happy birthday to you...

September 2083 - Welcome to Lakeside Heights: Ian, Ingrid, Jacob, Catherine, and Rebecca.

It was a rainy day, early this September, two weeks shy of her due date and not even the slightest warning when the Thompson twins decided to make their sudden appearance. Adam was just about to help Heather down the stairs when her water broke there at the landing. Adam is a mathematician, and he didn't really take many health classes in college, and it's been four years since Laney was born, so he's not really sure if he remembers this all very well.

Regardless though, these babies are coming!

so lucky

February 2083 - Paul Gallagher is 32, Charlotte is 28. (Leila Watts is 27. Roland Ellis is 32, Marisa (Wilson) Ellis is 28.) Last update, September 2080.

They've been married two and a half years now, but they're still newlyweds in any way that counts. They can still spend long mornings, cozy and cuddly in bed. Their life is full of sleep because it can be, burrowed warm under the covers on these chilly February mornings, his face buried in her hair, still smelling of the pastries she made at work the night before.

They're enjoying this while they can because she's pregnant. Her parents will be elated when they find out, but they still haven't told anyone yet. It's only just starting to feel real now at eight weeks, and little baby Gallagher is due in September.

handsome Paul

January 2082 - Orlando Centowski is 66, Audrey is 65. Last update, December 2079.

Audrey and Orlando are hard at work this winter, filling orders for portraits and making pottery. This portrait is a gift to Charlotte and Paul for their wedding last year. It's taken Orlando this long to get around to it though, as he just didn't know how he would manage to paint his own daughter's quite ample chest! Perhaps Charlotte might have chosen a little more coverage on her wedding dress?

here comes the bride?

September 2080 - Paul Gallagher is 30, Charlotte (Centowski) Gallagher is 26.

Whether or not Charlotte Centowski actually makes it down the aisle this month is anyone's guess. Marisa made the trip back into town this week to be her maid of honor.

"Don't make that face," Marisa says. "It looks beautiful."

"I don't know," Charlotte says. "Something's not right."

"Well, if you would stand up straight, it might look better."

"What color did I tell you, for your dress?"

"Pink," Marisa says.

"I said pink? Why on earth would I say pink?"

"That's what you said, so that's what I bought!"

save the world, save a wedding

April 2080 - Matthew Watts is 29, Leila is 24, Felicity is 18 months, pet dog is Skip.

It's April now, and finally warm enough that Leila and Felicity can play outside while Matthew finishes planting the spring crop. Felicity is eighteen months old now, and just perfecting those baby steps.

many good years

December 2079 - Orlando Centowski is 64, Audrey is 63.

Orlando and Audrey still have many good years left in them. But something they have to start thinking about is the eventual passing on of their art shop. Centowski Custom Artworks is ranked #4 now, and building a solid customer base.

Their children have always been artistically-inclined, but as far as they know, neither of them ever took an interest in the visual or sculpting arts - Charlotte was always into cooking, and Luke was always into music and dance. It's kind of old-fashioned to think that your children will want to carry on the family business anyway. Maybe they'll find an independent buyer instead.

Orlando is trying to read the reviewer's mind. She looks pleased, but they never hear anything concrete from her. And somebody needs to remind the Nathan and Allegra Lind, and Jackson and Nessa Phoenix to come pick up their wedding portraits!!! They ordered those portraits ages ago!

the lofts, big fat chances

August 2079 - Paul Gallagher is 29, Cameron Gibson is 28, Charlotte Centowski is 25, Amelia Bradshaw is 24, Bella Bradshaw and Jeremiah Day are 23.

Bella and Amelia are actually getting along here in the lofts together. They're becoming almost something like friends. They never imagined the day would come, when Alon Hutchins had become inconsequential to them both, and long forgotten. We suppose that's part of growing up.

LCU, spring break 2076

LCU, spring break 2076

(note: I try to do one spring break for my college kids each round. Study hard, play hard! Not everybody gets to go each time - just a select few, whoever can afford it usually, or whoever is friends with the Sim arranging the trip.)

Amelia is arranging a killer party again, but this time she's hosting on Twikkii Island! She's invited Charlotte, Alon, Marisa, and Allegra even convinces Nathan to take some time away from the law firm and go with her, or maybe he just doesn't want her frolicking on the beach with a bunch of half-naked coeds?