Chapter 28: Birthdays

Ivy decides to give the chocolate candy maker a go.

Boy, those sure look good.

Taste good too.

Derek checks out Dagmar from behind as she performs a tricky shot.

Having a pool room certainly keeps the elders entertained.

Ivy is getting ready to celebrate her transition to elder hood.

An all adult party, a little unusual in this legacy house.

Happy Birthday Ivy!

This isn't too bad, at least she transitioned into a decent outfit.

Alexander and Ivy
(I always find these pictures a little odd until the other person transitions).

Do they talk about anything besides travel?

Benjamin says hi to the bun in the oven.

I think these interactions are too cute.

Looks like it's time for the bun to come out!

Welcome baby Celeste!

I'm very excited to have another girl.

Derek doing some garden work, he loves puttering around the house.

Ivy and Meadow hanging out together.

Proud father.

Everyone loves having a baby around the place. Alexander dotes on his first granddaughter.

A sweet mother and daughter picture.

Benjamin and Celeste.
This is one of my all time favorite pictures.

Chapter 27: Back at Home

Benjamin and Meadow move back into the Bertino family home together.

Looks like the fireman was called to the welcome home BBQ.

Meadow spends the first few nights in the spare kids room until the wedding takes place.

Meadow jamming with her future in laws.

Ivy suggests a cross country train trip to the couple as a possible honeymoon.

People arriving in formal wear can only mean one thing.

A wedding!

What do the happy couple do right after the ceremony? Pull out the pillows of course.

Brandon thinks this is the best wedding ever.

Toasting the happy couple.

Lost in each others arms.

Cutting the cake as it gets dark.

Cake inside.

Off to that much talked about honeymoon. Where are they going? Only the Benjamin and Meadow know.

The party continues with the bride and groom gone. Derek still thinks his wife is hot stuff.

Ivy and Derek having a great time dancing.

Back at home in the first master bedroom.

Fireworks!

Pancake breakfast, dress is casual around here in the morning.

Uh oh, looks like Derek annoyed the wrong person.

Painting is such a great retirement hobby.

Meadow gets a job in the movie business.

Updated view of the Bertino home.

With the growing number of people around the home a new place to house the workout machines and activity equipment was needed. The storage room is next to it.

Another view, the two bathrooms available are good for an after workout shower and are very useful for big parties.

Benjamin decides it's time to leave home and head off to university.

A shot of Benjamin and Meadow's diplomas proudly displayed in the living room.

Benjamin spending some time with his grandma.

They are still so cute together!

Dagmar decides to get a part time job in the slacker career track, something to keep her busy.

Relaxed family moment.

Meadow gets her first bump.

Dagmar heads off to her new job.

Ivy gives advice to Meadow on what to expect with the first baby.

And here is the second bump! Meadow seems a bit surprised.

Chapter 26: Benjamin and Meadow: the College Years Part Two

The cow mascot spends quite a bit of time hanging around on the couch.

Getting some studying done.

A nice after class kiss.

Benjamin decides it's time to pop the question.

Meadow seems pretty happy.

A break from all the studying.

Talking about going on a cruise as a honeymoon possibility.

Ahh student life, burnt chili and dirty counters.

Meadow decides it's time for another change and grows out her hair, a much more romantic look she thinks.

Brandon comes to visit his big brother at university.

Benjamin gives him some tips on how to do the school cheer.

Brandon seems overwhelmed at how complicated it is.

Benjamin asks his brother about his plans for attending university.

It's nice to see how well they get along.

Looks like Benjamin is still planning the honeymoon.

Alexander comes over to visit the newly engaged couple.

Some father and son time.

Cousin Eric seems to approve of the plans for a cruise.

How time flies, Benjamin has a great graduation party.

Brandon tries to impress a professor with a joke about sundaes.

Benjamin and Ivy preform an odd dance in front of the bonfire.

Parting kiss.

Wow Benjamin, you look so old all of a sudden.

The taxi send off.

Eric moves into the house because Meadow will soon be graduating as well.

Meadow making wedding plans.

Time for her own graduation party.

Saying goodbye to well loved profs.

Great party, Benjamin couldn't make it as he was looking for work.
(Actually I forgot him in the sim bin and couldn't invite him.)

