Mistura Mishmash Legacy: 11.86: Not All Super Parents Wear Capes (26 Apr '24)

[oshizu]

5.34b: Parenting Intuition?


]Wednesday, Week 34 (mid-winter)[/b]
Licia: My head's still spinning from all that's happened these past four days.
Sunday, Daichi and I moved and got married, then he threw me a baby shower for me.
Tuesday, we completed our last term at uni, got jobs, and became parents to twins.
And this morning, we attended our graduation ceremony.  Whew!
From L to R: Daichi, me holding our firstborn Akira, and Kage


After putting Kage to bed, I finally have some time to relax.
My parents have been staying over since Tuesday evening.
I hear Akira wake up crying, but leave him in the care of Daichi or my parents.
I can't do everything myself!


Licia: Akira likes his father Daichi the best.
I'm usually too busy with Kage to make time for Akira.
So, it's no surprise that Akira likes his Grandpa Rogelio more than he likes me.
Of course, my father eats it up despite having a son of his own now.
Didn't you hear?  As soon as Dakota moved out last week, my parents had a son.


With five children under her belt, you'd think Mama would be better at parenting!
But tonight, as soon as Papa puts tired Akira to bed, Mama moves Akira to the playmat.
Naturally, Akira asks Grandpaa to put him back to bed.
Then, instead of leaving so the lights go off, Mama stays there staring.
I guess Papa is standing guard to ensure Mama doesn't take Akira out of the crib again.
Watcher: Licia should talk! She rarely does what the twins ask of her, either!


Licia: We have twin boys but I really want a little girl. Should we have a science baby?
Daichi: But you don't even have time for  time for two infants. How will you handle a third?
Licia: That's what my parents are here for, silly!

After aging up the science baby to an infant…
Licia: The choice of heir remains between the twins since adorable Emi doesn't have pointy ears..
Daichi: Still, she looks so much like the twins that they could be triplets!


Licia: *introduces Emi to her parents
Gisela: Where do you think you're going, young lady?
I know you're not planning to walk off without your daughter!
Licia: Oh, um, I suddenly have a burning desire to cross-stitch…
Watcher: *finds the cross-stitch kit and stashes it in family inventory
Licia: Or not.



Thursday
Daichi: I'm off to tend the garden, but do you have some free time?
Licia: I was planning to do some yoga in the backyard…
Daichi: I'm asking because I added a third crib to our bedroom and created a separate play area.
I've rearranged the patio furniture to make room for three playmat in front of the fireplace.
Would you insta-upgrade that fireplace while I'm gardening?
Watcher: *stashes the yoga mat in family inventory
[

Licia: So, what did you want to talk to me about, Mama?
Gisela: Rumor has it that you've been complaining about your father and I not being helpful enough.
Licia: Oh, um, er…
Rogelio: You should know better, Licia. Your mother and I have been holding back.
Gisela: That's right. We wanted to give you and Daichi some time to bond with your babies.


Licia: Oh, I was just coming to feed Kage, Papa.
Rogelio: I guess I noticed he was hungry before you did.


Licia: I was planning to feed Emi, Mama.
Gisela: Your father, Daichi, and I autonomously attend to the children's needs.
You, on the other hand, need Watcher to tell you how to look after them.
You are going to have to do better, Licia. Your children are counting on you!


Daichi: I know it seems like your mother's avoiding you, but she's simply more focused on Kage.
Still, her favoritism is unfair to you.


Rogelio: I see you're getting the hang of it!
We are four grown-ups caring for three infants.
Stop thinking of yourself and tune in more to your children's needs.


Daichi: It's best I stay out of that parenting discussion among Licia and her parents.
Besides, I have to spend 2 hours painting a mural for today's work-from-home task.



Friday
Daichi: By noon, both twins feel Well Cared For and Loved! Quick, let's age them up!
Licia: I've lit the birthday but have been frozen in place for over an hour.
Daichi: Same here! Let's try having the twins ask us for help blowing out candles instead.
By the time Akira finally ages up two hours later, but he's not feeling Loved anymore.
Licia: Neither is Kage. But, hey, they both got the Top-Notch Infant trait anyway!


Here are our boys right after they aged up.
That's Akira in his everyday outfit on the left, and Kage in his sleepwear on the right.
You can keep those hairstyles, boys, but those outfits are history!


Daichi: Let's keep dressing Akira in brown and Kage in black.
Licia: I get the feeling that the boys will grow up resembling their father.
Daichi: It's no surprise that Akira becomes an Angelic toddler.
Licia: And, naturally, Kage ages up into a Charmer.


