So...

You may have noticed that I haven't posted lately. The reasons are three fold. First, I haven't felt well. I've been seeing a specialist about 'female problems' since February. It's kind of the two steps forward fall back down the mountain kind of thing. Nothing life threatening but if feels like it sometimes. Well things have hit yet another bump. The medications have apparently mingled or something leaving me extremely dizzy. So I'm off the medication for now. Maybe I'll be feeling 100% real soon. At least I really hope so. Second, the Nightlife expansion pack came out. You can't just learn a whole new way of playing in your favorite family. Things could get messy quick. So I reset the three stock neighborhoods and have been playing around with the Maxis made families in Pleasantview. I've had a great time mucking with their lives. So much so that I'm considering blogging them. It would be called The Pleasantview Chronicles I think. I've been playing every house for seven days. I've played around with the triplets/quads hack for a while until things became just a bit nuts. I'm really liking the little family though so I think I'm going to keep playing them even if I don't blog them. Third, I was just a little burned out with the whole Avery Legacy. I think I just needed a break. So I guess that's what you could say I'm on. I'm on a little break. And while I'm breaking I'm planning my next move with the Avery clan. Lately all planning had fallen to the waste side with them anyway. So I'm thinking and planning and not playing the Averys. I have started a ISBI family in Veronaville. That would be I'm surrounded by Idiots for those not in the know. I know it's probably hard to believe but I have never played that neighborhood at all. Yeah, you'd have thought the elves would have pulled me right in. So I've started with my founder Zack Holden and he's just completed college. So I'll probably be blogging him too. Maybe. Then again maybe not. Not much definites in my life lately. Between the hurricanes, the medication and just life in general, things have just been nuts. But this to shall pass. Could be followed by even worse but we'll just assume that it will be followed by better. I try to be optimistic but sometimes I fall on my face. So anyway that's what I'm up to.

Aquatami / Tammy

Avery Legacy - Chapter 101 - An Avery Wedding

Today is the wedding day of Clay Avery and Ayla Avery. Apparently they can't wait for the wedding night so they're starting early.

But today isn't just a wedding day. It's also a birthday. Colin's birthday to be specific.

Yeah I'm all grown up and my dad is so virile that I don't have to be the baby of the family.

Quick shot of Colin after he's all gussied up.

Hello in there. Are you ready for the wedding to start? You are. Well then let's get started.

We are gathered here today to witness the union of this man and this woman. Anyone who can show just cause why these two should not be married should speak now are forever hold there peace. (Alton and Oron exchange glances. Should they mention that they are distantly related. Naaa.)

Last chance to back out Ms. Avery No second thoughts? Then... With this ring, I thee wed.

I promise to love, honor and cherish you in sickness and in health until death do us part.

The guest watch as the vows are said. Connor has attitude. Cassia can't believe he didn't even get dressed up. Just because you are unlucky at love doesn't mean you have to make a scene.

You may kiss the bride. Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Clay Avery.

First a quick bite of cake. Then we can get down to more important things.

So hot stuff, what are your plans for the evening? I've got a king size bed and time on my hands.

Well Mrs. Avery, I thought you'd never ask.

I'm ready. Come and get me.

With his oldest son married, Blake now got down to the business of living. He called over his brother Ben who is no longer the only old geezer on the block. They played like kids. They talked about kids. They discussed how many more kids Blake was going to have.

Blake was only worried about one baby right now. It was due any time now. He can hardly wait.

Right there in the kitchen Stacy gave birth to her third son (Blake's fifth son & eighth child overall). Like her previous two children this child has red hair and grey eyes. (I really am randomizing but I'm not getting random. So sad.)

Blake named his son Camden Avery (After the city of Camden, Alabama. I have long since been out of C names. I always fall back on cities in Alabama when I get desperate.)

Not long after Camden's birth came Cole's birthday. His brother Colin looked on as he prepared to blow out his candles.

