01-10. A To-Do List

I need to renovate the Miraj house. There's not enough room as the layout is now. So I either revamp the existing house, or bulldoze it and move the family into a different home. I like the location they're in though.

Finnegan wanted to exercise, but the TV room was too small. He had to go upstairs to the patio and use the portable stereo.

I had to turn the bunk bed around so he wouldn't be climbing the bathroom wall to get into bed.

I enlarged the basement level, but the layout still isn't efficient.

The chess table is out in the greenhouse, which sits on top of the horse stall in the barn!

01-09. Fun for All

Jahan finished learning to walk in his walker.

I'm not sure how Finnegan managed to miss the bus home, but I found him back at the school in swim trunks. And is that a whoopee cushion?

It was Friday afternoon, and the two boys splashed around in the waterfall pool near their house.

I was concerned about the wild foal and sought him out, aged him to adult. He was close to aging up anyway. I also changed my NRaas Register setting to allow 2 wild horses instead of just one so another wild foal wouldn't get left alone again.

Abu had a little time to spend with the horse. They're Friends, but have a way to go to reach BFF. This horse is shy.

Once Datrum came home from work and could watch Jahan, Sophia took Zanita over to the horse ranch. Zanita mastered her jumping skill that evening.

With Sophia to guide her, Zanita was able to clear the fire jumps like an expert.

Meanwhile, Finn talked Kahl into taking out the family fishing boat.

No problem, Dad knew where they were all along. He made sure they were safe...and clean!

The boys were new to fishing, so weren't having much luck. They rowed over to where they saw some fish jumping.

Kahl caught two minnows. Finn, not quite as quick in learning new things, only got a couple of nibbles on his line.

But it was getting late. Curfew time. Kahlil knew he'd better get home quick. Finnegan stayed a bit longer, but his stomach started growling, so he headed home too. The boys raided the fridge for leftover cake, then went straight to bed, wanting to be up bright and early for the weekend!

01-08. Happy Birthday, Jahan!

I had a few frustrating moments with my Hidden Springs sims during this game play, but we survived! The day started out nice. The boys always get up early and have time to play a bit before school.

The adults spend their time working and taking care of baby Jahan. This is what a legless plumbot looks like squishing fruit for nectar!

That evening, when everyone got home, I decided that it was time for Jahan to age up. His relationship with his parents was strong. OMG! It was like herding cats! I was trying to get them all down to the kitchen and start the birthday. They kept changing their actions. Routing was taking too long, and the ones waiting ran off to do other things! Finally, I got them all close to the cake and the party began.

Sim mentality: let's all eat cake and ignore Jahan, whose social need was falling low by then.

So what did the crazy plumbot do? Socialize with Jahan? NO! He tried to take him upstairs and put him in his crib! GRRR. I shut Datrum down before I got really mad and sold him for scrap metal!

After finishing her cake, Sophia picked Jahan up, snuggled, and played with him. Yes! I took the opportunity to take Jahan into Stylist and improved his wardrobe choices.

Jahan also had potty needs, so I told Sophia to start potty training him. Genie Abu magically cleaned the family at the same time.

Jahan wasn't quite ready for sleep so I directed Sophia to start teaching him to walk. Apparently she didn't want to do that in the family room where she was. She sat Jahan on the floor and took the elevator down. Jahan crawled over to the staircase at the other side of the house, and then realized he couldn't use the stairs.

Oh for heaven's sake, just put the kid to bed! I'll cheat and slide his sleep bar to yellow! That'll knock him out.

The next morning, Sophia started in fresh teaching Jahan his toddler skills. But for me, that was it, thank you very much! I closed the game.

01-07. Finnegan Shows his Face

Hidden Springs. The next day after school, Kahlil got the opportunity to take a rainbow gem to the science lab for the study of invisible beings. His Genie dad, a bit suspicious but trusting his son, gave him the gem he'd been saving--and the family credit card. Kahlil went straight to the lab and donated the gem. Almost immediately, another message popped up saying the potion was ready. Lucky for Kahlil, his parents have been making good money lately. That potion cost 4,500 simoleons!

Kahlil asked Finnegan if he wanted to become real, and of course he said YES!

A bubbling magic cloud...

And poof! Here's Finnegan--well, after a quick facial and new hair. Not too much change, but the generic pudding face had to go.

