Daddy & Me Cycle One [Round IV Results! Winner Announced!!]

[TRIriana]

Contest - Other

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/Sam_Monoceros/Sim%20Competition/MainBanner.jpg

Welcome to Daddy and Me! The Contest for fathers and their children everywhere. Are you the coolest dad around? Do you want to show off the apple of your eye? Are you so proud that you want to tell the world? Then join now! It’ll be fun, it’ll be gruelling…will you come out on top?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/Sam_Monoceros/Sim%20Competition/Rules.jpg

The parent must be a father.
Any species is allowed, from anywhere you can imagine.
The offspring can be toddler, child, teen, young adult or adult and male or female.
The father can be adult, young adult or elder.
The father can be dating, engaged or married - but the contest will not focus on the partner.
You can have more than one offspring.
Follow the usual forum photograph rules.
Photoshopping is allowing, Simmerising is not. Extra points, however, will not be awarded for Photoshopping ability.
You can have more than one offspring.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/Sam_Monoceros/Sim%20Competition/Application.jpg

Fathers Name
Fathers Age
Location
Short Biography

Offspring Name
Offspring Age
Location
Short Biography

Photographs

1 headshot of the father
1 body shot of the offspring
2 photographs of the father and son/daughter together: formal and informal

There will be no cuts after the application stage. Whether there will be during the rounds depends entirely on how many people join.


Applicants

1. Silas, Sasha and Celia Ramsey (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271412&postcount=26)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272634&postcount=73)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1274766&postcount=141)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1278151&postcount=226)|Round IV (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1280188&postcount=248)
2. Charlie, Lizzy and Hannah Green (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271697&postcount=35)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272324&postcount=63)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1275166&postcount=152)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1277811&postcount=216)|Round IV (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1280579&postcount=254)
3. Rhys, Ava and Noel Clark (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271757&postcount=37)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272571&postcount=67)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1274722&postcount=134)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1276400&postcount=189)|Round IV (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1280130&postcount=247)
4. Thomas, Annabel, and Victoria O'Malley (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272598&postcount=69)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273134&postcount=90)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1275541&postcount=161)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1277573&postcount=208)|Round IV (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1280626&postcount=255)
5. Thaddeus and Finley Foster (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272615&postcount=71)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272625&postcount=72)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1274187&postcount=122)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1277047&postcount=200)|Round IV (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1280008&postcount=246)


Eliminated
8. Damien and Sean(a) Rochester (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271861&postcount=39)
11. Simon and Cora Lainley (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273222&postcount=92)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273276&postcount=95)
4. Romeo and Allie Leska (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271465&postcount=29)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272328&postcount=64)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1274454&postcount=130)
1. Mason and Ellie-Mae Thompson (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271366&postcount=21)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272817&postcount=76)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1275187&postcount=153)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1278064&postcount=224)
7. Samuel and Juliet Riches (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272158&postcount=48)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273098&postcount=87)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1274193&postcount=123)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1277909&postcount=218)
3. Caleb and Lei-Lani Orun (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271438&postcount=27)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272558&postcount=66)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1274335&postcount=129)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1278031&postcount=223)

Dropped Out
4. Gregory and Hayden Geoff (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1271459&postcount=28)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273124&postcount=88)
4. Owen, Julia and Stella Rosdale (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272050&postcount=47)|Round I (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273147&postcount=91)|Round II (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1275443&postcount=158)|Round III (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1277967&postcount=222)


Judges
TRIriana
Imcran
Goddessmoon2008


Round I
Into the Past
Information Here (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1272197&postcount=51)
Results (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273763&postcount=103)

24/10/2008 - 27/10/2008

Round II
A Day in the Life
Information Here (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1273905&postcount=109)
Results (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1276071&postcount=169)

28/10/2008 - 31/10/2008

Round III
Unexpected Disaster
Information Here (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1276101&postcount=176)
Results (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1279060&postcount=233)

3/11/2008 - 7/11/2008

Round IV
The Conclusion
Information Here (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1279065&postcount=234)
Results (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=1282362&postcount=267)

10/11/2008 - 13/11/2008

[beeps]

Contest Approved
Begins 10.19.08
Ends 11.19.08

Do not post replies and/or contest applications before the contest host has checked in on this thread, or your post will be deleted.

DO NOT WRITE USELESS POSTS like "Hey cool contest, I think I might join." Reserve type posts and useless posts about coming back with an application will be deleted.

[TRIriana]

Alrighty everyone, come on and join!

[IceAngel12891]

If we want to do more than one child, would we need a bodyshot of EACH child, or could they just be in one together?

[TRIriana]

That one would be entirely up to you - whichever is easiest or preferable.

[Rabid]

Maybe I missed it, but when do applications end? This looks like fun; if I have time, I'll definitely join.

[Nirvana_SC]

You said 2 shots of the father and his offspring formal and informal. Do you mean by clothing or what?

[TRIriana]

I'm looking at keeping the applications open for around 4/ days, Rabid :)

Nirvana, by formal I mean their clothing.

[thatsfancy]

TRIriana: Do they have to be blood related, or are adopted kids okay??

[TRIriana]

Adopted kids are perfectly fine. :)

[Charley-x]

For the together shot for the informal can we have them doing a activity, or do they have to be posing in everyday clothes? :)

[TRIriana]

Whichever you'd prefer - it's informal so...go wild!

[Charley-x]

Yay thanks, I love the idea of this, I'm surprised that nothing like this has been done before it sound soo fun! Now I just have to think of a back-ground story. :Z Lol. :)

[IceAngel12891]

I really want to do this, but my sims is on a computer that doesn't currently have internet. I'm making the family now and I am going to see if I can transfer the pictures to this laptop using a jumpdrive thing, but since this is a mac and the other is a pc, I have to see if it will work. It should, so if it does you should see my app up asap!

[TRIriana]

I hope it works for you IceAngel!

I can't wait to see everyones applications. :) I'll need judges too, so feel free to volunteer.

[Spicycookies_SC]

I'm definitely joining. I'm not caught up in work now days anyways.

[TRIriana]

Excellent, the more the merrier!

[BecciGirl13_SC]

i'll be joining! should have app up by tonight :).

[Charley-x]

Can i ask if apps are being jugded? because if they are i will link the picture because when I change it from bmp>jpg, and resize it the quality(the crappy graphic to start with aren't much of a help) sometimes goes down really bad, and if were being jugded I don't want to loose points over something I could of fixed easily. I have all my pictures and i'm guessing apps wont be jugded but i'll just put them on here and if we are being judge I will use the un-resized ones and link them. Is that ok? Thankyou, and sorry for being a hassle. :)

[TRIriana]

No hassle at all, :) Applications won't be judged so you don't have to worry about that at all.

[Charley-x]

Okies, Thanks. BTW my graphics are horrible. Tell me if anything is wrong :)


Fathers Name: Mason Thompson.
Fathers Age: 30
Location: England
Short Biography: Mason is a single parent, His wife died tragicly in a car accident two years ago. Mason quit work once she died but just recently start work again to provide for his family. Mason's hobbies include: Tinkering, sports and bonding with he's precious daughter, Ellie.



Offspring Name: Ellie-Mae Thompson (Don't call her Ellie-Mae, she'll hunt you down, but her mother chose it so she won't remove it from her name.)
Offspring Age: 8
Location: England
Short Biography: Ellie is a typical school-girl just getting back into her normal routine after the death of her mother, Paige. Ellie dotes on her dad and adores spending time with him. Ellie doesn't mind about having only a few friends she'd rather spend time outside then in a silly shopping mall. Ellie loves the outdoors and love to tend to Paige's memoral garden.

Father Headshot- Mason.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/DaddyandMeApplicationMasonHeadshot.jpg

Offspring Bodyshot- Ellie.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/DaddyandMeApplicationElliebodyshot.jpg


Formal Shot.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/DaddyandMeApplicationFreeshot-forma.jpg


Informal Shot.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/DaddyandMeApplicationFreeshot-infor.jpg
Ellie: "This is me and my daddy re-planting my mummy's plants in her garden!"
Mason: "It was Ellie's idea to create this garden for her mother, Ellie would love to remember what a bright and cheerful person she was so she thought a garden would be best, as our old house was to small to fulfill Paige's wish to having a garden."

[TRIriana]

Great application, I like the formal shot especially. :)

[Charley-x]

Thanks, btw she looks so tall because of the animation she's doing, its one from the OFB animation box and it like made her hover over the floor. :Z

[cavilez]

Those are far from crappy simcharley1990. I actually like them like that instead of when you link them. :)

[IceAngel12891]

Do the children/s body shot/s have to be on a plain background?

[Rabid]

Father's Name:
Silas Ramsey


Fathers Age:
34


Location:
San Francisco, California


Short Biography:
After the death of his wife in childbirth, Silas was left to raise twin girls on his own. Although he still struggles with the occasional bout of grief, he is completely and utterly devoted to his daughters. He works as a section editor at San Francisco's foremost newspaper and enjoys reading, beach volleyball, and ultimately spending time with his favorite girls.




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/ApplicationSilasHeadshot-1.jpg




Offspring Name:
Sasha and Celia Ramsey


Offspring Age:
9


Location:
San Francisco, California


Short Biography:
Although Sasha and Celia never knew their mother, they find themselves fascinated by their father's fantastical tales of her. Whereas Sasha enjoys theater and aspires to a career on Broadway, Celia loves fashion design and hopes to see her clothing on the catwalk. Though somewhat opposite, Sasha and Celia find common ground through family dynamics and share a close bond.




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/ApplicationTwinsHeadshot.jpg




Other Photos:




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/ApplicationFormalShot.jpg




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/ApplicationBathtubPirates.jpg




"We've been playing bathtub pirates since the girls were four and it hasn't gotten old since."
-Silas




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/ApplicationAtTheBeach.jpg




"This is us when we took a day trip to the beach in Los Angeles. Dad got bitten by a crab when he was looking for seashells and we couldn't stop laughing!"
-Celia

[cavilez]

Father's Name: Caleb Orun
Father's Age: 36
Location: California
Short Bio: Caleb has recently become a single parent due to the fact that Lei~Lani's mother was a drug addict and overdosed on heroin. He manages to get by everyday by repairing cars, painting or taking his daughter shopping.
Headshot
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot010.jpg

Offspring's Name: Lei~Lani
Offspring's Age: 17
Location: California
Short Bio: Lei~Lani is a splitting image of her mother and its scary. but the good thing is she shows no signs of even being remotely like her mother. From time to time you can she her sad or hurting, but she has her father and her friends to help her through this. She was very close to her mother (when her mother wasn't doing drugs).
Headshot
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot008-1.jpg

Formal Shot
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot014.jpg

Informal Shot
Lei~Lani: My dad is such a wuss, lol.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot012.jpg

P.S. Sorry photobucket messed up my pictures.

[thatsfancy]

Fathers Name: Gregory Geoff
Fathers Age: 24
Location: Denver, Colorado
Short Biography: During a volunteer mentoring project in college, Greg was paired with Hayden. Before the day was over,
Hayden had stolen his heart. It took two years and loads of stress to finalize the adoption, but hearing Hayden call him dad is
totally worth it. Greg shuffles his time between his two passions in life - his family and his budding photography studio.
In his own words, "Life couldn't be better!"

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_960a4863.jpg

Offspring Name: Hayden Geoff
Offspring Age: 9
Location: "Home" Denver, Colorado
Short Biography: Despite his rocky beginnings, Hayden is doing extremely well in school and makes friends instantly.
Hayden loves having his own room and filling it with all his book and toys. His favorite place to be is outside either finding
bugs for his collection, or going on weekend camping trips with his dad.
In his own words, "My daddy is really cool because he also my best friend."

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_160a4ed1.jpg

-----------------------------

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_f60a44f5-1.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_360a4798.jpg

-- If I need to change the headshot and bodyshot to plain backgrounds, please le me know--

[mbunnell]

Father's Name: Romeo Leska
Father's age: 43
Location Franklin, Tennessee
Romeo became a father of twins early in life. His girlfriend (now wife) getting pregnant just before college graduation. He was forced into some tough decisions early on in life. But with those decisions he starts a wonderful, and loving family. He has 6 children now, but Allie was his first and his favorite.
headshot
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_15fa3373.jpg

Offspring's Name: Allie Leska
Age20
Location Nashville, Tennessee
Allie was the oldest of 6 kids, only a few moments earlier then her twin Jupiter. Though she was entirely loved by her mother she's always been daddy's little girl. But when she came-out to her parents at 16 life got alot different. Her mother nearly completely removed herself from her life, but her dad became even more supportive of her and her choices. Allie is now a Sophomore in college, engaged to Demi Davies.
Headshot (I can make one with a plain background if needed)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_f607adf3_b607bf1b.jpg
Father/Daughter Formal
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_f607adf3_760b4ce7.jpg
Father/Daughter Casual
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_f607adf3_360b4e68.jpg

[TRIriana]

thatsfancy plain backgrounds aren't necessary, your shots are fine. :)

Great applications everyone - thanks for joining!

[Imcran]

I'd like to volunteer to judge this contest if that's ok! ^^ It looks really cool.

[TRIriana]

Added you to the judges list. :)

[thatsfancy]

FYI: On the Application links on the front page, numbers 3, 4, and 5 all link to the same entry.

[TRIriana]

Thanks for letting me now, I'll change that right now.

Sorted. :)

[Daisie]

Aw, geez, I didn't see your app before I got my family together, Rabid, and I have twin girls too. I'm really sorry about that, and I hope you don't mind.


http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/headshot1.jpg

Father's Name: Charlie Green
Age: 39
Location: Pleasantview

"I'm a college professor and single dad raising my twin daughters, Lizzy and Hannah. The girls and I have been on our own since my wife left our family seven years ago, and the three of us are very close. Lizzy and Hannah can talk to me about anything, including their mom and other tough issues, but I'm worried that that'll change as they get older. What's most important to me is their happiness and health, but I would love to keep our relationships strong as they become teenagers and young adults."

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/headshot2.jpg

Offspring's Name: Elizabeth Green
Age: 10

"I'm Lizzy. I'm pretty shy, unlike my sister, but I can be silly with people I know well. I like to read and draw pictures."

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/headshot3.jpg

Offspring's Name: Hannah Green
Age: 10

"Hi, I'm Hannah! My favorite foods are pizza, um, and hot dogs, and cupcakes. I love playing outside and joking around with my dad and my sister."

Formal Portrait

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/appformal.jpg

Hannah: "That dress was so uncomfortable! But I like this picture. We had it taken this past summer, and we all look really happy."

Informal Portrait

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/appinformal.jpg

Charlie: "There we are in our PJ's Saturday morning. I'm making pancakes, our favorite breakfast food, and the girls are fooling around. They couldn't stop laughing long enough to pose for the picture!"

[Rabid]

I don't mind at all :D! I don't have the market cornered on twin girls :lol:. The girls are so cute and Charlie is adorable! Everyone's apps are looking great, too- I can't wait for the contest to start (and for me to actually get mine done :P).

[Velvet_Morning]

Ok, this is my first contest so here it goes...

Father

Name - Rhys Clark
Age - 26
Location - New York
Bio - A few days before Rhys graduated from high school he got the schocking news that his girlfriend, Danielle, was pregnant. They thought about putting her up for adoption, but once Ava was born they realized they could never do that. Five years later their son, Noel, was born. A few months after that, Danielle left. She said this wasn't the life she wanted, always being tied down to the kids and never having any fun. Rhys was devastated. How could she just leave like that? Now a couple of years have gone by and life is becoming normal again. He loves his kids very much and works hard to give them everything they deserve.

http://i35.tinypic.com/2d9qqex.jpg

Offspring

Name - Ava Clark
Age - 7
Location - New York
Bio - Ava is a little goofball and loves making people laugh. She gets along great with her little brother and they stick very close to each other. One of her favorite things to do is play soccer with her dad. He's a great teacher and they always end up laying on the ground laughing.

http://i35.tinypic.com/2vtrygh.jpg

Offspring

Name - Noel Clark
Age - 2
Location - New York
Bio - Noel adores his dad and big sister. He loves playing with them and has a lot of fun when they try and teach him new things. His favorite place to go is the park. He could spend all day in the sandbox!

http://i35.tinypic.com/2126b6e.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/29z4r4p.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/fmqmc2.jpg

[TRIriana]

Neat applications you too, they're so cute!

[Poetry]

Fathers Name: Damian Rochester
Fathers Age: 36
Location: Australia
Short Biography: Damian is an ex-rockstar wannabe, uncoventional dad and single parent. After he attempted to launch his singing career for four months at the tender age of twenty, Damian was forced to quit, after he realised he just wasn't any good. Damian was fresh college dropout when he wed his high school sweetheart. Unfortunately, that didn't last much longer than his singing career, and he was left with their baby while she jetted off to Italy with her mysterious other. His daughter, Sean(a), always knew he secretly wished she had been born a boy, but that's her story..

