I got the job!

Not only did I make the team, but my expertise-and the fact that they were desperate-earned me a spot on a crew that protects the coasts of Apple Valley, Apple Valley Metro and PU Campus. So now I spend my days in a ship circling the islands looking for bandits. Right now my post is the PU Campus...maybe eventually I'll work my way up.

Not Bad

Our new home is not bad. We live next door to the Humphrey family, also the Warwicks. Thier daughter, S'Ahmisa has already offered to babysit Grace Elise whenever I want. Grace Elise is the only toddler here and she loves the set of Llama Riders that they have. *sigh* I wish I could have a younger sibling for her to play with...soon, she'll celebrate her child birthday and enter school...what will I do then.

I've been thinking about getting my hair done differently...maybe a new style would suit me better.

New Lodging

Well, we moved into our new home...well, perhaps I should say my daughter's new home and my temporary stay until death comes my way. I am one of the last of the elders on this island and it's lonely to say the least. Li Sweeny wants to meet with me and discuss plans for a retirement community, bugger-she's asking the wrong sim. I would rather be in my lab than some old folks' home.

Losing Streak

I lost the election to Carmela Herendez. She called to have a few words after the election, not gloating, but very nicely saying that I had a great speech and campaign and if I had any concerns to let her know. She will do fine in the position, Jorge says not to worry about it, I would have been too busy anyway. That's not very comforting...then again, he did comfort me in a way that only he knows how.

I've been busy this winter, still packing for the move. We decided on a home. It's a LOT smaller than what we have now. Two bedroom, one bath home. Meaning that mom and Grace Elise will share a room and then when we have another child, they will also share the room. It should be better once Grace Elise is older and doesn't need her crib...or changing table anymore.

Legacy

I told the children that I am leaving a bit of money to be spent on Grace Elise's violin lessons. I don't know, nor do I care, if she has any talent. She will have to take lessons. The latest research says that playing the violin helps great minds become greater and I know that she's a very smart little girl and with some prodding will become the greatest mind ever!

Fruit

Will we ever get pregnant? Not to complain, but this is becoming a chore. It's no longer fun and games, but now it's "i'm fertile-let's go!"

My job is going away, so I need to find other work...I am thinking of joining a team that is excavating the ruins in the south end of the island. Some bones were discovered there and they need sims on the team. I submitted an application-so wish me luck.

Desperately Wanting

another baby in the house. Jorge and I are trying to get pregnant and it seems like mother nature is working against us.

Tis the season

I invited Pastor Lyndon over this simday to give him a gift from our family. It was mostly a few dishes that Jolie made and then froze for the family, but also a small check as a token of appreciation for his hard work. Also, it's been snowing and we allowed Grace Elise out in the snow-we had to keep an eye on her, that girls loves to stuff snow in her mouth.

Growing Older, Passing On

I've officially turned in my letter of retirement. I want to enjoy my freetime before death comes for me. I've been training Julio on the basics that he needs for managing a Medical Centre and recruiting new employees. With the financial crisis, he will not need many-any-employees in an effort to gain a profit, but eventually, once the economy turns around, he will need to start hiring.

Night Out

I decided to treat myself and attend a concert at Smokey Jane's. No husband, no kiddies, just me and a nice fruity adult beverage. It was very relaxing to say the least...yes, I was distracted by the flavors in the drink wondering if I could make a cookbook about cocktails, but the performance was ok...but the cocktail...does raspberry and llamamelon really accent each other's flavors?

Death!!!!

My husband has died!!! I can not believe it. All the elders in the hood are dying so quickly, I suppose I must be next...still, Ellsworth wasn't the healthiest, his mind was leaving him...he often put his belt in the fridge, but that's a natural part of aging...

Daddy's Gone

Daddy is dead...it was so sudden and I feel so lost. I mean, daddy was like the stone in our family. True he was fading away mentally, but it's like my worst fears have come true...my father is dead! Now I'm scared about mother and if she will make it. I know that death is a natural part of life, but I don't want it to happen to my family. On top of daddy's death, Jorge and I still are not pregnant. We've been trying and trying with no avail.

Distant Life

With the prescence of aliens in our hood, many residents can be found talking about life on distant planets. I am not immune. I don't care about the talk of the culture of the other alien colonies, but I want to know the technology and health advancements that can be learned from other civilizations. Do they hold the cure for disease? Can they hold off the effects of aging?

Rapidly Growing

Little Grace is rapidly growing into big Gracie. She is keeping our hands full with her antics. She hates the potty, she'll sit on it for 2 seconds and then crawl off, but she loves learning to walk, I think she knows that she can move faster once she walks. Jorge and I are going to take her outside to play once it snows, until then, she'll practice walking and talking inside.

