7: G is for Glamping

[jenga_sims]

Right oh, so when we left off Benjamin was heading into school on Wednesday with 3 out of 4 childhood aspirations complete. By my estimation, he'll age up early on Friday morning.

He still needs to make a BFF for Social Butterfly. Then he needs to make 3 more child-friends and 2 adult friends. Existing friends don't count.

The league of adventurers is invited over to help out.


My holdup was this.

I can't remember if 'have a BFF' autocompletes, or if it's one you need to do while the aspiration is selected. In case it's the latter, I want Bethany to be at this stage of social butterfly, too. So, while she was at school today she sacrificed some performance in order to 'make friends' at school, satisfying the requirement of meeting 5 new sims.

She also has to make friends with Elsa to satisfy 'make a friend'. I took no photos of any of this, so here's a photo of Benjamin and Bethany becoming BFFs.


Benjamin then chats with Lucas Munch well into the night. It's taking forever and I decide I need a different approach. Another night of rallying the troops won't solve this. I'll figure something out in the morning.


What the!?

So this is my first harvestfest. I have no idea what to expect. I did not look at the guides/wiki. Bethany gave this gnome (who just appeared next to Benjamin's bed) a toy, and he started spouting fire. So Benjamin tried to plead for forgiveness and got zapped.


Still not sure how I feel about those eyes.


But! Harvestfest is a proper public holiday! As in, no school nor work! I did not consider this, but when the kids literally can't go to school, I realise Social Butterfly is well within the realm of possibility.

Spurred on by Arthur's successful outing, the whole family heads into Windenburg for another excursion.

Oh, and Benjamin buys the 'incredibly friendly' aspiration reward, which is important to note.


See, incredibly friendly does nothing for existing relationships, but it bolsters new relationships into almost-green. (I had a sim once who had outgoing and gregarious, and with incredibly friendly she was inta-friending everyone she met).


Benjamin isn't quite at that level, but a couple minutes of cloudgazing with his new acquaintances easily bumps them into friends territory.


Voila! And this isn't even counted as an official 'achievement'.

Now let's go home for dinner!


The house is appropriately decorated.

Fun side story. So I grew up in Canada and we of course have Thanksgiving. It's in early October and has everything to do with the harvest and nothing to do with pilgrims. I actually know nothing about the pilgrim thing.

When we moved to Australia my Mom was really homesick (You'll notice I usually spell it mum but my own mum is Mom because I've mostly conformed to the Aussie way but my Mom still insists she's Mom) and so when she realised the first Monday in October was a public holiday here she invited all of my Dad's family over and threw thanksgiving dinner a week early. Australians don't 'do' thanksgiving. The "Easter Show" is our fall fair (because Easter's in autumn here), so Easter actually kind of becomes the 'harvest festival' equivalent.

That was ten years ago, and even though my moved back to Canada after 2 years, my Dad still puts on Canadian thanksgiving every year on Labour Day, largely for the benefit of me and my sister. And my Australian family still comes, and they still ask us about pilgrims and then act all shocked when we go around the table sharing a thing we're thankful for.


Is the gnome thing related to the pilgrim thing? They've all moved now to gather around the fridge. Makes sense, I guess, if they're here for food.

Eventually I get them all into a happy state (albeit not without further mishaps). The alien one likes coffee, so that's a thing.


Everyone puts on their party clothes and gathers in the kitchen for dinner.


Dinner is delicious and everyone goes around the table sharing what they're thankful for.

AS IS PROPER. *Stares at weird Australian cousins*.


The dinner plates have barely been cleared when I decide Benjamin deserves his cake early after all.

(Also, proof I did eventually please the gnomes).


This Zombie cake is the closest y'all are getting to a Hallowe'en spooky party. So enjoy it.
Benjamin stares at the cake as if there's something that's not quite to be trusted about it.


"Holy freezer bunnies, Arthur, we're about to be parents of a teen-ager." Amberley mutters.
"Shh, we're celebrating, dear," Arthur replies.


Taa-daa.


Oh NO!
Too many happy moodlets. Plus the 'child's play' playful moodlet hasn't disappeared yet. As a child, he was protected from this I presume? But now.


I've never actually lost a sim to hysteria before. But this is how it starts, right?

I pause the game to check and double check that it's the child's play moodlet that's not going away. Does it go away for teens?

I immediately banish Benjamin to the inspired living room until some of the happy moodlets fade. I must've rage quit the game because I know the next pic was taken the next day IRL as well as in game.


And here he is, post-makeover and ready for bed.
I swapped out the eye defaults I had, and also found a default replacement skin. Not sure if it's the skin or what but Benjamin's nose doesn't look quite right.


Bethany also sporting new skin/eyes.


The gnomes are still gathered around the fridge the next morning, and now I see the seeds all over the place. I guess that's one way to 'harvest' fresh fruit/veg?


Amberley quickly helps Benjamin out with his homework before the kids head off to school on Friday. (Also, true to tradition, Bethany enjoys leftover ham for breakfast the next morning).


While the kids are at school and Arthur is working on his writing, he throws me this gem.

I'm actually torn! Something about this family as it is feels...complete? There would be such a huge age gap if they had another now. And while. I'm not against maybe using one potion of youth (and may still), I'm pretty sure that even with that, they wouldn't live to see a third reach adulthood at this stage.
I'll pin it while I think about it, but I really don't think it's feasible Arthur.

I decide maybe if the two of them are in agreement I might. But Amberley's whims, while equally romantic in nature, express a desire to continue with contraception.


Just plain and simple woohoo.


The kids get home from school, and the weather is downright miserable.


They could spend the weekend hiding out inside.


Vainly trying to paint those last 3 masterpieces.


But Benjamin decides to shake things up a bit.
He still needs that great outdoors scouting badge, after all.


One weekend booking of Riverside retreat, coming right up!


See, while Benjamin is keen for an 'authentic' night in the tent, it's getting dangerously close to winter and I'm not 100% sure the rest of them want to be sleeping in a tent in the cold, so they hire a cabin.

I believe this is called 'glamping'. It's like camping, but with walls.


Benjamin introduces himself to one of the park rangers, challenging her to a game of cards.


As dusk settles on Friday evening, brother and sister head down to the river together to work on the wilderness badge. I love that this cabin truly is Riverside. There's a fishing spot SUPER close.


Benjamin is absolutely in his element, but Bethany quickly grows bored of the endeavor.

"I'm turning in," she shrugs.

"Suit yourself," says Benjamin. "I could stay out here all night long, personally."

"I know," says Bethany, rolling her eyes.



And now, at last, the narrative is caught up to exactly the point I've played to. I should probably be updating with my achievement list at some point. I've gotten some boring ones (Loner is always the first one I get :P) that haven't been worth a mention but I'll be sure to note some of the more interesting ones when they pop up.