Gisela: I just don't understand Licia.  Where did we go wrong?
Rogelio: You mean the fact she's good friends with Kage and Emi, but not even friends with Akira?
Gisela: Yes, that. Is it because Kage's a charmer?
Rogelio: I have no idea but she really needs to spread her affection equally.


Rogelio: When reading to the boys for two hours, Daichi picks a three-seater sofa.
That way, the three of them can sit together in comfort.
It's the logical choice.


Gisela: When it's Licia's turn to read, she doesn't stay in the same area.
Instead, she makes the twins follow her to the patio.
Because she sits on a two-seater couch, poor Akira has to sit on the ground.
Why didn't just stay in the living room?



Saturday
Daichi: After I give Emi a bath, I see that she feels Well Cared For and Loved.
You know what that means!
Like with Akira and Kage, I age up Emi two days before her toddler birthday.
Yes, she earns the Top-Notch Infant trait and she's Independent.


Licia: How could I ever have thought my parents weren't good helpers?
Whenever Mama isn't with the kids or away at her job, she's always cleaning up around the house.
My parents seem to do parenting intuitively--they can sense what the babies need or want.


Papa is also really great with the kids.
Kage is an aggressive toddler but Papa never refuses when Kage asks to Roughhouse Play.
And even though Daichi 's food never spoils, Papa cooks for everyone at least once a day.


Thanks to my parents' help, Daichi and I have time to complete our work-from-home tasks.
We're both Level 9 Critics already, although Daichi's a Food Critic and I'm an Art Critic.


Daichi: Speaking of my Food Critic career, I earn $14,112 a week for four 6-hour shifts.
Licia earns $11,000 a week for four 5-hour shifts.
We can easily afford to pay our weekly bills that total slightly over $10,000.
I don't need to make nectar as a side hustle, so this small cellar beneath the greenhouse is just right.


Licia: My parents and Daichi disagree with my desire to choose Kage (right) as the next heir.
What's so great about the angelic Akira (left) anyway?
Do they mistrust Kage because he's an aggressive toddler? He has yet to bite anyone!
Daichi: There's no rush, Licia. Let's wait until next week when the twins age up to children.




Progress: End of Week 34
Residence: Celebrazioni d'Amore, Porto Luminoso (Tartosa)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Felicia (Gen5 heir) - YA
Traits: Perfectionist, Snob, Art Lover (+Family Oriented, Foodie)
Career: Art Critic 9/10
Spouse: Daichi; Children: Akira & Kage, Emi
Heir requirements - Completed Tue, Week 34, Year 3

Daichi (Gen5 spouse) - YA
Traits: Foodie, Snob, Family Oriented (+Active)
Career: Food Critic 9/10

Akira (Gen6 child) - Toddler
Traits: Calm/Angelic
Infant quirks: Frequently Hiccups, Self-Soother, Free-Air Tinkler
Toddler quirks: Loves Being Carried, Hates Wakeup Time, Little Singer

Kage (Gen6 child) - Toddler
Traits: Sunny/Charmer
Infant quirks: Happy Spitter, Gassy, Hates Wake Up
Toddler quirks: Loves Being Carried, Aggressive, Hates Bedtime

Emi (Gen6 cadet) - Toddler
Traits: Cautious/Independent
Infant quirks: Good Appetite, Loves Wakeup Time, Free-Air Tinkler
Toddler quirks: Loves Water, Messy Eater, Loves Wakeup Time

Notes
*Aging up infants early: Infants are adorable but I find their gameplay too grindy.
  On Day 3 of the infant phase, I aged up each infant two days before their toddler birthday.
  I don't care about the skill-related milestones; I'd just like them to get the Top-Notch Infant trait.

*Gisela & Rogelio: They did little at first but gradually proved themselves very useful.
  Of the four grown-ups, only Licia never attended the kids autonomously.
  By the time I directed her to do something, her parents were already on it.

*Science babies: I wasn't thinking clearly when I had Licia go for a science baby.
  I'd completely forgotten that there's a possibility of multiple science babies.
  Thank the merciful Fates that Licia brought home a single newborn!

[Granny Lawlor]

Three adorable toddlers!

So sad about Licia having a favourite - so divisive. Mind you, with her hands-off approach to parenting, it's a mercy she's affectionate to at least one.

