha Cordial celebrated her 37th birthday quietly by having a few friends over for dinner.  She couldn't help but notice that Gabe seems to be improving and getting closer to his former self every day.  She wonders if perhaps there could be something between them in time?

Sofia Baldwin finished her sophomore year, but she's really lost motivation for school.  She hates studying and her grades reflect it.  She's considered dropping out, but if she does she'll have to give up her dream of becoming a journalist.

June 2011

Jason Cleveland began dating Sierra officially as soon as his divorce papers were dry.  He's realized that his friend Carlos was really onto something when he started seeing a significantly younger woman.  Sierra makes him feel young again, as if the world is full of possibilities.  Consequently, he sees no reason to wait to get married.  He popped the question and they eloped the same night.  He's sure Marissa will have plenty to say about him marrying a woman who is younger than his son, but he's done caring what his ex-wife thinks.

July 2011

Gabriel Green has begun to come to terms with Chastity's death, but he can't avoid his financial crisis any longer.  The bills are piling up and he has no choice but to sell the house to pay his debts.  He began looking for a cheap apartment, but then his friend Samantha suggested he could move in with her for a while, at least until he finds a place.  She does have an extra room, after all.  It sounds like a good idea to Gabe and it would be nice to have someone to talk to other than the dog.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/26/21

 Mar 2011

Now that baby Talia is a year old, Kimberly DeBateau has gone back to her job in Politics, though she had to move down a few rungs.  She'll move back up in no time, she's sure of it.  Tara was offered a position as a field researcher and decided to take it.  She can always shift into Natural Science later on.

Sofia Baldwin is still having a blast at college.  She's making friends, going on dates with her boyfriend, and enjoying life.  She won't be winning any academic awards in the near future, but who cares about that anyway?

Apr 2011

A lot has changed in the past year for Justin and Vincent Cleveland.  First was the addition of Justin's mother, Marissa, to the household after her divorce from Justin's father.  He's never been particularly close with his dad, but now they rarely speak at all.  It was definitely an adjustment living with his mother again, but when she offered to combine her savings with theirs so that they could buy their dream home, Justin was speechless with gratitude.  They now have more than enough room to expand their family; they just need to save a little more for the adoption fees.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/25/21

 Jan 2011

Isabel Baldwin began work on her third cookbook, feeling confident that it'll sell as well as the first two did.  Ben invited the family over for a movie day.  He's been missing Sofia and Carlos is always a good time.  He also thinks they should be making more of an effort to get to know Jessica, despite Isabel's negative attitude towards her.

Sofia enjoyed the time with her family, especially Uncle Carlos who always makes her laugh, but she was anxious to get back to the dorm and Almeric.  He's worried about going on academic probation like his brother and Sofia wanted to help him as much as possible, though it may just end up being moral support since she's not exactly a stellar student herself.

Feb 2011

Mary Gavigan can't believe that her youngest child will be starting school later this year; she also can't believe that Thomas is still her youngest child.  They've been trying for another baby for several years now with no success.  Nathan is secretly happy given that he's already got a mortgage, two (soon to be four) private school tuitions, and Isaiah's upcoming college tuition to contend with.  He's hoping he can talk Mary into getting a job to fill her days once Thomas is off to school, but he's not sure how that'll go over.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/24/21

 Dec 2010

Herbert and Faith Goodie have returned to Belladonna Cove after years away, during which they were caring for their elderly parents.  After their parents passed, however, they decided it was time to come back home to the big house they'd once dreamed of filling with children.  That dream had never become a reality for them...but it was about to.  When the Goodies heard about the six children who had been orphaned when their parents were killed in a car accident, they knew they had to step in.  That's how they became foster parents to the Newson clan: Gavin, Ginger, Gabriella, Gallagher, Garrett, and Georgia.  Now their once empty house is filled with the sounds of children, just as they'd always wanted it to be.

Sofia Baldwin finished the Fall term of her sophomore year with the less than stellar GPA of 2.9.  Her parents aren't too happy about it, but at least she passed, right?  Some of her dormmates went on academic probation, so it could have been worse.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/23/21

 Nov 2010

Though Sally Riley worked hard to catch up on her neglected homework, it may be too little, too late as far as college is concerned.  Her chances don't look good for getting in.  She's not overly upset about it - she's never really cared for school - but she wishes her parents weren't so disappointed in her.  Vivian is a little sad to see her baby boy head off to school.  What will she do with her days?  Maybe she'll get a part-time job?

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/22/21

 Sept 2010

Isabel Baldwin finished her second cookbook and it was a hit.  In addition, Ben got a much needed promotion at work.  Though the tax bill did cause them to roll over their loan, at least they've got some cash now moving forward.  They might even be able to swing private school for Marcus.  Ben is feeling cautiously optimistic about their financial future.

Oct 2010

Ramir Patel was over the moon when his boss announced that the side project they'd all been working on had been a huge success and Ramir was entitled to a $10,000 bonus!  It couldn't have come at a better time.  Ramir had been worried they wouldn't be able to pay their tax bill, but they were able to that as well as cover the mortgage and Bharat's private school tuition.  Ramir is in such a good mood that he'll even consider having another baby.

