Okay, the Bristols have officially launched this save into the bizarre. Let me explain. First, story progression triplets. Anya meets her new sisters, and immediately goes into must wear a bear suit mode.

Obviously, this will not be a good time for either Jen or Toby to leave their cushy government jobs for the life of full time cross-stichers. Even Anya pitches in to up the family income. They all stitch like the wind.

Then. Ohhh, then. A random phone call from neighbor Willem, asking if the Bristols would like to hang out. Willem and second wife, Dierdre, (first wife, Sascha, mum of his older daughters, froze to death playing basketball at the flea market some turns earlier) have a daughter, Audrina, who is Anya's age, so of course they head over.

Dierdre is also on her second marriage, as her first husband, Walter, was electrocuted while trying to repair a computer found while dumpster diving. Hecking Dierdre. While I was focused on potential besties Anya and Audrina, what does Dierdre do but set the entire house on fire by autonomous grilling.

Fire. Everywhere.

I was making sure Toby and Jen introduced themselves to Willem and Dierdre, and of course, this is when Anya autonomously heads to the kitchen table for autonomous homework.

Both Toby and Jen tried to get to Anya in time, but alas, it was not to be. Anya did try to put herself out in the shower, but that does not work when the shower is also on fire. Multiple calls to the fire department, with no result. Toby and Jen both put out all the fire they could, but as I said, Fire Everywhere.

RIP Anya, Jen, and Willem. Dierdre does *not* get a replacement grill. What she does get is a phone call offering a sizeable inheritance if she gets married within seven days.

Well, she's single, and Toby's single, and a gal has to provide for her fam somehow. We will see how this goes.

The Bristols continue to surprise me. They truly are cross stitch obsessed enough to turn a trip to the public pool into an autonomous cross stitch session The cross stich from reference option is turning out to be extremely interesting. Jen may not be the least conspicuous special ops agent, but the look works for her, so she is staying in the career. Toby got booted down a few levels in his astronauting due to blowing the whistle on aliens, but I like to think the sweet sweet benefits keep them both in their randomly chosen careers.

Anya photoshoot. The cross stitching was autonomous. She is her parents' daughter.

That feeling when your mom sets off the fire toilet during your birthday party, and modesty keeps her from extinguishing herself in the shower that is *right there.*

Thanks to the firefighters *finally * showing, Jen was spared, but three toilet fires in two days is enough even for a swan toilet from the dumpster. Anya immediately hits the books.

Okay, Anya. This is the big show. Blow out those candles, hopefully without starting a fire, and let's get you started on child skills.

Best load up on that cake, open some birthday presents and probably sign up for scouts. There's also likely a spot in Homework Club. Best wishes.

These Bristols...

Anya, I hate to break it to you but these are your parents. Two back to back toilet fires that leave your grownups peeing and fainting on the front yard in the rain, on New Year's Eve, is pretty much par for the course. Don't worry, though. You'll soon be old enough to make and sell your own cross stitch. Study hard, and you may be able to graduate high school and go to uni early, In the meantime, work on those skills. You're going to need them.

Oh, and airborne dustbunnies.

Toby, Toby, Toby. You are not an astronaut, are you? New job it is.

A) Trying a new aesthetic means remaking some of my favorite Sims. B) I like creating in story mode while in CAS, because having young adult Sims with no skills is Not It. C) Sometimes, this has ridiculous results. The game put Jen in the military career. Toby is apparently an astronaut, and they are both REALLY into cross stitch. Ohhhhkaaaayyyy...... #JenBristol #TobyBristol

I like taking stay at hme Sims to high school along with their teens, for some sneaky skill building. Did not expect

this.

#StinbatskyLegacy spare, Taylor, as a sweet child and his grumpy, hotheaded young adult self. I look forward to seeing how story progression treats him. 

Once in a while, a legacy save throws you an heir that has a special something. My gen 6 Stinbatsky Legacy heir, Brenna, aged up to infant (and then toddler) and then captured my heart in an instant. Can’t wait to see where life will take Brenna. 

Paying an asylum challenge for a change of pace. First time any of my Sims ever passed the Eco inspection. 

