The business of the president

Patar 2000 As hood council president, I am expected to host quite a few events. So I started this month with a small party for the current hood council, hood employees and key financial backers to the hood council. I was surprised to see the Sweeny's as they recently had triplets and does Li ever look good. I can not believe that she just had triplets! Thankfully I also regained my figure quite quickly after Veronika's birth, but Li just had triplets less than 3 months ago!

Speaking of Veronika, she recently celebrated her first birthday. Can you believe it! My little lady is growing up so quickly!

Another duty of the hood council president is to make appearences around the hood. Even though the nip of spring is still clinging to the summer air, I made my rounds and spoke to residents and tourists alike. There are more transient sims on the island now thanks to our tourism policy increasing and my tours to other hoods has increased the visablity of Apple Valley. More sims are interested in making Apple Valley thier home, or at least attending Pierce University.

Besides my duties as hood council president, I am still a wife and mother and early morning pancake breakfasts are still a tradition. Bill has been busy with studying for his skill exams and preparing for his final year, so we rarely see him at breakfast. Speaking of family, I have to write my brother, Fredic, a note. Soon he will be entering the new dimension-while Apple Valley will not. It will be a little harder to keep in contact, but at least we've seen each other as much as possible before that fateful day.

Finally a Mommy

I am the mother of a beautiful baby girl named Veronika Kent. She arrived a few weeks early, but other than being really tiny and having to spend a few days in the clinic to make sure her breathing was ok, she's as healthy as can be. She looks so much like her grandmother...I can not wait to see her grow up. Already Jesse is talking about another child and Bill has seen firsthand how hard caring for an infant is so maybe we won't have to worry about another scare from him.

Bed Rest

Can you believe I'm on bed rest! The doctor said that the recent stress in my life and my poor diet caused me to start bleeding and contracting early, so they put me on bed rest until the end of my pregnancy. Jesse is so scared now about the health of the baby. I'm concerned as well...I never thought that I would have to be forcibly put on bed rest. I'm doing a lot of reading and planning for the hood council as well as looking through applicants for the job...we need to hire a sim quickly.

I miss her

With the baby's birth ever closer I miss mother more and more. It doesn't help that it's Christmas season and the house seems so empty without her. She missed seeing her grandchildren from Fredic (his girlfriend is expecting the same time as I) and I. I wonder how she would have handled Bill and Faith. They miscarried the infant so the public doesn't know about the pregnancy and there's no publicity to try and spin, now Bill and Faith are pretty much on punishment.

Eating for Two...or More?

Well, I am pregnant. Wow and I feel huge!!! I miss mom...she died while I was on my hood tour, I had to leave and come back for her funeral. It was sudden. One minute she's up planning details for the hood, the next...her heart stopped beating. The house feels so lonely without her. Jesse and I moved up to her bedroom, it's a bit creepy, but we sold the bed and repainted, trying to make it our master retreat instead of mom's. We also finished the nursery, I think, and we built a small basement apartment so that when I find a personal assistant (yes I decided to hire one, the pregnancy confirmed this desicion) they will have a place to stay. I am hoping to find an assistant from another hood, since the job will be slightly short term (at least the staying in our residence part (cooking and slight cleaning) will be, the other part will be long term). I am wondering if we should just hire two sims, a nanny that can cook, clean and care for our children and a personal assistant to screen incoming calls, check emails, review documentation, send mail, do research, schedule reservations and meetings. I posted a personal ad, now I'm waiting for responses.

In Simmington Hills

Jesse and I traveled to Simmington Hills to help with the rebuilding efforts after thier hurricane. I managed to see my cousin and drop off some gifts courtesy of my aunt (his mother) and his inheritance check as well. To say we had a good time would be a lie. We were treated well and the residents were/are wonderful people, however...just the devastation of the area. Wow...I remember when Apple Valley suffered through a similar event. That's why we had to rush in and help our sister hood out.

Palatial Heights HobNobbing

Fredic took me to the gala for the signing of the new deal in Palatial Heights. I had a blast, Jesse had to stay home, but I think he enjoyed sitting at the house more than mingling with the sitizens of Palatial Heights. The event was a little sad, since my ticket was meant for my brother's friend, Sahara, however she was in a car accident and well...I got to go.

I was able to speak with the current mayor and the former mayor as well as other sims in the hood (including Montana Rolfe of Pahala Shore fame) in my quest to find out ways to build interhood connections. Fredic was honored enough to make a toast during the event and I was pleased to see my brother mingle with the political movers and shakers of the hood. Right now he is working as a campaign manager for the elections, so it's a good job to get into exclusive events.

Ok, I'll Admit It

Camping was fun...once you get used to the bugs and rain in your tent and eating what you catch, it was actually fun to get away from things where the cell phones lose signals and you have no choice but to relax. I joined the boys on one of thier hiking trips and in spite of the mud and steep inclines and bees and losing my pack in the river, it was worth it. The area was beautiful and we took a few photos. On our return to the campsite, I was able to even meditate! Can you believe it!