Cole has decided that romance is the path for him. He would really like to have 20 loves. I highly disagree his choice so he will be rerolled in college. And with seven members in the house you can expect to see Cole head off to college very early on in his teen years though not right now. Once I play all eleven hundred other houses in the neighborhood it will actually seem like Cole had teen years even though he really didn't. And as for when generation four will arrive...no idea. Ayla isn't currently expecting and the young couple seem in no hurry to help get Blake those six grandkids he needs to be completely fulfilled. Lucky for him he has two family minded daughters who should manage to take up the slack.

Avery Legacy - Chapter 100 - Blake's World

@ 1 Avery Lane: Blake Avery (family), wife Stacy (knowledge), daughter Cyra (romance) & son Cole.

(We will take a small step back before we stride forward.)

Cole Avery was suppose to be Blake Avery's final child. He was growing like a weed. He would be a child before long. He would also be a big brother soon.

Yes Stacy was pregnant again. They hadn't planned it. It just sort of happened. Blake was of course thrilled. Baby number seven was on the way.

With a pregnant stepmom at home, Cyra started sneaking out of the house. Honestly she didn't think her dad would miss her and she was right. If this cop hadn't found her out goofing off and brought her home her dad would have never even known that she wasn't sound asleep in her bed.

Blake had some very strong words with his daughter. He didn't want her running around like this. Her sisters had never done anything like this (that he knew of). She needed to be studying. What about college? What about her future? Didn't that matter to her anymore?

Blake's speech did not have the desired affect. Instead of rushing to study, Cyra rushed to leave. She called a taxi the next morning to head off to college. It was time for her to start living her own life. Blake never even saw the taxi drive up. He had no idea Cyra was gone until he found the note on her bed. By then she was miles away. Blake was very upset with Cyra for running away like that but there was little he could do. She had just turned eighteen. She was legally an adult even if she wasn't emotionally an adult yet.

Not long after Cyra left, Cole had his birthday. He is now ready to start school. He is looking forward to being a big brother. He doesn't really know his older siblings so really feels like an only child.

After a long but uneventful pregnancy, Stacy gave birth to another son with red hair and grey eyes. Blake named his son Colin. (Let me just say that no it didn't occur to me at the time that I already have one Colin running around town. Also I later found out that Cole & Colin are both forms of Nicholas. The fact that the two boys have basically the same name will become more ironic when they get older. They aren't clones but they do look remarkably similar.)

While Colin was still just a baby, oldest son Clay graduated from college. He moved home with the love of his life Ayla Avery. The couple both found work in law enforcement. In no time they were both wearing super suits (though not in this shot). With his career solidified, it was finally time to marry the woman he loves. Of course he did think that maybe he should at least go through the motion of asking first.

Ayla of course said yes. There was no doubt in her mind that Clay Avery was her soul mate. They were made for one another. She couldn't wait until she could become his wife.

Baby, I think we need to move those pictures. I can't really do this with your parents watching.

Clay Avery was a happy man. Life was sweet. Happiness filled the air. He was planning his wedding.

Blake left his son to plan the wedding. He had some birthday parties to plan just as soon as he got off work.

Oh no, the nanny is about to play with fire. When was the last time we checked the batteries in the smoke alarm?

TaDa! I am super nanny. You don't want to get rid me. I can cook without starting a fire. Of course you baby will always be forced to wear a dirty diaper while I whip up these masterpieces but so what. Clean diapers are highly overrated.

The Blake planned birthday party for little Colin was a huge success. Colin is now an active toddler. He is a Virgo (like his brother Cole) who is 10 neat, 4 outgoing, 5 active, 4 playful & 9 nice (where Cole was 10-3-7-7-7: close but not exactly the same).

Clay took time out of his wedding planning to teach his baby brother Colin how to talk. Clay is really enjoying getting to know his baby brothers. It's much more fun playing with them than thinking what his sisters are up to right now.