Sofia Baldwin maintained the status quo.  She'll pass the semester.  Her relationship with Almeric continues to grow stronger.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/21/21

 July 2010

Mary Gavigan is beginning to believe she won't be having any more children.  They've been trying for a while now, to no avail.  Amelia is about to start school and Thomas is nearly four.  She really thought it would happen by now.  She's not giving up just yet, but she is trying to prepare herself.  Nathan would love nothing more than for Mary to give up on that dream and keep working on bringing in extra cash with those cooking competitions she's been entering lately.  If it hadn't been for their tax refund, they wouldn't have been able to cover the mortgage, so he really needs her to focus on cash building right now.

Aug 2010

Samantha Cordial was devastated to lose one of her closest friends when Chastity died two months ago.  She just feels terrible for Gabriel, who has been struggling with his grief.  She invites him over periodically so she can make sure he's okay and feed him something that doesn't come from a can.  She, better than anyone, understands exactly what he's going through.  It's been nearly six years now since Connor died and she still misses him every day, but things have definitely improved for her and she knows they will for Gabe as well in time.

Sofia Baldwin did so well last term that she thinks she deserves to slack off a bit this semester, so she got some weird guy in her dorm to write her term paper for her, which freed her up to have her first official date with Almeric.  It went great and she's looking forward to the next one.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/20/21

 Apr 2010

Things took a disastrous turn for the senior Clevelands.  Marissa wanted to host a dinner party, which they hadn't done in ages.  They invited Marissa's brother Geoff, her friend Don from the coffee house, Jason's friend Carlos and his wife Jessica, and a couple of Jason's co-workers.  The party was in full swing when Marissa walked in on something she never expected to see - Jason kissing his co-worker Sierra.  He blamed it on having had too much to drink, but Marissa was having none of it.  She's been unhappy for quite some time and this was just the final nail in the coffin of their marriage as far as she was concerned.  She moved out the next morning, turning up on her son's doorstep with a suitcase and her cat.

May 2010

His sister's break up after so many years of marriage has got Geoff Rutherford wondering about his own love life.  Will he suffer the same heartbreak?  Will he even find anyone to begin with?  He gets into an argument with his friend Chastity when she stops by to complain about her relationship.  If Gabe was gay, Geoff would snap him up in a minute.  Why is Chastity always so hard on him?

Sofia Baldwin did quite well on her finals and finished freshman year with a 3.4 GPA.  She feels academically ready to tackle another year, but personally things aren't moving at the speed she'd like.  Though she's been spending more time with Almeric, things have not progressed to dating or a relationship yet, which has her a bit bummed.

June 2010

Gabriel Green was shocked and devastated when he came downstairs for breakfast to find Chastity's lifeless body on the kitchen floor.  Her cause of death was unknown, though the coroner thought malnutrition had played a role.  Gabe knew she'd been trying to lose a few pounds recently, but he didn't think she'd been going to such drastic measures.  In all honesty, he'd been avoiding her recently, given that all she wanted to talk about was their dire financial situation.  The situation is even more dire now that Chastity's gone.  Bills are piling up and Gabe had to take out an even bigger loan to pay the taxes and Chastity's cremation expenses.  He fears he may have to sell the house.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/19/21

 Feb 2010

After nearly nine years of marriage, Armand and Kimberly DeBateau finally welcomed a healthy baby girl, Talia.  The couple is overjoyed.  Tara is happy for her dad and Kim, but she's more focused on what she's going to do with her own life.  She's considering going into Natural Science because of her affinity for animals, but nothing is concrete yet.

Mar 2010

Justin and Vincent Cleveland went out for a romantic dinner to celebrate Justin's 28th birthday.  Next month will be Vincent's birthday, as well as their 2nd anniversary.  Hopefully they'll soon have enough money to move to a bigger place so they can start the adoption process.

Things are still running smoothly for Sofia Baldwin, though she can't say the same for a couple of her friends who are in a massive fight over some misunderstanding with the cow mascot.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/18/21

 Jan 2010

The Contender twins turned two this month.  Their parents really have their hands full now with two toddlers running around the house.  On top of that, Jessica has decided to start doing makeovers for a little extra cash.  The tax bill really took a chunk out of their savings and Carlos' pension isn't huge, so this seems like a good idea.

Sofia Baldwin started her spring term strong.  She's looking good to get an A this semester.  Some of her dormmates are not doing as well.  In fact, one of them just went on academic probation.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/17/21

 Oct 2009

Vincent and Justin Cleveland continue to enjoy married life while they save up for an eventual adoption and the bigger apartment/house that will come with it.  Justin is unaware of the troubles in his parents' marriage because he really doesn't talk to them often these days.  He's never been particularly close with his dad and his mom has become distant lately.  He chalks it up to her being busy and doesn't dwell on it.

Sofia Baldwin's homesickness is letting up a bit and she's feeling more comfortable in the dorm.  In fact, she's started crushing on one of her dormmates, Almeric Davis.  We'll see where it leads.

Nov 2009

Samantha Cordial is, of course, thrilled for her sister to finally be pregnant after all these years, but it also makes her reflect on her own life.  She's still single at 35 and even though she doesn't have any fertility issues that she knows of, she knows having a baby after 40 will be tough.  If she doesn't find someone soon, she may never have a family.

