A Little Down Time

Hapar 2000


The beginning of the month was a welcome change from the cold winter that left us stranded indoors many simdays with the large amounts of snow. Finally it was spring and time for baseball season which would lead into basketball and football season. Speaking of which, I need to talk to Jesse about playing a game of flag football soon, now that the snow is gone.


Li and I settled into our new apartment. With the hood council mandate, all we could afford was a unit at Daniels Row. It's a bit small, our bedroom barely has enough room for our double bed, but it's comfortable. Li quickly got to work renovating it, as much as she could with her large belly, and preparing the nursery for the babies. It's a bit harder to decorate, so she says, since imports are greatly restricted. But she made it work and it looks great.

Work has been slow, the occasional vandalism of property or stolen newspapers. Nothing serious, thank goodness. With the influx of tourists and transient sims, many residents expected crime to increase, but it hasn't. Apple Valley Metro hasn't either.


I should have appreciated the downtime at work. Now that the babies are here, I spend every waking minute with them. Three little mouths to feed. Li was amazing, the delivery was quick. I admit, I was worried at first since this is Apple Valley's first triplet delivery, but Julio did a great job and after a few days in the clinic, the babies were ready to come home. Aaron, Ping and Simora keep us very busy to say the least. Thankfully, I managed to take a few days off to help Li care for them.


Even though we both had days off to care for the babies, we still crashed whenever we could. I barely see my wife awake and soon I will have to return to work and Li's maternity leave will be over. We'll have to see about getting a nanny or a babysitter soon, but I don't know if we can afford it.

Blast from the Past

Found some old wedding photos in a box, decided to post them.

Financial Strain

Yes, it's no secret that we're experiencing financial strain as of late. The IVF treatment was §5,000; then each doctor's visit is §500 and we still need to furnish the nursery and pay bills. It seems like the money doesn't stretch enough.

We're Pregnant

Finally, we're having a family. I am beyond thrilled. I called my father and told him the great news and everyone was so happy. Anika Rose decided not to move to AV with us due to the upcoming birth. We're going to the clinic to find out if it's a boy or a girl. I am beyond thrilled!

Expanding Family

My sister, Anika Rose, called. She wants to finish her high school years here, so of course I agreed. I have to tell Li so she won't be shocked with Anika shows up the next simday. She'll be taking the room meant for the nursery...it's not getting used anyhow.

I'm bitter if you can't tell. Bewteen the neighborhood dogs digging up the yard, the fact that we're still not pregnant and seeing all these happy families with children! I resent this! Why can't we have a child of our own!

Top Spot

Fiona has taken over the hood council and we have many conversations on the phone. She is pregnant with her first child...a bit bittersweet as I remember having the biggest crush on her as a teen and vice versa. Funny how life changes. I wonder if we would be pregnant if I was married to her? Who knows. Christmas is almost here, I need to find Li's gift.

Rotten Luck

Our luck is going from bad to worse. We are not pregnant still even after all the trying in the world and now it's becoming a chore. We have to try at certain times and positions and good riddance! I miss the fun of it all! Then we had a burgular! Can you believe it! My sources from SCPD say that the woman has been targeting smaller hoods with weak security measures, but she planned wrong on targeting Apple Valley and double wrong when targeting my house. I managed to nab her and then backup from SCPD flew in to take her back to the city. The real question is, how long had she been hiding out on AV and who else was on her list?

Back to Normal

Li wants to throw a new year's party at the end of the winter season. I don't see why not. We should have some extra money by then since she's been working on the designs of the Apple Valley Metro buildings and the newspaper and website. Besides, it would get our minds off the fact that we're not pregnant yet in spite of vigorious trying.

The Change of Things

Jesse stopped by to see if I wanted to watch the soccer game at his house, but to be honest, his TV is so small! We decided to crash at my house to watch the game since Li is off with her friends on the beach somewhere. I told him how Li has been warming up to the idea of children and he related the news of how his wife is expecting...they think. He was only in town for a few hours anyway since he needed to pick up some things before returning to Palatial Heights with his wife.

Safety in the Hood

Jadhira and Jesse came over for afternoon tea, (Jadhira suggested it-I never heard of it) to discuss thier fears about the new Apple Valley Metro.

Game Night

I invited some men over to watch the big game Llamas vs Bunnies. Let's just say we got a bit rowdy a few times.

Jesse mentioned that he and his wife would start traveling to other hoods to build interhood connections. It must be nice to be part of a family with a reputation like the Kents. I wonder what residents think of the Sweenys.

