Howard 1: Round 21

Last round, Hope took up a new profession as she joined the fashion photographer career. Luckily, her family seemed to be very willing models. Meanwhile, Hermes decided to give video production a try and filmed himself doing...just about everything. Somehow, the couple also found time to add two more children-first another son named Panic, and then a baby girl named Surprise (who lived up to her name immediately by inheriting her father's alien skin.

Hi, guys!

Hope: Oh, hi, mysterious voice...ok, Anger, once you finish eating go get your stuff on and meet me in the basement, ok?

Another photo shoot?

Hope: Yeah, I guess that kids' formal wear company really liked the shots of Kiwi and Kumquat. Only this time, they want a kid and a toddler together.

Well, you're halfway there.

Anger: How's this, Mom?

Hope: Looks good, buddy. Now, where's your brother?

Hermes: Come on, bud...let's just get your nice clothes on...

Panic: No! 

Something tells me Panic is not as fond of photo shoots as his brother is.

Disgust: I don't think you're going to get those pictures done today.

Hope: Maybe I can change his clothes while he's taking his nap...sleeping toddlers are cute, right? Besides, the photos aren't due until the end of the week.

Speaking of...

Another week, another holiday with no yard space...

Isn't that thing distracting?

Hermes: Not really...

What are you making, anyway?

Hermes: A bathtub!

...Out of wood?

Hermes: Yeah!

Um...well, good luck with that, Hermes...

And I see Surprise is still wearing the onesie Kumquat made.

Hope: Isn't it cute? I can't believe he managed to make something like that at his age.

Hermes: Ok...now, what's this one?

Cortex: (Barks)

Hermes: Not you...Panic, what's this one?

Panic: Woof!

Maybe Cortex isn't the best vocabulary tutor...

Nice job, Disgust!

Disgust: Thanks...I'm going to whip up a special dinner to celebrate.

Just make sure to include some cat food...

And she seems to be taking to old age well...

Anger: Campfire night's going to be awesome! We're gonna tell ghost stories, and cook hot dogs, and roast marshmallows...

Panic: I wanna hot dog too!

Anger: You can't...you're still too little

Why not?

Anger: Because we're doing it on the roof!

The roof?

Well...that's one solution to not having yard space...although I do have some questions about what, exactly, that grass is growing in. And maybe a fence might be a good idea...

At least Panic will have some company inside...

Happy birthday, dear Surprise...

Another charmer...get ready for more play group hugs...

But I think a makeover is in order...

There we go...and I'm glad to see someone brought some dinner down for her.

Anger: Man, eating on the roof was so cool! I want to do that every night!

Disgust: Did you finish your homework yet?

Anger: Yeah...I mean, I did most of it...

Wait...you're taking the new job?

Hope: Yeah...I don't want to have to keep forcing people I know to pose for pictures just to make a living. 

Disgust: Congratulations, honey...

Hope: Thanks, Mom...I just hope that this is the right choice.

Disgust: I'm sure you'll do great. You've always been the most stylish out of all of us.

Surprise: Puppy! Ride!

I don't think that's a good idea, Surprise...Cortex isn't exactly a puppy anymore. She's getting pretty old...

Uh-oh...speaking of being old...

Well, we all knew this was coming...

Goodbye, Disgust...

You ok, Hope?

Hope: Not really...I never really thought this day would come. At least my new job lets me work at home if I want to. I don't know how I'd deal with going into an office.

Plus, now we've got two sad toddlers.

Hopefully playtime with Dad will help...

Hermes: How are the pancakes, buddy?

Panic: Ok...but can I eat them on the roof?

Hermes: (laughs) I promise, as soon as you're big enough to climb the ladder we'll have dinner on the roof again.

What's wrong, Anger?

Anger: (sigh)  I got my report card today...

Oh...well, you know, everybody starts at a C...

Anger: Yeah, but they don't stay there for this long...everybody's got a B or an A by now except me.

You've still got time, you know. You're not going to high school for a little while. Plus, you've had a lot of days off school. 

Hope: Goodnight, buddy...you have a big day tomorrow?

Really? Why?

Oh, I see...looks like we're not too far away from another rooftop dinner.

Panic: Hi Uncle Cyrus!

Cyrus: Hey...there's the birthday boy! Are you ready to be a big kid today?

Panic: Yeah! Then I can have dinner on the roof like Anger and Daddy did.

