Just Another Day At The Powers House

Iona is coming along in leaps and bounds. She's gaining confidence in everything she does.

From playing with the old doll house

Aww adorable.

Sharing the fairy castle/bungalow with Grandma. (yes, I didn't know they could do that)

To being potty trained by mommy (slow progress there)

And learning to walk from Grandma. (another slow progress there and I STILL can't stand that outfit of Shannon's, it makes her look as if she's in mourning)

Nessa decided - autonomously - to go into the basement and play the keyboard!

But then, things started going a little ....

... strange.

Andrea complained of stomach pains and made such a song and dance about it. Sophie wasn't impressed.

Sophie: Try giving birth .... that'll stop you complaining you big baby
Andrea: But that's what I AM doing
Sophie: Really.

I can just imagine the eye rolling that's probably going on right about now.

And a pop up asked me if I should let Andrea keep the baby ... or send it back to its mother land/ship.
You know exactly what I did.

I let him keep her.

Yes. A girl.

Aura.

Aura's specs so far:

Traits:
Loves the Outdoors (game chosen)
Perceptive

Star Sign
Taurus

Music: Classical
Food: Lobster Thermidor
Colour: Grey

And I love the expression on his face as he turns to the camera.

Andrea: Now... what?

Shannon appears to stare straight at Aura.

Shannon: You're not keeping it are you?
Andrea: I am, and back off.
Sophie: Yeah Mom, back off.
Shannon: Fair enough, don't say I didn't warn you. We're in a load of trouble from the Fae Council as it is. It couldn't get any worse ... if we tried.

And here's the little tyke, all snuggled up in the baby rocker.

Awww

Surprise Party! .... What Surprise Party???

There was a pop up announcing that it was Shannon's birthday. I didn't see that coming, I guess I was too busy focusing on everyone else.
 
 *cough*

Anyways, she will FINALLY be reaching her golden ADULT stage ... believe it or not. Fairies have quite a long life span actually.

So, Sophie thought she'd organise a surprise birthday party for her mom.
Although, it didn't help when her mother was lurking around, trying to tidy the house, when Sophie was phoning all their friends.

Shannon: Sophie, what are you doing?
Sophie: Oh, nothing.
Shannon: It had better not be a surprise party. You know I don't like those
Sophie: Oh, no ... it's not. I'm ... um ... just organizing a class reunion, that's all, there's a cute guy I remember from school
Shannon: I remember the hot teacher instead
Sophie: MOM!

Phew, nice recovery there Sophie. And OMG ... Shannon!!! I didn't know you swung that way. OMG.

Anyways, the party is organised for mid afternoon, but it gets dark before Shannon finally blows out the candles.

She transitions into ...

OMFG! SERIOUSLY??

Yeah, you can change out of THAT ASAP.

Sophie manages to steal the show by having her photo taken by an avid fan.
Yeah, thanks Soph. Way to go. Upstage your mother why don't you?

Nessa whinged about being exhausted and Shannon told her to sit down, shut up and eat your cake.

Harsh.

And Andrea ...
... well ...

Let's just say, his waistline has expanded quite a lot recently.

I sent Shannon to CAS to change her outfit and overall look.
Because I couldn't see her wearing THAT outfit.

I tried, but gave up. Since nothing looked good on her for some reason, so she'll be reverting back to her old favourite tee shirts and jeans.

As for that HAIR!!

It had to go.

And we have our Shannon back once more.

Yay.

Nessa to the Rescue/Iona's Birthday

Nessa was way behind her sister in the Singing Career ladder. So she decided, bright and early, to head down to the park to watch the latest Sim Fest. Her timing couldn't have come at a worse moment.
 

 It was Iona's birthday, and Andrea, despite his exhaustion from the abduction ... and his daughter's ability to stay awake at unearthly hours ... decided that he wanted to throw her a party.

Blearily eyed, he arranged everything, inviting family only because he hardly knew anybody else. He even organised a special seating area, should the weather remain favourable.

Yes, it's a little crude, but we can work on that a little later on.

And then he had to go to work, dragging his heels along as he went. He rolled a wish to quit his job - as did Sophie. But, kiddo, you are going to HAVE to work. This is your LTW we're talking about. I'm not putting you back to square one. Not now. Andrea, well, we can work on that. Find something that you might enjoy that little bit more. Being in the Criminal Career can be a little taxing on someone who wants to be an Ark Builder.

Anyways, the day passed rather slowly. Sophie managed to catch up on her sleep, which put her in a better mood to help her daughter transition on her birthday. Nessa was still at the Sim Fest and loving/hating the acts that were there simultaneously. Shannon and Andrea were at work.

So it was up to her to bring Iona to the cake. At least the weather had stayed fine.

However, Iona wasn't. She had just pooped and was stinky. Talk about timing.

Screaming and squalling, she wriggled in her mother's arms, just as Sophie was blowing out the candles. Her head pounded at the kid's yelling, so she immediately put her down on the floor and stepped back. Hopefully the transition would calm her daughter down.

After what appeared a lengthy wait - Sophie's stomach growled with hunger - Iona finally morphed into the cutest little toddler ever.

But wait.

She wasn't finished just yet. Pink sparkles surrounded her ... and out popped a beautiful pair of wings!!

She was complete ... but far from happy. She was hungry, dirty and needed attention .... STAT.

