Blast from the Past

Found some old wedding photos in a box, decided to post them.

Any Day Now

Any day now the babies will arrive. We're excited, but nervous at the same time. Can we handle three tiny lives. Three times everything. Bottles, diapers, cribs, education fees, clothes, everything!

Financial Strain

Yes, it's no secret that we're experiencing financial strain as of late. The IVF treatment was §5,000; then each doctor's visit is §500 and we still need to furnish the nursery and pay bills. It seems like the money doesn't stretch enough.

Ugh, rough

This pregnancy is so...uncomfortable. Ugh...not only physically, but financially as well. The fertility treatments were expensive, not to mention the continuous clinic visits. But good news is that we're having triplets! Yes, three babies! It will be crowded for a bit, but this is all we can afford at the moment.

We're Pregnant

Finally, we're having a family. I am beyond thrilled. I called my father and told him the great news and everyone was so happy. Anika Rose decided not to move to AV with us due to the upcoming birth. We're going to the clinic to find out if it's a boy or a girl. I am beyond thrilled!

New Places-Soon New Faces

We moved into our new apartment on the request of the new hood council. I love living here and designing the home was well worth it as well. Unfortunately now I have to make modifications to most of the lots since we're restricting imports. I told Tobi that we're pregnant and he was soooo excited. He spun me around the room and I promptly vomited all over him :)

Expanding Family

My sister, Anika Rose, called. She wants to finish her high school years here, so of course I agreed. I have to tell Li so she won't be shocked with Anika shows up the next simday. She'll be taking the room meant for the nursery...it's not getting used anyhow.

I'm bitter if you can't tell. Bewteen the neighborhood dogs digging up the yard, the fact that we're still not pregnant and seeing all these happy families with children! I resent this! Why can't we have a child of our own!

I have a surprise

I'm pregnant! Finally! I got the call from the clinic, but since it's Christmas Eve, I think I'll surprise Tobi and tell him on Christmas Day! Finally pregnant! Once I start showing, we'll be able to ind out if we're having a boy or a girl! I'm so excited!

Top Spot

Fiona has taken over the hood council and we have many conversations on the phone. She is pregnant with her first child...a bit bittersweet as I remember having the biggest crush on her as a teen and vice versa. Funny how life changes. I wonder if we would be pregnant if I was married to her? Who knows. Christmas is almost here, I need to find Li's gift.

Still Trying and Waiting

Tobi and I visited the clinic to discuss our fertility options. It encouraged us that there are options for us, so needless to say we signed up. We have to take out a small loan or we're considering either selling the house and moving to a small apartment instead to say money for the procedure.

Speaking of apartments, with the new deal signed, Apple Valley Metro is now open to residents. Now the council wants me to oversee the creation of a gated community for the "upper crust" and a series of attached townhomes.

Oh, my book, "Inner Walls" is almost finished!

Rotten Luck

Our luck is going from bad to worse. We are not pregnant still even after all the trying in the world and now it's becoming a chore. We have to try at certain times and positions and good riddance! I miss the fun of it all! Then we had a burgular! Can you believe it! My sources from SCPD say that the woman has been targeting smaller hoods with weak security measures, but she planned wrong on targeting Apple Valley and double wrong when targeting my house. I managed to nab her and then backup from SCPD flew in to take her back to the city. The real question is, how long had she been hiding out on AV and who else was on her list?

What's Going On?

Now that we decided to start trying for a baby, nothing seems to be happening. No pregnancy, no cravings, nothing. I suppose we'll give it a few more tries and then I'm heading to the clinic. They have a fertility treatment available and we could always try that...yes, it will be expensive, but still, we want a baby!

Back to Normal

Li wants to throw a new year's party at the end of the winter season. I don't see why not. We should have some extra money by then since she's been working on the designs of the Apple Valley Metro buildings and the newspaper and website. Besides, it would get our minds off the fact that we're not pregnant yet in spite of vigorious trying.

