traditional kind of people

December 2080 - Adam and Heather Thompson are 27, Laney is 13 months.

Heather says to her 13-month-old daughter, "The thing is, Laney-cakes, I never really liked it anyway. It's so traditional-looking, so conventional, and what I want to try for is avant-garde. Your daddy liked that one. Your daddy's more traditional than you and I - though we are pretty traditional kind of people - well, except for the graveyard thing. But anyway, the painting..."

"You'll draw your daddy something better, and he won't miss it at all. Won't you, Laney-cakes?"

The Thompson family is running pretty low on funds at the start of the month, and Heather doesn't know where all of their money went, especially for them both graduating top of their class and math majors! There were taxes, and birthing bills, and before she knew it, here they are putting a painting up on e-bay to pay their credit card bills. They're not broke by any means, but it looks like the painting will have to go.

It's okay though, because Laney drew her daddy something better.

Better is in the eye of the beholder, right? Adam loves it, really he does. He doesn't sigh because of his toddler's artwork, but because he just came from a school board meeting, and Meadow has appointed him principal of Lakeside Heights Public School, with a sizable bonus, and they could have afforded their bills after all.

At thirteen months, Laney is still working on those first wobbly steps. She's a sweet and energetic little girl with her mommy's pretty eyes.

She's also smart like her mommy, so it doesn't take her long before she's off and tearing through the house on her own two legs.

Heather is home with Laney in the days, and she's maybe just a little at a loss for things to do. She was never exactly the homemaking or patty-cakes kind of lady, but it was easier for Heather to take maternity leave since Adam was contending for that principal spot, even though he promised he would be the one to stay home with Laney. So homemaking and patty-cakes is what Heather finds herself doing. She wasn't even sure she was the mom-type at all until Laney showed up, and she's grown into the roll as best she could.

"Maybe you'd like to learn molecular theory?"

Laney is thinking, Ooh, molecular theory! Does that come before or after my 1-2-3's?

No molecular theory just yet, maybe they'd better start with the 1-2-3's song...

The first snowfall of the season happens in the night while everyone is sleeping.

And by morning, the snow is up to Heather's ankles and Laney's kneecaps. So Heather doesn't manage to teach any molecular theory or patty-cakes, but maybe she can make a snowman?

Adrian Jackson walks over from across the street to supervise the construction. Adrian doesn't have any kind of real job, being a professional socialite and arcade owner. But with the boys in school, and Aurora doing actual work in her days, he gets kind of bored.

Maybe Adam doesn't know that his new best friend is hanging out with his wife in the daytime, but we can vouch that it's a platonic situation, on Heather's behalf at least.

Lara Nova calls that afternoon and she says, "Hey, you should come out to the city for lunch!" And Heather says, "No way, there's twelve inches of snow on the ground!" But no matter, Lara brings out Raine anyway, so they have a playdate! Raine is two years old now. Heather never thought she would be the playdate type, but it's a little different when you're talking about old college buddies. Heather never did make nice with her neighbor Allegra Lind.

And as it turns out, Adrian isn't completely useless - he has teenagers, and Adam and Heather happen to be looking for a babysitter! And as Tyler is walking home from school (planning on swiping their newspaper, it looked like), and Adrian called him inside and offered his son's services.

At first, Heather really likes Tyler (and all parents do, for some strange reason), until she and Tyler are discussing his nightly rate. Heather says, "$500? Absolutely not!"

Adrian is asking Lara, "You're married, huh? Hey, do you guys swing?" Lara says, "Swing? You mean like on a swingset?"

Meanwhile poor Laney says, "Hello, down here!!! Can one of you grown-ups please put me down for my nap???"

They get Laney down for a nap, and Adam gets Tyler to renegotiate his price down to $200 for the night by throwing hamburgers into the deal, and what seventeen-year-old won't work for hamburgers?

Tyler and Laney have a pretty good time. The dance party was Laney's idea.

And thus we declare Tyler's secondary aspiration as family - he knows how to party with the rugrats; he's always been so cute with his girlfriend Summer (let's hope they don't make any of their own rugrats any time soon!); parents always seem to like him, for whatever reason; and earlier when Laney did finally konk out on the carpet, he was the only one who stopped to worry about her.

Though he never did get all those first dates he used to think he wanted, and at this point, he's wondering if he still cares or not...

Speaking of Summer, well you had to suspect she might end up over here. After all, she does live just around the corner! Though Adam and Heather will be pleased to know that nothing more dubious than a little game of kicky bag went on in their living room that night.

And what important date did they go through all the trouble of finding a babysitter for? The graveyard, of course. Adam steadfastly believes in ghosts, and he vows he'll see one some day. But just a couple months ago, he heard from Adrian, who heard from Tyler, who heard from Summer, who said her dad saw the ghost of his grandfather at Lakeside Heights Memorial Park! That's almost like proof!

So Adam convinces Heather they should try again. Heather always believed in hard science, none of this paranormal hokey-pokey. But she always did enjoy the thrill of graveyard-lovemaking - call her kinky if you will - so she agrees. But not because she thinks they're going to see a ghost. She absolutely does not believe in ghosts!

It's freezing outside, twelve inches of snow on the ground, and they manage to keep warm doing what they usually do while they're waiting for the dead to rise.

Except that tonight it's just too cold, so they find the mausoleum unlocked...

Nice and warm in here...

Warm enough that they manage to lose their coats...

Well, you can guess what comes next... and you know, it's really not a wonder Adam and Heather have never managed to see a ghost.

***

The history of a graveyard fetish: Adam and Heather first started getting busy at graveyards back in college. Both being knowledge Sims, they always rolled that "see a ghost" want, and since they have a massive three-bolts together (133 ACR), while they were waiting, they always found certain ways to pass the time, lol. But they still haven't managed to EVER see any ghosts! And I know they aren't paying attention, but I'm keeping a look out for them. Whenever anybody else goes, at least a couple ghosts end up rising. Not for Adam and Heather though :(

Poor Heather. She just spent the whole month wanting to go back to work! I forgot that Adam was supposed to stay home with Laney, and I guess he forgot too! It's okay though, Heather is closer to the top of her career than he is, and she can afford some time off - as much as she hates it. Man, such a little worker bee that one is! I keep meaning to look for a mod that transfers vacation days from the mom to the dad, because how sexist is Maxis for thinking the mom is always going to want to stay home???

They never wanted to try for another baby this round. They only have a 30% chance of wanting another, but they're still young, so they might still get another before they're officially done.