Offspring Name: Seana "Sean" Rochester
Offspring Age: 15
Location: Australia
Short Biography: Sean(a) is almost as unconventional as her dad. Deep down she always knew that he wished she had been a boy, so always eager to please her beloved father, that's what she became. It was quite a shock for Damian when she wandered downstairs one day, dressed to impress as a guy with all her hair cut off. But he got over it, and Sean(a) feels she really is a boy on the inside. She also believes their "male bonding" has taught her so much more about her father than she would have known if she were a girl.
Sean(a): "I'm a gender-bending, male-identifying queer, so, basically, if you use female pronouns when speaking about me, I'll hiss at you."

[BecciGirl13_SC]

right, i'm definitely joining, either today, or tomorrow. but I AM joining :)

[wndy26]

I am curious, when does the application round end? I would like to join but won't be able to do anything until Friday afternoon as I am working long hours this week - I get off work at 6am on Friday morning then will sleep till 2ish or so...will there be enough time? I have a family picked out but no photos taken yet.

[TRIriana]

I'm looking to end it late Friday GMT, but I can keep it open a little longer if you need it. :)

[thatsfancy]

If the application round is kept open longer, could we possibly get the information for Round 1 when we were suppose to? I work all week, so I was really looking forward to having the whole weekend to do it. If not, I understand too.

[wndy26]

I should be able to get the entry in Friday night...I am central time here. I don't work Friday night so it shouldn't be a problem.

[TRIriana]

Seeing as there won't be judging for the application round, getting the Round I info up sooner won't be a problem.

Poetry could you include the formal shot of Damien and Sean(a), please?

[Rabid]

Alright, finished my application. If any changes need to be made, let me know. I'm so excited to start round one :D!

[IceAngel12891]

Hey, Hope I'm not too late! I didn't see a post closing this round, so I'm going to go ahead and post my app. I hope the pictures are ok, my other computer has sucky graphics...I wish I could play it on this laptop, but its a mac and my desktop is a PC.


Fathers Name: Owen Rosdale
Fathers Age: 30
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Short Biography: Hi! I'm Owen! I am 30 years old and am married to my lovely wife, Sophia. We are both musicians and our musical talents have been passed on to our two daughters, Julia and Stella. Sophia and I have been married for eight wonderful years and have what we feel is the perfect daughter. We love traveling and performing our music at various venues. I have loads of fun playing with my daughters!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/dad.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/mom.jpg (Click to see Sophia)

Offspring Name: Julia Rosdale
Offspring Age: 7
Location: Nashville
Short Biography: Hi! I am Julia! My favorite thing to do is play my violin, I started playing when I was 4 and have barely put it down since! I also like to play with my little sister and my daddy and mommy too. Sometimes, we even get to do concerts together!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/juliainformal.jpg

Offspring Name: Stella Rosdale
Offspring Age: 3
Location: Nashville
Short Biography: Stella isn't much of a talker, she expresses herself through her musical instrument toys. She is a very active toddler and loves to play with her older sister and her parents. She is very much a daddy's girl!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/stellainformal.jpg

Us, drawing at the art table:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/groupinformal.jpg

Our formal picture, outside of our home:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/formal.jpg

[Spicycookies_SC]

Fathers Name: Samuel Riches
Fathers Age: 24
Location: New Caledonia
Short Biography: Samuel is a handsome young "player" who attracts the ladies easily and who has no idea how Juliet came to him. Juliet was left outside his apartment door one morning and they have been together ever since. Juliet looks so much like him that he can't even think of which lady she popped out of, but he either way, he loves Juliet very much.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/samuel2.jpg



Daughters Name: Juliet Riches
Daughters Age: 3
Location: New Caledonia
Short Biography: Juliet could win the smartest toddler award if she wanted too. She has taught herself herself how to walk, talk, and even how to use the potty! Juliet has the greatest little personality; she's always bubbly and loves her dad more then anything in the world. Juliet is occupied all day alone in the house with tons of toys, while Samuel goes to "work". But will this streak of happiness continue when she realizes her mom is never coming back?


http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/juliet.jpg

Formal Shot (I know, it could be better :P)

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/fatheranddaughter.jpg

Unformal Shot

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/unformalshot.jpg

[Charley-x]

Hi, great app's everbody.
Is round one still being posted today?

[thatsfancy]

Hi, great app's everbody.
Is round one still being posted today?

I hope so. I'm getting anxious!! haha.

[TRIriana]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/Sam_Monoceros/Sim%20Competition/RoundIBanner-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/Sam_Monoceros/Sim%20Competition/snapshot_d60cea31_560cebc3.jpg

My children and I have been reading up on all of the families here today and let me tell you - we're really quite interested to see what else makes you tick. All of you sound very unique, and I'm sure you must have some interesting stories to tell. I hope that you'll have a decent enough chance to do that the duration of our little contest here.

You had a little teaser earlier on with the title of the first round: Into the Past, and now you get to hear what exactly is meant by that. For this round you're going to have a choice of what you want to do, let me explain.

1. You must tell me about the first time you set eyes on your kids - their birth, for example.
2. Or you can have the opportunity to tell me about that very first time you realised you had to look after your kids by yourself.

For example, I had to start looking after my children a vast majority of the time three years ago when my wife started to work full time; where previously she had been the stay-at-home parent. I want to know what was running through your head, your feelings - I want to know your story.


Picture Requirements and Information

Basically I would like pictures to show whichever your choice is above, as well as writing to go with it. I will give a minimum of 4 and a maximum of six pictures, but I will allow more if required, just let me know. For the writing portion, more than a couple of sentences. The maximum writing, use your own initiative - don't submit a novel per round! But put in the information that you think is necessary to say what you want to say.



Round End dates are on the initial page - the application stage will remain open for the time being.

[Charley-x]

lol, I was just wondering because I have plenty of time to do it today and i was getting ready to download the stuff I might need. :)

[TRIriana]

Your question was good timing, you asked just as I was composing Round I, LoL.

[Charley-x]

YAYS! *is all excited* !!!! :D I was hoping to tell the story of how Mason became a single father. :D

[Daisie]

Round 1 looks like fun. :)

[Charley-x]

I'm actually going to go with example one and have a question: do we start the story thing at the first moment we saw the child as baby or can we start it like just before they get to hospital?

[TRIriana]

As long as they do get to actually see the baby, it can start before they get to the hospital if you wish. :).

[Charley-x]

Ok thanks! :) I'll proberlly change my mind later anyway lol. :P

[IceAngel12891]

If you have two children, do you have to show the father at both of their births? Or just one of them? Its no big deal either way, I just want to make sure.

[cavilez]

whats the minimum amount of pictures?

[Rabid]

Round One sounds like a lot of fun! *scurries off to find hospital paraphernelia*

[TRIriana]

whats the minimum amount of pictures?

Thanks for reminding me of that one! I've added it to the round information now; there will be a minimum of 4 pictures.

[Daisie]

The day my wife, Caroline, left us, Lizzy and Hannah were three years old, and we were still living in our old townhouse. It was a Sunday morning, and I had just woken up, showered, and gotten dressed. The night before, Caroline and I had fought for hours over our finances, but I was ready to move on.

"Caroline?" I called, seeing her outside, standing next to her beat-up blue sedan. The trunk was open, and I could see bags inside.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked, moving toward the car.

She slammed the trunk closed and narrowed her eyes. "Charlie," she said, "it's over. Okay? I'm leaving."

"What?!" I pulled her back toward the house. "Are you serious?"

"Charlie, I'm tired of this!" she cried, jerking away from me. "I can't take it anymore! The money, the fights, the children, the stress... I'm done! I'm leaving!"

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r11.jpg

I was aghast. She was... leaving?

"Honey, you know we'll work this out. Come on," I pleaded.

"No! I'm leaving, all right? I'm GONE already!" Her voice was getting increasingly hysterical. She marched toward the car.

Suddenly desperate, I dropped down on my knees. "Please, Caroline," I begged. "You can't leave. I need you! I love you, Caroline!"

Her arms crossed, she turned away from me.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r12.jpg

There was a long pause. I prayed she would reconsider, but at last she started off again. I followed, knowing in my heart that it was pointless. As she got in the car, my knees gave out beneath me, and, weeping, I sank to the ground.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r13.jpg

When she was gone, I trudged inside, brokenhearted. When I could bring myself to enter the girls' nursery, I was met with screams.

Oh, what was I going to do?

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r14.jpg

After a while, I managed to get the girls dressed and fed. Hoping they would play by themselves while I figured out what to do, I deposited them on the nursery floor with a pile of toys and backed out of the room.

Soon they were crying again and moaning, "Daddy, Daddy!" They needed me.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r15.jpg

Whispering soothing words, I knelt on the floor. That was all it took to elicit their smiles, and even I felt better, for the moment. I guess I needed them, too.

Later that day, I would get the phone call, and everything would come crashing down again when I figured out that this thing was real, and it would be permanent. And I would have the roughest time of all in the next couple of months, when we had to make everything official.

But through all of that, I would have my daughters, and everything would be okay.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r16.jpg

"Right, girls?" I asked. They giggled.

[mbunnell]

October 1st, 2004 I'll never forget that day. Allie had told me a few weeks earlier she was gay. We'd discussed it, and I made she sure knew I loved her no matter what and I'd do whatever she needed me too. Finally she decided it was time to tell her mother. Catherin and I had talked about homosexuality before, and I knew she was not a fan.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_760ddd5c.jpg
It wasn't bad at first. It started as Catherin denying it. As we got inside the house it turned to screaming. I figured it was dieing down and went to bedroom to get into so comfortable cloths. I heard Allie scream out and a loud thud. By the time I got to her Catherin had locked the door and was beating her. Jupiter took the other children downstairs to keep them from see as I began kicking at the door. When the door gave in Allie was unconscious on the floor and Catherin was kicking her limp body.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_360de9ed.jpg
She stayed in the hospital a few days. They said she was lucky, only sustaining a concussion some cuts, and bruises. I was shocked when she told them she'd slipped hiking and rolled down a ridge. After being there a 2 days she finally made me leave.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_160deaec.jpg
When I got home Catherin was on the porch waiting.
"You're not bringing her back here!" She began shouting before I even got to the door. We didn't even make it inside before the argument began.
"If you don't want her here then leave!"
"Fine! But when I do I'm taking Jupiter, Austin and Carly with me!" Jupiter was out the door instantly with the toddlers. I shook my head at her and sighed
"Girl's I love you. and Austin please go easy on your mother" I kissed their heads and walked in the house to check on the other kids.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_960dedcb.jpg
The next day Allie came home from the hospital to a basicly empty house.
"I'm so sorry dad. I didn't mean to make mom and Jupiter leave" She sobbed into my shoulder.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_b60deefd.jpg
Things were strange after that. Every night for at least a year after Catherin left I sat 2 more plates at the table for her and Jupiter.

[goddessmoon2008]

If your still looking for a judge I would love to try!


EDIT:By the way this would be my first time judging so if thats ok....

[cavilez]

Caleb: I knew this would come sometime during this contest so I have prepared myself not to flip out on you, lol.

Caleb: I remember this like it was yesterday... It's quite hard to push something this horrible and sad out of your mind.

Caleb: Can you help with breakfast today?
Gale: No.
Caleb: Why not? I don't understand all you do all day long is DRUGS! I raise our daughter, I make sure she eats, I make sure she goes to school, I take care of everything in this house! Can't you do this one thing for once?
Gale: Go away Caleb, not today.
Caleb: When? You know what forget it.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot016-1.jpg

That was the start and it got way worse from there. The next day was when it happened. I was just finished making cereal, something simple but yet something to push the drugs out of her system (or so I thought). I had already put Lei~Lani on the bus, when I tried to get Gale ready as well.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot021.jpg
Caleb: Gale, come on you are gonna be late for work AGAIN!
Gale: ...........
Caleb: Oh for goodness sake let's go.
Caleb: OMG!! Gale wake up... wake up!
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot022.jpg
Caleb: Hello I think my wife just overdosed.
Operator: Sir we are sending an ambulance right now. Stay calm.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot023.jpg
Caleb: They pronounced her dead at the scene (heroin overdose). It wasn't really a surprise I knew it was gonna come some day I just didn't know when. I tried to get her help but she refused. I even tried to sign her up for rehab but since she was an adult she was allowed to check herself out. It was heart-wrenching because she was not the woman I married and had a child with. I wish it would have been the same forever. I loved her and I miss her everyday (the sober Gale).
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot024-1.jpg

[Velvet_Morning]

The day I met my daughter was quite a surprise. I wasn’t supposed to meet her at all. After Danielle told me she was pregnant we decided to put the baby up for adoption. We were so young at the time and weren’t ready to be parents. I wasn’t involved in the pregnancy at all. Once we made the decision we went our separate ways. I just wanted to forget the whole thing. Then, nine months later, Danielle was at my front door, scared and confused, holding a baby in her arms. “I just can’t do it”, she sobbed, “I can’t give her away.”
http://i33.tinypic.com/t7o9qh.jpg
After seeing Ava I understood how she felt. She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and I immediately fell in love with her.
http://i33.tinypic.com/34h9b8p.jpg
When Ava was five, Noel was born, but it didn’t go as planned. He was born six weeks early. That day in the hospital was one of the worst days of my life. I’ll never forget how he didn’t make a single sound when he was born, no crying-nothing, or seeing his tiny, lifeless body being rushed to the NICU. He stayed there until he was full-term.
http://i35.tinypic.com/2dsecux.jpg
We visited him every day. Ava loved having a little brother. She couldn’t wait until he could come home so she could play with him and dress him up!
http://i33.tinypic.com/3026ftl.jpg
We were all so thankful when we finally did bring him home. It’s been hard in the past and I’ve had to make sacrifices, but every bit of it was worth it.
http://i35.tinypic.com/9qaf4o.jpg

[TRIriana]

Thanks for offering goddessmoon, I'll add you to the judges list now. :)

I'm so glad how quick everyone's being, and I can't wait to see the rest!

[wndy26]

O'Malley Family

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2970790963_413435b299_o.jpg

Fathers Name: Thomas O’Malley
Fathers Age: 29
Location: Belladonna Cove
Short Biography: Thomas married his high school sweetheart, Mandi, just after he graduated college with a Bachelors Degree in Marine Biology. Thomas currently works as a Dive Master in the oceanography field. His latest promotion meant that the family had to move closer to the ocean, to Belladonna Cove. Outside of work, Thomas spends most of his spare time with his girls, going to their school basketball games. He encourages his girls to be active in the community and frequently spends time being a taxi driver and directing events that his daughters dream up. Thomas also spends one weekend a month hanging out with his band buddies. Each month they rotate whose garage they are going to jam out in. When it’s his turn to host the band practice, he makes a family affair out of it. His buddies bring their families and pitch tents in the yard, then they bar-be-queue and jam out from Friday till Sunday afternoon. The kids really love it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2970790951_f96914640a_o.jpg

Offspring Name: Annabel “Annie” O’Malley
Offspring Age: 7
Location: Belladonna Cove
Short Biography: Annie is the oldest, born just four minutes earlier than Tori. Annie has blonde hair like her mother and she loves animals, sports, and music. She plays basketball for her school team, the Belladonna Dolphins. Annie's best friend is her sister. They do everything together. While she is not as outgoing and popular as her sister, she is definitely not shy. Annie finds the world an exciting place to be. She watches the news and reads avidly. Just a few weeks ago, she learned that seagulls were being mistreated at Belladonna Cove's beach. She organized thirty kids from school and had their parents bring them down to the Cove to march and hang flyers on all the cars at the beach. The local TV station found out about it and interviewed Annie and her dad. Soon after, Belladonna Cove Animal Control Services hired an extra officer to patrol the beach area.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2970790965_d34bdcdfc7_o.jpg

Offspring Name: Victoria “Tori” O’Malley
Offspring Age: 7
Location: Belladonna Cove
Short Biography: Tori is the youngest. She has her dad’s firey red hair and attitude. She enjoys sports and taking things apart. She also plays on the school basketball team. Being born second doesn't mean you have to be second and Tori knows that well. She is a leader - she was the first to bring home an A+ report card and the first to make the basketball team. Tori doesn't rub it in though. On the contrary, she helped her sister study so she could make an "A" too. Tori is big into community service - she is always encouraging everyone to recycle. When her school held a paper drive, she pushed her class to first place by getting up extra early and riding her bicycle to school so she could pick up newspapers from around the neighborhood on the way. When she approached her dad with the idea, he was amazed and had no choice but to agree to ride with her!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2970790953_820cb5d7a3_o.jpg

Thomas: "Our formal photo was taken just a few weeks ago when Belladonna Cove Elementary had a school dance. Mandi and I chaperoned the dance along with 4 other parents and teachers. The dance was tons of fun!"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2970790957_7e2e86c9cc_o.jpg

Tori: "Each night before bed, dad reads a fairy tale to us. Annie and I like to hear the story about the giant and the bean stalk."