Craving

I woke up this morning with a craving for cheesecake and dreams of babies. Gosh, I have babies on the brain. Maybe I'm pregnant already...wouldn't that be wild! I haven't had any morning sickness, so I doubt it. But it would be nice to have a child. I guess listening to Sandy and Jadhira talk about thier children has made me want one even more. I talked to Tobi today about it on the phone and we promised to discuss it more once I return, just to make sure I am really ready.

Let the Weekend Begin!

We are finally here! Kono Resort. The first thing we did after checking into the resort and dropping off our bags was to sample the sauna. It was amazing. Jadhira had a great idea to try and have a trip every other season, just the three of us best friends. No husbands or kids. Speaking of children, I have been thinking about the possibility of trying to have a child after this trip. Tobi and I celebrated our anniversary and I think that now is a good time for a child.

The Change of Things

Jesse stopped by to see if I wanted to watch the soccer game at his house, but to be honest, his TV is so small! We decided to crash at my house to watch the game since Li is off with her friends on the beach somewhere. I told him how Li has been warming up to the idea of children and he related the news of how his wife is expecting...they think. He was only in town for a few hours anyway since he needed to pick up some things before returning to Palatial Heights with his wife.

Safety in the Hood

Jadhira and Jesse came over for afternoon tea, (Jadhira suggested it-I never heard of it) to discuss thier fears about the new Apple Valley Metro.

Book Club: Romantic Corriders

The chosen book for the Book Club was Romantic Corriders. We sat down and discussed the pros and cons of finding true love with a stranger after you've been married to them.

Sandy annouced that her book is almost complete, we agreed to make that our next book club reading.

Game Night

I invited some men over to watch the big game Llamas vs Bunnies. Let's just say we got a bit rowdy a few times.

Jesse mentioned that he and his wife would start traveling to other hoods to build interhood connections. It must be nice to be part of a family with a reputation like the Kents. I wonder what residents think of the Sweenys.

Girl's Weekend

I am planning a girls weekend trip to Tiki Island with my friends Sandy and Jadhira. We're going to have a lot of fun! I am looking for a nice tropical resort for us to stay in and also some hula shows. Sandy wants to take fire dancing lessons, so that will definately be on the list while Jadhira wants to learn more about the culture so we're doing some tours and visiting the Lost Ruins. I just want to visit the beach and get a tan...and do some shopping :)

New Friends

I have found a new friend, her name is Sun and she lives in Ellicot. We sound almost like the same sim, it's funny! What's not funny is the weight I've picked up. Ugh, I want my fit figure back and have been working out and eating this weird bran mixture. Hopefully I'll get my figure back soon. Tobi wants a child...I want a simillion simoleans, but we all can't be happy can we. I know that I will give in soon. I see the way neighborhood women look at him and swoon over him. He could have his pick of any other woman willing to carry his seed...it might as well be his wife.

Longing for a Little One

Things are going well. Fall is almost over and the official day of winter is upon us. Li wants to throw a party...how can I say no to her. I am trying to convince her that we are ready for a baby, but she suggested a dog or a puppy. Ha! My friend, Jesse, came over to play a little catch and we discussed the cons of having career orientated wives. His wife is going to be the next hood council president, and even they are trying to get pregnant (since a motherly president is more approachable or something like that). I hope Li will want to have children soon...or maybe we'll have a little accidental surprise.

Working

This historical project is a heavy load. Thank goodness there are so many volunteers to help out. I've gotten several old photos, some from the TS1 days. Makes me wish I knew more about my family tree, but we left Kimikura when I was a toddler. I know that my grandparents are still alive and well in Kimikura-I miss them especially since I was able to reconnect with them during our honeymoon. I think I'll convince Tobi to take a night out on the town with me.

Celebrating

Li got a contract for her first book. We stayed in and had champagne and fruit and...well, other things :)


Our anniversary is coming up and I've been getting the notion that we need to expand our family. I don't know how to bring it up to Li, but I will soon. The spare bedroom is sitting there waiting for a crib and the pitter patter of tiny feet.

Interview

I managed to convince Tatiana Garris-Vanderburg to do an interview with me for the Apple Valley News. We played a few rounds of cards-which I made sure not to win too much money from her. You'll have to just wait to read about the interview in the paper. She and her husband are sweet people, but I wonder why they keep returning to this small place?