Finnegan has a Good Sense of Humor. Seems good to him, anyway!

He also has the Artistic trait.

Kahlil and Finnegan share one trait in common: Athletic.

And what mischief will you be bringing to Hidden Springs, I wonder, Finnegan my boy?

Well now...already caught sneaking in back doors and scaling walls, were you? (Glitchy bunk beds!)

01-06. First Wedding Anniversary with Family

Hidden Springs. The next day turned out to be Abu and Sophia's first wedding anniversary. Wow! A lot has happened in just one year. The couple went for an early morning swim in the waterfall lake behind their house.

When Sophia went back to the house to play with little Jahan, Abu lingered at the waterfall. Nice life, hey Abu?

Sophia got involved with her nectar making, but Abu was loving the wonderful summer day. He took Jahan for a walk after Kahlil left for school.

I love the area where the Miraj family lives.

Just up the street is the Festival grounds, and Abu heads that way. Jahan is laughing and cooing in the stroller.

Sophia finishes up with the nectar and leaves Datrum to oversee the machine and gardening. She meets up with Abu and Jahan at the Festival. They've decided to spend their anniversary with the family since this is Sophia's day off from work.

Kahlil soon gets home from school and rushes over to join the family. He won't worry about Finnegan today. He's been looking forward to this Festival.

Jahan relaxes in the shade and keeps himself entertained by the baby mat mobile.

When Abu takes Jahan over to the photo tent for a family portrait, Simon Cho puts down his toddler and follows. Does he want to speak to Abu? I didn't see any mention of it in Abu's queue.

No, he wanted to see how Jahan's baby mat worked! When Abu got out of the tent, he set Jahan down on the ground and Simon picked him up. I was a little nervous about this. Abu watched closely too.

But everything went fine. Kind of cute how Simon was so curious about the baby mat. Fun factor!

Simon has the Family Oriented trait too. He and Abu should get along well. "Nice rig you got here, Abu! Next kid, I'll have to get one of these myself!"

The evening ended with a fun game of water balloon fight.

01-05. A Magical Doll

Hidden Springs, Monday morning. I find Kahlil awake and already playing with Finnegan. I was half-hoping that he'd forgotten about the doll. I hadn't let him spend too much time with it as a toddler. Oh, well. Here we go! Abu already has a rainbow gem ready in his inventory. He was lucky to have the green Dragon summon one up!

The family has some free time before the school bus comes, so Kahlil asks his dad to play catch. I noticed that Kahlil can't play with the soccerball yet, but he can use the frisbee. Haven't tried the little kicky ball, but I bet children can't use it.

Breakfast cake: full of vitamins, minerals, pureed vegetables and soy protein! Yah, right.

And off he goes! First day of school. Kahlil is ready to make new friends.

Abu and Sophia spend time at the consignment bazaar. He's reached level 10 in both the alchemy skill and his alchemy career. With the Suave Seller reward, Abu makes a lot of money consigning his elixirs. Sophia shops for nectar and also helps cut summoned and found gems to resell. She also has the Suave Seller reward.

Since Abu doesn't need to grow as many elixir ingredients, Sophia has decided to try her hand at making nectar. Up till now, she's just been buying bottles from the store to add to her collection. She and Datrum both have been listening to Nectar Making lessons on tab casts.

I was happy to discover that the nectar machine will fit under the gardening station without an issue or using cheats. I didn't have to build another room. A nice compact, efficient setup! I'll probably do some rearranging of the planting area, but for now I just used the soil rug they already had.

Notice the money trees. With Abu and Sophia both at level 10 gardening, they were able to find, identify, and plant theses trees. But I may take out one or two. Money trees make things way too easy!

Kahlil finally gets home from school after staying late to clean bug cages. A message pops up for me saying Finnegan wants to be set out, so I put the doll on the floor and he magically transforms! Kahlil is amazed and spends a little time talking to this new friend. Then his mother comes home from work ...

"Mom, look! My doll Finnegan is alive!"
"Oh, Kahlil, really son. Not now! I'm so beat. Dance practice this morning, a hard day at work. Please!"

Kahlil is hurt by his mother's rejection and offers a hug to make things better. "Sorry Mom."

He decides not to mention Finnegan again--at least not to his mom. Maybe Dad would believe him?