1.11--A Whole Mess of Birthdays

The day before both the girls and Corrigan's birthday, Mya and Robert decided to take them out for a little family outing to the park.  

According to Mya, it would be one of the last family gatherings in which the girls "would still want to be seen with their parents."  But to Robert, this was his official goodbye to his little monsters who would grow into young women the next day, as well as a hello to the tribulations of raising a toddler.

(Yes, that is Snuffle way the hell back there with a stranger.  Apparently Robert felt it necessary to place his son on the ground [about fifty frakkin' miles away from their dinner spot!] while they all ate.  Poor little Cor-Bear!). 

Robert and Syb went straight to the swing set, as it was one of the only objects on the playground that Sybil wasn't afraid to touch, let alone play on.  However, her apparent lack of fear of the swing set was replaced by an incessant need to ramble about everything else at the park that was dangerous; particularly the "chemically maintained grass and toxic plastic." Robert wasn't even aware his little Sybil had such a range with her vocabulary while also feeling slightly guilty for chuckling at her neuroses.  She was definitely going to be handful, maybe even more so than Olive, which he didn't think possible.  

Meanwhile, Mya and Olive went to play hopscotch where Olive managed to beat her mother twice.  This led to a bet between mother and daughter that Olive and Sybil could beat their parents at the game...

... Olive was right.  In the last stretch, both Olive and Sybil pulled out some tricks that were obviously rehearsed.  As per the agreement, the girls were now able to skip a full week of chores.

Despite their loss, Mya and Robert were happy just to see the girls enjoying their last day as a children.

Although Robert did take the opportunity to exclaim loudly that he and Mya were going to practice daily and form a super team.  "Next time, we up the stakes.  Loser has to take the winners chores for a whole month!"

Olive jumped at the chance. "Deal! Looks like mom and dad will be cleaning our rooms for us Syb."

Mya just laughed as she realized that Olive was more like her father than she originally thought. "Great, now everything will become a competition in our house."

Once they all returned home, Mya and Robert gave the girls one last hug as children.  Mya couldn't help choking up at the thought they would have a household with not one, but two insufferable teenagers.

"I'm doing a preemptive grounding for you both right now!" She joked, holding back tears.

"I second that." Robert agreed. "And no boyfriends until your 80. Scratch that, 85!"

"Ew. I won't have a boyfriend ever!" exclaimed Sybil. "Do you know how many germs are exchanged in saliva?! I'll tell you, it's a lot."

Robert laughed. "You're right. It's disgusting.  Now just convince Olive that and we'll be set."

Olive just pouted. "I'm not going to wait until I'm 85.  Who would want to be with an old lady?"

Mya and Robert looked at each other before answering unanimously, "Exactly."

When the girls were finally put to bed, Mya and Robert were left to contemplate the next day.

"All of our little monsters will become big monsters tomorrow." Mya commented while glancing at sleeping baby Corrigan.

"It will be a new experience." Robert said, grabbing Mya's hand. "Children grow, it's all part of the natural cycle.  At least we only have about five years or so until the girls hopefully calm down and become rational beings again.  The teen years will tough though... especially Olive."

"I know right. It's like seeing myself grow up all over again.  If that thought doesn't replenish your nightmare fuel until she turns 18, I don't know what will."

Robert laughed. "Don't forget, we still have one more child to get through before we can actually take a break."

"Oh goodness!" Mya said, acting theatrically disappointed. "By the time we get through Olive and Sybil's angst riddled teen years, we'll be too run down to survive Corrigan's.  Maybe we'll luck out and have three perfect little angels."

Robert kissed Mya on the cheek. "Fat chance."

The next day...

After the usual Dennis ritual of forcing the girls to do their homework, calling the repairman after Robert breaks another appliance, and paying the bills... they were all ready to get this birthday show on the road.

As usual, Olive went first.  She apparently inherited her mother's theatrical mannerisms.

It takes a little while for her to grasp that she is now a teenager...

...but once she does, her imagination begins to run wild with all the new experiences (and trouble) that await her.

When Mya and Robert catch her mischievous grin, they know they are in for trouble. 

Next up is Sybil, who despite seeing her sister grow up, is a bit scared and hesitant to do the same.  

Unlike Olive, Sybil dreads all of the new dangers that await her and immediately decides that she is afraid of heights. "I'm too tall!" She exclaims.

(And now the Insanity trait comes into play.  She is going to get more nonsensical as the legacy goes.  At least that's what I have in my mind-grapes right now...)

Both Mya and Robert were excited to see their girls grow, even though they do have some lingering reservations of what the future holds.

Robert was especially excited.

Last up was Snuffle who, largely due to his impatient nature, decided to age up without a cake.  Luckily Mya was able to round up the whole family in time for everyone to be there.

"Well, it looks like all our children are grown and ready to move out." Mya joked while cradling Corrigan.

"Yeah right mom.  You aren't getting rid of us that easily." Olive teased.

"We're going to be the forty year old's that still live with their parents." Sybil added.

"Oh god. No you're not." Robert interjected. "You two are moving out and letting your parents grow old in peace."

Olive smiled. "Nope.  We're staying with you forever."

"Before you all stumble upon more subjects that will give me a sleepless night, why don't you show them our present Rob, while I get Snuffle to bed."

Robert led Olive and Sybil into their brand new room, which both the Dennis parents had been working on diligently while they were at school.

Robert gave the girls ample time to look around the room (and for Olive to jump on her new bed to "see if she was tall enough to touch the ceiling").

"So... what do you girls think?" 

"I love it." Sybil answered immediately. "It's just small enough for me not to be freaked out by hiding gnomes, and just large enough not to trigger my claustrophobia."

"I was kind of hoping for a car." Olive said while giving her father the signature hopeful look that she had perfected over the years.

"Don't you think that is jumping the gun a bit since, you know, you don't have a license?"

"Pah! Details." She scoffed.

Robert laughed.  She was definitely Mya's daughter.  "Well, for now... settle with the fact that you have a brand new room."

Both Olive and Sybil smiled. "Thanks dad."

Later that night...

"Did the girls like their new room?" Mya asked once everyone was comfortably settled in bed.

"I believe so.  Sybil seemed content with the fact it was just the right size for her to be able to spot any wandering gnomes... and Olive tried to swindle me for a car."

Mya laughed. "Those girls, I swear."

"They certainly are something, aren't they?"

"Oh you love it.  I mean, it's not like we are shining beacons of normalcy. I mean, we are both too sarcastic for our own good... and I tend to have colorful language."

"Well, at least we know some of our quirks will live on in the future generations." Robert snickered. "Now let's go to bed Mrs. Dennis. We have a long five years ahead of us."

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This was sort of just a filler chapter since not much really happened in-game besides all the kiddos aging up.  I'm crossing my fingers that I can recover the pictures from the next chapter since I forgot to write down what the heck I had planned. *headdesk*  Oh well, lesson learned. Write.Down.Everything.

I made a sim on whim (ha! poet and didn't even know it) to get some new genetics stirring in Twinbrook... and I sort of fell in love with my creation.  Her name is Abigail Salinger and she will *probably* be making an appearance in the future since I'm pretty sure I'm going to force an heir to breed with her.  Damn the NPC's... my legacy family needs her genetics more, I say!

Also, here are the Dennis children all grown up (sort of):

Corrigan (aka Snuffle, aka Cor-Bear)

Olive

She gained the Vegetarian Trait; And yes, she totally has a bridge piercing.  The game gave it to her and I decided to keep it. Also, she turned out to be effing beautiful! Thank goodness.

Sybil

She is now officially a lovable loony; she gained the Insane Trait.