Fun at the Kody house

From the simmer in charge...

Greg and Henry are now teenagers and they have decided to live with their biological father, Wyatt Kody, through their high school years. I read about the "I'm surrounded by idiots challenge" and decided to do something like this at the Kody household.

For this challenge, I only control 1 sim. I have chosen to control Wyatt only. The boys are on their own :) I normally don't have a problem letting my sims do whatever in some cases, but according to the rules of this challenge I cannot even LOOK at their wants or needs. If I need to make them do something, then Wyatt has to interact with them to try to make them do whatever. So, here are a few pictures of the first week at the Kody house. I'll be playing this house intermittently while also playing Frank at college and Eileen's wedding coming up on the first.

First, we have the crazy twins, Greg and Henry, on their teenager birthday - this was taken at the legacy house before they moved.



We also have another picture from the legacy house on moving day with their Dad, Wyatt and Mom, Eileen.



Then off they go to their Dad's small lot in Bailey's Ravine. No more video arcade, pool table, pool, or fancy stuff. A single dad lives light.

What do sims do when the controller doesn't give them commands? On the first day, the house is built and furnished. Dad gets a job and starts skilling while the boys sit outside and talk - for hours.



Some people come to visit. For some reason, Daphne Forbes (Chloe Forbes' sister, Eileen's aunt) freaks out as soon as she reaches the property. She also seems to not be feeling well as she runs to the bathroom to throw up often.



Dominique also comes to visit and tells Wyatt about the upcoming wedding. "Oh, no!" he says. "But I love Eileen!"



The boys talk to the guests without being commanded. They even made a meal and cleaned up the kitchen.



When the boys get tired, they lay down wherever. Greg chose the couch instead of the bed behind him. Henry sleeps in a bed.



For fun, the boys watch TV and sit on the couch. Henry also likes to jump on the couch...a lot.









He jumps on the couch for hours until Wyatt talks to him and breaks the cycle. He also likes to kick the Flamingos next to the house.



On Saturday, before Wyatt went to work, I had him call and invite Eileen over to spend some time with her boys. They don't have a good relationship with her either so I wanted to work on that before the wedding. Wyatt greeted her, then went off to work. The boys talked to her, played games, and even made a meal and cleaned up. They had a good time with her - all without being controlled.



So the boys are doing fine without a controller. I have to admit it is hard not to look at their stats, but it's getting easier. I have to figure out things like how can Wyatt wake them for school and get them to take a shower? It's difficult, but challenging.

Some may ask how do you get them to do homework without selecting them? Wyatt has to go to the homework and choose "help with homework", then chooses a child. I take them in turns. This gets them to complete 1 notebook.

The rules state I can select them 1 time during a life stage, but I cannot look at the wants or needs when I select them for a command. However, I've adjusted that for myself for once a week, so I have to make it count. I had to make Henry go to school one day because he was low on something and didn't want to go. Wyatt had to make him stop jumping on the couch and catch the bus. However, when Wyatt gets a car, if it looks like the boys will be late or not want to go he can use the car to take them to school, so I shouldn't have to select them again for running late.

So, that's the first week of fun at the Kody house. Remember to let your sims play by themselves sometimes. You never know what they may do :)

**Wyatt Kody, family sim, LTW have a golden anniversary.
Greg Forbes, Pleasure, LTW to be celebrity chef.
Henry Forbes, Knowledge, LTW to max out 7 skills. **

Eileen Forbes to Marry

Bailey's Ravine Times

Eileen Forbes happily announces her engagement. The wedding will take place on April 1 of this year. Ms. Forbes is the daughter of the late Chloe Forbes and Sean McGaw Forbes.

The ceremony will take place at the family chapel on the Forbes estate. Ms. Forbes three children, Frank, Greg and Henry, will take part in the ceremony. The couple will continue to live at the estate after the ceremony.

Ms. Forbes was the victim of a shooting last month. The attacker was discovered to be former mail carrier Dagmar Bertino. Ms. Bertino is currently at SimState Prison serving a sentence of 25 years plus 200 llama licks per day. Her case is up for appeal.

Picture supplied by Eileen Forbes.

Dear Frank...

I hope you are doing well at college. I don't speak to you enough on the phone. I'd like to hear from you more often.

I'm sure you've heard the news about Dagmar. She is in jail and will finally be punished for hurting our family! Maybe we can put our relationship back together now that this is all over. What do you say?

You will be reading in the paper soon that I am engaged! I don't know if you've met him. His name is Dominique. I've known him since college. He recently looked me up and we hit it off just like in the old days. The wedding will be on April 1. I sent you an invitation, but I'm sure you know that you are welcome to come. I'd like you and your brothers to be in the wedding.

Greg and Henry have decided to live with their father while they go through high school. I think it's a good thing. They need to have a better bond with him. They should be joining you at college in a few years.

Here are some pictures that Dominique had set made of his proposal. He had this all set up for me. We'd just come back to the house after a date. He's a really romantic guy. Come to the house soon so you can meet him before the wedding, okay?

