Everlong

Round 23: Autumn 2017

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Ben and Caterina Nihill are both 62, Max is 30, Zaria Royce is 29, Josh Royce-Nihill is 3.
(Kit is 57, Steve is 22, Olivia is 20)

Narrated by Caterina Nihill

I'm going to miss Josh when he starts pre-school next year. I know it'll only be for half a day but when I'm not working, I really cherish spending time with him.



I know Max and Zaria are finding parenthood a lot easier now that Josh is a little older.

Kids are so much more fun once they get to 2 or 3, and can actually communicate with you.

It's so much easier to do things as a couple once the kids are a little older too.

They grow up so fast though. Our youngest, Olivia, came by with her boyfriend a couple of weeks ago. I still can't believe she's 20 and out on her own! She brought a quilt she'd sewn herself for Josh's room - it's a little girly but he's too young to care right now.

He absolutely loves the teddy bear Olivia made him though.

I've never understood the sewing thing but I've always been impressed with the things she's made. I even kept the potholder she made as her first project when she was 14. She's so embarrassed that I still have it hanging up!

Speaking of Olivia, Ben and I made plans to meet up with her and Steve for lunch. Ben ended up staying home, as he was a little under the weather, so I went on my own.

I already told Olivia how much I liked Steve but I left out the part about how I probably would have grabbed him for myself if I wasn't married!

I'd never be so horrible as to steal my own daughter's boyfriend, of course but let's just say I can definitely see what Olivia sees in him.

They're both just off in their own world so much of the time though.

In between all the flirting, I did manage to get to know Steve a little bit more. It seems like Olivia is getting quite serious about him, seeing she brought him around to meet us. He lives in Sullivan and I'm hoping that sways Olivia towards moving back here when she graduates, rather than moving to Exeter. I'd love to have both my kids close to home again.

When I got home, Ben had taken a turn for the worst. He was still in his pyjamas and his cough sounded awful.

Max had the day off from work and was home with his dad and he seems to have come down with whatever Ben had. I've read that the flu season will be particularly long and severe this year but I was hoping my family would escape it.

Zaria and I are okay so far - all we have to do is sit around worrying about the boys. Josh is fine too, thank goodness! I have nightmares about something happening to Josh!

We're keeping Max and Ben away from Josh, just to be safe so Zaria and I are doing any Josh-related chores right now.

Zaria's mother Kit came over to visit Josh and she's helped us out a bit too. She's been through a lot with Zaria's dad's death but I think she's finally getting back on her feet.

When I woke up the next morning, Zaria was attempting to eat leftovers for breakfast and really didn't look too well. She was ready to go off to work but I ordered her back to bed.

I meant for rest but I don't think that's what she was doing in there, if I heard what I think I heard when I walked past their bedroom door a little while later.

I knew it wouldn't be long before I succumbed too - I woke up feeling horrible the day after that.

By that time, everyone else was feeling a lot better. Max was even ready to head back to work.

I decided to wait out my flu by sleeping all day and soaking in the hot tub all night. It seemed to work! I think I got over it much faster than Max, Zaria or Ben did!
When I was finally well enough to rejoin the real world, Kit was visiting again. Zaria had invited her over to celebrate her new job. She's finally scored a politics internship. It's all she's wanted for as long as she's lived with us and now it's finally happening for her.

Random pics:

I just could not keep Josh out of Max and Zaria's room - he was always running after his mummy. I was a little worried about him getting sick, though I've never had a toddler get sick and I don't think they can, but I'm always a bit concerned! Especially with FOUR SICK ADULTS in the house!

I never saw this kiss until Finn and Victoria did it at school and now my Sims are doing it all over the shop. It looks way better than the regular Tender Kiss to me. I like that Zaria's hand is on Max's face - it just looks more intimate to me. Zaria's height is bumped up to Max's here, just so their lips would meet - she's usually only 0.96 to his 1.03.

Notes:

• Title is from the Foo Fighters song of the same name (which just happens to be the best Foo Fighters song ever).
• So everyone survived the first run-in this round with the flu epidemic, which was an ROS. Unfortunately 8 Sims are still to be infected - Max and Ben were the ones I rolled to get sick. Caterina and Zaria were just unlucky (or lucky, I guess). Fingers crossed everyone else gets through it too!
• I had Caterina go out with Olivia and Steve because she had the want to be friends with Steve. Before she'd even got that far, she rolled the want to flirt with him. This is very unusual for Caterina, as she's never strayed from Ben since they got married (she had a brief flirtation with Charlton, pre-marriage) and never rolls the want to flirt with anyone except Ben. So Steve's made quite the impression on her!
• LOL, flu-infected sex! If it was going to be anyone, it would be a couple like Max and Zaria. I think Ben and Caterina had a go too, which is probably how Caterina ended up getting sick in the first place (Zaria got sick before).
• The hot tub is an awesome way to cure sick Sims. They'll stay in there much longer than they'll lie on the bed or on the couch. I like to imagine the steam does them good, though it's obviously just the fact that their comfort is being kept up that helps them in the game. So if your Sims have the space and/or cash for a hot tub when they get sick, I definitely recommend giving it a try!