Dec 2009

Sofia finished her first semester with a 3.0 GPA.  She's feeling confident about next term, as well as her budding romance with Almeric.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/16/21

 Sept 2009

Ana Patel celebrated her 38th birthday this month and what she wants for her birthday is - you guessed it - another baby.  It hasn't happened yet, but she has coerced Ramir into trying and it'll likely happen eventually.  It's perfect timing as far as she's concerned, with Kaja having just started school, which just leaves 2 1/2 year old Ryman at home during the day.  Ramir has pretty much just given up, accepting the fact that they will keep having children until Ana is too old to do so.  He just hopes he can keep up financially.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/15/21

 July 2009

Benjamin Baldwin is more stressed than ever about the finances.  Sofia got into SSU, but there's absolutely no way they can afford to pay for it; she'll have to take out student loans.  Marcus still wants to go to private school as well, which is inconceivable at the moment.  Ethan is not quite two and Isabel can only work sporadically because the cost of a nanny is out of the question.  He hopes the time at home will at least motivate her to finish her second cookbook because they desperately need the money.

Aug 2009

Carlos Contender never thought he'd be a father, certainly not at his age, but he's loving it nonetheless.  Jessica is enjoying it a lot less.  She's been thinking more and more lately about the fact that she's married to a very old man, who won't live forever, and then she'll be on her own with twins to support.  So when she ran into a guy she knows from the trailer park, it didn't take much convincing on his part to talk her into a date.  As long as Carlos doesn't find out about the affair, what's the harm in having a little fun for a change?

Sofia Baldwin was supposed to move into Pinenut Plaza, but something happened there that made it unlivable (i.e. it got glitched), so she was reassigned to Sim State Dorm, along with all the students who had been living in Pinenut.  She chose art as her major and got settled into the routine of classes, studying, etc.  She didn't really expect to be homesick, but realized that, much to her surprise, she missed her younger brother Marcus.  Hopefully that will pass once she gets to know her dormmates a little better.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/14/21

 May 2009

Kimberly DeBateau had her sister Samantha over for dinner to celebrate their 35th birthday.  She had a great time catching up and telling stories from their childhood, but her best gift this birthday came a little later when she found out that, at long last, she is going to be a mother.  Armand is overjoyed as well.  They've been married eight years now and finally their wish has been granted.  Kimberly quit her job immediately and started learning everything she could about babies and parenthood.  She wants to be prepared when the little one arrives.

Tara DeBateau had something to celebrate as well.  She graduated!  Though she didn't finish with the 4.0 she expected in freshman year, she did earn a respectable 3.5 that she's perfectly happy with, since it means she didn't spend every minute with her nose in a book, but took some time out for fun along the way.

June 2009

Sally Riley has been neglecting her studies lately and came home with a D.  Her parents were having none of that and immediately cracked down on her, insisting that she get her grades up asap.  They don't have to worry about Etsu though, as she's very studious on her own.  They hope Adam will follow in Etsu's footsteps when he starts school next year.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/13/21

 Feb 2009

Jason and Marissa Cleveland have come to the point where they lead fairly separate lives.  Jason is always working or preparing for work and Marissa is left to her own devices most of the time.  She's begun going down to the coffee shop during the day, where she can chat with other sims or sing a song since it's always open mike there.  She doesn't tell Jason about any of this because she knows he'd object to her going to "that part of town" on her own.

Mar 2009

Gabriel Green and Chastity Gere are surviving (barely), but they'll run out of money soon if they don't figure something out soon.

Tara DeBateau is doing so well this semester that she's turned her attention to helping one of her dormmates so that he doesn't get expelled like that guy last term.  She thinks her friend will do well enough to get off academic probation and hopefully be able to graduate next semester.

Apr 2009

Geoff Rutherford's love life is still stalled.  Though he thinks about dating from time to time, he never really meets anyone he likes.  He wonders what Stephan is doing these days.  He never heard from him again after their vacation romance, so he assumes he's moved on.  If only Geoff could do the same.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/12/21

 Dec 2008

Tara DeBateau had some trouble keeping her motivation up this semester, but she finished it with a 3.4 GPA nonetheless.  She's heading into her final semester of college now with more than enough points to ace it.

Jan 2009

Two months later, Mary Gavigan has still not given up on having another baby, but luckily (for Nathan) she failed to conceive.  He knows she'll want to keep trying, but at least he dodged a bullet for the moment.  He had to take on a part-time job as a barista in addition to his full-time job just to make ends meet.  He's hoping the next baby comes later, rather than sooner.

Tara began her final term with new determination.  She completed her term paper right away and is determined to finish strong.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/11/21

 Oct 2008

Money is still tight in the Green/Gere household, despite Gabe working now.  Whenever they both happen to be awake and home at the same time, they end up arguing.  The situation is really taking a toll on their relationship.

Tara DeBateau is beginning to get burnt out, but she knows if she can just push through this year it'll be worth it.

Nov 2008

Celebrating Thomas' second birthday last month and Noah's sixth this month has got Mary Gavigan thinking about another baby.  Nathan is trying his best to dissuade her.  Noah just got accepted to private school, which means two tuition payments, plus the mortgage to cover on his salary alone.  As it is, he needs to find some form of extra income.  Another baby is really not feasible right now.  

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/10/21

 Aug 2008

Geoff Rutherford adopted a new dog to keep Otis company while he's at work.  Since his love life doesn't seem to be going anywhere, he might as well put his energy into getting promoted.

Tara DeBateau is beginning her final year of college.  She's a little behind schedule still, but I'm confident she'll catch up.