Daddy's Little Girl

Grace Elise is such a cutie, everyday I come home to her smiling face and her sweet giggles. I would like to give her a baby brother, but Jolie and I want to wait until she's at least potty trained.

Happy Birthday Grace Elise!

My little girl is a toddler now! Time flies so fast! I am glad that she is now a toddler, we can focus on teaching her how to walk and talk and use the potty, which will be a big help since Jorge and I have renewed our interest in having another child. The fat comment is behind us and we are devoted to strengthening our relationship. The counseling with Pastor Humphrey was well needed and it helped us with our communication.

A Birthday!

I can not believe that I have lived long enough to see this. The birthday of my granddaugter, Grace Elise. Johan's twins will also be celebrating a birthday and Ellsworth and I will attend the small gathering. I doubt that will we be able to see any more birthdays...our time is fast approaching.

Quality Time

I am still hurt over Jorge's fat comments. I honestly don't see what difference a few pounds make, but then again we are talking about mr. health nut himself. He is always streaching and jogging and drinking awful shakes! I'm a baker for goodness sakes! I'm supposed to be thick! Jorge insists that he still loves me and has been trying to make me forget that comment, but now I find that I hide my body from him and I am not as confident as I once was. I don't know what to do, he is trying to apologize and trying to look the other way concerning the extra pounds, but I can't forget it...perhaps we should see Pastor Humphrey for counseling.

To SH!

I was part of the team that was sent to Simmington Hills to help with thier recovery efforts. A large storm made everyone fear that the residents were lost forever, but we were able to save many residents and even some buildings. I will still help with the cleanup, but remotely from now on. That helicopter ride caused quite a sore in my back.

New Residents

There are rumors that Apple Valley may expand it's borders and accept some more residents. That would be a welcome change since this hood is so small and every resident is basically related to the other. I think our children will have to look beyond the hood for life partners if they do not want to intermarry eventually. Jolie doesn't like the thought of more residents, she says it spoils the small town charm of AV, I don't know.

Recording Data

Jan wants me to record as much medical data and information from the Medical Centre as I can. When Elle died, her work was in disarray and it took simdays to muddle through it all. Thankfully we had plenty of experience and knew what she was referring to, but Julio...he doesn't has as much experience and he will need all the help he can get. Jan has him studying and preparing every simday during his shift while I spend my shift getting records in order. I wonder if we should move to an online record storage system? That would make things easier, but it would also be more upkeep on our part and on Li's part and I have a feeling that with all the new iniatives that she wouldn't welcome the additional work.

Election?

Well, it is out of my hands. The election is in the hands of the residents, they will judge who will sit in the new hood council. I am nervous. This election has caused my friendship with Carmela to suffer, so I will be glad once everything is done to restore our friendship. She is like a mentor to me, if I didn't love the bakery so much I would stay at home just so that I could be a member of the Homemaker's Society.

Strange Blogs

I have been browsing the web for science articles and stumbled across a strange set of blogs detailing blue and green aliens. It is well know that there are two part blue alien sims here in Apple Valley. I try to keep an eye on one of them, the boy, he is always looking through his telescope searching the sky. Now I have found some blog that details a lonely blue alien searching for his family and is sending signals for them to pick him up...could that be the same one?

Whew!

The pounds are melting off, I don't know how long they will stay off. I am a baker afterall and you can never trust a skinny baker! Perhaps my other cookbook should be a healthy eating cookbook. Low sugar sweets, high fiber meals, beverages packed with vitamins and minerals.

Ugh, anything other than this stupid exercise bike! But I won't let Jorge see me struggle. It's bad enough that he said that I looked fat and he perfered me thinner! I mean, aren't you supposed to accept your spouse as is? I love him dearly and am very attracted to him (so are a lot of other women-grrr!), I wonder if I would feel the same if his six pack became a keg, or he started to lose his hair.

Time is Passing

My time is near, nothing can stop that. Thankfully my will is updated so that all our children and grandchildren benefit, including our children in other hoods. There isn't much left here to leave behind. Jolie is heir to the house and I do not fear about her future, she has a wise head on her shoulders. I have noticed that my tongue escapes me and I spend my time talking about the past with my daughter, about her favorite nursery rhymes and how I, too, had to learn how to be a better parent.

Clear Skys

With winter here the sky is much clearer, I have been searching for remarkable objects. Nothing in particular, just stars and the occasional planet or constellation. I have not left my first love of health and medicine.