First we danced to some jazz on the radio.



Then he got down on one knee!



Of course I said yes!



And this is the photo you will see in the paper...



I'm very happy son, and I promise that my ways are mended. I truly love Dominique and will be with him for the rest of my life.

Love, Mom

***Dominique, Romance Sim, Taurus, 5 sloppy, 5 shy, 3 lazy, 8 playful, 4 grouchy. LTW - Woohoo with 20 sims -- I did that once with Eileen and I ain't doing it again! Dom will just have to be faithful :) **

Dagmar's Trail - part 2

This is DiDi Malone with SimCourt TV. We are here for the judge's ruling on Dagmar Bertino and to find out her sentence.



Will she be in jail for life as was the deal she made? Will she be confined to a hospital for therapy due to her alleged mental state? What will the judge decide? Only he knows for sure. Oh, here he comes!





The judge is sitting at his podium and picking up his notes.

"I do not believe your story, Ms. Bertino. I do not believe that you were at any time confused by a love potion. "



Uh, oh, Dagmar and her attorney look worried!

"I believe that you acted willfully and under your own power. You knew what you were doing. Mr. Forbes turned you down, and you retaliated like a spurned lover."



"Now, wait just a minute, Judge. We have medical reports, we have experts who can testify!"



"One more outburst and you will be in contempt, young man! Dagmar Bertino, you are hereby sentenced 200 daily llama licks during your next 25 years in jail!"



Look's like they are surprised! The llama licking law hasn't been upheld since...well, since I can remember! Attorney George Law is incensed!



Looks like the prosecuting attorney is happy about winning.



Dagmar is being taken back to the questioning cell with her attorney. Let's see if we can peek in on them and see what they are talking about...



"George, I really want to get out of here. Can you help me?"



"I don't know, Dagmar. I'm worried. I'm filing an appeal right away."



"Miss, you can't be here. You gotta move."



"Oh, okay. Sorry, I was looking for the ladies room, ya know. Okay, well this is DiDi Malone signing off for now. Will George Law file an appeal? Will Dagmar be licked by a llama? You can bet that SimCourt TV will be there!"

Dagmar's Trial - pt 1

This is Correspondent DiDi Malone reporting for SimCourt TV outside the gate of SimState Prison. We will be broadcasting the trial of former mail carrier Dagmar Bertino. She was arrested last month and charged with the murder of Sean McGaw Forbes, a prominent member of Bailey's Ravine society. She is also charged with the attempted murder of Mr. Forbes' daughter, Eileen. Let's go into the court room now.

Here you see the prosecuting attorney, Luke Andrews. On the right of the courtroom is the defendent, Dagmar Bertino, and her attorney, George Law.



Oops, court is in session. Here is Judge Kirk Richards. He will be presiding over the trail today.



The prosecution is about to begin his opening statment...



"Your honor, you will find during this trial that Ms. Bertino has confessed to murdering Mr. Sean Forbes and subsequently attacking his daughter. Evidence shows that Mr. Forbes was struck about the body several times. This physical attack resulted in a heart attack and was followed by his death. Ms. Eileen Forbes was on her property when she was ruthlessly struck down by a bullet from Ms. Bertino's gun. Upon Ms. Bertino's confession, she admitted where the gun was hidden. Forensics tests show that this gun was used in the beating of Mr. Forbes and was the gun fired at Ms. Eileen Forbes."

The attorney placed the gun as evidence on the judge's podium.

"Thank you, Mr. Andrews. You may begin opening statments, Mr. Law."



"Judge Richards, yes, Ms. Bertino has confessed to these crimes. However, these crimes were committed while she was under the influence of an apparent love potion that was sold to her by a vagrant gypsy woman. She believed herself to be in love with Sean Forbes. When he refused her advances, this love potion caused conflicting emotions in Ms. Bertino. She lashed out and in the process killed this man who was her friend. She is deeply regretful for his death."

"Mr. Law, how can you explain the attack a week later on Ms. Forbes? Surely this 'effect' didn't last a week?"



"But sir, it did. These medical reports show that this potion affected Ms. Bertino's brain chemistry. These changes are irreversable. She now understands that what she did was wrong, however the changes that were made to her brain can only be treated in hospital care and therapy. She is not mentally capable of handling prison."

The defense attorney is placing the medical reports on the judge's podium.

The judge is looking over the documents.

"Ms. Bertino, why don't you tell me what happened. I've read your statement, but I'd like to hear your words."

"Yes, Judge. Mr. Forbes was very polite to me, and we became friends. I wanted to be much more, so on the advice of a friend I purchased a love potion from a gypsy that hangs around downtown. I took the potion and went to see Sean that night. I knew he liked to walk around the family cemetery and be alone sometimes. I am ashamed to admit I threw myself at him. But he turned me down. Then I just snapped and pulled out my gun. He struggled with me and the gun went off, but the bullet flew into the air. He was on the ground, and I just started hitting him, over and over again. I just don't know what came over me."