I enjoy the Infant phase and don't mind that things are so time-consuming. I do mind about what youve had, their conflicting adult interactions causing everyone to stand motionless until I've worked out what I need to cancel. It's sometimes easier with just one adult present but then they can rarely do anything else...oh! That's like real life, roll

That aggressive quirk! I try to get the nicer ones if possible.  I think they develop in response to earliest experiences: have bath = loves water, etc. I'm not sure if they have any lasting impact.

[oshizu]

Three adorable toddlers!

So sad about Licia having a favourite - so divisive. Mind you, with her hands-off approach to parenting, it's a mercy she's affectionate to at least one.

I enjoy the Infant phase and don't mind that things are so time-consuming. I do mind about what youve had, their conflicting adult interactions causing everyone to stand motionless until I've worked out what I need to cancel. It's sometimes easier with just one adult present but then they can rarely do anything else...oh! That's like real life, roll

That aggressive quirk! I try to get the nicer ones if possible.  I think they develop in response to earliest experiences: have bath = loves water, etc. I'm not sure if they have any lasting impact.

I might enjoy the infant phase more if I didn't need to have so many infants around the same time.
But you know me, always impatient to reach the next stage in my challenge.

The freezing I experienced with aging up the infants wasn't about conflicting adult interactions, though.
I'd directed Licia and Daichi to light the birthday candles, which they did.  But then the "Help to age up" action wouldn't drop for a couple of sim-hours.
When I canceled that and had the infants request aging-up help instead, the parents moved almost immediately.

On the other hand, Licia is often to blame for disrupting the children's skilling due to what you call "conflicting adult interactions."
When asked to help out, she'll drop the queue and go do something else.
But if one of the children ask another grown-up, she will disrupt the activity. It, she, is pretty annoying.

[GlazeyLady]

I loved the bit with Licia and her parents - the way they "caught" her talking smack about them and then scolded her for her parenting skills, and then beat her to the punch every time she tried. It really made me laugh. Such a fun episode. All the kids are adorable, but I think, just my opinion, that Akira is slightly  . . . . more . . . adorable. Maybe it's the hair? No, not just the hair, it's also the expression - like that last pic - makes me just want to pick him up and snuggle him! Kage looks a little more intense to me.

But again, all are adorable.

[oshizu]

I loved the bit with Licia and her parents - the way they "caught" her talking smack about them and then scolded her for her parenting skills, and then beat her to the punch every time she tried. It really made me laugh. Such a fun episode. All the kids are adorable, but I think, just my opinion, that Akira is slightly  . . . . more . . . adorable. Maybe it's the hair? No, not just the hair, it's also the expression - like that last pic - makes me just want to pick him up and snuggle him! Kage looks a little more intense to me.

But again, all are adorable.

It was somewhat uncanny how quickly Licia's parents responded autonomously to the children's low needs.
They wouldn't autonomously change diapers or give baths, but they were always the first to arrive when an infant got hungry.
The stayover system is ideal for a lazy watcher like me whose sims don't leave the lot that much.

All three toddlers kept the hairstyle they aged up in. Akira has a softer hairstyle but perhaps Kage looks more intense because he got the Agressive quirk?
I've never had a toddler with that trait before. Will Kage autonomously bite other sims?

[Granny Lawlor]

All three toddlers kept the hairstyle they aged up in. Akira has a softer hairstyle but perhaps Kage looks more intense because he got the Agressive quirk?
I've never had a toddler with that trait before. Will Kage autonomously bite other sims?

I've had Agressive toddlers a few times because I'd been Playing with them immediately. I've never had them bite or kick autonomously but the option is always first in their options. They have autonomously Chomped when breastfeeding and the mother is not happy about it!

[Granny Lawlor]

Actually, Toddlers don't breastfeed so it must have been an Infant Chomping. Sorry for the confusion

[oshizu]

I wonder if a chomping infant ages up into an aggressive toddler.
Your tip about the Aggressive quirk appearing after Play with a toddler is very helpful.
Typically, I start toddlers off by having parents read to them (for two hours for the later Whiz Kid), so I'm unsure why Kage became Aggressive while Akira did not.
I shall keep an eye on Kage's autonomous behavior during his last day as a toddler...darn it, I should've been more attentive!

[oshizu]

5.35: A New Addition to the Household


Sunday, Week 35  (mid-winter)
Licia: Last Wednesday, Daichi and I had a science baby who we named Emi.
By Saturday afternoon, all three infants were toddlers with the Top-Notch Infant trait.
All week, I struggled to be a better parent but it doesn't come naturally to me at all.
Saturday, I failed to persuade my parents and Daichi to choose Kage as the next heir. I'll keep trying!
From L to R: Daichi holding Akira, Kage, me holding Emi.
.