Sept 2008

Marcus Baldwin turned 12 last month and wants to attend private school.  Ben would love to be able to do it, but it's just not financially possible at the moment.  They're still strapped for cash, with the loan payment and the recent hospital bills from Ethan's birth, not to mention that Sofia is nearly finished with high school and will probably be expecting to go to Uni.  He doesn't know how he's going to afford that, but if she doesn't get her grades up, he may not have to worry about it.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/9/21

 July 2008

Vivian Riley decided that taking leave wasn't enough, and therefore quit her job to stay with Adam full-time.  Timothy makes more than enough income to support the family, so they didn't really need her paycheck anyway.  Little Adam is still the darling of the family and his two big sisters adore him as well.  They're both quick to help out with him whenever they can.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/8/21 Part 2

 Apr 2008

Justin Cleveland and fiance Vincent have spent the last year settling into their apartment and planning their wedding.  Justin is still not on good terms with his father, but he does show up to the wedding, probably at Marissa's insistence.  Once they're legal, Vincent is set to jump straight into parenthood by adopting a child.  Justin thinks they should wait a bit though.  Adoption fees are expensive and they'll need a bigger place than the one they're in now.  They compromise on adopted a cat for the time being.

May 2008

Kimberly DeBateau is considering quitting her job as a campaign manager, fearing that the stress inducing job may be further complicating her fertility issues.  She's got one more year of their self-imposed agreement before they start adoption proceedings.  She's not against adoption per se, but she really wants a child of her own.

Tara DeBateau slacked off a little too much, resulting in a C+ for the semester.  Her GPA is still fine, but she needs to get back into her study routine if she wants to finish strong.

June 2008

Samantha Cordial decided to take a vacation to Takemizu Village before jumping into a new job.  While there, she met a man (Nicholas) who she instantly connected with.  They were inseparable for the duration of her trip, but on the last day he was a no-show.  She looked everywhere, but was unable to find him.  She returned home feeling unsettled and confused.  Was it just a fling?  Was there some kind of emergency?  When she got home she invited her sister out for dinner to talk things through.  Kimberly has her own problems, of course, so she isn't much help.  Still very much in the dark about things, she decides to just push forward with her new job at the elementary school and let things work themselves out.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/8/21

 Mar 2008

Ryman Patel turned one last month and Ramir is cautiously optimistic that Ana is content with their family as she hasn't started talking about another baby.  She does, however, want to get a new kitten for the kids since their old cat died a while back.  He thinks he can manage that one and will get right on it.

Tara DeBateau is finally enjoying college life.  She's having fun and making friends (except for that one dormie who is really objectionable).  Life is good.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/7/21

 Jan 2008

Jessica Contender got more than she bargained for when she gave birth to twins!  They named the boy Cole and the girl Mila.  If someone had told Jessica 20 years ago that she'd be the mother of twins and driving a minivan at 41, she'd have laughed in their face.  She's beginning to wonder if the security of being married to a wealthy man is worth it after all.

Tara DeBateau has discovered that the world doesn't end if you don't have a 4.0 and so has decided to loosen up a bit and devote more time to her new passion - guitar.

Feb 2008

The Clevelands have not been in a good place since Justin moved out.  They've been arguing frequently, neither willing to give an inch on their position about their son's relationship.  At least Jason has his job.  Marissa is stuck in the apartment all day with no one for company but her cat.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/6/21

 Oct 2007

Tara DeBateau celebrated her 20th birthday by taking a break from studying and teaching herself to play guitar.  She's pretty good.  Who would've though all those piano lessons would help her be a good guitarist?

Nov 2007

Geoff Rutherford has been sick off and on ever since that camping trip he took with his friends.  What was he thinking going camping anyway?  He finally had some time off to relax and get himself healthy again.  Next time Gabe gets the bright idea to go camping in the snow, he'll just say no.

Dec 2007

Birth Announcement: Benjamin and Isabel Baldwin are the proud parents of a baby boy named Ethan.

Tara's minor slack-off period cost her a grade level this term, but her GPA is still a very respectable 3.7 headed into the second semester of junior year.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/5/21

 Sept 2007

Armand and Kimberly DeBateau continued on their quest for parenthood - to no avail.  Kimberly's pretty down about it all.  It doesn't help that there's a literal baby boom going on in town.  It seems like every time she sees Mary Gavigan or Ana Patel they're pregnant.  Not to mention that Vivian Riley had a baby not long ago and Kimberly heard that Isabel Baldwin is expecting also.  Both women are significantly older than her.  To top it all off, Kimberly saw Armand's ex-wife Jessica sporting a baby bump as well.  It feels terribly unfair to her.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/4/21

 Aug 2007

Justin Cleveland and boyfriend Vincent have been dating for over a year now and Justin felt the time was right to make things official by proposing.  Vincent accepted and the couple made plans to move into their own place.  Jason thought things were moving too quickly and got into an argument with Justin and Vincent, followed by an argument with Marissa, who thought he should be supportive.  Consequently, Justin is not on great terms with his father at the moment, but at least he'll no longer be living under his roof.  Marissa feels caught in the middle.  She wants to be happy for her son, but she's sad to see him go again; she wants to support her husband, but she can't agree with his overbearing opinion on this.

Tara DeBateau is beginning her junior year of college and honestly, she's getting a little bored.  She's excelling academically without even trying, she's studied everything she can think of on her own, and she's become a chess master.  What else is there to do around here?

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/3/21

 June 2007

The Gavigans have really got their hands full with four kids.  Nathan has yet to score that promotion he so desperately needs.  Noah will be starting school soon (he turns 5 in November) and it's very important to Nathan that he get the best education possible, which means a second private school tuition, on top of the other bills and the mortgage.  He's not sure how they're going to swing all that on one income, but even if Mary did go to work, her salary would likely only cover the nanny's fee, so it would be pretty pointless.

