Way Too Long
So this is the biggest update I've ever made...52 pictures in total! Usually I'm around the 20 picture mark, so this is huge! But the Clocks are such a big family that so much was going on, and of course I had to have pictures of it all. I'll try to keep the narrative to a minimum because otherwise it'll be extremely long. So grab a drink and a snack, because this one will take awhile!
Just an updated picture of their house at 342 Binsley Road.
First up, I gave a couple of the rooms a makeover. Max and Ella's bedrooms still had decor from their early childhood (Ella had the pink princess set from FFS, and Max had the space set), but now that they're teens and nearing their YA years I felt that they deserved new rooms.
Right after taking the pictures for the School Days update, my game did something funky. It wouldn't start at all. So I had to take the rest of the day (literally) and go through my downloads folder until I found the problem. Well, somehow I must have deleted some of my custom content that Harmony and Ella used, because when I entered the lot they looked awful! So I had to give them makeovers too. For some reason, Ella kept the freckled skintone, but Harmony lost hers. So I'll have to figure out how to fix that.
Stephen and Harmony had a very hectic life at the beginning of the week. They've got 6 kids total. Twins Huntley and Oliver became teens on the first day of Week 5 (simday 29), so that helped a little. But they still had a child (Liam) who demanded constant attention, and a baby (Charlie) who needed even more constant attention. But they still found a way to have some precious alone time.
Here are the twins, Huntley and Oliver, as teens. They also had to get makeovers after losing some of my CC. You can see their stats on the Resident Info page, if you're interested. Their new teen clothes were hideous, so they headed down to the new City Center with their big brother Max to buy some new duds.
Their first stop was to one of the new lots by an_nas for a little workout and dinner. Good thing they're going to buy new clothes because those workout leotards have got to go!
Next, they headed on over to Main Street to shop at the Sew Pretty Boutique owned by Lucy Wells. Their sister, Ella, works there as a cashier. She had to work that night, so they had fun giving her a hard time while shopping. In fact, she was so busy playing around with Max that poor Huntley had to wait at the register for a really long time. An angry line of customers soon formed behind him. Oh well.
Back at home, there were some birthdays. Their cat, Hunny, became an elder and got some pretty gray fur.
And the youngest Clock, Charlie, became a toddler. He's adorable! And it looks like he has a completely different face than the rest of his brothers/sister. (Unlike Max and Liam who are almost clones.)
And now to give you an idea of what life is like in a household with 4 teenagers, 1 child, and 1 toddler:
Always a line to use the phone...
Always someone hogging the computer...
Always someone goofing off... (and Harmony yelling, "you're going to get hurt!!!!!!!!")
Lots and lots of homework...
Always someone getting over-heated from someone jumping on the couch... (and Harmony yelling, "you're going to get hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!")
Lots of entertaining themselves autonomously...
Lots of toddler training...
And finally, a little bit of peace and quiet. I really really feel bad for Stephen and Harmony!
Now on to the raging hormones of 4 teenage Clocks:
Max Clock, the oldest child, is going steady with a girl named Danielle Pons. He only has 1 bolt with her (11 ACR score), but he rolled the want to "go steady with Danielle" so that must not matter to him. They've been dating since simday 32 and are currently in love. They were each others' first kiss too.
Ella Clock, the second child, is not going steady with anyone yet. I was hoping she'd have the hots for Dewey Dingle (since I don't have any other playable girls that can marry him), but they are not attracted to each other at all. So instead, she's currently interested in townie Stuart Downie, with whom she only has 1 bolt (21 ACR score). He'll do for now, but I'm sure she'll find someone better in college. They have not kissed or anything, only flirting.
Huntley Clock, 3rd child and one of the Clock twins, actually found a girl that he has 2 bolts with (56 ACR). She's a townie also, and her name is Annie Thayer. I think she's beautiful and really hope they can make it work, but 2 bolts isn't very high. But they shared their first kiss together, although they are not going steady at this time. I was hoping he would be interested in Susie Dingle, but she's still a child during my time with the Clock's. So we'll have to wait until the Dingle's turn to see if she has any chemistry with any of the Clock boys.
