The Poverty Challenge - The Sims 2 - Part IV

Welcome to Part 4 of the Poverty Challenge. In Part 3, the strain of living on the edge of total failure was taking it's toll.  We saw the patriarch Matthew suffer with near aspirational failure, standing and wringing his hands in hopelessness.  The matriarch Joy actually went into failure upon the death of the love of her life Matt, and again when the heiress Shona aged up to adult badly.  This also threw Shona in to aspirational failure.  We saw a couple of deaths...poor little Eva died by fire when the outdoor grill caught on fire (point minus for the challenge).  Matt died of old age at 63 years of age.

Shona became engaged to the love of her life, Samuel Riley, and experienced her first woohoo!  Is there a new little Riley on the way?

This chapter starts with a ghost sighting.

Day 43

Little Eva came out to haunt on the day of her father's Grim party, which happened to be Shona's engagment day as well.  Eva is MAD...she scared everyone.

Meet the Rileys.  Shona and Sammy got married, and received immediate congratulations from Louisa.   And none too soon..at least one of Shona's parents lived long enough to see her get married.

That afternoon the Poverty Challenge founder, Joy has her Grim party.  She was 66 years of age. 

But not before a few of her aspiration points were spent. *wink*  A great place to woo-hoo!

Well, Flynn and Louisa received merchandise for their backpack for their inheritance.  Shona kept hers and enlarged the kitchen, installed two more kitchen counters, a kitchen sink, and painted the house.  Also put down some stone terrain in the back and front to look something like a back deck for the hot tub, and a front porch.

Shona also found a high paying job in the military like her mother.  Now Sammy will be on the lookout for a job on opposite shift so there will always be someone home with the kids.

Day 44

The torch has officially been passed to the next generation.

Shona returns from her first day at work in the military, following in her mother's footsteps.

Everyone...even the cat...settles down for dinner.  It is their last meal together, as the family dynamic is about to change.

Day 45

Louisa aged right on up...and true to her lineage, promptly went into aspirational failure because she did not go to University.  As a Knoweldge Sim, this is very important to their well being.

Um......yeah.

However Louisa had a desire to make a wish on the genie lamp, and decided to spend it on a good one before moving out.

She wished to resurrect little Eva.  This was all because ASimWen couldn't stand having a ghost child wondering the property.  It was so sad that her dad had bad aim with the fire extinguisher.  Eva didn't deserve that at all.

This day ends with the University Cow showing up on the lot for some reason...  Huh?  This guy actually just walked onto the lot...walked around for a while, and jumped into the hot tub and stayed there until about 2 in the morning.  Even Sweets the cat has no idea what that guy is doing there.  At any rate having already taken the penalty for an accidental death, ASimWen had no desire to raise Eva even to teen.  She moved out with Louisa, where she will become a townie.

Oh wait.  One more thing happened on this day.

Shona showed everyone her first baby bump.  Go you, Shona!

Day 46

 Sammy heads off for his first day of work as a stand up comedian.  His hours are 3 to 10 pm at a rate of $240 a day.  He and Shona work opposite shifts so there will always be someone home for the kids.

Day 47

It was Friday, and Flynn decided to head across the street for a little fun after school.  He headed over The Shack.

He witnessed these two yokels trying to dance to the radio.

 

While there, Flynn stole some dinner, took a shower and a swim, then headed back home.

Yesssss!!!  Will be able to get rid of the litter box. Thanks to Flynn's great training!

Day 48

It's the twin's birthday!!!!

Round about 2 in the morning...the girls were born.  Sammy almost slept through it.

Keeping with the "S" names...meet Sheena and Sydney.  They both have brown hair and blue eyes, and have blond hair as a recessive.  Keep waiting for a redhead..from granny Joy!

Day 50

 Well I  missed a day?  On this day the cake up birthday message threw for the twins.   Apparently I was on auto pilot play and nothing of note happened while the twins were newborns.  I do remember Louisa dropping by for a visit and stood around outside with Flynn fishing, and Joy and Matt came out to haunt.  Anyway, on with Sheena and Sydney's birthday!

Did it outside so there would be opportunity for better pictures.  Daddy Sammy was at work, so Uncle Flynn helped out.

Libra - Romance

Hello Sydney!  You cutie patooty you!

Sagittarius - Knowledge

Hi Ya Sheena!  You look incredibly like Auntie Eva when she was little!

Both of the girls immediately peed thier pants even though they had just had their diapers changed.  They were cleaned up and put right to bed.

Day 51

The twins worked on their toddler skills thanks to the help of mamma Shona and Uncle Flynn.  Daddy Sammy got to help some.  Both girls learned to talk.