My parents accuse me of playing favorites, spending more time with Kage than the other children.
Is it my fault that I feel no affinity toward our firstborn son, Akira?


Licia: Daichi spends more time with Akira than with Kage, but nobody blames him for that.
Gisela: It's not the same at all.  Daichi is trying to make up for your ignoring Akira.
Plus, Daichi is friends will all three children, but you and Akira are still only acquaintances.


Licia: Emi is looking for her Grandpa Rogelio to ask him for a bath.
Those suitcases remind me that my parents' stayover ends this evening.
They've been very critical of my parenting, but I'll still miss them when they leave.


Gisela: To my dismay, Licia's not improving as a parent.
Emi asked her three times for Book Help but Licia ran off each time without reading to her.
Rogelio: But when Emi asked me to do Flash Cards, Licia picked her up and wouldn't let go.
Gisela: It's like she only wants to help her children after they ask us for help.
Licia: Uh, I'm standing right here!



Monday
Licia: My parents' stayover ended yesterday evening, but I scheduled a new one from this morning.
Our guests are Grandpa Marcos and my father (again).
Daichi likes Rogelio's company because Rogelio enjoys cooking. He makes at least one meal daily.
Mama is glad to go home because of her full-time job and Barrett (her infant son with Rogelio).


Daichi: My new stand mixer and waffle iron were delivered this morning.
Using the mixer, I prep some batter to make waffles.
I'm glad we're not into Simple Living, because we don't have any flour or milk on hand today.
There's a long list of waffle recipes.  I can't decide between Berry Waffles or Banana Split Waffles.


I'm tempted to make the waffles requiring the highest cooking level: Unpleasantly Pleasant Waffles.
But the combination of strawberries and trash fruit doesn't appeal to me.  AT.ALL.
I have all the ingredients for Banana Split Waffles and they turn out looking scrumptious!


I call everyone to taste the waffles with me.
Everyone's there except Akira who's napping.
I've saved him a serving for when he wakes up.



Tuesday
Licia: Daichi and I wake up early this morning to build a Treehouse.


Daichi: By noon, Akira (left) and Kage (right) have maxed all their skills.
Hopefully, we can help Emi do the same by tomorrow.
Then, we can age all three of them up together.


Daichi: Akira loves being carried and asks to be picked up as he often does.
Behind him, Licia is chatting with her Grandpa Marcos when he suddenly asks to move in.
Though he's Long-Lived, he explains, he doesn't have much time left and wants to spend it with us.
After moving in caregivers for his young grandson in the StrangerVille household, we welcome Marcos into our home.



Wednesday
Licia: We all love the extra attention that my Grandpa Marcos provides to the children!
Rogelio: Hmmph, Adding him to your household canceled our stayover. I might as well go home!
Daichi: No, please stay! This is a rare chance for all of us to spend time together.
And thanks to you and Marcos, our little Emi is almost done maxing her toddler skills.


Daichi: By late afternoon, Emi is ready to age up along with the twins.
Akira (left in brown) and Emi both become Creative sims.
Licia:  Kage (middle in black) becomes a Slob but I love him just the same. Poor baby!


Akira: Today's WinterFest and Father Winter is visiting our home.
GG (Great Grandpa) says that someone else was Father Winter in his time.
Watcher says this is the third Father Winter so far in the Mistura simverse.
Anyway, I hope the next Father Winter gives better presents.



Thursday
Daichi: Licia's grandpa Marcos and I have good compatibility and share a lot in common.
We're both Active Foodies, though his Foodie trait and my Active trait are self-discovered.
And when he was younger, he did all the cooking for his family, like I do now.
While we're swimming laps, I get my promotion to L10 Curator of the Finest Flavors!


Licia: The garage was too far from the center of household activities to serve as a nursery.
So we've converted it into a skilling room for the kids instead.
Kage: We're trying to earn all our badges before Saturday's scout meeting!



Friday
Licia: Grandpa Marcos and Papa Rogelio enjoy a morning game of chess.
Grandpa tells me Papa was only a toddler when they first met.
I checked my calendar and today's Papa's birthday.
Daichi: When the kids get home from school, let's take your parents out for dinner.