[goddessmoon2008]

TRIriana: Thanks!

[duderocks]

Name: Thaddeus Foster
Age: 27 1/2
Location: Desiderata Valley

Being considered as one of Sim City's most famous designers, I always had the knack for anything bright, colorful and unconventional (well, my interior design reflects that), and the charm that makes the ladies swoon. But the one I love more than any other lady is my lovely son, Finley.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot197.jpg

Name: Finley Foster
Age: 11
Location: Desiderata Valley

I am Finley. I love space, the color purple (dark purple, in particular), and dad. Oh, and trains too.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot196.jpg

Formal

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot202-1.jpg

Informal

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot198.jpg

[duderocks]

To tell you the truth, I never felt the "paternal instinct" until I was 24. I have always imagined myself as the playboy who never settled with one man or woman (I'm bisexual and proud of it!).

Being an eligible bachelor, when I do not think of the latest design ideas, I either veg out on the couch...

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot204-1.jpg

...or invite a lady over and have a nice make out session.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot205.jpg

Doing that routine for 3 years will bore the hell out of you. Suddenly, an image of myself taking care of a child, feeding him, playing with him, well, the works.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot203.jpg

A week later, I vowed myself to the parenting commitment, picked up the phone and called the orphanage.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot206-1.jpg

The next day more than notice the hot lady in the French braid and body-concealing dress, I looked at the blond, blue-eyed boy who from now on, I will consider as my son. Moments later, I took him in and gave him a nice, fatherly hug.



http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot207.jpg

As I wrapped my arms around his tiny body, I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling. A feeling that signifies that he will be just fine with his new papa.

[Rabid]

Round One


The day I brought my daughters home, I didn't know what to do.

I could hardly bring myself to enter the nursery, stuck between how it was and how it should be, broken and lost and devastated and reeling from the loss of my wife, Rachel. We had decorated this room together with the intention of making it sunny and cheerful, we had envisioned ourselves holding our perfect babies here as soon as the ultrasound revealed that it was twins, we had imagined ourselves together here. And now, in a cruel twist of fate, I was alone in a room with two newborn babies, completely deficient in parenting skills and eviscerated in that my wife had been taken from me by something that was supposed to be natural, something that was supposed to be beautiful.

And now, they were my responsibility. Even though all I wanted to do was curl up in bed with a bottle of Scotch and a lifetime to waste, I had two beautiful daughters that looked so much like their mother it made my stomach turn, and I had an obligation to them. I was all they had, and as unfair and injust and wrong as that was, I would be damned if I didn't make it enough.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R1Photo1.jpg


Just as I summoned the courage to take a tentative step forward, Celia began to cry, a tired, melancholic weeping that hit me like a faceful of acid. What was I supposed to do? I never had younger brothers and sisters, I wasn't the fatherly type; I knew absolutely nothing about babies. Rachel was going to teach me, but Rachel... Rachel wasn't here, and there was nothing I could do about that.

I moved to Celia's crib and wrapped my hands awkwardly under her tiny body, skin soft as velvet and flushed with a healthy glow. It wasn't the first time that I'd held her, but every time that I touched my daughters, I was struck dumb by their sheer majesty. She didn't quiet at the contact but only continued to keen at a deafening decibel level, laying her smooth cheek on my shoulder and weeping. I opened my mouth to call for Rachel and my heart shattered just a fraction more when I remembered that she wouldn't come, that she couldn't. Please, Jesus, Celia, stop crying for your mother, I know she's the one you want, but I'm all you've got right now, and I'm sorry that I'm not enough.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R1Photo2.jpg


I lowered myself to the floor and leaned back against the empty crib, casting a quick glance at Sasha to ensure that she remained unbothered by her sister's wailing. I held Celia for at least an hour, keeping up a steady stream of hushed, nonsensical whispers to comfort her with the sound of my voice and the vibration of my chest. She quieted slowly, for every step forward, we took two back, but with painstaking effort and hard-fought patience, she eventually lay silent and sleepy in my arms, curled limp and listless like a tired anemone.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R1Photo3.jpg


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R1Photo4.jpg


I returned Celia to her crib carefully so as not to wake her and eliminate our progress before returning to my silent vigil on the floor. Night was falling and I knew full well that I should give them a moment of peace, but I couldn't bring myself to leave my daughters alone. They were all I had left, I was all they had, and somehow it felt like I was doing the right thing, like maybe, just maybe, we were going to be okay.

I left only long enough to change into my pajamas, depositing myself in the rocking chair and being content to simply watch them. Their small chests rose and fell in a rhythmic cadence beneath the blankets, tiny, perfect fingers fisted around the soft material and sheer, gossamer eyelids fluttering in vivid Technicolor dreams. Were they dreaming of their mother? Were they dreaming of the before-life? I couldn't know for sure, but I was too captivated by the tranquil stillness of the room to care. My quandaries and grief had been temporarily suspended by their beauty, and I wanted them never to change, to always stay this innocent, to always stay this virginal, to always stay this pefect.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R1Photo5.jpg


My eyes were growing heavy, and I lay down on the rug by the girls' cribs to continue my vigil. They looked achingly like their mother in sleep, peaceful and laid bare, but this time the ache was real, it was right. I missed Rachel with every beat of my heart, but we would be okay, and I would make a goddess out of her ghost. I would tell my daughters all of the fantastical stories about the spectacular woman who had died to give them life, and maybe someday, they would miss her too because they would feel like they should. Logic told me to return to my own bed, but I didn't want to. I would find the blankets on the opposite side smooth and unbroken, and I would lament the absence of the body that would never again depress the mattress and pillow. I couldn't leave, because my daughters had never woken up alone, and I didn't want them to know what it was like.

My throat ached with restrained emotion and my head swam with memories of happier times, but I would pull myself together. I would heal for Celia and Sasha, simply and impossibly.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R1Photo6.jpg


(hope this isn't too long... I'm a writer; I couldn't just do it half way :D)

[Charley-x]

Everyone's entries are fab! :D

[Daisie]

Everyone's entries are fab! :DI agree! :)

[Charley-x]

Everyone's entry puts mine to shame :P. 3 of the pictures ARE clickable, so can you please take a look at the better, bigger pictures, please? :duck:
---------------------------------


Two years ago I experienced the worst day of my life. Ever.
-
“Why did you take me out of school daddy?” Ellie asked me as we sat down on the sofa.
“Listen Ellie, you know how mummy drives her car to work?”

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Round1bouttotellellie.jpg (http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-10-2520-30-30-60.jpg)

Ellie nodded at me with a confused look on her face. When I saw her face all confused, it reminded me of her mother. Paige always pulled that face when she was confused, but then I thought ‘how the hell do I tell a six year old that her mother has just died? I cried my heart out when I was told by a complete stranger, so what would she be like when I told her?’ I cleared my throat and gripped Ellie’s little hands,

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/roundone-Holdinghands.jpg

“Well mummy’s car wasn’t working properly and crashed into another car and mummy, well she won’t be here anymore as mummy is an angel up in heaven.”
Ellie just sat there for a couple of minutes, I guess she was taking in that horrid information and trying to understand, she then took a big gasp of breathe and burst into tears.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/roundone-Cryingellie.jpg

I comforted Ellie and told her everything would be ok, but deep down I couldn’t believe my own words. For the first time ever Me and Ellie had a deep meaningful conversation. I told her everything would be ok and we would never ever forget her mum. I gave Ellie a big reasurring hug while she fell into a exhausted sleep.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Round1huggshot.jpg (http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-10-2520-51-02-31.jpg)

As Ellie lay sleeping in my arms, I thought how I would never see my Paige again. Then I put myself in Ellie’s shoes, she’ll never see her mum again, what will happen when she gets to ‘that age’? Most teenage girls speak to their mum about that stuff- not their fathers. I wondered if I could cope looking after Ellie on my own. I wiped away my tears and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. I tucked my precious girl into bed and whispered ‘sweet dreams’.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/round1-Tuckinshot.jpg (http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-10-2522-29-43-09.jpg)

That day, my world crashed down on me, but thankfully I had my daughter to live for, Ellie continued to pick my spirits up. That day I became a widower, a single parent, a heartbroken man.



-----------------------------------------

Hope it's not too long, i tried my best to shorten it, also I hope it's not too boring (I suck at writing).

[kustirider2]

Charley, your entry is so emotional... it brought me to tears.

[TRIriana]

It's not too long at all, Simcharley - nice work everyone. :)

It's the 26th today, so there is one more day for round I entries to come in. And applications wills close in half an hour.

[Charley-x]

Thanks Kustirider :).

[wndy26]

It's the 26th today, so there is one more day for round I entries to come in. And applications wills close in half an hour.

TRI- its the 25th here...are you outside of the US? I just want to be sure I make my round 1 entry on time.

[PlumbBobbed_SC]

Excuse me, can you tell me when the applications are closed or are they closed right now? I read the first post and it didn't say anything--unless I happened to miss it! :]

[IceAngel12891]

What time is the round ending tomorrow? I'm not currently at my house (I'm babysitting), and I will be able to get it in tomorrow, but probably not until the evening.


BTW-Its only the 25th where I live, do you live outside the US?

[Daisie]

According to her profile, TRIriana lives in the UK. That would mean GMT (http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=136), if I'm not mistaken.

[IceAngel12891]

So she's only like 4 hours ahead,not a whole day, which means that the round would in fact end on Monday? Agh sorry, I'm just trying to make sure I have time to submit my entry lol

[TRIriana]

The round will close at 10pm GMT on Monday. :) To plumbbob, if you think you can get in the application and round 1 before tomorrow, I'll accept it.

[Charley-x]

Ooo for once I don't get confused by time zones :) i'm from Uk too :)

[Spicycookies_SC]

Samuel: The day I first laid eyes on my beautiful baby girl Juliet, I still remember to this day. I opened my apartment door to grab the regular newspaper, and there she was, all bundled up in a little straw basket. Juliet was crying her little eyes out, her wails filling the empty halls of the building. I was petrified and had no idea what to do to calm the infant down! I gulped and scooped her up in my shaky arms. Soon as we locked eyes for the first time, we almost felt inseparable. Confused by the lost, lone baby, I searched for some clues leading to her being outside my doorway. I found a note lying right beside the basket. I didn't even need to read it to figure out what it read. The note was a letter from a woman telling me that this baby was my child and that I was the one who was going to have to deal with it. The letter was signed by a lady named Juliet, a name I didn't recognize. I somehow decided that I would call my baby Juliet for now, and it stuck on since.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/surprised.jpg

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/babyjuliet.jpg


I brought Juliet inside and unraveled her from the tangled mess of white blankets. Juliet reeked, as if she had never before been bathed. I didn't know how to bathe an infant, and nor did I even own a bathtub. I ended up running warm water into the deep kitchen sink. Juliet was really excited to play in the puddle of water, splashing and kicking up a water mess. But my mind was on other things. Could I raise this child, my child, physically and financially? I couldn't just throw her out and into another home, especially not an orphanage. But I wasn't the fatherly material type at all, either.
"I'll just keep you for a day, or maybe week, maybe two..." I hummed to myself, watching happy Juliet being bathed. I smiled to myself. "I could just even keep you forever, maybe."

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/firstbath.jpg

Unfortunately, I didn't own a crib at the time that Juliet could sleep in for the night, and I didn't intend to put her back in the hard basket. Luckily, I did own a small wooden bed from back when I was a kid. I simply changed the sheets into something a little more comfy and laid her down on the mattress, all bundled back up in the white blankets. The stars from outside shone down on us as I watched her by the bedside. I pulled out a small book off from the -never been used- bookshelf, and began to recite the tale of "The Little Engine That Could". I almost fell asleep myself, but I managed to drag myself back to the master bedroom to fall sound asleep myself, dreaming about the adventures me and Juliet would share together from then on.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/latestories.jpg

[thatsfancy]

I arrived at Sunnyside Children Center early on a Saturday morning. I was a senior in college, and not at all interested in spending my weekend babysitting some kid. All that changed when I walked in the room. There was Hayden. The child care worker, Mrs. Walker, had told me he arrived last night after he had to be taken from his parents for child abuse. He had a bandage on his cheek and was pretty beaten up.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_56106f3c-1.jpg

I sat down at the table with him. At first he didnt't want to talk or even look at me. He just stared at the table, barely moving at all. When I mentioned that I liked to go camping, his eyes lit up. He told me stories of going camping with his dad years ago before his dad died. Hayden loved the outdoors. He told me all about different bugs and animals. He said when he grew up he wanted to work at the zoo. He was extremely intelligent and one of the sweetest kids I had ever met.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_f6106fa2.jpg

All I could think about that night was Hayden. I came back to see him the next day, but I couldn't even make it down the hall. I was heartbroken. How could a parent possibly be mean to such a great kid? I couldn't just leave him again. He deserved the best in life, not jumping from foster home to foster home. I knew what I had to do. I wiped my tears and walked down the hall to speak with Mrs. Walker.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_76107bae.jpg

It took me almost two hours to convince her that me, a college student who worked at a coffee shop and lived in a dorm, would make a good parent. Finally she agreed that I could be his mentor until I graduated from college. After that we would go proceed with the adoption. That began a whirlwind of legal documents and meetings, but it was, without a doubt, the best decision I ever made.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/ohh__thatsfancy/Daddy%20and%20Me/snapshot_96090227_76107ed6.jpg

[goddessmoon2008]

Great entries everyone!

[wndy26]

It all started the day before my big presentation on the algae study my collegues and I had been working on for the last six months. I called home around 5ish in the evening to let Mandi know I would be working late in order to prepare for the presentation. I knew that her due date was getting closer, which was why I bought the cell phones a month ago. Mandi was disappointed that I hadn't called sooner, but she said she understood. She claimed she was tired anyway and was going to rest. It was almost midnight when I looked at the clock - and at the same moment I looked at the clock my cell phone started ringing. It was Mandi, her water broke and she was in labor - her contractions were just a few minutes apart. She called the ambulance before calling me. So I just grabbed a cab and rushed over to St. Lucas Mercy Hospital.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2975378922_d48d30fe03_o.jpg

Well, so much for my presentation! No big deal though, James said he would take care of everything. I rushed in to the ER as soon as I got to the hospital. She was already upstairs about to deliver! A nurse took me up on a freight elevator so I wouldn't have to wait. I was in the room and two minutes later, Annie popped out. Four minutes later, there was Tori! Both girls were so beautiful and sooo wrinkly! I was holding Annie when I noticed that Mandi had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2975378930_21021244b1_o.jpg

The nurse was so sweet. She helped me take care of all the paperwork, birth certificates, etc. Then she told me about several programs in the community that assist new parents with multiples. There were tons of community programs. That nurse helped a great deal. I bet she has no idea what kind of impact she had on me that night. Those programs are the reason I volunteer in my community as much as I do today - and I encourage Annie and Tori to do the same.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2975378936_57bbc16a56_o.jpg

About two hours later, Mandi woke up frantic, sitting straight up in bed. She didn't feel the girls in her tummy and had forgotten about giving birth, until she woke all the way up. When she calmed down some, we had just enough time to get a bite to eat before the nurse brought the girls in for their feeding. Mandi took care of the feeding, but when it came time to change the diapers, she passed that on to me! My very first diaper change as a dad! And golly, they were sure stinky!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2975378938_a66a9fed97_o.jpg

At about five in the morning, I kissed Mandi good night. I decided to go on in to the office and sleep on the couch for a few hours before checking in with James about the presentation. Before I could leave the hospital, I wanted another look at my girls - to see their beautifiul faces and know that they are really here, my babies. They were awake, wiggling around in their bassinets. I stood there for a long time, until they both finally fell asleep. I didn't get to work until almost six-thirty.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2975378942_14a1479d17_o.jpg

[IceAngel12891]

Once again, sorry for my crappy graphics--I'm hoping to get a new desktop for Christmas, but that doesn't help now lol. I hope the first picture is ok, it looked terrible (the edges) in color, so I made it into a "memory" picture. I was going to do that will all of them, but decided against it. I hope the writing is long enough.