July 2007

The Riley family continues to thrive.  Timothy is doing well in his career, earning a sizable salary.  Vivian continues to take leave from work, as she doesn't want to be separated from little Adam just yet.  He just turned two in May and is quite precocious.  Vivian can't get enough of her little darling.  The house is always full of activity, whether it's Adam's antics or the girls and their various friends hanging out.  Life doesn't get much better.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/2/21

 May 2007

Gabriel Green felt that what he and Chastity needed was a vacation and so he talked her into going camping for the weekend with their two closest friends, Geoff Rutherford and Samantha Cordial.  Chastity didn't want to spend the money, but agreed on the condition that Gabriel find a job as soon as they returned home.  They didn't realize how cold it would be in the mountains, however, and they all ended up coming home with colds.  It was fun up until that point at least.  And Gabriel, true to his word, got a job as a golf caddy upon their return.

Tara DeBateau finished sophomore year with a 4.0 and is still going strong.  She has also squeezed in learning all the extra skills (fire safety, parenting, etc.), as well as maxing logic.  Life is good.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 9/1/21

 Mar 2007

At literally the eleventh hour of her fertility window, Isabel Baldwin finds herself pregnant with her third child.  While she is overjoyed at the news, for Ben it's bittersweet.  He wants his wife to be happy, but he doesn't know if he's up to the task of raising another baby.  Not only are they having financial troubles, but he's turning 52 this year.  Can he really handle the demands of a newborn at this stage of life?  Will he even live long enough to see this child reach adulthood?

Tara DeBateau took a little time off from studying to hang out with some of her dormmates.  She made best friends with Roxie Sharpe and is friends with everyone else, except one dormie who she just can't stand.  After filling her social quota for the semester, she was off to brush up on fire safety and read a very interesting book on couples counseling.

Apr 2007

Carlos Contender invited his family over to celebrate his 90th birthday.  Isabel announced her pregnancy and, much to everyone's surprise, so did Jessica!  They'll be bump buddies!  Not sure how excited Isabel is about that, but if Ben thinks he's too old for bottles and diapers, how must Carlos feel?

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/31/21

 Jan 2007

Samantha Cordial has decided to stop looking for love and try to be content with her life the way it is.  She has good friends, a close relationship with her sister, and plenty of activities to keep her busy.  She may even go back to work soon.  She has more to be thankful for than most sims, so she's going to appreciate it.

Tara DeBateau began the second half of sophomore year and is still excelling academically. However, she doesn't spend much time socializing.  She's friendly with most of her dormmates, but hasn't made any solid connections.

Feb 2007

This most recent pregnancy has really taken a toll on Ana Patel.  She's been absolutely exhausted trying to keep up with two young children while pregnant.  Consequently, she was beyond thrilled when the new baby finally arrived, a boy named Ryman.  Ramir is hopeful that this will be the last.  They are finally making some headway financially after his big promotion at work and the last thing he needs is to have to shell out for an extensive remodel to the house in order to provide enough bedrooms.  Bharat's room is big enough for the boys to share when Ryman is older.  A fourth child is definitely not something Ramir wants, though he won't be surprised if Ana forgets all about her pregnancy difficulties in a few months and starts yearning for another.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/30/21

 Oct 2006

Birth Announcement: The Gavigans welcomed a baby boy named Thomas.

Tara DeBateau continued her path of excellence.

Nov 2006

No sooner did Carlos Contender agree to marry Jessica Peterson, than he was swept up in a flurry of wedding preparations.  Jess was wasting no time in locking him down.  They got married in Central Park, with all of Carlos' family in attendance.  Isabel and Ben didn't stay very long, however, making it clear how they feel about Carlos marrying a woman 50 years his junior.  The couple spent their honeymoon on Twikki Island, where Carlos fell even more under Jessica's spell than before.  Her plan was to get pregnant, thereby cementing the connection between them, but nature had other plans and she failed to conceive.  She's not giving up though; she's not getting any younger (and neither is Carlos) and she doesn't want to run the risk that Carlos will tire of her the way Armand did.

Dec 2006

Tara completed yet another semester at the top of her class and there's no reason to believe she won't continue to do so moving forward.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/29/21

 Aug 2006

Gabriel Green and girlfriend Chastity Gere got into a huge fight about money.  The loan payment is more than what Chastity makes and she's not due for a promotion.  At this rate they'll be broke in no time.  Gabriel doesn't seem too concerned about it all.  

Tara DeBateau is just beginning her sophomore year and she's still going strong.  She even helped one of her dormmates who is on academic probation get his logic skill up so he can pass this term. 

Sept 2006

Geoff Rutherford is getting back into the swing of things.  He went out with his sister and brother-in-law to check out the King's Gardens in Sim City.  They had a nice time, though Geoff was disappointed his nephew Justin couldn't come.  He hasn't heard from Stephan since returning from his trip, but he's not sure he really wants to.  He has been thinking about getting back into the dating scene though.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/28/21

 July 2006

Marissa Cleveland has been feeling restless and dissatisfied lately.  She thought when her son came home from college, she'd feel better, but he jumped right into the workforce, leaving her to spend her days alone as usual.  She's tried making friends with her neighbors, but they're mostly younger than her and already have established friend groups.  Justin is oblivious to his mother's discontent because he met a co-worker that he's crushing hard on.  His name is Vincent and their first date went great.  Justin can't wait to see him again.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/27/21

 May 2006

The pressure continues for Ramir Patel as he learns that not only will he soon have another mouth to feed, but Ana has enrolled Bharat in private school, which means more money out of pocket for school fees as well.  Ana remains blissfully unaware of her husband's struggles as she continues to work on achieving her perfect family ideals.