Cyrus: Dinner on the what?

Hope: It's a long story.

Tangerine: Sorry about your math test...hey, want me to help you? I got an A+!

Anger: I don't need your help! What, do you think I'm stupid or something?

Ok, I think we should get this show on the road before a fight breaks out. Happy birthday, dear Panic...

Huh...that's a new one. And an odd choice for a kid...

Panic: Hey, do you know if there's a recycling bin here?

Hestia: A...what?

Panic: Well, we shouldn't be just throwing all these plates away...

Well, as much as I'd like to stick around for Panic's introduction to recycling speech, I think I'd better be moving on to the next house. See you all in round 22!

A Message From the Mysterious Voice: Yup, another sad one. I wasn't surprised that Disgust went this round (she was already living on borrowed time from her Active trait) but it was still hard to see her go. Luckily, her aspiration gave her the ability to cook food that never spoils, so her family will be enjoying her cooking for quite a while. Hope's job switch was actually kind of spur of the moment-I usually just decline those random offers, but given that all the Freelancer careers were bugged at the time I played this lot I decided that a change wouldn't be such a bad thing. As for the rooftop yard...this family's lot is very, very small-meaning that they really have almost no yard space. Outdoor holidays like Splash Fest and Campfire Night just don't work well on these lots. Plus, I wanted to add more green elements to the lot to influence the eco-footprint of the neighborhood. Of course, there are some drawbacks-namely that toddlers can't access it because they can't climb the ladder. 

Bernard 1: Round 21

Last round, Haiti continued to advance in the acting career as she landed a gig on a popular kids' show-which turned out to be a good thing, as the costume easily accomodated her second pregnancy with anothe boy, Madagascar. Sadly, her professional success was a bit overshadowed as both her uncle Croix and her mom, Bermuda, passed away from old age. 

Hi, guys! Um...what are we doing outside in the middle of the night?

Haiti: She's right...we should head in...

Again, not what I meant!

(Sigh...) Anyone surprised here?

Why does it always seem I'm on a lot with no yard space the week of Splash Fest?

Wow, you’ve been doing some redecorating...

Guam: Yeah, do you like it? My wallpaper was way too babyish.

Well, that certainly is a creative solution...but why don't you just ask to change the wallpaper?

Guam: Mom said no...with the new baby coming, me and 'Gascar might need to share a room or something. So she doesn't wanna do anything to it until the baby comes. But guess what? I'm getting a whole art room in the basement!

That sounds cool...

 

Although you don't seem thrilled about the decor in here eitehr.

Guam: Yeah...everything in here is so baby. I mean, I'm way too big for all this under the sea stuff.

Garnet: Hey, bud...how do you like your new setup?

Guam: Dad, couldn't we have made it more grown-up looking? I'm not a baby anymore!

Garnet: Hey, I happen to think the ocean is very grown-up...I mean, babies can't swim, right?

Somehow I don't think your very compelling argument convinced him, Garnet...

Haiti: Hey, there, partner. You better...mosey on back to where you came from or I'll...

Let me guess...you have another audition?

Haiti: Yeah...it's some sort of musical set in the old west.

Well, that could be fun...plus, you've definately got the guitar skills for it.

Haiti: I hope the director thinks the same thing...

Guam: Ok, now we need to screw in the blue chip...

Haiti: Um...maybe we should wait for your father to get home for this...

Speaking of...

Garnet: Ah, nothing like celebratory tacos. Thanks, honey!

Guam: But these are the same tacos we had last night. What were we celebrating then?

Garnet: Um...your mom booking an audition?

Guam: Thanks for spraying, Dad...I mean, I don't need it. I'm too big to believe in monsters. But this way 'Gascar will know there's no monsters uner anyone's bed.

Garnet: Uh-huh...

Looks like we'll need more celebratory tacos. Nice going, Haiti...

And it looks like we've got two things to celebrate.

Haiti: Ok, I'm going to be at the studio all day tomorrow, so Grandma's going to come over and stay with you guys.

Guam: Aw, Mom, I don't need anyone to come and stay with me. I'm big enough to stay by myself.

Haiti: Really? Because I thought I heard her say she was going to bake some cookies while she was here.

Guam: Really? Well, I guess if she wants to come and watch 'Gascar it'd be ok...

Looks like Grandma's about to get another babysitting charge.  It's baby time!