Sophie was hungry ... and ignored her daughter to grab a slice of cake. Even poor Pat is getting a headache here.

Even her mother complained about Iona making a racket.

Shannon: Can't you quieten that kid down?
Sophie: Sorry mom, I've tried.

Poor Sophie. You've got to admit though Sophie, your parenting skills ARE a bit naff.


Luckily, Auntie Nessa arrived just in time to take over. Grabbing her niece, she expertly changed her diaper there and then without blinking. You can tell that Iona worships the ground Nessa stands on already. This is where she feels the safest.

And handed her a bottle of formula, whilst she helped herself to some cake.

"Nicely handled there sis," Sophie remarked, "she was getting a bit too much for me to handle."

Nessa just shrugged her shoulders and crammed the cake into her mouth.

Iona whimpered. Now she was starting to get tired and wanted some sleep. As Nessa was still eating, Sophie scooped up her daughter, played 'claw' with her, before taking her up to bed.

The guests had a mixed response to the party. Some left early saying it was MEH, others had a fairly nice time but had to go because of other duties.

I'll write a bio of Iona as soon as I get more details.

Andrea

 Andrea came back to earth with a bump. He was not pleased. Neither was the elder alien who accompanied him home to make sure he arrived safely in his own timeline.

In her eyes, he was of inferior stock. But, the pollinators weren't picky - they'd try anyone, as long as their program was successful.

So, when he passed out cold from exhaustion, she left him there and headed back to her mother ship.

He thought that nobody had witnessed this event, and tried to sneak back in the house without anybody seeing him.

How wrong he was, as he spotted his mother in law, sitting at the table, waiting for him. She'd been sleeping in the fairy bungalow outside and heard everything.

Shannon: Want to talk about it?

He shook his head. He'd rather not, thank you very much. Instead, he wolfed down his cereal and made his way upstairs, hoping to have a good night's sleep.

The light was on and his heart dropped. And even more so when he heard the plaintive wail coming from his daughter.

Pat: That kid's noisy
Sophie: I know
Pat: and stinky
Sophie: I KNOW, that's what they do
Pat: Hate it already
Sophie: Well tough, deal with it, I'm tired.

Andrea rolled his eyes. Sophie's behaviour was strange to begin with and her obsession with her Imaginary Friend ... was now becoming worrisome indeed. Perhaps this was her way of coping with loss? He didn't know. He just hoped that insanity didn't run through the family. It couldn't get any weirder, that's for sure.

Instead, he just walked into the bedroom.

Andrea: Hi
Sophie: Hi
Andrea: Tired, off to bed, night
Sophie: Um, okay .. night.

And that was it

On another note: Shannon's painting skills are really coming along in leaps and bounds.
Here's her version of Van Gogh's Starry Night.

It's called, Mexican Morning.

Hespa Ventures Out On Her Own

First of all, here's a gratuitous picture of the deceased Austin Powers, making himself at home in the lovely little turret room on the third floor. He had an obsession with that rocking chair, and it spooked practically everyone else in the house, so I decided to build him this little nook.

 
Anyways, going back to the present (and catching up on 6 months' absence from Simplay), I decided to check in on our little group.

Despite Hespa being painfully shy and feeling awkward around strangers, she wished longingly to go to university. After all, her LTW was to have 5 degrees under her belt. Now that was a challenge I was happy to explore (besides, who said that the Wishacy was heir/heiress exclusive?)

Sophie caught her checking her phone, looking at some courses that she fancied.

Sophie: Hope you're going to tell Nessa
Hespa: Oh, she'll be fine with it.
Sophie: I hope so.

Dragon Valley was in the throes of one of its worst winters on record ... ever since record-keeping began the last couple of hundred years ago. And despite the new technology of keeping homes warmer, Hespa couldn't help feeling that she needed to be somewhere a lot warmer. Many times spent in doll form, soggy wet and damp for weeks taught her that one.

Besides, apart from Nessa - who was constantly busy with her singing career now - nothing was keeping Hespa at home any more.

She submitted her application and kept checking the mail on a daily basis, half hoping half wishing she hadn't done this.

Until finally, she was accepted. There had been a bit of a disaster in the university administration concerning the applications. Some students had duplicated their applications and had ended up with two sets of courses, which confused the poor administrators. They mistakenly thought that all classes had been filled.

After a little juggling around, they managed to find a place in Business Studies for Hespa. It wasn't her first choice, but at least she was on her way there!

Nessa was surprised to see a familiar moving van pulling up outside their home. In all the excitement, Hespa had clearly forgotten to tell her bestest friend.

Until now.

With suitcase in hand, she sheepishly told Nessa of her plans. Nessa wasn't too pleased about this, but she couldn't be angry with Hespa. She'd been there through some of the roughest times, when nobody else could be.

Nessa: Um, well ... good luck ... and try not to party too hard.

Hespa threw her a withering glare.

Hespa: Really? You think I'd be out there partying?

She gave a low chuckle before hopping into the van. She turns to see everyone waving her off. Only Nessa stood there, her hands limply at her sides. A small frown on her face.

Nessa: *whispers* Bye ... missing you already ... don't forget to call me.

Even their mother picked up on Nessa's mood.

Shannon: Nessa, she'll be fine.
Nessa: I hope so.