Tara DeBateau aced her final and finished freshman year with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  She's in great shape heading into sophomore year.

June 2006

Armand DeBateau couldn't be more proud of his daughter Tara for becoming such a stellar student at college.  He misses her though, which makes him all the more determined to have another baby with his wife Kimberly.  It doesn't seem to be in the cards though, as another year has passed without Kimberly becoming pregnant.  They've decided to give it a few more years (until Kim is 35) and if it hasn't happened by then, they'll start the adoption process.  Kim was on the fence about that, so invited her twin Samantha out for coffee to talk things through with her.  She came home feeling a lot better about everything and feeling more positive about the possibility of adoption.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/26/21

 Mar 2006

Samantha Cordial was invited out by the same group of friends to Red's Diner.  Once again, Armand was there, but not her sister.  He confided in her the troubles they've been having conceiving and she sympathized with him, but was also a little jealous that her sister has a loving husband while she remains alone.  Why are all the men she knows either attached or gay?

Tara continued to sail through college.  Like it's hard?

Apr 2006

Little Adam Riley is 11 months old and is simply doted on by every member of his family.  Vivian is taking some time off work so she can spend as much time as possible with her little "miracle baby".  The first thing Timothy does when he gets home from work is attend to the baby.  Even Sally can't resist her little brother, always volunteering to change his diaper or feed him.  Etsu doesn't interact with him too much yet, but she thinks he's awfully cute.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/25/21

 Jan 2006

Mary Gavigan was delighted to learn she's expecting once again.  Nathan was less thrilled, but didn't dare speak his concerns out loud.  It means he'll need to work extra hard to earn a promotion because they're really going to need the money.  At least Isaiah will be 12 in April and can help out more with the younger kids.

Tara DeBateau began her second semester and is doing great.  She did decide to major in math, which makes me think I should've sent her to La Fiesta Tech, but c'est la vie, she's here now and will stay here.

Feb 2006

Things are still tough for the Baldwin family.  Ben lost his job, but was thankfully able to get it back right away.  Isabel finished her cookbook, bringing in enough cash to pay their loan payment and the bills, with a little left over.  She's also still working nights as a gas station attendant, but that doesn't really pay very much.  They're keeping their heads above water, but they're not in great financial shape by any means.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/24/21

 Oct 2005

Justin Cleveland got settled back into his old room in his parents' apartment.  Thankfully, he was able to find a job right away; if he hadn't his dad would've been on his case for sure.  He spent some time catching up with friends and playing with his mom's new cat, but he felt pretty out of place.  His parents have become used to their routine and almost seemed surprised to run into him on the stairs.  Hopefully he won't have to be here too long.  He misses the freedom of the frat house.

Tara DeBateau continued to rock at college life.  She's set to earn a 4.0 for her first semester, although she hasn't yet chosen a major.

Nov 2005

It's been a year since Samantha lost her beloved Connor, during which time she quit her job because she couldn't function emotionally and adopted a second cat to keep her company in her loneliness.  When an acquaintance called to inviter her out bowling with some of his friends, she was hesitant but decided to give it a try.  Much to her surprise, she ended up having a great time.  Her brother-in-law Armand was there, so at least she had one familiar face to turn to.  She met several new people and afterwards she felt better about life than she has for a long time.

Dec 2005

Tara finished her first semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  Upon returning from her final exam, she briefly rolled the want to choose math as her major.  We'll see if it's still there when we return.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/23/21

 June 2005

The financial strain, as well as Isabel's obsession with having another baby, is really putting a strain on the Baldwins' marriage.  They were unable to pay their tax bill and had to resort to a loan to manage it.  Ben is beginning to wonder if it was such a great idea paying cash for the house to avoid the mortgage.  Isabel is not as oblivious to their financial troubles as Ben thinks she is though.  She decided to put all those recipes she's been perfecting over the years to good use and write a cookbook.  Hopefully it'll bring in some much needed cash.

July 2005

Tara DeBateau got accepted to all the schools she applied to, but ultimately decided on Academie Le Tour because her interests lie more towards creative pursuits than technology.  She'll be living in Lam Plaza for the first year at least.  Meanwhile, Armand and Kimberly are still trying to have a baby with no success.  The family took quite a financial hit as well, between taxes, Tara's last year of private school and her freshman year tuition, plus a work situation that cost Armand $15,000.  Nevertheless, they are still the wealthiest family in town.

Aug 2005

Geoff Rutherford took some time to re-evaluate his life.  First off, he asked for his job back.  He was forced to start at entry level again, but that's the price you pay for quitting without notice.  Afterwards, he did a little spring cleaning (summer cleaning?) and took Otis to the park.  He spent some time catching up with friends via phone and took some time to reflect.  He feels he's in a better frame of mind now to handle whatever comes his way next.

Tara jumped into her first semester of college with both feet.  Though she hasn't decided on a major just yet, she did an assignment and finished her term paper before even attending her first class.  I have a feeling she's going to be a much easier student than Justin was, lol.