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/memory.jpg

I remember the day Sophia told me she was pregnant with Julia like it was just yesterday. I freaked, I'm not going to lie. I was a rockstar, how was I supposed to be a father? I didn't have it in me. I was terrified throughout her entire pregnancy.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/babyjulia.jpg

All of the fear washed out of me the second I laid eyes upon my beautiful daughter. I had never loved someone that quickly. Every breath that she took amazed me. It couldn't believe that Sophia and I had created such a miracle. From that day on, I knew my place in the world, I was Julia's dad and that was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/babystella.jpg

Four years later, I was blessed with another beautiful daughter. We opted for a home birth this time, knowing more of what we wanted than we did when Julia was born. Stella was the sweetest baby ever. She was full of laughter and only cried when she was hungry. I didn't know that I could love two little girls so much, but I did. Stella quickly became "daddy's little girl".

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/familybaby.jpg

I had two beautiful little girls, what more could I ask for? They were (and still are) my world. I couldn't even believe that four years earlier I had never wanted children. I would be missing out on the best thing in the world--being a father.

[PlumbBobbed_SC]

Fathers Name
Simon Lainley

Fathers Age
30

Location
Newark, New Jersey

Short Biography
Simon was rushed quickly into marriage and fatherhood. His wife had left him and their three-month-old daughter to join the traveling Russian ballet. Occasionaly, Simon still thinks about her but he tells himself to never dwell in the past. He is a very devoted father and works as a kindergarten teacher. He enjoys writing, playing soccer, and spending time with his 'little princess'.


http://i35.tinypic.com/20qxv2f.jpg


Offspring Name
Cora Lainley

Offspring Age
8

Location
Newark, New Jersey

Short Biography
Weighing seven pounds, 5 ounces, Cora came into this world with a loving family. It soon ended when her mother left her and her father. Cora grew up in a pretty typical American atmosphere; loving father, a dog named Babs, and a nice, suburban home. Cora enjoys her school, reading, and making up stories every Saturday night with her dad.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2zegqqg.jpg


Other Pictures

http://i36.tinypic.com/55i354.jpg

"I think my daddy is so handsome in a suit!"
-Cora

http://i36.tinypic.com/30dcxnb.jpg

"We love reading and making up stories at bedtime."
-Simon


I'd just like to apologize for the HORRIBLE graphics. I'm still awaiting the arrival of my laptop. :\ Until then, don't hate my pics!

[Spicycookies_SC]

Will there be a prize for the winners of this contest? I'm oh-so curious :D

[TRIriana]

I really hope I'll be able to get something for the winner - I'll keep you all updated. :)

I also can't see the first two pictures that you posted, Spicycookies, just to warn you in case you hadn't noticed.

[PlumbBobbed_SC]

To tell you the truth, I never really thought about telling Cora about her mother. I mean, I just didn't think she would ask. How wrong was I? I should have known that a little girl is going to want to know why she only has a daddy and other children have a mommy and a daddy. Because I never really thought she would ask, I was never really quite prepared with an answer for that day.

http://i35.tinypic.com/11smnsz.jpg

Actually, it was during a thunderstorm. Cora's brain always starts thinking and becoming curious during storms, I'm not exactly sure why. Anyways, I was working on a report for my college class and Cora had long before gone to bed.

http://i36.tinypic.com/m81oif.jpg

I was in the middle of typing the body of my report when Cora wandered into the living room. She stood next to me, silently looking over my shoulder. To be honest, it kind of bugged me how she did that. I wasn't sure what she was thinking. She got that from her mother.

http://i36.tinypic.com/10qypn4.jpg

'Daddy?' I heard her soft, childish voice enter the air. Turning to her, I asked her what she needed.
'Daddy, can you tell me about Mommy?'
Sighing and massaging my temples with my index and middle finger, I turned away from the screen so I was facing her.
"Cora," I said, "your mom was a very special person. She loved dancing, singing, and most of all you." And so I proceeded to tell her about how her mother and I met, how we had her, then her mother had other plans. I told her that sometimes mommies and daddies need to leave their familes. I didn't know how else to put it. How would you tell your daughter nicely that her mother didn't love her and left to join the Russian ballet?

http://i33.tinypic.com/2gy1s36.jpg

"Do you understand, Cora?" I said, looking intently into her eyes and seeing Sylvia. It was almost too much, but I held back tears.
Cora nodded and said she understood. I admired her. She was very brave for an eight-year-old.

http://i36.tinypic.com/23scadt.jpg

I hugged my little girl, for the first time since I brought her home from the hospital almost nine years ago. Smiling, tears stinging my eyes, I told her she needed to get some rest.

http://i35.tinypic.com/35buy4m.jpg

Later, after I had finished my paper, I quietly snuck into Cora's room. She was sleeping soundly. I smiled, for the first time in my life, I felt like I had really connected to my daughter.

[Spicycookies_SC]

I really hope I'll be able to get something for the winner - I'll keep you all updated. :)

I also can't see the first two pictures that you posted, Spicycookies, just to warn you in case you hadn't noticed.

:o I can see them just fine on my computer, but I'll post a link to them on photobucket anyways.

[TRIriana]

Thanks, I can see them now - I wasn't sure if it was just a loading error on my end or not, LoL.

Round I ends in 9 hours so any unfinished or outstanding entries still have time to be completed. :)

This Round will have no eliminations, and there will be comments. This is so people will have the opportunity to both read judges' comments and know whether things need improving, or if how things in entries being done are just fine, for the next round.

[Charley-x]

As there are no Eliminations (thankgod :P) are we getting round 2 info after 10pm GMT? Btw i'm not being impatient incase your thinking that :P, i'm just curious :)
thankyou.

[TRIriana]

The Round II info will be give one the scores and comments have been given, so everyone will have the chance to takes comments on board before starting the next entry. :)

[Charley-x]

okies, thanks :)

[TRIriana]

You're welcome. :)

Judging is now in progress - watch this space!

[Imcran]

My scores are in. Good job, guys and girls.

[TRIriana]

I will show each of the judges scores and comments, and then the cumulative scores.


Round I Results

Godessmoon 2008

Rabid
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 35/35
Your story was SO emotional and really showed the heart ache of a father after the loss of his wife. I cried. Wonderful!

Daisie
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 35/35
I really felt the pain of Charlie as his wife left, then when he had to face his children and remember he was alone. Very touching.

ILoveJonsi
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 35/35
I loved that you showed the first time you met both of your children. The descriptions of Noel, they felt so real. Great job!

Wndy26
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 35/35
I loved the lead up to the birth and the description of the nurse.

PlumbBobbed
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 35/35
I loved your story! It was so touching and heart breaking. I really loved it.

Simcharley1990
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 34/35
I loved your story but it seemed a little rushed. Great job!

Mbunnell
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 34/35
I liked the story a lot but I personally found it just a little hard to follow. Great job!

Cavilez1987
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 33/35
I liked the story but it would be better if the child had been involved some how. I loved the pictures.

IceAngel12891
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 32/35
I liked the story but it was kinda short and rushed. Good job.

Thatsfancy
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Overall 31/35
I enjoyed the story line and the way it turned out but it seemed rushed.

Spicycookies
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Ovrall 34/35
Very creative. I loved how surprised he seemed to have a child or to be "accused" [I guess] of having a child.

Dude rocks
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 34/35
I would have liked to learn more about Thaddeus' new relationship with his son.


TRIriana

Rabid
Plotline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 35/35
Your entry wasn’t too long at all, Rabid! The emotion you put into the writing and the accompanying pictures worked very well together: one capturing the fear at realising he needed to take care of the twins on his own and coping with his own sorrow, and the other showing his utter exhaustion and want to not leave them alone. I also liked the addition of his thoughts in italics. Nice work!

Simcharley1990
Plotline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 32/35
I do like how you showed the perspective of Mason, what he was feeling and thinking. I would have liked to see it also from Ellie-Mae’s perspective. The pictures showed the daughter’s grief over what had happened, which was good but writing to accompany that would have helped as well.

Wndy26
Plotline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 32/35
Your story flowed quite well and was very sweet. Your pictures were good - the nappy changing one was very amusing! And the hospital looked very realistic. Overall a nice entry.

That’sfancy
Plotline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 8
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 31/35
I did like how yours was quite different in that this is just a guy in college who realised there was a kid out there who had lived a really crappy life, and did the upstanding thing by wanting to help him. I would have liked a couple of more pictures perhaps - one to show how he couldn’t sleep through thinking of his son-to-be, and a final picture showing how happy he was that he could be Hayden’s mentor and eventually father. But good work overall!

Daisie
Plotline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 8
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 2.5
Overall: 31/35
I liked the pictures - you did very well to show the wife’s anger and Charlie’s panic at her leaving so abruptly. Though I would have liked a little more writing, good entry!

Spicycookies
Plotline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 2.5
Overall: 29.5/35
I liked the look of your pictures, and the storyline was very sweet. Particularly how it was a case of “I’ll just look after her for a bit…” and that bit became forever! The thing that brought your mark down was that one of the pictures didn’t have any accompanying writing.

Ilovejonesi
Plotline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 8
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 2.5
Overall: 27.5/35
Overall: I really liked your pictures - the close-up was very cute. In your application you said that Danielle left, but in the Round I it sounded as though everything was going to be alright, when she came back with the baby and said that she couldn’t put the baby up for adoption. More writing would have brought the score up a bit, as some were below the round minimum.

Iceangel12891
Plotline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 8
Picture Creativity: 6
Rules Following: 5
Overall: 27/35
Overall: More writing would have been nice, just to instil that little bit more emotion and thought into it. I think more pictures, or more happening in the current pictures, would have helped a little bit more. For example in the last picture, Owen is just standing there with the baby, no smiling. But overall a nice entry.

Cavilez1987
Plotline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 6
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 2.5
Overall: 23.5/35
I liked the black and white of the pictures, showing that it was in the past and not the present and you did show in these the drug paraphernalia, letting the reader know that the wife was heavily into drugs. However in the writing I’d like to have known just a little bit more information so that it flowed better- had she tried to get help before? I would have liked more description in the writing also, and some of the writing that was there was below the round minimum of two sentences. Also, there was no sign of the child - where was the one picture that showed his concern at looking after her on her own after her mother‘s death?

Mbunnell
Plotline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 6
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 2.5
Overall: 23.5/35
While the plotline is creative, it didn’t flow as well as I would have liked. In the first picture Romeo is just standing in the background while his wife and daughter are arguing, and there was no explanation for this or for why he didn’t step in and halt the argument there and then. You said later on that Jupiter was out of the door with the toddlers immediately - was this because she agreed with her mother? Or because her mother had just dragged her out? There wasn’t an explanation for why Romeo went along with Allie’s lie in the hospital - endangering his other children when his wife took them away.

PlumbBobbed
Plotline Creativity: 7
Plotline Flow: 8
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 0
Overall: 22/35
Your story flowed quite well, the sudden appearance of Cora wanting to know about her mother - and how she has some of her mother’s quirks, was a nice addition. However the thing that brought your rules adherence down was that you didn’t show either the first time Simon saw Cora, or the first time he realised he had to look after her on his own. In the application form you stated that the mother had left when Cora was three months old, and she’s clearly far older in your Round I entry.

Duderocks
Plotline Creativity: 5
Plotline Flow: 6
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 2.5
Overall: 20.5
There could have been more writing in the entry, it was below the round minimum by quite a lot and there wasn’t enough of a flow to the story - why would an orphanage decide to give this, what sounds like, self-serving guy, custody of a child? I would liked to have known more why he suddenly had this eureka moment and decided to adopt. Your pictures though, were very bright and colourful which I liked.


Imcran

Rabid
Storyline Creativity: 10/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 10/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Overall: 34/35 points

- Total adherence to rules. That’s what I like to see! Not too long at all.
- Plot flow is excellent. I can follow the over-arcing story, nice background.
- Storyline- brilliant. Description really brings it alive, emotions are conveyed.
- Picture Creativity is awesome. Simple, but emotive. My one quibble is the ‘Zzzz’ coming out of Silas’ head.

thatsfancy
Storyline Creativity: 9/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 7/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Overall: 30/35 points

- Rule obedience! YAY!
- Could have used a couple more pictures to tie it all together, since the flow breaks up a bit towards the end. It’s still good though.
- Nice idea! I like how he’s just a college student who’s moved by the kid’s plight, rather than just suddenly thinking ‘Hey, I want a kid!’ The interaction with them is pretty sweet, too.
- The creativity of your pictures is good, emotion is conveyed nicely. Good job.

Wndy26
Storyline Creativity: 9/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 8/10 points
Picture Creativity: 8/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Overall: 30/35 points

- For rule obedience, I give you 5 out of a possible 5.
- Nice pictures! Shame you can see the censor blur on the nappy changing one- maybe you could have orbited the camera for that one, to try and cut it out? It detracts from the picture. Very creative though- I like the outside of hospital shot.
- Flow’s nice and consistent, good work. Your language could use a little polishing though.
- Storyline’s good, pretty creative. It was nice to see a family where the wife’s still around.

Spicycookies
Storyline Creativity: 9/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 9/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 29.5/35 points

- Missed text on one picture.
- I found this baby on my doorstep? Priceless. The panicked way that Samuel thinks about the whole thing is great. Very creative and unusual of you!
- Nice creativity on the pictures! They convey emotion well, pretty cute. I’m liking that.
- The plot flow is brought down by the fact one of the pictures didn’t have any writing with it at all. That’s the only problem with your flow.

Simcharley1990
Storyline Creativity: 7/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 8/10 points
Picture Creativity: 8/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Overall: 28/35 points

- Rules adhered to- cool!
-Why, oh why, did you shorten it? It wasn’t anywhere near too long, and if anything, would probably have benefited from more description. I wish I could have seen the uncut version. The flow’s good, but the story would probably have benefited from more.
- Nice pictures, good conveyance of emotion. Particularly liked the shot of the grasping hands, that was inventive. One quibble is that Ellie seems to be grinning in the ‘having just cried’ shot.
- Storyline is creative- again, why oh why did you cut this? This short, the background is lacking. If it was longer, it would have been a great story.

IceAngel12891
Storyline Creativity: 7/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 7/10 points
Picture Creativity: 8/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Overall: 27/35 points

- Rule adherence! Yay!
- Flows pretty well, could have used a bit more description as it was a little on the short side. Still, there was a nice sense of cohesion about the whole thing. Maybe could have used another picture to flesh it out a bit.
- Good locations chosen for pictures, fits well with the storyline. Would have been nice to see a little more of the birth, maybe?
- Storyline pretty well thought out, nice to see one where the wife’s around, too. The length sort of cut back on how creative your entry was.

IloveJonsi
Storyline Creativity: 7/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 7/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 24.5/35 points

- Again, very light on the sentences. Some pictures have just one line of text, and not much description at all.
- Very good picture creativity, I like the Hospital shots and the incubator! Nice work.
- Flow’s ok, could be better described in a couple of places. For example, when Noel was born, it doesn’t explain if the mother is ok or not- for a second I thought she was dead from the picture!
- Storyline has potential to be very creative, but lack of description really let you down here. The heartache of having a kid born early, etc, was skimmed over.

Daisie
Storyline Creativity: 6/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 8/10 points
Picture Creativity: 6/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 22.5/35 points

-Try to write more than a couple of sentences. Some pictures had a lot, some had one line.
- Pictures weren’t very varied, sort of flat.
- Plot flows well, more description would have improved it.
- Story a little undescribed. What issues were they having? When did they start? I just felt you could have given a bit more background here. As it is, a reader doesn’t really get a sense of what’s up, just that she’s storming out.

Mbunnel
Storyline Creativity: 6/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 6/10 points
Picture Creativity: 7/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 21.5/35 points

- Try to write a bit more than a couple of sentences per picture.
- Flow slightly disjointed in some places- I wasn’t entirely sure who’s side Jupiter was on, for example
- Could see the plumb bob in one of your pictures, and the father standing in the background wearing a tux? Seems a bit odd that he was just standing there blankly.
- Storyline-wise, why wasn’t there any effort to stop Catherin from taking the other three kids? She’s clearly an abusive mother. Why did they let her take three kids away? Why didn’t they at least call the police? Why go along with Allie’s lie, when Romeo knows it’s not true?