Blake comes home from work having earned a 100k in his lifetime. Of course he isn't a fortune sim but this is an impressive accomplishment regardless. Besides it's his birthday. He needs to celebrate while he still can.

Of course Leo's visit puts a damper on Blake's birthday spirit. Let me get this straight. You move my baby girl in with you. You're not engaged. You're not planning on becoming engaged. Do you no see why I might have a problem with this? It you love Cassia you will marry her. I'm not sure you're good enough for her but she loves you. I will give you my blessing IF you MARRY HER. If you knock her up and dump her swear I will bring my younger brothers and visit you in the dead of the night. You won't be able to run away from the alter when I'm done with you.

After a stressful afternoon, Blake becomes an elder. He immediately makes two decisions. First, face lift. He is married to a younger woman after all. Second, clothes shopping. Orange just isn't his color.

That night Blake gets a little birthday surprise. Sweetie, since you haven't achieved your lifetime want of having six grandkids yet and since you have no desire to see your kids marry and since the only thing you want worth more than 500 points is to have a baby I will give you just one chance to knock me up. If it doesn't work then you have to settle for the seven kids you have and start looking forward to your grandkids whenever they may get here. Ok. Promise me. Just one chance and then we stop trying for babies.

Next up the wedding and more....

Avery Legacy - Chapter 99 - The Move

Before long Violet grew into a beautiful little girl. Her mother didn't seem to have time for her. Luc practically ignores her. She barely remembered her father. He hasn't come by in a long time. Her mother doesn't like it when she asks about her dad. That's probably because mentioning him makes Luc mad.

Violet his a happy little girl though. She has gotten very good at entertaining herself. Whenever her mom tell her to go outside Violet heads towards her easel. She's becoming a budding artist.

For someone who wasn't at all interested in sex while she was pregnant, Luc is very interested in it now. Felicia gives him what he wants. She feels like she has to. She has considered moving out on her own but honestly she can't afford to. At least for a little while she will have to stay here with Luc. Eventually she will find her prince charming and he will take her away from Luc and his temper but until then she will have to play along.

For all Luc's faults, he is a doting father. He takes very care of his little boy. It's only Violet that he ignores.

Luc has a new friend that he has been bringing around a lot. Apparently he and Gerard have been friends for a really long time. Felicia assumes that they know each other from work but she doesn't ask.

But Gerard isn't a friend from work. Actually he's a little more than just a friend. Luc loves Gerard. He doesn't love Felicia but he and Gerard wanted a family. Felicia is just a means to an end. Felicia is now pregnant with her third child. Luc thinks this is his second child though actually it's just his first. Once this child is born he is planning on suing for custody on the ground that Felicia is a slut and an unfit mother. After he gets custody he and Gerard can finally be married and live happily ever after. Felicia can take her daughter and find someone else to take care of her.

Unaware of the Luc's plot Felicia continues to live her life. She didn't want to have a baby with Luc but she is. Maybe it's fates getting back at her for lying to him in the first place. Felicia is entering her second trimester of pregnancy when River has his birthday. River is a Libra with 6 neat, 10 outgoing, 3 active, 3 playful & 10 nice. Luckily he got the best from both his parents. Neat from mom and nice from dad.

With Felicia's due date just around the corner, Luc decides to move on to the next phase of his plan. He is moving his little family in with Gerard. He tells Felicia that he has a friend with a new two story house. It's quite large but his friend now doesn't have the money to finish it. He would let them live there with him if they help him pay the bills. Felicia isn't sure she likes the plan but they can't stay in the cramped two bedroom rental so she agrees. Luc and Gerard spend their last night alone celebrating. Felicia and the kids be moving in tomorrow.

Gerard Andersen - townie - family - Aquarius - 4 neat, 4 outgoing, 4 active, 7 playful & 6 nice: lifetime want - three kids graduate college

What Luc doesn't tell Gerard is that he has put another plan into action. It's a plan to quickly move up the ranks of the criminal organization he works for. He will be having to spend more time in the desert but it can't be helped. If everything works out he will soon be rid of those people and going into business for himself.

