Dear Kids,
I can still call you kids, right? At least until you graduate? You know, even though I have all these other kids to keep me occupied here at home, I miss you guys like crazy. Whenever I open the mailbox and find a letter from one of you in it, I do a little dance on the curb and clutch the envelope like it’s a winning lottery ticket (I’m sure neighbors think I’ve gone cuckoo).
I’d call you on the phone more often, but you know we have to watch our expenses, and the long distance bills are so high. Maybe by the time you guys are seniors I’ll be able to come visit you at school. Wouldn’t that be nice? I promise I won’t scold you for having a messy house or playing video games too much, because…well…I’m guilty of those things, too!
Hey, even Mom has to chill out once in awhile. Besides, SSX3 is highly addicting. Well, you’ve probably heard all the big news by now, but it seems like the few times we do talk, we never catch up on everything. That’s why I love those letters you send me — it makes me feel like I’m right there with you at school, laughing and crying and cramming for exams.
So much has happened since you guys left, I don’t know where to start! Let’s see, when you left, it was just me, your dad, Darren, Cady, and Arielle at home. You would think that sending you three off to school would make things less chaotic, but it didn’t at all. The other kids nicely filled the void!
I wish you could have seen Arielle as a toddler; she was a darling.
Both Cady and Arielle grew into such lovely little girls. Cady had a temper that flared up once in awhile, and I heard that she was a bit of a bully on the playground at school, but here at home she was an angel.
As for Arielle, she looked so much like you, Marlee! And she had the same sweet temperament (still does, in fact).
Darren became a teenager shortly after you guys left, and he reminded me of Ethan and Trent, except…a little more studious.
He’s also just the sweetest boy you can imagine, and so helpful, thank goodness. I really needed the help after little Ron was born. Ron had such cute little caterpillar eyebrows when he was a baby — I wanted to name him Groucho, but your dad wouldn’t let me.
Darren has a real knack for taking care of kids — I wouldn’t be surprised if he had quite a few of his own someday. (Don’t tell him I said that, though — he’d die of embarrassment.)
Another nice thing about Darren being around to help with the kids was that your father and I got to spend some quality time together. It’s wonderful that after all these years (and all you kids) your dad still knows how to bring on the romance. (I know, I know, you can quit gagging now!)
Darren and Cady seemed to get along well, though she got a bit feisty whenever they played video games. Darren would sit there as placidly as a frog sunning itself on rock, and Cady would whoop and scream and call him terrible names. I honestly don’t know who she gets that from, since the rest of us are pretty laid-back.
Cady was such an odd little girl sometimes. One night I had Brandi Phelps over for dinner — do you remember her? She was a waitress at the One-Twenty-Five back when I met your dad there. (Actually, she’s waitress everywhere — I think she’s figured out a way to clone herself.) Anyway, when she was over for dinner, Cady asked her if she knew a waiter named Andrew. She seemed to think he was the best thing since seedless grapes. Now, how in the world did Cady ever meet a waiter? She’d never even been to a restaurant!
(continued on Page 2)
:3 Aww. Arielle’s cute.
*mrees*
Moving right along are we?
Hey Jen, looks like you’ve got a right brood on your hands. Fantastic updates, I’ve been lurking again for a while but I’m seriously envious of how you (‘k, well, your Sims do…) just keep popping these kids out no probs! It’s a massive miracle. Gah, I don’t know how that lady with 16 kids (in RL) does it. Just playing the Sims2 with 4 kids does me in for a couple of hours… anyways, great update and I guess I’ll see ya around later on this year. Via this comment thing of course. mwah!
I really like these letter updates. It gives a sense of the different personalities. Cady is GORGEOUS! And that’s a really lovely hairstyle she’s got. What aspiration did you roll for Arielle? Sorry, i just need to know these things. Looking forward to meeting the last little Ravelo!