Cavilez1987
Storyline Creativity: 7/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 4/10 points
Picture Creativity: 7/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 19.5/35

- Try to write more than a couple of sentences per picture, particularly if writing in script form so we have some idea of things like surrounding emotions, etc.
- Please don’t use “lol” or “OMG!!!” in dialogue.
- Plot doesn’t flow well at all. Disjointed due to only dialogue being shown. Scripts usually have stage directions, actions in them, etc. The reader can’t really see the surrounding events with this entry.
- Pictures are good, I like the use of black and white to signify memory, emotions conveyed pretty well. It’s a shame the daughter isn’t in any of them, though, that cuts your mark.
- Storyline quite creative, although I would have liked to see more in depth about the events leading up to this snap-shot in the dialogue. Caleb says he misses the sober Gail- what was she like? Also, why didn’t he attempt to remove the drugs from the room when she was already high? Why didn’t he just report her to the police to get her some help?

duderocks
Storyline Creativity: 7/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 3/10 points
Picture Creativity: 5/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 16.5/35 points

- Very little text at all. Most pictures have only one sentence to describe them. One only has a half a sentence! More description please.
- Pictures are mostly of Thaddeus and the couch. A bit more creativity in where the pictures are taken would have been nice. There’s very little emotion involved with them, which leaves them pretty flat.
- Very, very little plot flow. Your lack of description really lets you down. I don’t know anything about Thaddeus to begin with, and I still know nothing about him now, other than he’s bisexual.
- Makings of a good idea beneath the lack of description and story. Playboy adopts small child could be worked into a very interesting arc.

PlumbBobbed
Storyline Creativity: 5/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 6/10 points
Picture Creativity: 4/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 0/5 points
Overall: 15/35 points

- This isn’t the first time Simon saw Cora, or the first time Simon looked after Cora on his own.
- Pictures are uncreative. Mostly, they are just based around the computer, with very little to do with the actual text. No shots of Mom leaving? No reflective shots? Shots are flat, and unemotional.
- Pictures and text don’t match up. The text flow is ok, but the pictures almost seem like an afterthought.
- Storyline could be creative- if you’d shown me the right one. The Russian Ballet? Mother fleeing to join them? Why is this part not shown? You completely overlooked what would have been an awesome story - Simon looking after Cora for the first time after mom’s run away to join the Ballet- and instead just had him kind of telling her about it. Not good.

Cumulative Scores

Rabid: 104
Wndy26: 97
Simcharley1990: 94
Spicycookies: 93
Thatsfancy: 92
Daisie: 88.5
Ilovejonesi: 87
Iceangel12891: 86
Mbunnell: 79.5
Cavilez1987: 76
PlumbBobbed: 72
Duderocks: 71

[duderocks]

Oh well, bottom of the heap. But thanks for the REALLY CONSTRUCTIVE comments. Yeah, it was very rushed, hence the descriptions (or lack of it) and other elements needed. Thank God we have a ten-day break and will have lots of time to work in my entries. ;)

Can't wait for Round 2. :D

*Big congratulations to everyone, especially Rabid for getting top score.

[Charley-x]

congrats rabid for getting top scores!!
congrats to everyone else,
"One quibble is that Ellie seems to be grinning in the ‘having just cried’ shot." -Sorry its the animation, and the face-overlay box does'nt work for children, sorry!

Thanks for the comments judges they'll help alot!! :D
+ thankyou for being so quick, there were alot of entries to judge :)

[duderocks]

The speed of the judges were really impressive indeed, Charley.

[thatsfancy]

Thanks for all the comments, and so quickly!

I agree that I could have done more with my story. I originally had another story planned, but when I went to put it together with the pictures I didnt really like it haha.

Cant wait for round two!!

[goddessmoon2008]

Great job everyone! Congrats Rabid!

[TRIriana]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/Sam_Monoceros/Sim%20Competition/RoundIIBanner-2.jpg

Alright then! Well done to everyone for getting through Round I, and I hoped you enjoyed compiling your history as much as I enjoyed reading a little into your past. My name is Jack, and this is Terri and we're going to be your hosts for the duration of Round II. This time two people will be cut, based on what scores you will get for this next round; so I hope the constructive comments that you got last time will help you the second time around. Now, enough of my talking! On to, what I'm sure you've been waiting for: The actual round information!

The title for this Round is: A Day in the Life. Self-explanatory, no? Not quite. This time around there's only one option, however you're going to get the opportunity to:

1. Give us information on what "a typical day" was like for you before you started to look after your child full-time.
2. Tell and show us how exactly your "typical day" changed afterward, when you garnered more responsibility.[/Center]


Picture Requirements and Information

I would like a minimum of five pictures for this round - two of these pictures must show the "before added responsibility" and at least three the "after added responsibility".

On top of that, the after shots have to show a perspective from the father and the child(ren), in the shots and the writing.

Again there is a minimum of two sentences per picture, and the maximum is put to you. The picture maximum is eight.


Round end dates are on the initial page.

[Rabid]

Oh, wow! Top score?! I didn't think it would be me at all... thanks for that and all the constructive comments, and thanks for the congrats, everyone :)! The round one entries were so fantastic that I shudder to think how good round two will be.

Question- does what changed always have to be present? For example, the parent probably had to start bathing their child after he/she was born, but in all likelihood, that doesn't happen anymore. Since it doesn't happen at the current age, is that invalid, or can it still be done? I don't intend for all of them to be in the past, but I have a cute idea for one. Sorry if this is an irrelevent question.

[Charley-x]

round 2 sounds great! :)

[TRIriana]

Oh, wow! Top score?! I didn't think it would be me at all... thanks for that and all the constructive comments, and thanks for the congrats, everyone :)! The round one entries were so fantastic that I shudder to think how good round two will be.

Question- does what changed always have to be present? For example, the parent probably had to start bathing their child after he/she was born, but in all likelihood, that doesn't happen anymore. Since it doesn't happen at the current age, is that invalid, or can it still be done? I don't intend for all of them to be in the past, but I have a cute idea for one. Sorry if this is an irrelevent question.

It's completely relevent - good question. :) The what changed doesn't have to be present, no.

[Charley-x]

oh! i have a question too,
can we do a weekend? because if it's a weekday its guna be boring because of the school, work thing. thanks

[TRIriana]

It can be be a weekend thing, yep. ^^.

[Charley-x]

Yays! Thankyou. :)

[Daisie]

Thanks for constructive comments, judges. :) I thought of the pictures as accompanying the story - not the story as captions for the pictures. That's why the writing was not spread out evenly.

Also, and I'm sorry if I'm being a pain, I'd love clarification on why I only got half credit for rule-following from two judges. What rules didn't I follow?

[TRIriana]

You're not being a pain at all, Daisie. Basically, with the rule adherence I gave 2.5 marks for the picture rules being followed and 2.5 marks for the writing rules being followed, and you didn't exceed the maximum amount of sentences.

If it helps people any, I can post a breakdown of what everyone is scored on and what areas are being looked at the most?

[Spicycookies_SC]

:O That would be wonderful ^^

I have a question. I have exactly eight pictures for round 2, except one of my pictures I think would look better if it was zoomed in on it. Is it possible that I post both the zoomed in and zoomed out version of the photo, but only count it as 1 photo still? Sorry if I'm not making any sense. :P


EDIT: Never mind, I reduced my images to 6 already. I'll be posting them fairly soon!

[Velvet_Morning]

Thanks for the comments! It will really help for the next round :)

Overall: I really liked your pictures - the close-up was very cute. In your application you said that Danielle left, but in the Round I it sounded as though everything was going to be alright, when she came back with the baby and said that she couldn’t put the baby up for adoption. More writing would have brought the score up a bit, as some were below the round minimum.
I'm kind of confused. Everything started going downhill after Noel was born and that is when she left. Since I went with choice #1, I thought that I shouldn't tell about that. Could I have done both or am I just misunderstanding what you said?

[IceAngel12891]

I figured I'd get points taken off for it being too short. Its not that it was rushed, I just suck at writing. I'm hoping to improve with this contest, its one of the reason I joined lol. Also, it is so hard to catch a smile when they are holding a baby, lol.

Also, for round two my guy doesn't really have *full* responsibility, so can I just do what a normal day for the house is and have him be the one that does it all or something, would that be ok? Sorry if that doesn't make sense.

[TRIriana]

Thanks for the comments! It will really help for the next round :)

I'm kind of confused. Everything started going downhill after Noel was born and that is when she left. Since I went with choice #1, I thought that I shouldn't tell about that. Could I have done both or am I just misunderstanding what you said?

Because it wasn't mentioned that things went downhill after Noel was born, and things had seemed better at the start of the entry, it just to me, felt like I was missing something. If that makes sense?

And that would be perfectly fine, IceAngel.

[duderocks]

......hopefully I have improved a lot since Round 1......

A Day in the Life of Mr. Single Playboy (aka. Round 1 in-depth)

So, Mr. Finley Foster, you will become a teenager soon and I'm sure you will understand what I'm talking about here.

Ever since I was a young child, I have always loved clothes, particularly if they are bright, colorful, even a little on the unconventional side. So much that every time I go to the Boys' clothing section, I make some mental images on how this shirt will look on a different color, and things like that.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot028-5.jpg

Oh, it was a typical day in the House of Psychedelic Wonder. A house that I myself designed, from its neo-hippie walls, to the candy-colored sofas. I walk to the drawing board, sketching whatever I could so I can produce output for the day.

At first, I thoroughly and infinitely enjoyed what I am doing. As the years go by, it seemed like I was a machine, a robot who just happens to have an eye for color. I'm my own boss, why am I doing all this? No wonder people call it typical. You get bored doing it.

One day, October 15, 2006 to be exact, I decided that I will put some spice into my life. Gone are the days of mechanically getting to the sewing machine to sew a mechanically-designed clothing sample. It was time to get out of the world and experience LIFE.

At first, they became my friends, then romantic conquests, until it turned to me regularly using that heart-shaped bed...with different people each day.

As soon as I started enjoying my social life, my designing career had gone down a downward spiral. They no longer accepted me to fashion shows, I wasn't getting clients, and most of all...I feel like I was losing my creative spirit.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot005-11.jpg

Soon, the headlines were no longer: "FOSTER GARNERS HIGHEST HONOR IN FASHIONISTA AWARDS!" They soon became: "MIRIAM LOVE FOUND WITH INFAMOUS THADDEUS!"

...and Miriam was married.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot021-2.jpg

I then reflect on my life. It too was a typical activity, but it was the first time I genuinely pondered on the big questions. Why was I putting everything to waste? Maybe it was because I was a lone bachelor in a huge house, with lots of sensational headlines and rusted creativity on my back.

Or was it just what I was thinking? So many mental images came into my head...but perhaps the most striking one is one that led me to adopt you, Mr. Finley. So, I'm sorry for lying to everyone that it was a Eureka! moment.


Life After Tabloid Fodder

Finley: Dad has always told me that his life has changed ever since he adopted me three years ago. In that span of time, I was able to consider him as my father who gave me the unconditional love I never had.

You see, Before they took me to the orphanage, my parents used to neglect me and my siblings because of their business. They always left us to this MEAN, NASTY, MONSTROUS lady who beats us up everyday. After one of my neighbors called Child Protection Services, I was whisked off to the orphanage.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot008-6.jpg

Thaddeus: Finley's life in the Psychedelic Wonder was definitely far from what he's getting before. First thing in the morning, I cook breakfast for the two of us (three since my fiancee of five years has just moved in with us). I was surprised that I was becoming a better cook than before, when I used to live off of Instant Meals and TV Dinners. Yes, Finley loves my cooking (but that's quite obvious).

Finley: After daddy's YUUUUUMMMY breakfast, I usually prepare for school while daddy stays at home to work on his designs.

Thaddeus: Yes, I am finally back on working on lovely clothing again. In fact, I'm already branching on children's clothing: for the ones who want something one-of-a-kind.

Finley: But it's a Saturday. This means...It's time to go to the park and play in the playground! I have always love the playground. The merry-go-round that makes us dizzy, the slippery slide that sometimes hurts your bottom, and the swings that after ten years, it still looks new.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot023-5.jpg
(the family spins on the merry-go round)

Finley: Thanks, Daddy. That was fun! Can you do that again next time we go to the park to play?

Thaddeus: Since you enjoy it so much, I'll do it again next time. But Finley, it's almost winter and I still haven't bought you a sweater.

Finley: But I thought you are going to make one for me?

Thaddeus: Let's just say that the sewing machine broke. There are a lot of sweaters in the store. Maybe you can pick one that you like.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot014-7.jpg

*After 10 minutes, Finley finally pick a sweater. It was a maroon one with green and pink diamonds in front*

Finley: What do you think, daddy?

Thaddeus: My, my, my, Finster. I may not be your real father, but you are certainly taking after me in fashion taste. Diamonds certainly look great on you.

*Finley and Thaddeus go home after shopping*

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot017-5.jpg

Thaddeus: Nothing relaxes me more than playing with the train set I had as a child. This was the one my father and I assembled for a couple of months and played with from then on. He used to own a train station in Veronaville and he has always loved the quaint life in the suburbs, like the town on the train set.

*Thaddeus and Finley smell the smoke from the train*

Finley: PEE-YOO! What was that?
Thaddeus: It looks like the train needs some cleaning...

*a few hours later*

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot026-8.jpg

*Finley reads his favorite story, The Ants in the Little Boy's Pants*

Finley: ...and the ants were back in the hill, and lived happily ever after. The end

Thaddeus: Great job, Finley. *to camera* Well, I used to read him a story everytime before he sleeps. But since he's older now, I let him read more "grown-up" books, and the occasional fairytale by himself so he can improve his reading skills. After that, plus evening routines, it's good night.

Finley: Good night everyone.

[Spicycookies_SC]

BACK THEN

Samuel: Back in the day, I guess you could say I had a big reputation in New Caledonia. I admit it, I was a player with the ladies. I never thought of ever having a serious relationship with any woman. It was stressful at times, especially when I could never get any rest. I was ready to change my name and ditch New Caledonia to start off fresh. But somehow I always ended up bringing home a new 'friend'.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/olderdays.jpg

Most of the time, I didn't even remember which lady I was speaking with. 'What's her name again?', I usually would ask myself during the middle of our conversations. I felt lonely, as if the world had ditched me and moved on. Maybe it was those darn girls who were toying with me! I pushed my hurtful thoughts aside and continued on with my dirty life style, which some males might think would be treasure.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/lovebugs.jpg

And what did I do for money exactly? I didn't have much dough back then. On weekdays, I even worked as a bartender just to acquire a tad more coins to put into my drained out wallet. Money was getting tighter each day that passed and I found myself counting my pennies when it came time to pay up my rent.

I decided that I would start up a small business in the back of my apartment. When I was still just a kid, I used to collect tons of bass and electric guitars as a hobby, and so now was my chance to make money off of them by selling them to other collectors. For almost two years straight, I sold guitars to make my living. I didn't make very much, but I didn't need a lot of cash either, only enough to pay the rent when it came time to.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/guitarshop.jpg

NOWADAYS

Juliet: Very early every morning, daddy wakes me up before he goes to work as Mr. Repairman. He sits me down in the wooden highchair he bought just for me and makes me any type of breakfast I ask him for. It's very quiet while we eat our early breakfast and only the sound of forks scrapping against our plates make loud noises. I think he enjoys the peacefulness, though, and I do too.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/peacefulbreakfast.jpg

While he is at work, I always find something new and exciting to play with in the house. It could be the toilet bowl that I could stick my hand into or a water puddle that I could splash in! Usually when he returns home from work, there is a mess everywhere in every single room of the house! Fortunately, he doesn't get mad at me and cleans the mess up right away with still a huge smile on his face! I think I will marry daddy when when I am old enough!

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/biggermessychild.jpg

Then sometimes before suppertime, daddy brings me to the local park which is only a block or two away from our house. There is swings, monkey bars, a slide and an enormous structure at the park! We play in the sand together, making and then destroying sand castles! My favorite activity to play though is when we play on the slides together! Daddy knows how to even push me down those slides even faster mommy does!

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/playfulpark.jpg

But my very favorite part of the day is when it comes time to go to bed. Ever since I was as young as I can remember, daddy has always told me stories at bedtime until I fall sound asleep. We have a big book of fairy tales that he reads to me over and over again each night. Sometimes we are both so into the book that neither of us can fall asleep! Eventually, I fall asleep, daddy's strong arms wrapped around me. I hope that someday mommy will come back and we can all sleep together like that, forever and ever. And we would live happily ever after, the end.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/storytime.jpg

[Neeri_SC]

I really enjoy this contest, I wish i could of joined.
It's far more elaborate than all the pageants. Please do another of these contests so i can join! <3 <3 <3

[Charley-x]

I have two more question,
Can we included speach because you said:
"1. Give us information on what "a typical day" was like for you before you started to look after your child full-time.
2. Tell and show us how exactly your "typical day" changed afterward, when you garnered more responsibility."
But you also said tell it from the child's point of view, so are we including speach or doing it as like a timetable?? - sorry but i'm confused over it. :S

And we can do number as as when the child's actually 'here' can't we like do it as the mother did most of the stuff ? or does it have to be before the child has been born?