Luc, Felicia, Violet and River move into the house @ 230 Legacy Lane with Gerard Andersen. Violet and River immediately take to Gerard which helps to ease Felicia's reservations. Gerard does seem like a nice man. There is something that isn't quite right but Felicia can't quite put her finger on what it is. She ignores her fears as she prepares the nursery for the birth of her third child.

One day Luc heads off to work but he never returns home. Felicia begins to worry. She considers calling the police but with Luc's profession she can't help but think that it wouldn't be wise. Day after day passes with still no word. She begins to fear the worse. All the stress puts her into labor.

She gives birth to a baby boy. Like her previous children her son has her black hair and brown eyes. She named her son Lake Schehl.

Gerard cried when he first held the little boy. He had been just as worried about Luc as she had. Maybe even more so. Luc had been gone for almost a month now. They both know that he would never have missed Lake's birth. They both fear that he is dead. Otherwise he would have been there.

In his grief, Gerard makes a confession to Felicia. He tells her that he and Luc were lovers. He tells her that Luc was planning on taking his sons from her. He tells her that he is so sorry. He never thought that this was the right way for them to obtain a family. He had always wanted to hire a surrogate but they just couldn't afford it. Although Felicia should be angry she wasn't. Things made a lot more sense now. Gerard grieved for the man he loved. She couldn't say the same. She never loved Luc. She only used him just as he was using her. In a way it was ironic. If not for Gerard's tears she might have laughed.

As time passed, Felicia and Gerard consoled one another. They did eventually report Luc's disappearance to the police. The officer took down their statement. Neither of them thought that anything would ever come from it. One day they did see someone odd rifling through their trash. Gerard was convinced it was an undercover police officer but Felicia wasn't to sure. (It was actually Captain Hero. Unfortunately she ate any evidence she found.)

Even through tragedy kids continue to grow up. Soon River was a child. Felicia had told the kids that Luc was dead. She didn't see any point in giving them false hope. Since River had no father (as far as anyone knew), Gerard stepped in to fill that role. He taught him how to study. He tried to teach him right from wrong. He hoped that Luc's sons would not travel down the path that Luc had followed.

Before long Lake also had a birthday. He is a Scorpio with 8 neat, 7 outgoing, 8 active, 7 playful & 4 nice.

The kids play cops and robbers oblivious to the pain it causes Gerard. He is a very emotional man. Felicia really likes him though. The kids all love him. They have sort of become one big family.

As time passes both Gerard and Felicia talk about finding love again someday. Gerard really wants kids of his own. Felicia is still looking for the knight to ride in and sweep her off her feet.

At Gerard urging, Felicia asks William to come by not for her sake but for Violet's sake. Gerard thinks that kids should know their parents regardless of the situation. This makes Felicia feel truly guilty for lying about River's parentage. River has a father he doesn't know. He could know the love a real father. He will simply have to settle for Gerard instead. Gerard has been very good to them. He is more of a father to River than Colin ever could be.

Felicia has been thinking about Gerard a lot lately. He has become her best friend. They tell each other almost everything. Gerard only has one true desire. He wants to have a child of his own. This is something she could do for him. This is a way that she could truly pay him back for all that he has done for her and her kids. She wouldn't simply give him a baby but she could have with him a child. He would be a father in every sense of the word. Even when her prince or knight or wonderful caring man who will love her no matter what comes along, Gerard can still see his child. It would be something special that they would always share together.

Felicia tells Gerard her thoughts. He is touched that she would be willing to do this for him. He isn't really thrilled with her method of conception though. He has never been with a woman. He doesn't really want to start now. Felicia knows that they can only afford low tech methods. If he wants to be a father they will have to do this the old fashion way. So Felicia takes Gerard and leads him down a road he has never traveled. Hopefully they will find a baby on the other side.