Meadow has chosen a similarly grownup look to head home in. She must have some interviews lined up.

Eric left with the aftermath of the party.

Chapter 25: Golden Anniversary

It's time for an anniversary party! The family gathers to celebrate Derek and Dagmar's marriage.

Looks like Anthony's gained a little weight recently.

A romantic moment while the family starts the entertainment for the evening.

Watching the game, I don't think Derek is too thrilled to have Dagmar blocking his view.

With the party over it's back to regular family life, Brandon looks so cute reading the paper.

Birthday time for Brandon!

The family gathers to cheer him on.

Seems everyone prefers cake to spaghetti this evening.


Brandon follows the Bertino tradition of good grades.

Brandon and his aunt Dina have a late night jam session.

Derek doesn't look like he cares that the neighborhood meanie, Mortimer Goth is accusing him of spying.

Chapter 24: Benjamin and Meadow: The College Years Part One

Benjamin and Meadow settled into their new place nicely, here Meadow does some much needed studying.

Trying to ignore the campus streaker.

Taking a break from hitting the books.

Another break, gotta love those ratty old college couches, they've seen a lot of action!

Spaghetti: food of choice for those on a budget.

Benjamin doing the washing up and looking very handsome.

Sharing the domestic chores.

Time for a good pillow fight.

Looks like Meadow took quite the hit!

These two are just too cute together.

Working hard for those creativity points.

Meadow tries out a softer hair style.

The couple have Eric over for mac 'n' cheese.

Meadow checks out the campus gym.

Looks like she still needs to work on her fitness level.

Hanging out at the pool hall.


Meadow plays a game, while Benjamin makes friends with Heather Huffington.

Chapter 23: Geoffrey's Childhood

Anthony painting a portrait of Geoffrey, while Dina plays some chess with her son.

Dina has become quite domestic, serving omelets.

Family meal with everyone looking serious.

Geoffrey is a pretty quiet boy, guess it comes from being an only child.

The nanny looking kind of grim and forbidding.

Being fortune sims both Anthony and Dina wanted their son in private school so I attempted my first headmaster visit.

Geoffrey coming to great the headmaster.

Geoffrey ready for bed watching the game with the headmaster. The visit went quite well and he was accepted into the school.

Chapter 22: The Pleasant's of Pleasantview

The Pleasant family was slightly dysfunctional when I started playing their lot. Daniel Pleasant the head of the house was having an affair with the maid. His wife Mary-Sue was a workaholic trying to make her way through the political field and while their daughter Angela seemed to be fine, her twin Lilith did not get along with anyone in the family.

At the intervention of a family councilor (me) Lilith decides to spend more time with her family. Trying to have a nice family meal, although Angela is missing from the table. The twins are not on speaking terms at this time.

In an effort to improve her grades Lilith gets help with her homework.

Daniel and Mary-sue try to reconnect.

Looks like they're making some progress.

As her mood lightens Lilith decides it's time for a new look, getting a haircut and some new clothes. Here she tries to ignore the fact that her mom is at the breakfast table in her undies, looks like Daniel was successful last night.

Finally we see Angela, having a breakfast shake with her dad in the morning.

Lilith brings James Bertino home after school to hang out. She decided she needed to make more friends, particularly since her ex-boyfriend Dirk left to go to college.

Angela seems quite proud of her good grades and has brought home her boyfriend Dustin, although her parents don't really approve of them dating since he is now in college.

(I couldn't figure out why for two or three days he kept getting off the school bus with Angela even though he is now a young adult.)

Playing a game of kicky-back.

Looks like Lilith and James are having a good time together!

Lilith out buying some new clothes.

Family dinner, looks like relationships in this family are slowly improving. Enough for them to enjoy a meal together at least.

Despite showing up for dinner in her nightshirt, the family seems to approve of Lilith's new look.

Improving family relationships while getting skill points, now that's multitasking!

Looks like James and Lilith are happy to see each other again.

Angela listening to some tunes.

James impressing Lilith with some story of his.

Looks like a little more than friendship might be developing between these two, I see pink floaty hearts!

It took awhile, but finally Angela runs into James' twin brother Aaron. I'll leave the reader to speculate on my plans. :)