Daichi: I'm making nectar while the kids are at school when I get a phone call from Father Winter.
Of all the sims he meets during Winterfest, why would he ask me about his love life?
Why should I care? The dude gave me a Large Pet Poop for my WinterFest present.
By the way, Licia reached L10 Art Critic but the splash got pushed aside by a call about a job offer.


Licia: Our trio strut home with A grades this afternoon.
The power of school projects and parental assistance!


Licia: The kids want to meet 5 new sims each, so we go to the Spice Festival instead of a restaurant.
Grandpa Marcos, Daichi, and I become Spice Champions (again).
Daichi: I also become Self-Assured and learn that  the food samples count toward my work task.
Licia: Grandpa, I'm the heir but Daichi's in all the screenshots. Why?
Marcos: That's an easy question, sweetheart.  Daichi's prettier!



Saturday
Licia: We go home and light the birthday candles for my parents around 11pm Friday.
But they don't come to the cakes when we try to age them up.
They do both age up on their own, I guess. We never see them blowing out their candles.
In fact, Mama ages up around 3:30 all by herself while jogging somewhere in our neighborhood.
 

Daichi: Earning the Keep Fit badge always seems to take longest so I look around for a better way.
A Redditor posted that starting and cancelling Energized Swimming Laps is fastest. Let's try it!
All three kids max their Motor skill right away but their badge progress is slow.
I send Kage and Emi to swing for the badge, but Akira keeps swimming and gets his badge first.


Rogelio: Great job earning all your badges before the first scout meeting, Emi!
Emi: Grandpa, is this a piece of Grandparental Candy?  For me?
Rogelio: That's right, dear. Kage, I know you're behind me, making a grumpy face.
Stop that right now. I gave you a piece of Grandparental Candy last night!


Marcos: Congrats on being the first Llamacorn scout of your generation, Akira!
Akira: Thank you, GG. Nobody else even noticed that except you.
Marcos: I always have an eye on you, boy.  You've got a good heart. Here's some candy.
Akiral: Oh, GG! I was the only one who didn't get any Grandparental Candy yet!
You're the best!  Will you be my BFF? GG, we have max friendship but I can't ask you to be my BFF.




Gallery Download

Progress: End of Week 35
Residence: Celebrazioni d'Amore, Porto Luminoso (Tartosa)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Marcos Pries (Gen3 spouse) - Elder
Traits:  Traits: Art Lover, Active, Loyal (+Self-Assured, Foodie, Outgoing)

Felicia (Gen5 heir) - YA
Traits: Perfectionist, Snob, Art Lover (+Family Oriented, Foodie)
Career: Art Critic 10/10
Spouse: Daichi; Children: Akira & Kage, Emi
Heir requirements - Completed Tue, Week 34, Year 3

Daichi (Gen5 spouse) - YA
Traits: Foodie, Snob, Family Oriented (+Active, Self-Assured)
Career: Food Critic 10/10

Akira - Child
Traits: Calm/Angelic, Creative
Toddler quirks: Loves Being Carried, Hates Wakeup Time, Little Singer

Kage - Child
Traits: Sunny/Charmer; Slob
Toddler quirks: Loves Being Carried, Aggressive, Hates Bedtime

Emi - Child
Traits: Cautious/Independent; Creative
Toddler quirks: Loves Water, Messy Eater, Loves Wakeup Time

Notes
*Marcos Pries: His asking to join our household was quite a surprise.
  Licia replied in the affirmative and I checked his household in the Move Household screen.
  The long-lived Marcos was living with his elderly son, elderly daughter-in-law, and their child.
  The child would become a teen before the parents passed away.
  Just in case, I moved back the family of Marcos' other grandson Victor.
  I'd rather not lose the StrangerVille house to a household of random townies.

*Energized swimming laps: I enjoyed watching the kids swimming laps.
  The recommended method of starting then cancelling the laps didn't work for me.
  But queueing Energized Swimming Laps maxed out the Motor skill quite quickly.
  It's nice to have an alternative to swimming for the Keep Fit badge.

*Grandparental Candy: Grandpa Rogelio autonomously gave Emi some candy.
 He's only visiting on a stayover so I can't control him.
 After the interaction, Emi has a piece of red Grandparental Candy in her inventory.
 I can control Akira's Great-Grandpa Marcos and I had him perform a Sneak a Treat social.
 He gave Akira a piece of yellow candy in the same way Rogelio did.
 I tried it several times but Akira never had a piece of candy in his inventory later. Poor Akira!
 Also, Akira and his GG Marcos could not ask each other to be BFFs.  I have no idea why not.