Day 52

Sammy had the day off from work, so was all about teaching his girls, being a Knowledge Sim and all.  Both of them finished up their walking and potty skills.

Andddd.it was Flynn's cake up day.  He will be missed...he helped a lot with the girls.  He will be moving out.

Yup,  aspirational failure due to not going to University., or getting into Private School, any of that.  Need to get this guy moved out so there isn't a crying Sim on the lot for days.

Day 53

Flynn moved out.  And none too soon....he did nothing but cry and sob and carry on.  Buh-bye, Flynn.  Good riddance.

As soon as Flynn left the lot, Shona shows signs of pregnancy!  Woohoo!  It is about time.  Shona and Sammy had been trying every day for baby, and none!  Here we go!

And it was the girl's cake up day.  Sydney on the left, and Sheena on the right.  Hi girls!

Day 54

Sammy was fired through a chance card!

Sammy checked the paper for a new job upon returning home in disgrace. Oh but look, the boss who had fired him had listed Sammy's position immediately.  There it was!  Sammy applied, and was accepted back as a stand up comedian.   heh
Day55

Yay for school bonuses.  So it was at this point ASimWen, and having felt like this for several Sim days, was feeling like this "challenge" wasn't much of a challenge.  Things were going great, money wasn't so bad, and everyone had the basics without much complaint.  So ASim went back and read the original rules. Ewww.  Shona wasn't supposed to keep her inheritance from her parents. She totaled $7,500 between the two, so an immediate adjustment of household funds took place using the familyFunds cheat.  This brought the bank down to $1,415.  A few things were sold off as well like a couple of the cheap kitchen counters, a cheap ikea end table, ect. So alrightie then.  On with the playing.

A very pregnant Shona congratulating Sheena on an A report card.

Day 56

At 3:23 in the morning....

Time for the next set of twinsies!!! Yes Please!!!!  Remember that Sammy and Shona are both Family Sims, and Super Fertility is turned on for this challenge.

A boy and a girl!  WooWoo!

Cutie patooty!  This is Seymore.  Shona got a couple of hours of sleep, then it was off to work. 

Sammy took care of the kids all day, then headed off to work as Shona stepped in the front door.  Boy was she tired.

Day 57

Early Cake up!

Libra - Romance

 My oh my Sian...you have the same hair that Louisa, Eva, and Sheena had.  Dang can't this game really likes it.  FYI it is a default replacement for something else.

Sagittarius - Knowledge

Hey Seymore...do you "see more????"  hahaha  You are a good looking boy!

And that is where we end this chapter~!

Shona is half way through her life now, aging up to  elder in 15 days, same for Sammy.  There is $2,696 in the bank right now, and they are going to need it because Shona and Sammy are going to keep pumping the babies out.  Another bedroom will have to be built and more beds bought.

Sheena and Sydney cake up in three days, so we will see them as teens next round!

Have fun everyone and keep on simming!

~ASimWen

The Poverty Challenge - The Sims 2 - Part III

Chapter 2 ended with the cake up to teen, Shona Howe, heiress of this Poverty Challenge,.  A sneak peek was given to her fiancee-to-be, Samuel Riley.  They are a two bolt attraction, just like Shona's parents.  As this chapter is started, there is $2,300 in the bank, with founder Joy (Hickey) Howe and her husband Matthew Howe still working their jobs.  Joy brings in $350 a day in the miltary, and Matt brings in $336 a day as a security guard.

Day 29

Matt shows several times a day he is on the verge of Knowledge Sim aspirational failure.  He stays in red all the time.  With no or wishes to gain skills and no way to get them anyway, he is pretty downhearted.  Sometimes he even cries.  He spent some time constantly jump roping on his own gaining a few body skill points, but eventually became too depressed to do even that.  Family Sim Shona on the other hand embraces helping to take care of her younger siblings.

Day 30

A snowman army...to guard the Howes.  A little Winter fun!  It was the last day of the season, and the snowmen were starting to melt.

It was Flynn and Eva's cake up day.  Poor Flynn was in exhaustion, kept falling asleep on the way to the toilet.  Finally made it, and went right to bed without eating any cake.  Eva managed to wait her turn for shower/toilet and managed to work in a peice of cake before heading to bed.

Day 31

It was Joy's birthday. Doesn't she make a beautiful elder!

Then Louisa aged on up....now then... Oh look it is Jill Smith from the Smith Family house!  She came over on the bus with one of the kids.

Day 32

Annnd!  The last birthday for a while.  Matt's.  Oh my...he did not have a good growing up!  Jill Smith's dad stopped by to see what these new neighbors were all about.  hmmmm...