Bellagruntville Save Week Three: Caliente-Grunt update

“Love. Money. Family. It’s all part of the game isn’t it? I’m fine if people think this is a mercenary move. I’m okay if people think I married Ripp for the money I’ll admit that’s part of it. Is this partly because I found out Don Lothario is married? Or, on Ripp’s part, that his father married Bella Goth? I won’t pretend those things didn’t factor into it, but we are both adults. We make our own decisions I think this could be a good one. First step? Redoing the house. Who knows? Maybe I’ll find my nice in interior design.” --Dina Caliente Grunt

Bellagruntville Save week three Lothario  Family Hey. Uh. So, this happened. Little man. Heath. We’re tight. He’s cool. Smart little booger. Always watching me (uh, yeah, but he can’t talk yet, so there’s that. We’re doing our best to give him a good start. His mom is fixing his room up. She’s home with him while I go bring home the bacon. The life of a pro athlete isn’t easy. I’m usally pooped, just enough time for some, uh, affection and then hit the hay. Some perks, though. We had the best guests at Heath’s birthday party. We got a new bar for the occasion. Victoria really likes that bar. Should I be concerned that her favorite drink is a Plasma Jane? It’s probably nothing. Right, babe? Mmmhmm.

What?

Nothing.

::blinks::

Bellagruntville Save Grunt Family week three Yeah, this is my room at Bella’s house. I don’t have anything in it yet. I’m waiting until Dad gets his next orders because I am not unpacking any more than I absolutely have to. Kind of over unpacking, to be honest. It’s a military kid thing.

Don’t tell my brothers this next part, okay? I don’t remember my mom much. Bella says she isn’t here to replace my Mom. I know that. I didn’t thinking she was, but it’s nice to hear.   Before Bella came along, it was going to be just me and Dad for a while, and I was kind of looking forward to that. Tank and Ripp make noise and take up space and I liked the idea of having Dad to myself. Bella’s great, though. She really is, and Alexander is even in my class, so I kinda know him. Not really wel, though. I’d like it if we could be friends. 

I don’t know Cassandra that much, but this house is going to be hers when the rest of us move. That’s why I don’t want to paint or anything. Maybe all i need is a backpack and a foldable cot. Maybe pitch a tent in the backyard like I did when I was a kid. Yeah. That could be cool. 

I guess this is about as good a time as any. Dad and I, we had our issues. I guess I remind him of Mom in a lot of ways. Which kind of sucks, but kind of doesn’t because she was awesome. I just don’t know if they were the best...people for each other. Then again, I wouldn’t be here if they never met or anything like that, so I guess I’m glad they did. 

College is okay. I like cooking. Somebody had to learn how in this family. Dad said an army travels on its stomach, but I was never going to be an army guy. Even as a kid, I never wanted to play soldier or anything. I’m a lover, not a fighter. Right now, it’s mostly school, noodling around in the kitchen, pun intended, and once in a while I’ll hit the local hotspots, to make some, um, special friends. Nothing to report so far, but yeah, Dad’s wedding is giving me a few ideas. Picture the Von Haunt estate, on a starry night, the balcony overlooking the...uh yeah, maybe I want to find somebody first, but i have ideas. Ideas are good, right? Right?

Bellagruntville Save Grunt Family, week three

Of course I would have preferred if Mom and Dad had worked out. They didn’t, though, and she’s gone now. Neither of those is ideal, but Dad’s still got a lot of years left in him, and better he should spend them happy. I don’t know Mrs. Goth that well. Sorry, I’m still not used to calling adults by their first names, even if I am one. Maybe it would be easier if she had a rank. :laughs: Not my place to say, though.  Right now, I’m more focused on taking my own next steps. Dad will be getting his new posting after the wedding and Buck is going with him, unless he graduates early. Ripp is welcome to stay here while he finishes university. Especially so I can eat his homework. There are perks to having a brother in cooking school. My plan is to work my way through the ranks, same as Dad did, make this house my own. I like fixing things. It’s soothing. So is art therapy. Didn’t see that one coming.  I figure at some point, I’ll meet the right person, settle down and start a brood of my own. Who knows where my own career will take me? Selvadorada, Mt. Komorebi, anywhere, really. I’m good with all of it. What? I said I’m good. Perfectly fine. No issues.