Wow Jen, I’m really so impressed on how pretty all of your daughters have turned out (and yes, the guys are somewhat of hotties, too *g*). Even Cady has become an extremely beautiful girl, although I doubted it in the beginning (big eyes and such ;) ). Just a little sad that they really all have the exacts same features. I’d love to see a blond Ravelo too! And another thing – Johannes is a German name :) – in Germany it is pronounced yo-HAN-nis. When speaking of composers, you might of course know Johannes Brahms or Johann Sebastian Bach :) – I wonder why so many composer used to be Germans or Austrians, anyway! But what else is there left to say – I dearly love the Ravelos already and I am extremely eager to see generation 3 sometime in the future too! Please don’T let us wait too long with updates (I guess a ‘school’ break for you would be quite useful too… I stayed up until almost 5am last night just to reach gen 5 – and it’s here *cheeeeeeer*)!! Until then :)
Yay, nice update, the way you did it as a letter back from mom, It’s nice :)
I could never manage with that many kids in one family. Mt. Geneva must be packed with families now! My neighbourhoods usually end up with a maximum of 5 families in them xD Im so bad at controlling loads of sims at once.
I LOVE Cady’s hair! Could you tell me where you got it from? :)
Looking forward to the next update!
Kath
Wow, never seen anybody do a Ten Kids Want with so much flare, it usually takes my storytelling down to tabloid style…
I hope they all end up well!!
Terrific update Jen! I don’t know how you can manage 10 kids (I usually get frustrated with three children). Your doing a great job and I’m excited to see what adventures the three new freshman are going to have in college.
Wow, you sims are so beautiful. Oh and I got Nightlife yesterday! Woo. The game is so much better than i could have imagined and i think i wanna start that extreme Chalenge..as soon as i find the rules. Thanks for the insight.
XOXOXO LOL. i love your letters jen…or Mom, and i think both of the girls really look like Marlee. Cady looks just like her as a teenager!
I loooove Cady’s new hair and her outfit is really cute too.
Wow, your mom is going to have 10 kids soon, i could never do that. My biggest family has 2 children and 2 toddlers and I still struggle. :P
What a great update, Jen! I’m guessing Groucho is Groucho Marx, right?
Wow Mom sure has been busy while dad looks like her having another baby is like taking a shower :lol:
They all look so good …those kids are beautiful!
:'( That’s me cause I have not been able to play my Sims at all this weekend :( yup hubby has work to do and I can’t get on long enough to even fire up my game …ended up buying monopoly today and played that. I so need to get my laptop :'(
I really liked this entry…you’re doing well with managing these kids!
Hi everyone, thanks as usual for the great comments!
To answer some questions:
Dustyn — Well, you didn’t ask a question, but I just wanted to wave spastically and say HI!!! because I haven’t seen you in forever! Hope you stop by again soon!
Claire – I rolled Popularity for Arielle, which fits her pretty well since she has an Outgoing score if 9, and she’s pretty Nice to boot.
Eva M – Hi there! Yes, I love both Brahms and Bach. I was thinking of them when I wrote this update. ;-) I’m so glad you’re enjoying the Ravelos. Sounds like you’re having a fun school break, too — yay, more Morrigan updates!
Kath – The Ravelos aren’t in Mt. Geneva, actually — I created a new neighborhood for them, so they could start fresh with the NPCs and stuff. :-) And I downloaded Cady’s hair from XM Sims. You have to look under Skins, then Hair.
Eva – Yay, you got Nightlife! I’m glad you like it so far, and I hope you’ll do a legacy challenge! The rules are posted on the Legacy Challenge web site (under Legacy Challenge Rules –> The Nightlife Module).
Scally – You’re absolutely right, I was referring to Groucho Marx!
PRMami – Bummer, I would go nuts if I had to share the computer and couldn’t play my Sims whenever I wanted. :-/ You definitely have my sympathy. I hope you get that laptop soon…
Lol I love it! “P.S. Did I tell you I’m pregnant again?”. Hahahahaha, I really did laugh out loud at that! Great job Jen, the family is looking good!
Wow Jen! You make having 10 kids sound fun instead of stressful. Now I want to turn on my game and make a family sim to give 10 kids to. I might start that challenge tonight. I finally got NightLife! (woot~!) Their all so loving and sweet, like a family should be but I think it’s funny they ALL have black hair and light skin. hehehe.
that was cool :) must must hectic having so many children around and about (tho u’ve done it in the legacy challege too) continuing to love your letter-format post :D