"I ran away and went home. I was very sick. I had a fever and I hallucinated. I didn't know that Sean had died, but I dreamed of his ghost coming for me. When I discovered his death, I knew I had to see the grave, I had to have proof. I went to the estate and went to the cemetery. I cried over his grave. Then his daughter came home from a date. This feeling of hatred just washed over me. I couldn't explain it. I went around to the front of the house and watched her and her date. They were right there in the car, in front of everyone! I knew she had to die. I pulled out my gun, and when she got out of the car and went to the mailbox, I took the shot."

The judge is thinking about what Dagmar has said.



"I will go to my chambers to deliberate. I will return in the morning at 9am with my decision and your sentencing".

The judge is leaving the courtroom. Ms. Bertino and her attorney are going back to her jail cell. This is an exciting case! Be sure to check back tomorrow to discover the sentencing!

General Update and Upcoming Events

So much has happened in the last few weeks.

The twins had a birthday and started school. Here is their picture. Greg is in the red shirt and Henry is in the orange. Sometimes they like to switch their clothes around so I mix them up. They think it's funny :)



I worked in the family cemetery the other day with our gardener. I decided to take a picture of it. I want to make it a peaceful place for my ancestors to rest.



The big news, of course, is Dagmar's trial next week. I don't know if I'm going to go. It will be difficult to see her, knowing what she did. I'll have to think about it.

Frank keeps asking about his father.



I finally told him the truth - that I didn't know who is father was. I told him about the drinking and the men I dated when I was younger. While I do still date, he does admit that it's not as often, especially since the twins were born. I guess I am more picky now that I'm older. Anyway, Frank says he wants to know who these men were. He wants to find them and see if they are his father. I don't know how I feel about that. I mean, I want him to find meaning in his life, but what is he going to do? Go up to each guy and say "My mom slept with you about 18 years ago. Can you do a blood test to see if you're my dad?"

Frank will be going off to college as soon as Dagmar's trial is over. He says he will start the search there. Maybe after he closes this part of his life, then we can repair our relationship as well.

**Dagmar's trial - Part 1 will be posted tomorrow!

Twins stats - Both Aries, 6 neat, 9 outgoing, 6 active, 4 serious and 3 grouchy. They are exactly alike!**

Birthdays and More

It has been crazy in this house! The twins are now toddlers and they get into everything!

This is Greg...



And this is Henry...



Wyatt still comes by about once a week to see them.

Frank doesn't like me very much right now. I was on a date with Ron and he just went off! He is now a teenager and is asking a lot about his father. How can I tell him that I don't know who he is? He actually called me a slut the other day! How can I explain my feelings about men to my son, for goodness sake?

Here is a picture that I took of Frank on his birthday. Whenever I look at it, I am reminded of someone. I guess that would make sense, though, since I obviously dated and boinked the kid's dad.



Frank really wants to go to college. He also said he's going to find his father. I don't know how he plans to do that. God, when I think about all the lovers I've had since college...



**Franklin Forbes, knowledge Sim, LTW - Mad Scientist, Sagitarius, 0 neat, 9 outgoing, 10 active, 10 playful, 3 grouchy. I plan to re-roll him in college since I already have a knowledge ancestor who was a mad scientist.**

Eileen Home Again

I'm back home! I'm so happy to be here, but I miss Mom. I spent time with all my kids as soon as I got back. They are growing up so fast! I just love blowing raspberries on the babies' tummies, and Frank told me about staying with Nanny Calista after I went back to the hospital after Mom's funeral.



Wyatt came over, just as he said he would. He wasn't thrilled with the idea of having 2 kids with me, but he did help out with them.

I introduced him to Greg first, since he needed a diaper change.





After Greg's diaper was taken care of, Wyatt held him for a while then fed him his bottle.





Wyatt told me before he went home that he knows I'll do a good job with our kids and he'll help out whenever he's needed. I thanked him for that, it meant a lot to me.

I'd been seeing a lot of Amin since meeting him at the hospital, but he got mad at me because I met Ron Yang and flirted a little bit.



Isn't Ron just a great looking guy? He's got this dangerous vibe going on. He told me I looked great to be a mom of 3 kids. I got my hair done and got a new bathing suit before he came over for a date. I really am feeling much better and I feel fabulous. Of course, attention from a man doesn't hurt either :)



Amin will come around, they always do. They just can't stay away

My doctor tells me that men are another addiction for me. He suggests that while I'm learning to live a sober life that I hold off on men, maybe for a year or so. I don't think I can do that. They are too much fun :)

Truthfully, though, I have thought about getting married recently. I'm still in touch with Dominique, my old college sweetie. Who knows what could happen there?

**Note from Simmer in charge - legitimate comments are welcome, that's why anyone can post. However, all comments are read and spam comments will be deleted :) If you don't have anything to say about the post, then say nothing :)**