Sorry for being a pain. :\, all your entries are great so far guys!! :D

[TRIriana]

Not a pain at all. :) You can do the "Before" as when the mother did most of the stuff if you want to, as long as there's a difference between then and the "After" part of the round entry.

The style of how you write it is entirely up to yourself, as long as there are points of view in there from father and kid(s).

And I hope to do a cycle two, for the people who didn't get to join cycle one. Perhaps an Alien Daddy and Me. :)

[Charley-x]

Thankss- i'm off to do it now :)
and Ohhh i'd join that :D:D:D

[Velvet_Morning]

Because it wasn't mentioned that things went downhill after Noel was born, and things had seemed better at the start of the entry, it just to me, felt like I was missing something. If that makes sense?


Yeah that makes sense. I should have put something in about that. Thanks for clearing that up. :)

Btw, I'm sorry if I seemed rude before, I didn't mean too. It's just that this is my first contest and I want to make sure I understand everything.

[cavilez]

Past
This is how our mornings used to be, relaxed and talkative. I kind of turned it into a routine.

We would sit down at the table and talk about the previous day because at night we were all trying to get something done that didnt involve each other, except Lei~Lani of course, she would follow us around the house.
Gale: You know the funny thing is that they expect me to keep doing the advertisements with no praise on how good they look or anything for that matter. It's getting quite boring and I deserve a promition, I have been working my a..
Lei~Lani: Mommy don't say it. Oh, I made a new friend at school yesterday. Her name is Anva and she is really nice. I told her I would ask you guys if she could come over. So?... Oh please mommy please! Daddy? Mommy we can do my homework when I get home. Please?
Caleb: Someone is anxious. How about this weekend? Under one condtion though sweety, we need to talk to her parents first to make sure it is ok that she can come over and stuff like that ok? How does that sound to you Gale?
Gale: Yes that works with me. You still have to let me help you with your homework after school *smirks*.
Lei~Lani: OH thank you mommy and daddy, I will get her number today during recess and yes mommy because my homework gets done better and faster with your help. I just tend to understand it better with help.
Caleb: Alright you two, finish eating and then go brush your teeth. The bus willl be here soon, as will your carpool Gale.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot025.jpg

I usually either give mommy a hug and kiss or daddy. In this picture it was daddy's turn. Well I gave daddy a hug and a kiss and waved bye to mommy as I got on the bus. After I get on the bus I usually look out of my window and see that daddy can't stop smiling at mommy and mommy can't stop blushing, it's so cute. The bus driver usually has to honk the horn on the bus to get them to stop so I can go to school.
Caleb: I love you both and be safe!
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot026.jpg

Lei~Lani: MOMMY I GOT AN A!
Gale: Clam down and good job baby girl I knew you could do it.
Lei~Lani: You helped me mommy. My teachers also gave me some harder homework to test my knowledge or something like that. I think they do this with all the kids. Mommy where is daddy? I wanna tell him I got an A.
Gale: You know he works on cars around this time silly. Daddy likes to get all dirty and stinky so we can tell him how much he smells. I think he finds it quite funny. *laughs* Are you ready to do your homework?
Lei~Lani: Yes mommy let me go get it. Oh and I got Anva's number for you and daddy.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot029.jpg



Present
I still sometimes see daddy crying and it makes me sad but I know that I need to be strong for him and around him. Of course I get sad I was closer to her. I wish I knew her reason for the drugs. I think daddy knows but won't tell me and it sucks because I think I am ready to learn why.

Everyday is hard on me (probably Lei~Lani as well), Lei~Lani keeps asking me why her mother killed herself and I look the other way and tell I don't know, but the truth is that I do know Gale's reason. There might have been another one but I think her reason was that she was already dying. The doctors told us that she had a tumor that would be incradibly hard to remove without killing her. Thats the part thats hard for me because either way she is dead but it would have been better if it was the sober way and not having to deal with her pain and agony.

This is the main thing that we both love to do, shop. I buy her shoes, clothes, whatever she wants. The only thing I ever want is in the automotive department. We laugh about the things that used to be and how we can manage to get by the days. It's nice I see the good Gale in Lei~Lani. It's like she is my angel. I know cliche but it's true. Sometimes on our little shopping sprees she says things that Gale would say like: "Oh your just being silly".
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot031.jpg

This is my surprise for Lei~Lani, a car. She has been saying how much she likes my cars and stuff, so I figured I would surprise her. She thinks it's just another car for one of my clients, ha if she only knew she would freak out and demand me to hurry up so she can show it off. I love building cars, it takes my mind off of other things and I must say that I do love the fumes, and the sparks, and the different colors you can make. It's relaxing and it let's Lei~Lani be by herself for an hour or two.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot027.jpg

Sometimes after school my friends come over and talk about all kinds of stuff. The main topic we usually talk about is athletics. It makes some kids at school laugh because I am seen as a girly girl that absolutely loves anything athletic. I dont really care because it helps me get through my days.
Lei~Lani: Oh, Anva, guess what Jules told me today? Shh, don't say anything Jules. Anva, she told me that she liked the new boy on the lacrosse team. *laughter*
George: Why is it always about boys with you Jules? Have you ever tried to be in any sports like Lei~Lani and Anva? *giggles*
Jules: Well why does it always have to be about sports and stuff like that?
Anva: HA! It's not when you are around. *laughter fills the room*
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot030.jpg

[mbunnell]

Before
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_f6148c1b.jpg
Every sunday morning was the the same. Catherin would get up bright and early. The smell of pancakes would kill the house before the rest of us even woke up. I'd always take my morning shower and go downstairs to kiss my wife and set the table.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_96148f1b.jpg
Breakfast would pass pretty quickly. The past few month we were usually consumed with Jupiter's doctor appointments and how the baby was doing. Then we'd bring the babies down for their bottles while Allie and Jupiter cleared the table and then did dished.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_d614920e.jpg
After breakfast we'd usually get in the pool. Playing Marco Polo was the girls favorite game as kids, so now it was just a tradition. Along with the family cook-out.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_d6149348.jpg
And finally we end the day with some after dinner shakes and some smustling till sun down. Once everyone wares down the girls crash and Catherin and I get some quality time
after
Since Mom, Jupiter, and the babies left things have changed alot. Our Sundays now:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_d614a511.jpg
I usually wake up around noon to the smell of hamburgers on the grill. Dad unfortunately isn't good with breakfast foods. I get my "morning" shower and drag myself downstairs. As usual 4 places are set at the table, I sigh and sit down. Good "mornings" are exchanged, some uncomfortable jokes and then I clear the table. Dad always asks me to mom and Jupiter's away, but I don't.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_b614a5f8.jpg
By the time dinner is done dad is watching tv or a movie. I sprawl out on the couch and relax while we chat some more about the game or the weather. I usually consider getting in the pool, then remember Jupiter isn't here to get in with me.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_7614a6cf.jpg
After a few hours of tv I decide homework would probably be a good idea, if I intend on ever being somebody. Occasionally Marianda or Grandma would call I was able to get out. To be honest though, even though mom did what she did... she's still my mother and I still love her. Even though Jupiter backed out on me when I needed her the most.. I still love her too.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/mbunnell/Sims%202%20Leska/snapshot_b5f7cd2a_3614a81e.jpg

[goddessmoon2008]

Great job everyone, I love the entrys.

[Charley-x]

Great App's so far guys they all look fab!
I should either have mine in tonight or tomorrow afternoon. I have all my writing just need to take me pictures when i get home :D

[TRIriana]

Looking good so far everyone. :) There's just under 29 hours to go before the second round ends.

[Velvet_Morning]

Then

Danielle used to be such a good mother. She did a lot for Ava. I just stuck around for the fun stuff. On a typical day back then, I would be busy making Ava laugh and singing her songs. Danielle would be cooking, cleaning, and worrying about the future. I guess I took her for granted.

http://i38.tinypic.com/2pt7y1u.jpg

I regret a lot about those days. I didn’t help her out much and while she was trying to get Ava to bed (which was almost impossible); I was out with the guys. She was at home singing lullabies to Ava, pleading with her to just go to sleep, and giving her one last kiss before she tucked her into bed.

http://i37.tinypic.com/r86tqx.jpg

I think Noels’ birth really did her in. She almost died giving birth to him and it made her realize she had so much she wanted to do in her life… and it didn’t involve us. We were just too young when we had kids.

Now

Rhys

Saturday mornings start way too early if you ask me! Ava usually helps Noel climb out of his crib and they come in to wake me up, yelling and laughing the whole way. They’re barely finished with breakfast by the time they are begging me to take them outside. Well, Ava does most of the begging. Noel just follows along. They love to go for walks. I push Noel in the stroller and Ava tries to skateboard. She falls quite a bit and it makes me nervous. I don’t to be one of those overprotective fathers, but I don’t want her to break a bone either!

http://i34.tinypic.com/dm2phe.jpg

After a long day of chasing the kids and laughing at all the cute little things they do, it’s time for a bath. I thought it would be easier to give them both a bath at the same time but I think they just egg each other on! I’m always soaking wet by the time we are done.

http://i37.tinypic.com/2hmncch.jpg

The kids love to sleep in my bead. With Ava jumping all over and Noel playing peek-a-boo under the covers, it takes at least a half an hour for them to fall asleep. I know they should sleep in their own beds but before I know it they’re going to be too old and not want to spend as much time with me. I’m going to enjoy the time we have while I can.

http://i33.tinypic.com/1zx1s0y.jpg

Since Danielle left, I’ve had to trade beer and sports games for sippy cups and Sesame Street, but I love every minute of it. I just wish she was here to see that Ava really misses her mom and doesn't understand why she left and that Noel has grown into a wonderful, smart, and healthy little boy. I wish she could see that they need her.

Ava

My daddy is so much more fun than any of my friends! He does everything with me and on Saturdays we get to play all day! One of my favorite things to do is play board games. Best of all, if I land on a bad space, Daddy lets me roll again and do it over. Noel likes to play too but he doesn’t really know how. He mostly just chews on the pieces or knocks them over!

http://i33.tinypic.com/2912jas.jpg

Me and Daddy love to play soccer too. He always tickles me when I try to get the ball. I end up laughing so hard that my stomach hurts! We play every day while Noel is taking a nap. Daddy brings a baby monitor outside so he hears when Noel wakes up. Boy can my brother scream when he wants to get out of his crib!

http://i36.tinypic.com/20usd94.jpg

Noel

I go on the slide every day. It’s so much fun! I go really fast and my daddy always catches me at the end. Ava watches and cheers me on. She was so happy when I learned to use the slide. She is trying to teach me to play soccer too but she gets mad when I pick the ball up. It's just so much easier than kicking it!

http://i34.tinypic.com/xzu5i.jpg

[Daisie]

Do you want two pictures exactly for the "before" task, or is two the minimum?

[TRIriana]

Two is the minimum. :)

[Charley-x]

does round two end at 11pm english time tomorrow? :)

[TRIriana]

does round two end at 11pm english time tomorrow? :)

Close, 10PM. ^^.

[Charley-x]

Lol i can't tell time ^.^, thanks.

[thatsfancy]

I'm trying to get mine all together, but my lot keeps crashing. ughh!! I'm working on it though haha.

[Rabid]

Round Two


A Day In The Past
(all POV from Silas)




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Past2.jpg


Before my wife died, I was on top of the world. Not to say that I'm unhappy with my current life, because I live and breathe to see my daughters happy, but with Rachel, I had everything that every self-respecting man could ever want. During a typical day in that period of my life, we were living in a third floor walk-up in Brooklyn with barely enough room to breathe but an abundance of space in which to love one another.

An average morning included an hour of languishing about in bed after the alarm rang (which was conveniently set for an hour before we really needed to start moving), but my most pleasurable mornings were spent waking before Rachel and watching her sleep. God, she was beautiful- I remember every angle of her face with incredibly accurate detail. Writing this now, it's almost like I can read the ink through my skin, through memory. She had delicate, pointed features almost elfish and childlike in their naivety, accompanied by a wild head of hair and a sinuous, lean body. As I remember her, she is completely black and white with no uncertain areas of gray- she's carved with hard, sharp edges of certainy and painted with vividly colorful brush strokes.

We were happy, incredibly so, and I was hopelessly ignorant in that I believed harm would never come our way, but I suppose our beginnings never know our ends.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Past3.jpg


Through numerous hours of arduous toiling behind an intern's desk, I was finally working my dream job at the leading architectural and sculpture firm in New York. I was in the process of being named a partner, which gave Rachel and I hope that perhaps soon we could move out of our suffocating flat. I loved my work, and I must admit that I sometimes miss the fast-paced, contemporary environment associated with architecture in the Big Apple. I worked steady hours from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., which left a good amount of leisure time for my wife and I.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Past4.jpg


Being newlyweds at this point, Rachel and I were intoxicated by the mere thought of each other, let alone the presence. We went out to romantic dinners nearly three times a week because she was a rubbish cook, but if there's one food that I would die for presently, it would be her burned, over-seasoned macaroni and cheese. She loved to dress formally and adored to see me in a suit, which necessitated that we often dressed up.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Past1.jpg


We liked to drive away every so often if only to escape the toxic smog, the irritable taxi drivers, and the incessant bustle of the city. One of our favorite places to frequent was a constantly deserted ice rink in Albany, the rails dented from years of use and the ice never marred by slices from skates until we arrived. We twirled there for hours on end, and I fondly look back on the numerous nights that Rachel spent teaching me how to skate despite my two left feet and lack of grace.

Sometimes when I wake up at night, I swear that I can feel the phantom touch of her delicate, gloved hand in mine, the warmth where her forearm rested at the small of my back to keep me from falling. I wanted things not to change, to always stay as perfect and idyllic as they were then, but I would be a fool to think that things always go my way. I thread it all down deep to where I keep the memory of her. I remember her vitality, and I live that. I know that pain is vulnerable to love and time, and Rachel is made of both.

Two years after we got married, Rachel got pregnant. We devoted our free time to looking at paint swatches for the nursery, picking out clothing that seemed too tiny to fit any human being, and living in wait for the girls to kick while in utero so that she could grab my hand and place it over the appropriate spot in hope of feeling the lives we had created.

A week after Rachel died and a week after the girls were born, I couldn't stand the place anymore. I packed up our things, moved 4000 miles away to the opposite coast, and haven't gone back to New York, since.


Present Day
(POV from Silas unless otherwise specified)




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Present1.jpg




When I moved to San Francisco with my daughters, I knew nothing about how to take care of a baby, let alone care for two. I had a similar job, but I had to scale back on work immensely to care for my daughters. I stayed up late reading parenting books and used up hundreds of minutes frantically calling my mother at the slightest cough the girls made, but no matter how prepared I thought good advice and books could make me, I had to learn by doing. One of the first changes in my routine was bathing the twins; they were so tiny that I feared I would hurt them with even the softest stroke of the wash cloth, but in time, I learned to have just as much fun with the baths as they did by adding bubbles and toys to the mix.




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Present4.jpg




When Celia and Sasha got older, their adoration for me caused them to find me a desirable playmate. I knew nothing about playing dolls (and to be quite honest, I'm still not very good at it) or dress-up, but I learned through letting them drape garish feather boas around my neck and teaching me how to make the appropriate sound effects for each doll. A man who isn't a father might laugh at the sight of me, covered in gaudy accessories and ad-libbing for dolls in a high-pitched falsetto, but I love every second of it.


"Daddy isn't very good at playing dolls. He doesn't do the voices right, and he never lets us put lipstick on him when we play dress-up, but he's really good at hide and seek. He always finds us and we never find him!" -Celia




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Present2.jpg




Through the years, I've also abandoned my habit of frequently eating out and learned to cook for the girls. Granted, I'm not a great cook (the concept of cupcakes made in ice cream cones that the twins want for their birthday party still baffles me), but I get by.


"We would never have told him, but Dad's spaghetti is horrible. We fed it to the dog under the table for years before he found out! He makes delicious chili, though." -Sasha




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R2Present3.jpg




Thankfully, my college education amounts to something now that I have homework to help with. Academically, my daughters are polar opposites of one another- Celia excels at mathematics and Sasha writes more eloquently than any other nine-year-old that I've ever come across. We spend Sunday mornings in our pajamas at the dining room table going over their lessons, because I'll be damned if my daughters don't get a good education.