[GlazeyLady]

The children are all so attractive - I was looking at the picture of the three of them together trying to figure out what is was that gave them such different looks even though they all have similar complexions, blond hair and violet eyes, and finally I realized it was their differently colored eyebrows. Funny how it took me awhile to realize that, but once I did, it was so obvious I don't understand why I didn't see it right off.

Glad the kids finally got grandparent candy, although I wonder what happened to Akira's.

Does Kage being a slob deter Licia from favoring him as heir? I'm guessing it won't sway Daichi or his in-laws in Kage's favor.

Regarding the swimming test - it sounds like it was faster than swinging - is that correct?

[Granny Lawlor]

Oh Licia, it's definitely your fault that you overlook Akira. You are the adult in the relationship!

Great progress for our 3 scouts. I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on with a bake sale 

[oshizu]

The children are all so attractive - I was looking at the picture of the three of them together trying to figure out what is was that gave them such different looks even though they all have similar complexions, blond hair and violet eyes, and finally I realized it was their differently colored eyebrows. Funny how it took me awhile to realize that, but once I did, it was so obvious I don't understand why I didn't see it right off.

Glad the kids finally got grandparent candy, although I wonder what happened to Akira's.

Does Kage being a slob deter Licia from favoring him as heir? I'm guessing it won't sway Daichi or his in-laws in Kage's favor.

Regarding the swimming test - it sounds like it was faster than swinging - is that correct?

I never realized the trio had different eyebrow colors until you pointed it out.
To Akira's disappointment, Grandparental Candy only seems to be the result of autonomous interactions.
It would be great if you and @Granny Lawlor also tried the Friendly/Affection/Sneak the Treat social with an elder to see if the recipient gets candy in their inventory.  I never when something is my game being buggy.

Marcos isn't getting any younger, so the heir will be decided soon.
I'd considered giving Marcos a Rejuv Potion but I'm afraid it would reset him to 45 days (Long-Lived + Active traits) instead of the default 15 days.

It seemed like the swimming test was faster, but I'll need to try again with one kid only doing Energized Laps (without cancelling) and another only swinging.

[oshizu]

Oh Licia, it's definitely your fault that you overlook Akira. You are the adult in the relationship!

Great progress for our 3 scouts. I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on with a bake sale 

Daichi would be the perfect sim to host a bake sale since he has the Fresh Chef trait.
But he's a Nectar Know-It-All and a Level 10 Food Critic, so a bake sale isn't crucial to the household's livelihood.
Maybe the next heir can do bake sales to save toward their moving expenses.... I can't wait.

[oshizu]

5.36: Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire


Sunday, Week 36  (late winter)
Licia: Has the last week of our legacy's third year arrived already?
Last week, while my Grandpa Marcos and Papa Rogelio were staying over, Grandpa asked to move in with us.
Our trio of toddlers aged up to children, Daichi and I maxed our Critic careers, and my parents became Elders.
From L to R: Akira, Daichi (Gen5 spouse), Marcos (Gen3 spouse), me (Gen5 heir), Emi, and Kage.


Akira (brown): *gets to know girl in green boots
Mariah Rocca: I'm a Music Lover.  What about you?
Kage (black): Back off, Akira, I met her first! *belches
Emi: What's the big deal, Kage? We're only trying to make three friends each.


Akira: I'm pretending to be an island castaway.
I wonder if that will be my destiny?
Washed up, alone, on a faraway island without a simoleon to my name.


Below the treehouse, GG comes up to me and I think he's gonna give me Grandparental Candy.
But no, he kisses me instead.
I'm not mad. Know why? I can finally ask GG to be BFFs!


Licia: While Akira's out back, I mentor Emi then Kage in violin.
They are both making great progress with their skills and aspirations.



Monday
Daichi: Akira should be waking up any minute now.
He's about to complete Creative Genius and become an Idea Person.


Licia: I'm so glad Daichi convinced me to move here into his ancestral home in Porto Luminoso.
The weather's pleasant, the ocean view is breathtaking, and the proximity to beach and downtown is so convenient!
We haven't been to the beach during winter but the kids love the nearby playground area.



Tuesday
Licia: A cheeky shot of Daichi and I in our career outfits!


Kage: Mama, won't you please teach me how to ride a bike?
Papa's teaching Akira and GG's teaching Emi.
Licia: Sorry, Kage. I'm just not in the mood. I think I'll go watch TV.
Kage: Oh look, Auntie Lucinda's here.  I'll ask her to teach me!