Hahaha!  What a foreboding message!  How long will he live as an elder???  Who will take bets that he dies first?

Day 33

It was now the first day of Spring, and Joy continued gardening.  Bronze badge won...but really...someone suffering in poverty would sell that sucker. 

On this day, three of the four kids brought friends home on the bus.  Even though the Howes have a HUGE yard....they packed like sardines into this small group to chat.  Matt showed everyone unashamedly how sad he is about his poverty life.  Dang.  He is almost acting like a Fortune Sim.

Day 34

It was a great day!  Strides were made in relationships and quality of living.  It was Saturday.  While mom and dad slept in...

The kids headed to the rest stop to hopefully have some fun on the swings, and maybe have some cookout food.  Oohh look there on the swings.  It was Sammy, Shona's beloved.

What a sweet reunion! Unfortunately the family lost $150 when Louisa got her pocket picked. The kids decided to head home.  Once back home, Shona and Sammy continued their visit and decided to go steady.

The house was added on to as well, the Howes were able to add a room with space for a cheap sofa and tv, with a card table and chairs in the corner to sit and eat as a family.  Woohoo!

Day 35

The next day on Sunday an outing was again attempted.  The kids went to their parent's favorite hang out - The Shack.  Flynn practiced the fine art of stealing another Sim's lunch, and Shona met up with Sammy.  A rousing game of darts was played, as well a a picture or two taken in the photo booth, then it was back home.

Day 36

It was a dark day at the Howe's.

Matt was cooking dinner for the kids and their friends after school.  The grill, for the second time since Matt and Joy got married, caught fire.

Matt tried to extinguish the fire, but was not successful.  It had spread to the table, and to little Eva.

Matt tried again but in his delirium, extinguished the table instead of Eva!  Shona caught the flame as well (Oh no not the heiress!) but her mother Joy had presence of mind to extinguish the flames.

If you took the bet earlier that Matt would pass first, well you lose.  Buh-bye, Eva.  Shona survived to carry on the Poverty Challenge.

Day 37

Sagittarius - Knowledge

The family spent this day working their needs back up after Eva's untimely death.  It was Flynn's birthday. Happy birthday, bud!  He wants to be a Criminal Mastermind.  Nope.  Not in this challenge, anyway.

Day 38

The kids all brought home a friend after school.  Sammy came home with his girlfriend and our heiress Shona.  However Shona's brother Flynn made it clear he did not like Sammy.  They constantly argued.  Uh-oh.  They are going to soon be brothers in law.

Day 39

This day was all about Shona!

 One bronze badge in gardening coming right up....and adopting a stray.  Shona had been wishing for a puppy or a kitten.  Stray adoption was a good substitute!

Day 40

The stress is setting in...Joy has fallen into red aspiration!

Flynn tried his hand at making breakfast, and burned it of course.  But no matter, everyone sat down to eat it at any rate before heading out to school.  Family Sim Shona began discussing her thoughts on potty training children.

Day 41

All about Matt.

Started out the day on the wrong foot, burning breakfast.  Spent time playing with Sweets the cat, piddling around in the garden, and sleeping the afternoon away as was his habit before leaving at 7 pm for work.  Then he recieved an unwelcome visitor.  Matthew Howe was 63.

Hmmm what to do with this money.  This is the Poverty Challenge after all.  The rules don't say.

Took Flynn and Louisa's inhertence and spent it on stuff for their backpack, after all they will be moving out upon growing up.  Did the same with Joy's, she will take it to the grave with her.  The only person that was able to keep her inheritance was the heiress, Shona.

Matt's passing moved Joy into aspirational failure.  Poor poor Joy.  But it won't be long before she joins him.

Day 42

This was Shona's cake up day!  Whoopie!

Only one person invited for the party, and that was Sammy.

Shona grew up badly.  Very badly.  Her father passing the day before put her in to red aspiration.  Growing up badly on top of that, well.  Let's just say it could have been better.  Poor poor Shona.

Let's see how Sammy fared!

He grew up badly as well, but no failure!  Shone invited him to move in and he said yes!  He had $11,000 on him.  Family Funds cheat used to adjust it out of the home.

Joy went right back in the aspirational failure.  She had a fear that Shona would grow up badly, and it happened!  But look at those wishes.  Get married, get engaged, Louisa goes to University, and have a grandchild.  She won't live to see any of it.

Will you?  Will you marry me, Sammy?

Yes!  Yes I will marry you and be poor with you, Shona!

And this chapter is ended with Shona's birthday woohoo.  Was there chimes?  Tune in next time to see Shona and Sammy get married, and if there was a new little one on the way already!