The Things

I allow my brother and husband to talk me into. I am camping! Camping! Like, no beds! Sleeping in tents! Wearing shorts that are made of denim!!! The boys are loving it, they go hiking and fishing and jogging all the time. I managed to find a hammock so I don't have to sit on the ground with the bugs and thankfully I brought along mom's newest book "Behind the Council: Tales of a Hood Council President". I can't believe that she hasn't made a big deal about it, especially since it's doing so well. I'm giving a copy to every spokesim I visit so that they can have a handy dandy reference book. Eww! Mosquito!

With my brother!

I am in Palatial Heights with my brother and it's so good to see him again, the last time was at my wedding and the photographer lost all the negatives with the family photos, :(

I was able to see his house and it's a nice house, I must admit. A lot nicer than our home in AV, but I think we filled our smaller home with higher quality items. so there :P

Honestly, he's done well for himself...except in the dating department. I try not to say much when he talks about his dating, but I do want my brother to settle down with a nice woman, but...well, we each have our own life to live.

Pregnant?

Ugh, I've been feeling sick to my stomach. Not a good time to be feeling nauseated especially with my tours to the other hoods lined up.

Our first stop is Palatial Hieghts to visit my brother, Fredic, and talk to the political movers and shakers there. Then I'm headed to Simmington Hills to visit cousin, Ray, and help with the rebuilding efforts. Then Harper's Cove to talk to the mayor and hood council. I am waiting for Roswell to let me know which dates are acceptable. Jesse says I should hire a personal assistant to help me manage these things. That doesn't sound like a bad idea, a sim to answer the phone, keep the house clean, cook meals, manage my schedule. Hmmm, I will have to think about that.

Plans

I practiced my speech with Jesse. He said that the bit about improving the artisitic quality of Apple Valley sounded vague, so I need to work on that. I don't know why I'm working so hard for the election, I have no competition, but then again, a Kent doesn't do anything half-way. Mother wants me to take ettiquette lessons-something about my eating skills are lacking. Does she see herself eat? Crumbs fly everywhere! So now I must take lessons which will be good since I will travel more to build inter-hood relationships.

Election Time

The honeymoon was short since elections are so close. No sim is running against me, but I still must make sure that the residents are behind me. I've been calling neighbors and talking to them in thr street, trying to pick thier brain and let them know I care.

It's been hard to think about anything else right now with E-Day so close.

Our Wedding

We got some amazing shots of our wedding-thanks to our photographer, Antonio. I can't wait to get the prints on the walls in the house.

Redecorating-Part II

My mother tried to redecorate without my consent :(

Well, we had a lively discussion and compromised on a very tasteful room, if I do say so myself. I must get Li to do a write up in the paper, then the residents can see how classy we are.

Political Networking

I met with Rayne Wilsonoff, the current Community Director (and my auntie) and picked her brain concerning the current hood council and policies. Thankfully she was very frank with me about the politics of the council and gave me some advice on how not to step on council members toes and how to influence the members to follow my lead instead of demanding that they follow my lead.

Dress Shopping

I am dress shopping, slightly. I saw my cousin's dress at her wedding (also a A.Pentragnani gown) and loved the lace detailing. I wanted to see how it looked on me, thank goodness I was looking at that style and not the Tatiana Collection since I think the reporter snapped a photo of me trying on the gown and I don't want my dress in the papers before the wedding. While I was there, I did get the final fitting for my gown and starting looking at accessories such as veils and jewelry.

Wedding Inspirations

I talked with Li and she recommended a great website to look for wedding inspiration, so I found some ideas.

Bridal Shower

My bridal shower was very nice. I recieved plenty of presents and I made sure to chat with the residents about things they would like to see changed in the hood. Since we are in a new landmass, there were not many complaints, but some residents wanted more decor and green space. I wonder how that will work since the terrain is so small as it is.

Wedding Planning

I'm gathering ideas for my wedding this simWednesday. I chose my dress already, it's A.Pentragnani and it's from thier Tatiana Collection.

Colors. I love the fall color scheme, especially since mother is going to plant some trees in the yard for the reception. So basically browns, oranges and golds. The colors will be used for the invitations, reception decor and more.

Food: The reception will feature lots of hardy items. Pork chops, grilled fish, salads and more. I am looking for lots of different types of cakes for the wedding. I would love to have uncle create a custom wedding cake for me. He said that he would try, but who knows. I did find some other cakes for the dessert table that I want at the reception.

Ceremony: The ceremony will be at Central Park in front of the large fountain. No decor is needed and the ceremony will be fairly quick since guests will be standing. We'll arrive early for photos.

Reception Decor: The reception will be in the large side yard. I found the tablecloths I want and the dishes. I am still deciding on centerpieces.