Daichi: The Playtime Captain aspiration must be bugged!
Kage's the first to learn to ride a bike but didn't complete the "Ride a bike for 4 hours" task yet.
Kage: Thank you, Auntie Lucinda!
Daichi: Emi's the first to both learn to ride a bike and complete Playtime Captain.
Akira's the last to learn to ride a bike and also completes Play Captain.
Both Emi and Akira rode their bikes for WAY longer than four hours!



Wednesday
Marcos: I'm glad you took a vacation day from school today. I've been wanting to talk with you.
Akira: But GG, we talk every day.
Marcos: Yes, but this is a special talk. You will have a difficult road ahead of you but your loved ones will have your back.
Akira: Not Mama, though. Why doesn't she like me?
Marcos: That's her problem, Akira, not yours. You're going to grow up to be a fine sim!
I'll talk to your parents about letting the three of you age up early Thursday morning.



Thursday
Daichi: Our kids are so eager to age up, they light their birthday candles before it's barely light outside.
That sparkling blur is Akira aging up.
You can see Kage's Zombie Cake in the lower left.
Emi's blowing her candles out in the kitchen with Licia.


Licia: Our twins Akira and Kago look identical from the front, but Kage's nose is smaller in profile, like mine.
Akira's a Creative Foodie and will no doubt follow in Daichi's footsteps.
Kage's a Slobby Kleptomaniac. I'm sure the family will have much to say about that!
Emi, a Creative Snob, has always been interested in art. I believe she takes after me.


Marcos: Thanks for coming over, Gisela and Rogelio.
Gisela: We assume you called us over so we can choose the next heir together, right?
Licia: Wait a sec! I'm currently the active heir.  Isn't it my right to choose my successor?
Marcos: Usually, yes. But, in this case, we all disagree with your choice of Kage as the Gen6 heir.


Licia: You're all being unfair! Sure, Kage's a Slob and a Kleptomaniac, but…
Rogelio: Licia, we can't have Kage representing our family. And nobody wants to invite a visiting klepto into their home!
Marcos: I've been watching both boys very closely.  Kage's a bit mean-spirited and hates to share.
Gisela: Akira's not as charming and flashy as Kage, but he's generous and reliable.
Daichi: Sorry, Licia, but I have to agree. We can trust Akira to conscientiously satisfy all his duties as heir.
Marcos: Well, it seems the vote is 4 to 1 in favor of Akira.  The sixth-generation heir will be Akira!



Friday
Akirai:  Papa's been using his three Home Chef appliances heavily for the past 11 days without a single fire!
I've heard some folks' Home Chef appliances catch fire all the time. That's why I want to be Handy!
As a Creative Foodie, I plan to make my way doing the Home Chef Hustle.
I hope to become both an Appliance Wiz and a Market Magnate.


Kage: It's our first day of high school, but Akira and Emi left without me! *scowls
Watcher: Despite his lousy traits, Kage is an extremely attractive sim!  His name, Kage, means "shadow."


Daichi: It finally happened! The stand mixer caught fire. Thanks for extinguishing it, Marcos.
Marcos: You used the heck out of that stand mixer! You nearly done with the Appliance Wiz aspiration!
Daichi: Yeah. I stand by my conviction that upgrading the Home Chef appliances reduces the risk of fire.



Saturday
Akira: Since yesterday, I've been prepping ingredients and making stuff for my first food sale.
Papa bought and upgraded a second stand mixer so I'm using all four appliances concurrently.
For prepped seafood, I used Papa's tip to simply buy Guppies from a fishbowl.  Easy!
So far, so good! I complete the first two milestones of Appliance Wiz without a single fire.


Akira: I need to run a food sale from a residential lot, but I don't want my family constantly trying to chat with me.
So, I lock everyone but me inside the house and set up my food stall out front.
I wanted to name my stand "Woohoo Waffles," but I don't have enough pomegranates to specialize in Heart's Desire Waffles.
For now, my stand's name Pizza My Heart.  (Yes, we're all Janis Joplin fans here!)


Akira: Sales are bumpin' when GG manages to escape from the locked house.
To my surprise, he runs over in front of the food stall and dies!
I'm glad he asked to live with us so we could spend his remaining days together.
He would want me to continue my food sale today, so I drink a Moodlet Solver and get back to work.