Sept 2005

Jessica Peterson got tired of waiting around for Carlos to make a decision and so she did something that she never thought she'd do - she proposed to him (nothing to lose, right?).  Much to her surprise (and mine) he accepted.  I think she must have caught him in a moment of weakness because he immediately regretted it.  In any event, now that they are officially engaged, Jessica will be moving in with Carlos while they plan the wedding.  She can't wait to leave her tiny trailer behind.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/22/21

 Apr 2005

Carlos Contender decided to throw an impromptu barbeque for his friends and family.  Jessica couldn't make it, but she did turn up later for a very romantic evening.  I think she may be wearing him down.  He's generally pretty lonely living all alone and he may just cave in the near future and ask Jessica to move in.

May 2005

Gabriel Green and Chastity Gere are still struggling financially, especially after their tax bill came due.  They had to take out a loan to pay it.  While Chastity did bring in a little extra cash, it wasn't nearly enough to make up for the fact that Gabriel is still not working.  If he doesn't get it together soon, I fear it will take a toll on their relationship.

Birth Announcement: Timothy and Vivian Riley welcomed a baby boy, Adam.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/21/21

 Mar 2005

Mary and Nathan Gavigan welcomed their third child, a baby girl named Amelia, and immediately moved to a house in the suburbs.  They were lucky enough to find an affordable three-bedroom that will accommodate their family nicely.  Nathan is kind of hoping Amelia will be their last child, but Mary is bound to want another sooner rather than later.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/20/21

 Jan 2005

The Patels have been in their new house for a few months now.  It's really beginning to feel like home.  So much so, in fact, that Ana's yearning for another baby, despite Kaja being only 7 months old.  Ramir knows better than to refuse her, so he goes along with trying for another baby, but is secretly relieved when she doesn't get pregnant.  He's got enough stress right now with trying to work his way up in his career, supporting a family of four, and keeping up with the mortgage, bills, and taxes.  Not to mention that Ana has been thinking about quitting her job to stay home with the kids.  Honestly, she calls out more than she goes anyway, but at least for the moment she's still able to collect maternity pay, which is better than nothing.  Ramir blames the stress for his inadvisable decision to begin an affair with a woman he's known for a while.  He still loves Ana, but feels unable to keep up with her plans for their family.  Will he come to his senses and end the affair?  Or will it tear the family apart?  Stay tuned.

Feb 2005

Timothy Riley celebrated his 40th birthday and he couldn't be happier.  He never could have imagined his life would work out this way.  He didn't expect expect his first wife to die.  Nor did he think he'd find love again.  He never would've guessed he'd be moving into a beautiful house, with his beautiful wife, his beautiful daughters, and a soon-to-be born beautiful baby.  Does life get any better than this?

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/19/21

 Nov 2004

It should have been the happiest day of Samantha Cordial's life.  The plans were made, the chairs and arch set up - the only thing missing was the guests.  A freak rainstorm brought a halt to the wedding, postponing it until another day.  That would have been bad enough.  However, fate had a different idea.  Connor wanted to make everything perfect for his bride and went out in the evening to clean up the yard.  He didn't realize how close the leaf pile was to the folding chairs that had been set up and thought nothing of tossing a match into the pile.  The chairs went up in flames as well and before he knew what was happening, he was caught in the blaze.  By the time Samantha realized what was happening, it was too late, he was gone.

Dec 2004

At long last, Justin Cleveland graduated college with a stellar 2.6 GPA.  He'll be moving back home with his parents until he decides what to do with his life.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/18/21

 Sept 2004

Gabriel is enjoying his freedom from work by catching up on his reading and working out.  Chastity is still working hard, though promotions are few and far between.  To add to her stress, they had a pregnancy scare that was really worrisome.  Luckily it was just a false alarm.

Oct 2004

Geoff Rutherford was in such low spirits that he impulsively quit his job and booked a vacation to Twikki Island.  He felt better immediately upon arrival.  Who can be depressed in paradise?  While sightseeing on his first day, he met a guy named Darren that he really liked.  Unfortunately, he didn't see him again for the rest of the trip.  Darren must have been leaving that day.  However, on the second day Geoff met another guy, Stephan, and they spent virtually all their time together for the rest of the vacation.  Things ended very romantically and Geoff is still feeling high on life since he got home.  Whether Stephan was just a vacation fling or something more remains to be seen.

I sent Justin Cleveland to stand next to the telescope when his fun was slightly low and miraculously he decided to stargaze, finally earning the last point needed to actually graduate this semester.  His father will be ecstatic.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/17/21

 July 2004

Armand and Kimberly DeBateau continued on their quest for parenthood - to no avail.  Their efforts will likely ramp up when Tara leaves for college next year and they become empty nesters.  Tara is not sure where she wants to go to college just yet; it depends on where she gets accepted I suppose.  Her interests are varied and there are many careers that might suit her.

Aug 2004

Against all odds Vivian Riley has discovered she's pregnant!  Timothy was happy with their family, but his wife's excitement over the new baby is contagious and he can't help but look forward to the blessed event.  A third child, however, will definitely necessitate moving to a larger apartment or maybe a house.  They've got a decent amount of savings, so it's just a matter of finding the right place.

Justin Cleveland began his makeup semester.  He did manage to earn one logic point when I sent him to a community lot and "encouraged" him to play chess by instructing him to "go here" right next to the chess board.  He still needs one more point to pass.  I swear, it's like pulling teeth with this guy.  I hope my next college student (who will be Tara DeBateau) is more accommodating on rolling wants for skills (which she will be).