"Dad is really good at math! I guess it's all that architect stuff he does. I wish he could come teach art at our school- he's way better than Ms. Freely." -Sasha


People ask me if I ever wish that Rachel hadn't gotten pregnant so that she would still be with me, and I never really know how to answer. Do I miss my wife? Absolutely; I miss her every second of every day with each and every beat of my heart. But do I wish that she hadn't given her life for the miracle that is our daughters? I'm too much of a pragmatist to say that everything happens for a reason, but even though what happened to Rachel wasn't fair and it wasn't right, it's what happened, and I can't change it. I love my daughters wholly and entirely, and choosing between them and Rachel would be an impossible choice. What hurts the most is that my daughters never knew their mother, that they never had a chance to experience the fantastic, amazing, beautiful person that she was. All she'll ever be to them is a picture faded from excessive handling, an image that means love but feels like loss.


There are still the occasional days where I dreamt of Rachel the night before, when her memory is so close that I can feel the softness of her skin and taste her strawberry lip gloss, days where the pain in my chest and the ache in my throat are so profound that I can hardly lever myself from bed. Every now and then I begin to doubt, the threads of my faith slipping from my shaky grasp, but I see past the tarnished surface to the bits of belief I still cling to. I've learned a lot about love from my daughters- from them, through them, because of them. On the mornings when all I want to do is roll over and go back to pleasant dreams of Rachel, it's Celia and Sasha that get me out of bed. When I look at them, Rachel's death makes sense. When I look at them, my life makes sense.

[IceAngel12891]

Is it at all possible to extend the round until around 3 or 4PM (Central time, USA)? I understand if not, its just I won't be home until then as I have school and the SAT test on Saturday until noon. I have all but one picture done, I just have to post.
I understand if you can't, but it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I think your round dates may be wrong, they confused me at first lol.
Your round two says it ends on 11/31, which I obviously caught as a mistake right away, but it says round 3 doesn't start until 11/3.

Sorry again! I hate asking for extensions probably as much as you hate having to give them lol. It makes me feel so bad.

[Daisie]

The round ends at 5PM Central, IceAngel, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm scrambling to get my entry together right now, on top of a million other things I'm doing - but I've gotten most of the pictures taken, and I should be able to compile them and get the writing done tonight or before the deadline tomorrow.

[TRIriana]

I can give you an extension if you need it, no problem. :)

[wndy26]

Can I get a small one too TRI...I am still in process of getting my pictures done and ended up working 12 hrs yesterday, tonight will be a short night at work and I should have more time to complete it, but another 8 to 12 hours would really make a huge difference on my entry.

[TRIriana]

Alright that's no problem - we're doing pretty good timewise anyway! :).

[Charley-x]

This extention is for everyone is'nt it? Cause I could really do with it aswell. I has a major glitch last night in their lot so i had to move them + build new house then it was 2am. If we had extention i would'nt have to rush my pictures?

[TRIriana]

Yes, that's for everyone. :).

[wndy26]

Thank you!!!!

[thatsfancy]

I am soooo sorry but I am going to have to drop out. My lots kept crashing my game and it became a big problem. I ended up just having to reinstall my game.

[Daisie]

Thanks for the extension. :) I'll have mine done sometime tonight.

[Daisie]

*** Charlie's POV unless otherwise stated ***

I still find it amazing how much my life and outlook have changed since my wife left our family. In seven years, I've gone from an obsessed, workaholic father, an absentee in the lives of my daughters, to a devoted dad with my girls' wellbeing always at the front of my mind.

To help explain the significance of the change, I'd like to show you what a day in my life was like seven years ago. Please keep your hands and feet inside the time machine at all times. :giggler:

Before

On a typical Saturday, I allowed myself a glorious hour or two of extra sleep before rising to shower and dress for work. When that was done, I collected the lesson plans I'd worked on late into the night before and headed to the kitchen.

Caroline already had the girls dressed and eating breakfast by that time. I was always so impressed! She was a great mother, always efficient and cheerful with the girls. I loved to see her with them, and I usually let her care for them without my interference. It was better that way, I thought.

On this Saturday, Caroline was flitting around the kitchen, an apron tied around her waist and a heavy tray balanced on her arm as she completed all the motherly tasks she was so good at. I simply waved, not wanting to interrupt. I left the house with a light heart.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r21.jpg

It seems strange to me now that I was so eager to get to work on the weekends. But I loved my bright, luxurious office and the quiet of a Saturday on campus. On Saturdays, there were no rowdy college students, no classes to teach, and no noise from the quad or parents on the phone to interrupt my work.

I graded papers, drafted lesson plans, and eventually lost myself in peaceful daydreams that Saturday. Remembering to call Caroline and tell her to eat without me, I eventually grabbed some dinner in town around six. It had been a satisfying day.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r215.jpg

It was dark by the time I came home, and Caroline was preparing for bed. She had left a lamp on in the girls' nursery so that I could say goodnight to them, but they had already fallen asleep in their cribs. They were so serene in sleep. I watched them and thought about how lucky I was to be a dad and to have my family with me, and then I kissed each one and tiptoed out of the room.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r22.jpg

Wow! I can't believe that I was so happy and satisfied to spend barely a moment with my daughters. I've realized since then what an enormous mistake that was, and now I value my time with them above everything else. Let me show you.

After

Things changed after my wife left. I couldn't quit my job, but I learned how to manage it so that I didn't need to work on the weekends. I started saving so that I could buy a bigger house for the girls to grow into, and I spent every possible moment at home. I guess I finally realized what my life had been missing before.

On a typical Saturday morning nowadays, I wake up the girls around ten o'clock. Before breakfast, we usually goof around in their bedroom in our pajamas. There are sometimes bitter pillow fights, and on a recent morning, when I had to pull Hannah out of bed, we ended up dancing around the room.

Lizzy: That was so funny! I love when we spend time like that together. Most of my friends say that their parents just set the alarm clock and don't hang out with them. I think they're even jealous of me and Hannah.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r23.jpg

Caroline was an excellent cook, and it's when I'm making lunch many days that I miss her the most keenly. Sometimes I blame myself for her leaving. But she was unhappy being a mother and a housewife, I remind myself, and it's unfair to wish that she had stayed with our family. I don't like to say that things turned out for the best, but I have a feeling that everyone involved is happier now than they were seven years ago.

Hannah: Dad, please. Get on with lunch, all right?

Lizzy: I will! Hannah and I do our weekend homework while Dad's cooking. Sometimes we have to help each other figure out the assignments. Dad tries to help, but he's hopeless at math!

I like to supervise their homework and make sure it gets done early. Their education is very important to me.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r24.jpg

At night, the girls and I enjoy our backyard. There is a small playground behind the house, and while that's fun, our favorite thing to do is lie on the grass and watch the sun set.

Hannah: Dad points out the connotations once it gets dark. There's the big dipper, and the little dipper, and the one that looks like Bella Goth. But I think he made that one up!

Lizzy: Constellations, not connotations, silly!

We've had some great discussions out there. The girls ask big questions - "Are we alone in the universe?" "Is there more than this?" - and we even talk about their mom. I think they understand now that she loves them very much, but she isn't cut out to be a parent. Talking to them has helped me to heal, too. It's amazing how helpful good discussion can be! I think it's time to talk about puberty next...

Lizzy & Hannah: Ew!!!

*laughs* Okay. For now, we'll just enjoy this time together.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r25.jpg

[Charley-x]

THEN.
Mason: When Paige was alive our family life was pretty normal.
Every Saturday morning Paige and I would wake to a 6 year old Ellie jumping on us. Ellie would greet our mornings with a big grin asking mummy to make breakfast. Paige agreed and said I deserved a lie in. While the girls were downstairs preparing breakfast and doing the morning chores,

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/roundtwopic1.jpg

I’d have that lovely lie-in. When Paige came up and re-woke me I’d slip on my dressing gown and stride downstairs, we’d all sit down at the kitchen table and eat our pancakes, Instead of sitting down quietly, our family was always loud, chatting about what we would do that day. In the end we decided to go to the playground. When we got to the local park I offered if the girls wanted an ice-cream, Paige said she’d have one later and Ellie just wanted to get in the park, then they strolled towards the playground. I sat down on the bench drinking my beer and sucking my ice pop while I watched the girls play on the slide and jungle gym. Paige catched and tickled Ellie as she reached the end of the slide and Ellie was giggling hysterically, I chuckled to myself and saw how much fun my girls were having.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/roundtwopic2.jpg

After an hour the girls came back and sat on the bench with me. “Thanks for today mummy and daddy, it has been really fun.” Ellie thanked me and Paige,
“No probs El!” I answered and ruffled her hair, Paige laughed and re-arranged Ellie’s pigtails. When Ellie was finished in the playground we started to head home. As usual Paige started dinner while I watched the football.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, Y-!” I screamed as my team scored the final goal,
I was interrupted by Paige telling me that’s dinner is ready. We sat down and ate dinner, Ellie again thanked us for today telling her how much she enjoyed it, especially because we were all there. I excused myself from the table and went to watch TV again while Paige cleared the table and washed up. “I’m about to run Ellie a quick bath then read her a story" Paige told me while slipping her hands over my shoulders. “I’ll be up soon, once rugby has finished.”

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/roundtwopic3.jpg

“And the big bad wolf will never hurt the piggy’s again, the end, Goodnight baby, sweet dreams.” Paige kissed Ellie on the head and walked over to me.
“Night el” I’d yelled across the room.
“Night mummy, night daddy.”


Now.

Now my days are nothing like that. Now I have to do what Paige did, I now know I took everything she did for me and Ellie for granted. I wished I realised that before she was gone.

At around 10am I woke Ellie up and asked her what she would like for breakfast, she told me she'd like poptarts. I pulled Ellie’s dressing gown out of her closest and passed it to her, “Thanks daddy”.
We both walked down the stairs into the kitchen, I saw the plates from mine and Ellie’s midnight snack and groaned “more washing up”,
“Want me to do the dishes daddy?” Ellie said seeing the look on my face.
“No thanks bubs, why don’t you feed the fish then sit down?”
Ellie didn’t answer me that time she just nodded and skipped off towards the fish tank.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/round2pic4.jpg

I asked Ellie where she wanted to go and she asked if we could go to the pool.

Ellie: Once me and daddy finished our breakfast I offered to help him clean the dishes but he refused, I think he think that he’s the daddy so he as to do everything. I went upstairs to get ready for swimming, I tied my hair up in pigtails, but it didn’t look the way I liked it, I tried like a gazillion more times but it wouldn’t go right. I almost cried with frustration. Mummy ALWAYS used to do my hair, the right way, the way I liked it. I called daddy into my room just as he was coming upstairs and asked him if he could help me fix my hair. He couldn’t do it either. It is time like this when I really need my mummy.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/round2pic5.jpg

“Bubs, I’m a man, I can’t do hair, shall I just stick it up in a ponytail?” daddy asked me
“Kay.” I huffed. After daddy did my hair – wrong, might I add - he went to get his trunks and clothes on while I got my swimsuit and shorts on. I emerged from my room about 10 minutes later.


Mason: Once Ellie was finished getting read I hushed her down the stairs and into the car. Once we arrived at the pool I had to haul the picnic stuff out the trunk of the car and take it all to a part of the pool,
“I’m sitting over here Ellie! Don’t go to far” I called after her.
“Yes daddy!” she called back.
About ten minutes later Ellie came back about being lonely and having no one to play with in the pool so I told her I’d join her in a minute. I soon had my shorts of and my trunks on. I dived in the pool and swam under water grabbing Ellie’s toes making her squirm with delight.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/round2pic6.jpg

It started getting chilly so me and Ellie packed up our things and made our way home. When we got home neither I or Ellie was hungry so we decided to watch random films. After a couple of hours, I carried Ellie up to her room and tucked her in.I find it hard to juggle all the household chores with my work schedule and sorting out Ellie but we will find a way to manage, we always have done and always will.

[TRIriana]

Thanks for letting me know, thatsfancy. Its so annoying when that happens! I hope your game is better now. :)

[Spicycookies_SC]

My round 2 strangely reminded me of Charley's. weird :P

[Charley-x]

oh well i've had mine writen out in word since TRIriana posted round2.
I hav'nt read everybodies yet so i can't of copied.
I can't re-do it either cause i'm busy and have coursework to do, otherwise i would, and if i read yuors before i posted, i would re-write mine even though i had it written out since round2 info was posted.

[wndy26]

Not sure how much time we have left, but I know I need atleast 2 more hours. I hope that is ok. :)

[IceAngel12891]

(All in Owen's POV except for the dialogue, which is stated)


Sorry for taking so long! I hope I did this ok. My guy has a wife that he shares responsibility with so its not like he does all of the stuff on his own, so I did the before part before the kids were born and the after part what a typical day was like. I asked and you said this was ok, I just wanted to clarify.
(Also, I hope you don't take points off for this but the first picture I forgot to add the border and I'd have to go change it on my other computer and its just such a hassle. I don't think it will be a big deal because since photoshopping isn't required you don't judge the borders lol, I just like the way they look on the pictures)



Before:

Before I had children, I had the ultimate bachelor lifestyle, there is no question about it.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/sleeping.jpg
I would sleep until about noon.
Ok, maybe 2PM.
Fine, fine, 3PM, you got me.
I didn't have any reason to get up before then.
With my partying until 4 in the morning, it didn't seem like a big deal to me then.
Afterall, I WAS a rockstar.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/rocknroll.jpg
Speaking of being a rockstar, my band would come over at about 6 and we'd practice on the nights we didn't have concerts.
When we had a concert, we'd be traveling most of the day and wouldn't get back home until late.
It was a very exhilarating lifestyle, indeed.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/drinking.jpg
Around 11 or so at night, I'd go to the club.
If I had a concert, I'd go to the club after.
Everyone who was anyone was at the club.
All of the girls would hang around me, but of course my eye was on Sophia.
I'll admit it, I had a couple of drinks while at the club.
Or ten.
When you have no responsibilities, you tend to go a little wild.
Good thing I had a limo driver, because there was many times I could barely even walk.
I'm embarassed about it now, but that was the life I lived back then and I can't change that.

After:
Thankfully, my beautiful daughters set me straight.
Sure trading in the rockstar life for parenting may seem like a real drag, but its not, its very exciting.

Here is how a weekday at my house usually goes:
I wake up the girls around 6:30 AM.
I help them get dressed and make them breakfast.
I have to remind them to brush their teeth just about everyday, you'd think they'd learn by now, but they are just kids.
After Julia says goodbye to her mother, Stella and I go see Julia off to school.
Julia hates that she has to go to schoo because she says she misses out on all the fun that Stella and I get to have together.
I always have to ensure her that we will have just as much fun when she gets home.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/school.jpg

While Julia is at school I usually try to teach Stella how to talk.
Sometimes we end up just playing with her little drum set or bears.
Once in awhile I'll put her in her stroller and go to the park.
Usually its the talking practice though.
Stella hates to talk.
She'll sing her babbling, but she isn't much of a talker.
Maybe that is a good thing though, because Julia sure can talk you ear off.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/talk.jpg
Owen: "Dada. Say Dada."
Stella: "Booboobahbahh wheee"
Owen: "Oh Stella, you silly girl"

After Julia gets home from school I make her a snack.
After her snack I help her with her homework.
She doesn't like to do her homework too much, so I'm there to push her along.
She'd much rather be playing her violin, which she always does when her homework is done.
She sure does play that violin beautifully.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/homework.jpg
Owen: "Oh! Oh! I know that one!"
Julia: "Daadddyyy!"

Later on we make dinner.
We all make dinner as a family because we feel it brings us closer together. Julia makes the bisquits or muffins.
My wife makes the salad.
I make the main course and Stella plays with some mush, which she thinks is the secret ingredient of the course.
This is probably my favorite time of the day because the whole family is together and we have such great fun.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/cooking.jpg

After dinner I help the kids settle down.
I give them their baths first of all.
Then I read them a story, they just love this.
Julia and I take turns reading and Stella babbles alongside of us.
After we read I help them into their pajamas and tuck them into bed.
Sometimes I just watch them sleep for a few minutes, I know that sounds creepy, but they just amaze me so much.
I always thank my lucky stars that before I go to bed at night that I have them in my life.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/reading.jpg

Sounds exciting, huh? I couldn't ask for a better life.
I have so much fun with my children.
Everyday they amaze me more and more.

[Spicycookies_SC]

oh well i've had mine writen out in word since TRIriana posted round2.
I hav'nt read everybodies yet so i can't of copied.
I can't re-do it either cause i'm busy and have coursework to do, otherwise i would, and if i read yuors before i posted, i would re-write mine even though i had it written out since round2 info was posted.


Ha, ha that's not what I meant! For no reason at all, I read yours and I began to think of my own! I would never propose you were copying me Charley :trix:

[TRIriana]

That's fine, Wndy. :) I planned on keeping the round open until everyone who asked for more time had sent in their entries.