Longing for a Little One

Things are going well. Fall is almost over and the official day of winter is upon us. Li wants to throw a party...how can I say no to her. I am trying to convince her that we are ready for a baby, but she suggested a dog or a puppy. Ha! My friend, Jesse, came over to play a little catch and we discussed the cons of having career orientated wives. His wife is going to be the next hood council president, and even they are trying to get pregnant (since a motherly president is more approachable or something like that). I hope Li will want to have children soon...or maybe we'll have a little accidental surprise.

Celebrating

Li got a contract for her first book. We stayed in and had champagne and fruit and...well, other things :)


Our anniversary is coming up and I've been getting the notion that we need to expand our family. I don't know how to bring it up to Li, but I will soon. The spare bedroom is sitting there waiting for a crib and the pitter patter of tiny feet.

Economic Times

With the new media sale, things are looking well for Apple Valley. There's more simoleans for each family it seems. Every resident prospers...but for how long? I've seen this cycle before, prosperity and then disaster-that's what happened before the flood. Li says I'm being silly, but what if something bad happens-like another storm.

Decorating

During our honeymoon I found a rare vase in the dirt, so I sold it and Li, being the woman that she is and I love her dearly, decided to redecorate. To be honest, I love it and decided to write about it :)

First, she had the existing half wall that seperated the kitchen/dining room and the living area taken down, then she had a series of walls put up to divide the space into smaller "rooms".

The foyer starts with our existing benches and paintings in the same position and she moved our old rug to the area.
Then she had a half wall installed and shelves added so we could display our souveniors, new carpeting and wall paint

and she hung the two ancestoral paintings (ts1) that I had commissioned over the stereo. One is of my ancestor, Alisa Crawston in her wedding dress, the other is of the original Greymount Sweenys on thier wedding day. In bewteen is a photo of Li and I during our wedding day. She doesn't know it, but I've commissioned a painting of it for our anniversary.

Behind the brick half wall sits the new living room with a brick accent wall, new window (to see the view of the surrounding sea). There are wooden pillars and a tibetian table. Li says it reminds her of her urban life in SimCity, My TV is still there and it still gets the sports channel so I'm happy.

She created a small reading corner for herself-so she could review books for the book club she said, I think it's her little zone-her comfort area, so to speak. Sort of like "Sports at 6" is my zone.

Now the kitchen is walled in, it looks the same, there is a space in the walls (no doors-to restrictive Li said) for the entrance

the accent tile has been extended to the new wall of the dining room and our old stencil has been moved.

The kitchen is walled in (I still think we need a sink, Li said not to worry, that the kitchen will be getting a facelift soon-yikes!).

Surprisingly it didn't take a lot of money for the drastic changes since we used our souveniors, and previous items. Li says she wants to do the master bedroom and bath next, I personally would like a basketball court, but I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.

Elections Upcoming

The elections are coming up soon and most of the hood is talking about the new candidates-the entire council is stepping down. Yikes! Thank goodness Li and I's jobs are not dependant on being appointed for the position. It's good that the council is stepping down, especially Ayanna. She hasn't been the same since her husband died. I wonder what she will do after this term. Maybe take her daughter's place as host of The Peacock?

Getting Ready

Getting ready for the election which means hours of sorting through the residents' files and making sure everything is in order so that when residents come to the polls, things will go quickly. I think we should get rid of the excess polling booths, only one will do-after all this island is so small that there shouldn't be a big problem with voting. If we got rid of a booth, then I could have more space for security issues and things. Like selling alarm systems.

Honeymoon Planning

Li wants to know where we're going for the honeymoon. It's a surprise! I plan on taking her to Kimikura, the home of her ancestors to visit her grandparents whom she hasn't seen since she was a toddler. I was able to find them and convince them to keep the trip a secret, I hope Li will like it.

Changes

So much has changed in a matter of simdays. The hood is destroyed, my family decided to emmigrate to Bottom Beach, but I decided to remain. I became an adult and I found love in the arms of a city planner. I proposed to her and she accepted. What joy!

The beginning. Many sims already know about the fllod and stuff, so I won't repeat that, but while in the shelter I met the most wonderful woman. She helped with the design of so many buildings on the isle and she and I shared nice long talks and soon we were in love. I waited until we got on dry soil and then I proposed! Thank goodness she said yes!

Sweet Marilyn...or not?

I kissed Marilyn, finally. However she ran home quickly afterwards. I'm not sure if she likes me, I wish she would be straight forward and say that she does or doesn't. I don't like being led around on a lease, waiting and hoping.