At around 6:15 pm, I briefly close my stand then immediately reopen it.
At 6:45, I close the shop for good to prepare to leave for the Prom.
I run my food stand for less than 5 hours but earn $712. Not bad for my first try!
Oh and I guess our Principal died. I got a prompt to attend Prom but wasn't able to travel there.


Since the Prom is out, I decide to keep selling my food before it all spoils.
I take everyone with me to the Romance Festival.
Here, I confirm Watcher's belief that a fair or festival is the wrong place to peddle one's wares.
I pack up my merch after about a half hour without a single customer.


The great thing about this park is that customers can sit at the nearby picnic tables to enjoy eating what they purchased.
I run a food sale until it ends on its own, earning a whopping $950!
My priciest item is the Super Chocolate Tummers Bomb Cupcake which sold for $86.50 each.
Do food prices vary like paintings? Do high-quality fresh ingredients boost the price?
I guess I'll find out as I continue my business. One thing's for sure: Papa's Fresh Chef trait sure would be useful!

Oh, before I forget, I buy the Marketable and Stoves & Grillls Master reward traits.
Both traits should help a lot. And my Entrepreneur skills is only level 2, so I need to max that, too!


Akira: So, I need a poor-quality food item. Since you have zero Cooking skill, would you make one for me?
Kage: Aaargh!  Put me out! Put me out! You tricked me! You knew this would happen, didn't you?
Akira: I swear I didn't, Kage.
Kage: That innocent act of your doesn't fool me, Akira!  I'll get you for this!




Progress: End of Week 36
Residence: Celebrazioni d'Amore, Porto Luminoso (Tartosa)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Marcos Pries (Gen3 spouse) - Deceased (death by old age)
Traits:  Traits: Art Lover, Active, Loyal (+Self-Assured, Foodie, Outgoing)

Felicia (Gen5 heir) - YA
Traits: Perfectionist, Snob, Art Lover (+Family Oriented, Foodie, Cheerful)
Career: Art Critic 10/10
Spouse: Daichi; Children: Akira & Kage, Emi
Heir requirements - Completed Tue, Week 34, Year 3

Daichi (Gen5 spouse) - YA
Traits: Foodie, Snob, Family Oriented (+Active, Self-Assured, Perfectionist)
Career: Food Critic 10/10

Akira (Gen6 heir) - Teen
Traits: Calm/Angelic; Creative, Foodie
Starting tasks
*Have the Creative, Foodie, and ? traits
*Skills: Charisma 10, Cooking 10, plus 1 more
*Aspirations: Appliance Wiz 2/4, Market Magnate 2/4

Kage (Gen6 spare) - Teen
Traits: Sunny/Charmer; Slob, Kleptomaniac

Emi (Gen6 cadet - Teen
Traits: Creative, Snob

Notes
*Gen6 heir requirements: I replace4d the original Freelance Painter career with Home Chef Hustle.
  Licia already completed Painter Extraordinaire and did lots of painting, so I didn't want Gen6 to do more paining. 
  Also, I replaced the Big Happy Family aspiration with the two Home Chef Hustle aspirations and tweaked the skills.
  Other than that, all story-related requirements remain the same.

*No Prom: The kids aged up to teens on Thursday and I sent them to high school alone on Friday.
  I should've gone with them to school on Friday in order to spawn a new Principal.
  There was no reason to be so impatient about them becoming A students. Oh well.

*Food Prices: The Super Chocolate Tummers Bomb Cupcake is a L7 Cooking recipe.
  Since Akira had no Cooking skill when he started, the other pizzas and waffles Akira sold required L6 or lower.
  L6 Mushroom Waffles sold for $44 apiece. I wish the waffles/pizzas were worth more than the base-game cupcakes.
 The Food Stand definitely isn't as profitable as selling flower arrangements, camping mascots, or paintings on Plopsy.
 I'm rather looking forward to Akira not becoming insta-affluent. Also, procuring fresh ingredients is fun.

*Dedicated Food Stand space: A dedicated area for Akira's food stand on a community lot would be nice.
  It would be in a warm locale and furnished with patio tables with overhead umbrellas and comfortable seating.
  There's not enough space to do that on the lot where Akira currently lives. 

[Granny Lawlor]

Difficult for Licia to argue for Kage as heir. A kleptomaniac slob? I don't think so. Is he channelling his great aunt?

The new food pack looks fun. The food sale reminds me so much of festival food - all the different vans... can Akira do coffee? Noodles? Crepes? Oooh, crepes with chocolate and marshmallows? Or chocolate, banana & nuts?.  Now where's my waffle iron?