Economic Times

With the new media sale, things are looking well for Apple Valley. There's more simoleans for each family it seems. Every resident prospers...but for how long? I've seen this cycle before, prosperity and then disaster-that's what happened before the flood. Li says I'm being silly, but what if something bad happens-like another storm.

Hot Husband

My husband is the talk of the hood. I hear it everywhere I go-"Tobi Sweeny is soooo cute!" or "Wow, he's hot."

Yes, my husband is hot. I admit it-I tell him so each day. Not only is he attractive, but fun. Only he would convince me to play in the leaves-in my underwear!

Decorating

During our honeymoon I found a rare vase in the dirt, so I sold it and Li, being the woman that she is and I love her dearly, decided to redecorate. To be honest, I love it and decided to write about it :)

First, she had the existing half wall that seperated the kitchen/dining room and the living area taken down, then she had a series of walls put up to divide the space into smaller "rooms".

The foyer starts with our existing benches and paintings in the same position and she moved our old rug to the area.
Then she had a half wall installed and shelves added so we could display our souveniors, new carpeting and wall paint

and she hung the two ancestoral paintings (ts1) that I had commissioned over the stereo. One is of my ancestor, Alisa Crawston in her wedding dress, the other is of the original Greymount Sweenys on thier wedding day. In bewteen is a photo of Li and I during our wedding day. She doesn't know it, but I've commissioned a painting of it for our anniversary.

Behind the brick half wall sits the new living room with a brick accent wall, new window (to see the view of the surrounding sea). There are wooden pillars and a tibetian table. Li says it reminds her of her urban life in SimCity, My TV is still there and it still gets the sports channel so I'm happy.

She created a small reading corner for herself-so she could review books for the book club she said, I think it's her little zone-her comfort area, so to speak. Sort of like "Sports at 6" is my zone.

Now the kitchen is walled in, it looks the same, there is a space in the walls (no doors-to restrictive Li said) for the entrance

the accent tile has been extended to the new wall of the dining room and our old stencil has been moved.

The kitchen is walled in (I still think we need a sink, Li said not to worry, that the kitchen will be getting a facelift soon-yikes!).

Surprisingly it didn't take a lot of money for the drastic changes since we used our souveniors, and previous items. Li says she wants to do the master bedroom and bath next, I personally would like a basketball court, but I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.

Honeymoon

The honeymoon was great! Tobi did a great job planning it!

First Tobi arranged for me to meet my grandparents Ming and Sing. We spent some time playing Majhong and talking about my parents. They showed me photos of me as a baby and it was a lot of fun learning more about my Kimikurian history.

We then spent time at our hotel-Kimikura Resort and did what honeymooners usually do ^_^

Tobi made sure that we saw the sights like the Temple of Lucky Blessings where we each made a wish-I don't know if it works, but Tobi found $1000 on the vacation and I found a rare map-not to mention my grandparents.

We ate local food including sushi and charisma. I performed in a karoke competition :)

We participated in an ancient ceremonial tea ceremony with my grandparents.

It was a lot of fun, we're already planning on coming back again. Maybe once we have children so they can see Kimikura, or maybe just another trip later...anniversary maybe.

Elections Upcoming

The elections are coming up soon and most of the hood is talking about the new candidates-the entire council is stepping down. Yikes! Thank goodness Li and I's jobs are not dependant on being appointed for the position. It's good that the council is stepping down, especially Ayanna. She hasn't been the same since her husband died. I wonder what she will do after this term. Maybe take her daughter's place as host of The Peacock?

Wedding Plans

Some wedding planning inspirations I found online. The inspiration board is my favorite-it combines my favorite color (red) and my asian background. There is also a nod to my urban childhood in SimCity and seeing all the glamourous sims walk about during the evening.

In reality, the wedding will be fairly simple, yet modern. Instead of the stuffy wedding cake, we're doing some yummy cakes from CupaJava. Also I found the table, chair and buffet linens and some more accessories.

But the best plans don't compare to reality, so here are some photos of the actual event!