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/16/21

 Apr 2004

Jason Cleveland has been stressing about money lately.  It's not that they don't have enough, but he's worried about keeping up with his family's spending.  He thought he was finished paying for Justin's college, but it turns out Justin may have to repeat his final semester, causing Jason to have to foot the bill.  And then Marissa decided to adopt a cat without consulting him (as if she ever consults him about anything) and he has to pay for all the pet supplies as well.  Is it any wonder he's irritable these days?

May 2004

Isabel Baldwin is disappointed that she hasn't been able to conceive, but she knew it was a long shot.  They'll keep trying, but time is running out.  Ben's been feeling a little stressed about money lately.  Every dime they earn goes towards the household budget, but it's still not enough, especially when Isabel takes Sofia out for shopping trips.  How many clothes does a 13-year-old need?

As expected, Justin Cleveland did not graduate, but instead must repeat the semester while on academic probation.  If he doesn't get it together this next term, he'll be expelled after putting in 4 1/2 years work.  His father will also be furious about all the money he spent on his son's education, only to have him flake in the eleventh hour.

June 2004

Mary Gavigan decided she wants another baby and Nathan, who is always trying to appease his somewhat unstable wife, agreed even though Noah is not even two yet.  The pregnancy was confirmed and now Nathan is trying to figure out where they'll put a third child in their three bedroom apartment.  The baby's room is already doubling as an office as it is.  They may need to start looking into real estate soon.

Birth Announcement: The Patels welcomed a baby girl named Kaja.

Happy Simming! 

Belladonna 8/15/21

 Feb 2004

Carlos Contender has seemingly backed off completely from Jessica Peterson.  He's technically still in love with her, but he shows no interest in spending time with her, so I don't think he's going to take the bait she's offering.  Apart from that, he's just enjoying his semi-retirement and catching up with friends.

Mar 2004

The Patels' son Bharat celebrated his fourth birthday this month.  The new baby is due in June and the family is planning to buy a house, since the apartment is a little small for four.  They've found a nice one in the suburbs that's not too expensive, yet has plenty of room for their family to grow.

Justin Cleveland was feeling pretty down after all of his frat brothers getting expelled and, consequently, did not earn any skills or even attend class.  It's not looking good for him to graduate in a couple months.  He may be repeating his final semester instead.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/14/21

 Dec 2003

Justin Cleveland just barely passed another semester, while all the rest of his frat brothers got expelled.  If Justin can make it through one more term, he'll graduate with a degree in history.

Jan 2004

Jessica Peterson is doing everything she can to keep busy these days.  She goes to work, cleans her trailer, watches movies, and reads books, all while waiting for the phone to ring.  Unfortunately, when the phone does ring, it's never Carlos.  She's beginning to worry.

Justin began his final semester of college and he's short quite a few points in charisma and logic.  Since he doesn't have a want to skill, nor do any of his traits encourage skilling, and he hasn't rolled an ROS that compels him to do so, the only way he's going to get those points is autonomously.  Charisma can't be gained autonomously, so that leaves logic.  There's a telescope at the frat house, but Justin has shown absolutely no interest in it.  So I took him down to the shops, where there's a chess board to see if he'd bite.  He did play for a while, earning one point, but then he lost interest and went off to play pool instead.  He still needs two more points, so we'll have to wait and see if he manages to get those before the end of the term.

Happy Simming!

Belladonna 8/13/21

 Aug 2003

Armand DeBateau is a successful businessman with a teenaged daughter, Tara, who he adopted right after his divorce from Jessica Peterson.  Two years ago, he fell in love with and married Kimberly Cordial.  They've been trying to have a baby ever since, but Kim is suffering from fertility issues that may prevent her from ever conceiving.  Even with the fertility treatments that Armand was happy to provide, the chances are slim.  They could always adopt, but Kimberly really wants a child of her own.  They're both young still and can afford to try for a while longer before making the decision to adopt.

Justin began his first semester as a senior at SSU.  All of his frat brothers are on academic probation and there's a good chance he'll be here alone during his next term.

Sept 2003

Ramir and Ana Patel have been married for over a decade, but have only just recently started their family.  Their son Bharat is just three years old and they just found out they're expecting their second child in June.  The timing might not be great for a job switch, but Ramir has always wanted to be a chef and when the opportunity came up, he couldn't pass it up.  It will mean less money for the family, particularly if Ana quits her job to care for the children.  Not to mention they'll likely need to start looking for a house, as their apartment will be cramped once there are four people (and a cat) living in it.

Oct 2003

Carlos Contender is (inexplicably) 86 years old and a confirmed bachelor.  He's a former athlete and Isabel Baldwin's uncle.  Recently he started dating Jessica Peterson, but he must have an inkling that she's a gold digger because he rarely puts forth any effort in the relationship.

Justin continues to coast through senior year.  He's not too focused on skilling or studying, but since his hobby is tinkering, he might eventually break (and then fix) enough things to gain a mechanical point that he needs to pass.

Nov 2003

The Baldwin family recently moved out of their apartment and into a house (their household was corrupted and wouldn't load, so they kind of had to move), where they have a lot more room and some very nice amenities, like fireplaces and a swimming pool.  Money is pretty tight though, since Benjamin had just started a new job working for the mayoral campaign.  Although Isabel has always been a stay-at-home mom, she took a job to help bring in extra cash to help with furnishing the house.  Lately she's also been thinking about having another baby, even though she's 45 and her kids, Sofia and Marcus, are 12 and 7, respectively.  It may not happen, but it's now or never because time is running out, so she and Ben are officially trying.

Happy Simming!