So that leaves Oliver Clock, Huntley's twin. He is the only Clock teenager that doesn't have any love interest. Clay Peshterianu tries to give him some advice on kissing, thinking that maybe that will help him get a girl. But then Oliver sees the love of his life...none other than Clay's girlfriend, Celia Gates. Celia and Oliver have a 106 ACR! Celia tells him, "it's just too bad you're so young, kid". I'm sure he'll find love later on, someone his own age, hopefully.
Anyway, Celia and Clay were over visiting the Clocks because Celia is really good friends with Stephen. And also because their son Sam is really good friends with Liam Clock. These two always roll wants for each other and Liam brought Sam home from school multiple times. So I figured a play date was in order.
Now for more birthdays:
Harmony became an elder on simday 33. She's just as gorgeous as ever. Old age hasn't slowed her love life down any. Harmony and Stephen are even more lovey-dovey than before (ACR really kicked in for these two after she became an elder), but their kids are so used to it that they don't even react anymore.
Charlie Clock had another birthday. He doesn't have much of a chin, so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out when he's a teenager. But I still think he's a cutie-pie.
Max was set to go off to college, so Harmony insisted that they take a professional family portrait before he left the house for good. So here is the Clock family on simday 35 (the last day of Week 5). They had this picture framed and hung it in the entry-way.
Max took a minute to look at the new family portrait before walking out to the cab that was waiting to take him away to college. He looked almost sad; I just about cried! Then he got into his cab as his family waved goodbye, and left to start his new college life.
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Random Pictures:
After installing the witch default skin by hystericalparoxysm at MTS2 (stops their skin from being green), Harvey Dingle still has a green face. Come to find out, I have to go into his lot and change his appearance a couple of times before it turns back to normal. Heehee. Also, it seems that even evil warlocks have to take their dog on a walk around the neighborhood!
Celia Gates better watch out. It seems that her long time live-in boyfriend, Clay Peshterianu, finally has marriage on his mind! I had him selected to take the family portrait for the Clocks and saw all of those Celia-related love wants! The poor guy has it bad for her.
Gameplay Notes:
--To be accepted into Little Hollywick University, a student must have a C average or better in high school and at least 15 skill points. So, Max was accepted to Little Hollywick University (LHU) with an A+ average and 18 skill points, and he received $3,250 in scholarships (Maxis scholarships are used for a 1 time discount on tuition). He is moving into the freshman dorms on campus. Each semester at LHU costs $1,500 per semester, which equals $12,000 to complete a degree. So the Clocks will have to pay $8,750 for Max to get a college degree. But that includes housing, so it's not too bad. I'll post a Uni post with all the juicy details a little later on as we join Max in college.
--Max should have aged to YA on Sunday evening at 6pm. So he will spend his 4 years (or 4 simdays) of college on days 1-4 of Week 6, and join the hood rotation at the end of Week 6. Although he'll only be played as an adult for 3 days instead of the normal 7, because he will have spent the first 4 days of the week in Uni.
--All of the Clock teens have rolled the want to go to college, so for right now they're all working towards meeting the acceptance requirements. All of them have LTWs to join careers that require college degrees, except for Huntley who wants to reach the top of the Law Enforcement career track. That one does not require a college degree, but if he still wants to go to college by the time his birthday rolls around, I'll let him go anyway. He may not be able to find a job in Law Enforcement and may be able to use that degree elsewhere.
--To determine Huntley and Oliver's aspirations (Huntley got Family and Oliver got Popularity) I used a new system that I came across on another blog (although it's been so long now that I can't remember where from!). Aspirations are based on personalities. Here's how aspirations are picked:
Fortune: 5 or fewer Nice points/5 or fewer Playful points
Knowledge: 5 or fewer Playful points/5 or fewer Outgoing points
Family: 5 or more Neat points/5 or more Nice points
Romance: 5 or more Outgoing points/5 or more Active points
Popularity: 5 or more Outgoing points/5 or more Nice points
Pleasure: 5 or more Playful points/5 or fewer Active points