Even I know that my time is limited, especially so since I can feel the ache in my knees, the shortness of breath. Yes, my time is coming. Until then I am training Julio to take my place at the Medical Centre and am enjoying time with the family and my books. Ellsworth is doing the same. Sometimes at night when everyone is asleep we stay up talking about the fact that death is upon our back, waiting to steal our breath. We then turn the conversation to things of a lighter note such as the newest advancements in medical technology and training the new generation for the medical centre. There isn't enough teens interested in medicine and technology to continue the clinic, eventually there will be a need to pull staff from other areas.

Fitness for the Family

Jolie has gained a few pounds after the birth of our daughter. I must admit, I hate it. She often asks if she looks fat and I made the fatal error one time of telling her the truth-let's just say I learned my lesson. So now Jolie joins me for my morning jog and we even have plans to visit the medical centre to experience the rehabilation gym there.

Baby Dedication

Pastor Lyndon stopped by for coffee and we discussed plans for baby Grace Elise's baby dedication. We plan on having it during a large baby dedication service (there are now seven new babies on the island). Afterwards there will be a general fellowship time with some tea and hot cocoa and formal photos.

I updated the kitchen during my time off. Jorge wants me to stop spending money, but I need a nice kitchen to cook and perfect my recipes. Speaking of recipes, my photo shoot is coming soon for the cookbook. I can't wait.

Shopping for Freshness

Work at CupaJava is going well. Baking all those amazing recipes has gotten me experimenting in the kitchen more. In fact I walked to Farmer's Market and looked at thier fresh veggies. Yes-only looked. Sometimes looking gives me ideas about possible food combinations and recipes. In fact, the eggplants got me to thinking about a sweet eggplant cake. Yes, a veggie cake. Healthy and delicious! Perhaps another recipe for my latest cookbook. The last one sold very well, it was hard work, but we used the proceeds from the book to start little Grace Elise's college fund.

Visiting

Ellsworth and I had to stop in Apple Valley to greet our newest grandchildren! I couldn't get over how sweet and precious they are. We are almost done with our travels and I have a feeling when we come back to Apple Valley for the last time...we will be greeted with death. The only worry I have is the Medical Centre. Elle Kent recently passed, bless her soul, and Ellsworth and I are not to far behind her. Will Julio be prepared to man the centre? We need to bring in a nurse trainee and pharmacist if he decides to accept the assignment and move up the career ladder.

Welcome Grace Elise!

We had our first child, a daughter named Grace Elise. She is so precious, I can't help but stare at her all day. Mom and Dad are still visiting the other siblings but they'll be home soon.

Winning

What a wondeful simday! I won the cooking competition with my sweet bon bon entry and then I was invited to a baby shower in my honor! Wow!

Family Time-Roswell

Well, we visited our daughter, Janet, in Roswell. It was a very nice trip-we got a wedding and a granddaughter, Gabiela, out of the trip. Not to mention seeing her again. We're headed to Riverdale to see Jodi and her twins and of course we're coming back to witness the birth of our other grandchildren from Jolie and Johan.

Cookbook

Pennelson Publishing offered me a three part contract to publish my cookbooks! I am so excited! I have been working very hard on the books-when not working at CupaJava or resting during this pregnancy. I'm excited, my boss even said that I can have a book signing at the store during the Food Expo and that he'll put copies of my books for sale. Yea!

Baking for Simmies-basic recipes and even some children's recipes.

Baking for Celebrations-recipes for all types of celebrations-weddings, funerals, parties

Baking Thru The Seasons-recipes according to the season

Lovely Wedding and Grandchild

Just returned from visiting Janet in Roswell and we stopped back home before moving on to visit Jodi and her husband and the twins in Riverdale.

Janet surprised us by getting married while we were there and delivering our granddaughter, Gabriela . We had such a great time and we were able to bring home so amazing photos and paintings. I almost forgot how well Janet is with painting.

Redecorating

I found the perfect inspiration to redecorate the house (kitchen and living room), perhaps because of the coming baby, perhaps because I want to truly make this home Jorge and mine and not my parents-but I've been in the mood to decorate! Li told me about this website-it's for weddings, but I love how they combined the colors for several inspiration boards.

I then determined my color scheme of lilac, white, celadon & taupe:

The colors remind me of a nice english garden, don't you think?

Then I spent some time doing a bit of online shopping since I can't waddle around the hood looking for items and then I ordered a few things and told Li about my redecorating desires. She said that she would do a write up in the paper about it. So the final results will be published online for the world to see. But here's what the results are:

New wallpaper from Lyran's Sims, a new facade for the fireplace, some shelves to hold our beloved photos and momentos.

A new seating set for the living room, some flowers, paintings and new carpeting and tile throughout.

New items for the kitchen from Around the Sims including the dining room table. New fridge, curtains, counters, etc. Everything is so light and airy now. I love it!