Chapter 2.2 Growing Up Is Hard To Do

Wow! The entire Avani family is at the table at once! (except for the infants who are on a liquid diet of course) Don't worry, this family time thing won't last long...

Apple and Apricot have homework to do and the babies are crying which means...

Abra is busy with the whole snuggle, feed, repeat routine. Leighton has not been as involved with the babies this time around. He's always trying for that next promotion but unfortunately, he's really slow at increasing his athletic skill so he spends most of his time at the gym.

But the newborns aren't the only ones who feel like Leighton is neglecting them. Poor Sam was beginning to feel so ignored that he took to visiting his grandmother almost every evening.

Sam: "Everyone's always so worried about money because we don't have any. Abra's always involved with the babies and Dad's always at work or the gym and it's so stressful, I just can't relax when I'm at home. Please, Grandmother, can I move back in with you?"

Grandma Sekemoto: "I'm sorry Sam but you can't live here. I'm an old lady now and I'm not financially or emotionally equipped to raise a fine, young man like yourself. You belong with your father and with Abra."

Sam: "But, but... money?"

Grandma Sekemoto: "I think that you will soon learn that there is more to life than money and material possessions. You are of course always welcome to visit me here."

Poor Sam. Luckily for him though, things are about to get easier because...

...it's birthday time for the babies! Look! Everyone came to the party! :)

Heeeere's Aspen!

Aspen: "I is cute?"

Yup, you sure are buddy!

...and here's Ash. He's a bamf if I've ever seen one.

Ash: "I have one request. Bottle. Now. I won't ask again."

Aspen (in blue): "I is cute and friendy and smiwe awww da time!"

Ash: "Quiet fool. I must play the keys in the right order or chaos will ensue."

Apricot spends all of her time out of school either doing homework or painting.

Apricot: "My therapist says that I must paint my feelings because if I keep them inside I will asplode!"

Right, well... you're feelings look pretty happy to me.

Apricot: "Clearly, you have no understanding of art."

In addition to fishing and rock hunting, Apple enjoys hiding in bushes in order to scare rich townies before she mooches food and money from them.

Apple: "Hey Mort!"

Mortimer: "Ahh! What are you doing in that bush?"

Apple: "Nothing. Just wondering if you wanna give me a bite to eat"

Mortimer: "Oh... uh, yeah. I actually happen to have some toast and jam in my pocket. Here ya go, kid"

Apple: "Thank you kindly."

Aspen: "You shoud smiwe more brudder. Smiwing keeps the golum away."

Ash: "They've been lying to you brother. The only thing that will keep the golum away is chewing on this block for 5 minutes exactly and of course, CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

 Leighton: "Oh hey! Look at me! I'm having a birthday! Whooo! YAY ME!"

Leighton: "Oh yeah... still smokin"

Apricot: "Oh my goodness! Dad just got old! Like older than he already was! That totally blows me away!"

Abra: "Yay! It's going to happen to me too!"

Abra: "How do I look? Not too bad, right?"

Leighton: "You are even more beautiful than the day I met you"

Abra: "Wow! I'm going back to work for the first time since I was pregnant with the girls!"

Awesome. Are you going to get the promotion you missed out on way back then?

Abra: "You bet your butt I am!"

Abra and Leighton didn't even have to hire a babysitter while they were at work because it was a Saturday and Sam was home from school!

Sam: "But, I don't know what to do with them!"

Sam actually spent most of the day playing his brand new guitar. As soon as Sam picked up the guitar he realized he wanted to be a master of the arts by maxing out his painting and guitar skills.

Umm... what feelings does that painting portray?

Apricot: "This is not a feeling! This is a portrait of my sister Apple who must always wear pink!"

Oh, of course. I see it now. How could I have been so stupid?

Aspen: "Oh no! Where Apple go? I is so scawed!"

Aspen: "Oh! There she is! Woah!"

Aspen: "Now I is invisible too. Hee hee hee..."

 The day after Abra returned to work she announced that she was once again expecting a baby. I really wanted to wait for her to get pregnant again because I'm going crazy with 7 sims in one house. But, I didn't want the kids to be super far apart in age either. At least I know there's only one baby in there! ;)

Apple: "Well sister, today is our birthday! Do you want to blow out the candles first?"

Apricot: "No, no, you go ahead. Mom's not watching right now and I'd like her full attention"

So, Apple blew out her birthday candles to general applause although her twin sister seemed to think cleaning the sink was more important and her half brother, Sam was less than thrilled about being woken from his nap.

Apple: "Please don't share this picture on your blog"

Oh sure thing, no problem... no one will ever see it. Promise...

Apricot, having finished cleaning the sink ran up to blow out the candles on her cake.

Abra: "I'm going to nom this cake! Nom!Nom!Nom!"

Wow, these twins are sooo different from each other! I like it!

Apple (in pink) added Ambitious to her traits which already included brave, likes the outdoors and mooch. She has a lifetime want to become a Superstar Athlete.

Apricot has officially "asploded" as far as her emotions go and has become certifiably insane in addition to artistic, excitable and over emotional. She wants to become an Illustrious Author.

Apple spent her first night as a teen on the beach fishing and talking to this woman (forgot her name!). Unfortunately, she lost track of time and stayed out past curfew.

The really stupid thing is that this beach is practically in the Avani backyard (although obv. not on the lot). So, to get to the beach, the cop parked directly in front of the Avani house and Apple had to walk through her yard to get to him. Made me laugh.

Cop: "I know we're already in front of your house but I'm going to need you to go ahead and get in the car so I can pretend to drive you home"

Apple: "What-ever"

Leighton: "What were you doing staying out so late? Your mother and I were worried sick! Then to come home in a cop car!? Your brother never came home in a cop car! I expect better from you young lady!"

Apple: "ugh. Can we do this later? I'm frickin tired."

Leighton: "Don't you use that language with me young lady!"

Apple: "Good night Dad."

Where are you going all dressed up Apricot?

Apricot: "School, of course! Where else would I go in a dress like this?"

Before any of us knew it, it was time for the boys to grow into childhood!

Ash: "Are you sure about this cake Mother? I heard they can explode and burn us all to death. Did you hear me? To death! I think we should find another means of growing up..."

Ash added inappropriate to his already impressive traits of clumsy and neurotic. He's, ummm... a good kid. He is pretty cute tho, don't you think?

And Aspen is cute as well! He added friendly to excitable and neurotic.


So basically, Ash handles his neurosis through an inappropriate, tough guy act while Aspen handles his with positivity and excitement. Interesting :)

Abra: "Uh oh, I think I just peed my pants!"


No.... that was your water breaking. The baby is coming!

Abra: "Owwwwie!"

Ash: "Good grief woman! Stop yelling! You need to provide me with a bed before I pass out from exhaustion!"


...this is where I realized I forgot to buy beds for Aspen and Ash. Heh.

Heeeres baby! Abra and Leighton's 5th and final child is a girl named Aster.

She enjoys Latin music, Lobster Thermidor and the color red. Aster was born with the brave and neurotic traits. So, I guess she will face her neurosis with bravery. Good for her :)



I am going to close this chapter on that happy note. What's next? Will Apricot continue to paint her feelings or has she really a-sploded? Will Apple continue with her rebellious, tomboy ways?


What about the boys? How will these neurotic young men handle school and the bigger world that childhood has brought them?

Will Sam ever grow up and move out? Will I go crazy with 8 Sims in one house?

And most importantly, will we ever decide on an heir???

Stay tuned!