And I guess we're doing this at home.

It's a boy! Welcome, Barbados!

Aww, he's kind of cute.

Garnet: Are you sure you're up to filming this thing tomorrow? I'm sure they'd push it back a few days...

Haiti: Are you crazy? They didn't move a swordfight when I was pregnant with Madagascar. Besides, I'm fine. I'm just going to go get in another quick run...

Haiti: Whoa!

Garnet: You sure feeling ok?

Haiti: Yes, yes. I'm fine. I'm just a little off...

Garnet: Well, you did just have a baby...

Or...

Oh, hey there Basket.

Basket: Hi, Aunt Haiti! Can I please see the new baby?

Haiti: Of course, dear...once he wakes up from his nap. Why don't you go play with Guam until then?

Garnet: Hi, Mom...thanks for coming over. I've got a big project down at the office...

Christin: Big project, huh?

Garnet: Yeah. I told you I got promoted, right?

Christin: Actually, no...but congratulations anyway.

Garnet: Uh...the boys are inside...

Guam: Grandma!

Christin: Hi, Guam! Now what's all this your mom's been saying about how you're too old to hang out with your Grandma?

Guam: Well, I guess I'm not to big to hang out with you...but it's only because I want to. Not because you have to watch me.

Christin: It's a deal. And tell you what-how about you be my assistant while I whip up some cookies?

Well, as much as I'd like to stay with Christin and the kids, I think I'd better follow Haiti to the studio.

Makeup Artist: Ok, that's just about done. Now, let me just get the hair dye...

Again with the hair dye? 

Huh...you know, Haiti doesn't look too bad as a redhead.

Haiti: Ok, I'm ready! 

Director: Good. Go ahead and get set up for the opening dance number. Quiet on the set!

(whispers) Ok, I have no idea what's going on here...

So, she defeated the bandit through...dance? What kind of movie is this?

Seems to have gone well, though.

Looks like Garnet had a good day, too.

Guam: Wow, the baby's almost here, huh?

Haiti: Yup. But we have to wait a little bit longer...

Besides, we should probably free up the bassinet first...

Happy birthday, dear Barbados...

Ok, silly isn't too hard.

And he looks...exactly like the other two.

Now we can have dual toddler fun...and I just realized we've barely seen Madagascar all week.

So, I'm guessing that we're not celebrating Splash Fest here?

Haiti: Nope, we're heading down to the pool.

Um...is the sweater really the best choice for this?

Haiti: I just wanted to get them settled first...then I'll go change.

It looks like "Splash Fest" is more like "Sun Fest"  for Haiti...

You know, it's nice that the pool put out the sprinklers but...that has got to be really dangerous...

Jade: Guys...guess what I just heard!

Guitar: Me making the most epic splash ever?

Jade: No! There’s going to be this new festival all about kids...there’s even going to be a Void Critter contest.

Carp: Really?

Jade: Yeah...there’s this new area of town up in the mountains that’s having it...

Wait...there’s mountains now?

Jade: Yeah...didn't you know that?

Surprisingly, no...even 20 rounds in there are still things about this town that I don't understand.

Like someone trusting Garnet with explosives, for example.

 I guess that wasn't the only celebration to close out the week...

And it looks like his present is a new sibling!

Another home birth?

Haiti: I don't think I have much of a choice.

It's a boy! Welcome, Cayman...

Haiti: Wow...I have four boys...

Yup. Good luck, Haiti...

Let's make it a little easier by getting another one out of diapers. Happy birthday, dear Madagascar...

Hey, a trait and aspiration that match! What are the odds?

Oh, right...Garnet had a birthday, too...

Huh...not bad.

Garnet: Thanks!

Um...I wasn't really talking to you.

Guam: Hey, what are you doing in my room?

Madagascar: My homework...

Guam: Why don't you do your stupid homework in your room?

Madagascar: It's too loud. The baby's crying.

Guam: Ugh...stupid baby. You better be the last one...

I sure hope so, Guam...for your mom's sake. But I think I'd better be on my way. I'll see all of you in round 22!

 

A Message From the Mysterious Voice: I know, I know. It's been awhile. I've actually managed to get way too far ahead in my game again, so we're back to playing catch up with the blog entries. Anyway, it looks like poor Haiti is going to have her hands full in the rounds to come. I haven't decided whether they will take one more shot at an heiress in round 22; we'll have to see when we get there.