[wndy26]

A Day in My Life - Before the Twins & After

Before:
(Thomas' POV)
Before Tori and Annie, I never thought I could be happier. I had just graduated college, landed a great paid internship at St. Lucas Aquatic Center, and married my high school sweetheart, Mandi. Life couldn't have been better. A typical week always consisted of tons of lab work, aquarium cleaning, and providing tourists with history on sea life. Working at St. Lucas Aquatic Center was a great boost to my career and I really didn't mind spending ten hours a day with all the science geeks and fish.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2993929270_e642713f1a_o.jpg

After a long day in the lab, I would really need to unwind. Mandi and I spent several years taking dance lessons when we were in grade school - that was how we ended up getting to know one another. I was the dance partner that always stepped on the toes...not that you can tell it today. Mandi felt sorry for me she took me under her wing and helped me practice outside of class, just so the other girls would stop laughing and yelling at me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2993929280_da8c5f7090_o.jpg

She must have been my dancemate as well as my soulmate, because when we get together on the dance floor, sparks fly and all heads turn to stare.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2993929284_1dc302a412_o.jpg

Every weekend, my college buddies and I would rock out at St. Lucas Park South. We always managed to get a good crowd of people and would most times rake in around 2000 simoleons for one evening. Split that four ways and we managed to get our college paid for fairly quickly. Damian, he's the lead guitarist, is an architect. Neil, on base guitar, is a sports junkie...he plays professional football for a living. Gerard plays piano, at the time of the photo, he was working on his internship at St. Lucas Mercy Hospital. Today, he is our family doctor and has his general practice right in Belladonna Cove. I, of course, play the drums. Mandi put up with quite a few groupies back in those days - but I always knew she was my one and only.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2993086391_6f594cff58_o.jpg


After:

(Tori's POV)
Dad is always doing something with one of us, or even both of us at the same time. This morning, before he left for work he sat and played chess with me. Later today, he will be at school to give a presentation on that ocean job he does.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2993929264_eb113285d5_o.jpg

Annie: "Dad was a hit at school. All the kids thought he was really cool. They couldn't believe he gets to work with sharks and whales. I showed them the shark tooth necklace he brought me a few years ago. The tooth came from a shark that had a bad toothache - dad extracticated it for the shark."

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2993929256_a1479eabf0_o.jpg

(Annie's POV)
When dad got home from work and shcool today, I know he was tired. It was the first heavy snow fall of the season and he jumped out of the truck and hit me with a snowball - square in the back of the head. I fell on the ground laughing hard. When I finally calmed down, I noticed he was making a great big snow ball...I got excited...our first snowman of the winter! He is the bestest dad in the whole world.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2993929268_b33f216341_o.jpg


Tori: "After Dad and Annie got the snowman built, we ended up spending all night waiting on dad, hand and foot, cuz he got the flu. Mom called dad's best friend, Gerard, cuz he is our family doctor. Gerard said to give him lots of chicken noodle soup. So we brought him cup fulls every hour. I hate it when dad gets sick...he can't play with us because mom won't let him, she makes him stay in bed all day, just like when we get sick."

[TRIriana]

Alright, it's judging time. :)

Good luck everyone!

[Imcran]

Good luck to all, nice entries. ^^

[wndy26]

AHHH!...the waiting is killing me...and it hasn't even been 24 hours yet. LOL...

[TRIriana]

I have some of the scores in, so I'm just waiting on the rest now. :)

[wndy26]

Sorry...wasn't meaning to rush...I just get so excited....between this one and the house hunter's contest (my first ever contests) I am having a blast!

[TRIriana]

LoL, the waiting is always the first part I think.

This Round I've added an Improvement Factor, for an additional 5 points. For those who got top marks from judging last time, obviously there's no improvement to be made if they were judged as perfect already, so don't think a 0 for that rating is a bad thing. :) It's for this round only, and a way to let those who might not have gotten as high a mark as they'd like last time, know that we've noticed and appreciated your efforts.

[Imcran]

My scores are in guys. ^^

[TRIriana]

Round II Results


TRIriana

Duderocks
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 5
Overall: 39
A massive improvement on the last round, so kudos to you there! The pictures were nice and colourful…not just the couch and Thaddeus. :P I liked hearing how Finley finds his new home, and the picture of Thaddeus taking Finley shopping was insanely cute - he really is getting his dad’s fashion sense! The writing was far better and a lot more in-depth too, and I liked how everything that Finley was saying in the “Before” section as actually him talking to Finley - nice idea.

IloveJonesi
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 5
Overall: 38
Overall: Thank you for fleshing out the reason that Danielle left! It makes a little more sense now. I love how protective Rhys is over the falling off on the skateboard, it was very sweet. Noel is also very sweet - it’s easier to pick up the ball than kicking it :P A Rugby player in the making? LoL.

Daisie
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 8
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 5
Overall: 37
Your story was lovely to read, and we got a nice in-depth look at how things have changed since; and what their mother was like before the arguments started. The play between father and daughters was very cute, and I liked Charlie’s realisation that he must have been mad to spend so much time at work!

Rabid
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 35
A wonderful entry, very sad and poignant; particularly when Silas mentions he’s been asked such a huge question: Does he wish Rachel had never gotten pregnant? I think you had Silas answering in the best way that he possible could, and very delicately at that. There was no improvement score because I had marked you with top marks last time; as I said - a wonderful entry!

Simcharley1990
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 8
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 5
Overall: 35
This is a nice improvement on the last round - a nice in-depth look at how things have changed since Paige is no longer around. I especially liked Ellie’s frustration at not being able to do her hair how her mother was able to do it - something so simple, yet quite poignant. Your very first picture was also quite cute, with Ellie using her own little oven at breakfast.

Cavilez1987
Storyline Creativity: 7
Plotline Flow: 6
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 5
Overall: 30
Better this round! I like the added detail that you gave in the wording, and Lei~Lani’s mother came off looking as an actual caring person who really did care about her family at one point, which was a quibble in the last Round; though the tumour came out of left field. A little more description in the actions would have helped the flow a bit more. But well done!

Spicycookies
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 2.5
Improvement Factor: 5
Overall: 32
A great improvement on last time! More information, and more writing and the pictures were colourful and really show the difference between then and now. The thing that brought down your Rule Following score was that in the “Now” section there was only one POV- though it was cute! The thing I was wondering about was- no babysitter?

Wndy26
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 0
Improvement Factor:2.5
Overall: 29.5
An all around sweet entry- I like the sea life paraphernalia included in some of the pictures, and Thomas and Mandi look adorable in their pictures together.

IceAngel2891
Storyline Creativity: 7
Plotline Flow: 8
Picture Creativity: 8
Rules Following: 2.5
Improvement Factor: 2.5
Overall: 28
Your pictures were much better this time, so well done with those. There was more happening, more to look at and it was a nice show of how things are now the rockstar life style is no more! One quibble is, for the rule following, you didn’t show the POV of the kids so I didn’t have any idea of how they like their dad looking after them.

Mbunnell
Storyline Creativity: 7
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 0
Improvement Factor: 2.5
Overall: 25.5
Overall: While there still wasn’t much writing, you did well to put in quite how different their days are compared to now and then: fun and happening before and more trudging along and awkward afterward- and it makes it that much sadder that Catherin turned around and did what she did. She also addressed whose side Jupiter’s was on too, which was good; and I liked reading Allie’s thoughts on the matter. However the after section only showed Allie’s perspective.


Goddessmoon2008

Cavilez1987
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 3
Overall: 37
It would have been better if in the beginning of the present part the people talking were labeled. I love the black and white photos.
By The Way: This was me in reaction to the tumor :o.

IceAngel12891
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 2
Overall: 36
I love that you showed it almost as a time line. The border was not a problem for me at all.

Duderocks
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 2
Overall: 36
I loved the picture angles. Great story line.

Rabid
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 35
I was amazed by the "Do you wish Rachel hadn't gotten pregnant?" part. In real life people deal with that everyday and I think you showed Silas feelings on that subject perfectly.

Daisie
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 35
I loved the little intro at the beginning! It definitely showed Charlie going from doing only work to caring for 2 kids alone.

Wndy26
Storyline Creativity:10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 35
I loved the pictures! You made the girls sound so real, it was great.

Simcharley1990
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 34
I loved it when Mason was trying to fix Ellie's hair. I think you showed the added responsibility perfectly.

ILoveJonsi
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 34
I loved that you had Noel talk but he sounded much older than 2.

Mbunnell
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 33
I loved the smustle picture!
Over all it was a great story.

Spicycookies
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Improvement Factor: 0
Overall: 33
I loved the picture of Juliet on the slide.
The only problem was that, for a 3 year old, Juliet talked well.


Imcran

Rabid
Storyline Creativity: 10/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 10/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Improvement: 1/5 points
Overall: 35/40 points

- Improvement! Ok, I give you 1 point. Why? Well, I felt your entry had room for improvement, and I didn’t give you a perfect last time… and I’m still not giving you a perfect this time. But there is some improvement in the pictures, so you’re getting a point.
- Rules followed, yay.
- Your flow is as perfect as could be asked for in a Sims contest.
- Your creativity is wonderful. If I were to critique you on it, I’d have to be holding you to graduate literature standard here, and that’s just not fair.
- Pictures! The Zzz obscures some faces this time, so you dropped a mark here. But, there was so much emotion and a greater variety of happening that I gave you a point for improvement. Ta da!

IloveJonesi
Storyline Creativity: 8/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 8/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Improvement: 5/5 points
Overall: 35/40 points

- Definitely improved on last time in the story telling department.
- Checked every rule box. Excellent.
- Pictures are still good. It would have been nice to have a shot of Rhys out with the boys in the before shot though, would have fleshed it out just that bit more.
- Flow’s improved a lot. Still a bit light on words in one or two places where more description could have been used, but a lot better than last time. The before part particularly could use more description- the after is good.
- The point of view of the kids was cute, and Rhys after is very descriptive and eloquent. However, he doesn’t go into much detail before. For example, why did Danielle almost die? It wasn’t explained at all in the previous round, and the throw away mention at the beginning here isn’t very helpful either. Still doesn’t really explain how someone could go from “I love these kids too much to give them up!” to “I’m leaving now. I don’t want to see them ever again.” I think this is probably due to lack of explanation about the whole deal.

Daisie
Storyline Creativity: 8/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 9/10 points
Picture Creativity: 8/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Improvement: 5/5 points
Overall: 35/40 points

- Much improvement on last time! More descriptive, more creative, everything is just… more.
- Ve shall obey ze rules! Ze rules are… yeah, you got a 5.
- Pictures this time are a lot more creative and varied. Very cute! I think the after could have maybe used another shot to show how his job’s changed too- maybe him doing his marking at home or something.
- Very little need for more fleshing out- one or two places where you could have used it, but the plot flow is good.
- I think the kids could have done a bit more talking in the storyline, just to explain a bit more about their day. But it’s very good, well done.

Duderocks
Storyline Creativity: 8/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 8/10 points
Picture Creativity: 8/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Improvement: 5/5 points
Overall: 34/40 points

- Considerable improvement on the last round. Much more detail, pictures are far more creative
- Rules were followed, so full marks for that!
- Plot flow is much better this time! The script does skip a little in places with very quick movement from place to place- could have maybe put a bit more detail in there. Still, it’s much easier to follow and understand than before. Also, the sudden appearance of the not previously mentioned fiancee was a bit of a surprise! She’s only there for one line and isn’t mentioned again!
- Pictures are much more emotional than before, a lot more energetic. Seeing Thaddeus and Finley on the roundabout, you really get a sense of how much they’re enjoying themselves. Would have been nice to get a picture of the fiancee in there, too, since she moved in with them in your text.
- Finally, your creativity with this plot arc really sparkled. The playboy adopting the child is a great idea, and it really worked in this one. The one thing I am confused about, just a little, is the timeline. He’s been engaged for 5 years, he says in the dialogue, and adopted Finley 3 years ago. 5 years ago would put him in the sleeping with everything that moves stage. Is his fiancee just a really, really accepting woman?

Simcharley1990
Storyline Creativity: 8/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 8/10 points
Picture Creativity: 8/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Improvement: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 31.5/40 points

- Improvement was good- more text this time, but you could have improved the pictures some more.
- Rules stuck. We obeyed the rules. We love the rules.
- Pictures are good, creative again. It’s a shame you have the meters showing above their heads- that can be solved with the Plumbbob toggle on/off cheat. Glaring Ellie was cute.
- Plot flows well, still could use a bit of fleshing out, but definitely good.
- Creativity really shows up now that you’ve lengthened it that bit more. A bit more work, and this is going to be a very good story.

Spiceycookies
Storyline Creativity: 8/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 9/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Improvement: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 31/40 points

- Ok, improvement on last time. More detail, more text with pictures, so the flow works well.
- Didn’t show the after from both father and child perspective, only from Juliet’s, so only half marks on rules.
- Still loving the storyline. It was nice to see into Samuel’s past a bit more. Could have used more information from Samuel on his life as it is now- we only had Juliet’s perspective. Oh, and there was no mention of if Juliet has a sitter or not- I hope he’s not leaving a toddler on her own! Also, the toddler saying ‘I want to marry daddy when I grow up’ was pretty weird.
- Flow is good, lots of detail. Could maybe be a little more explained in a couple of places- like the toddler not having a sitter.
- Pictures are good, inventive. It’s a shame there’s musical notes coming out of the toddler though.

IceAngel12891
Storyline Creativity: 8/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 7/10 points
Picture Creativity: 8/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Improvement: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 30.5/40 points

- Improvement on last time with more description, but very staccato.
- Rules were obeyed, yay!
- Pictures are good, but it’s a shame to see the Zzz and the speech bubbles. One or two are a little static as well- such as the one alone at the bar, where the text describes it as crowded.
- Creativity is good, I like the changes shown. Could maybe have shown a bit more of his relationship with his wife in the before, since presumably that changed with the babies arriving and him swapping jobs!
- Flow is improved, but very staccato as said above. Sentences are short and terse- try expanding them a little, or combining them. Still, much better than before.

Wndy26
Storyline Creativity: 8/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 9/10 points
Picture Creativity: 9/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 0/5 points
Improvement: 2.5/5 points
Overall: 28.5/40 points

- Language has been nicely polished, some improvement.
- One picture captioned with a single sentence, no father’s POV in the after.
- Pictures are very good, but one thing- why is he wearing a wet suit in the snow? No wonder he caught a cold, he must have been freezing!
- Flow’s good. Avoid those one-liners, a little more description and you’ll get a 10.
- Nice and creative, but a bit overloaded. In the before, you’ve got him working 10 hours a day, dancing and then playing in a band! Does this man ever sleep? Also, it would have been nice to see his point of view about things changing.

Cavilez1987
Storyline Creativity: 6/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 6/10 points
Picture Creativity: 6/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 5/5 points
Improvement: 5/5 points
Overall: 28/40 points

- Improvement is obvious. Much more detail used, plot flow is a hundred times better than last time.
- Rules all checked off this time. Cool.
- Plot flow. Ok, it’s longer and more detailed, but it is as hard as anything to follow. Please, please use more punctuation. The lack of things like commas make it really hard to read. Also, it’s hard to tell when the perspective changes. You’ve written it in script form, but seem to have left the names off. Still, this is a huge improvement on last time.
- Pictures still pretty good. The usage of black and white to distinguish flashbacks is also quite well done. Quite a lot of shots here though, they’re just standing around not doing much, which is a shame.
- Storyline’s not bad. Unfortunately, the information we’re given about Gale from Caleb is very sudden and jerky. She had an inoperable tumour? Why wasn’t this mentioned before? Why doesn’t he tell Lei-Lani? Wouldn’t it be infinitely easier for her to accept that Gale killed herself because she was dying in a horrifically slow and painful way, rather than Gale killed herself because she was a drug addict?

Mbunnell
Storyline Creativity: 4/10 points
Flow of the Plotline: 5/10 points
Picture Creativity: 4/10 points
Adherence to Rules: 2.5/5 points
Improvement: 0/5 points
Overall: 15.5/40 points

- Not really that much improvement in the text or pictures.
- The after shots were not shown from both perspectives, only Allie’s.
- Last time, there was one plumbbob. This time, there are many plumbbobs. If you have a problem with not being able to remove it, try using the cheat Plumbbob toggle on/off. This will turn them off, and stop them from filling up your pictures with green and platinum glowing diamonds. Also, there are a lot of pictures of people just standing there. It would be nice to see them doing something.
- Plotline needs much more description to flesh it out. It doesn’t really explain or expand on anything. Also, you make a lot of little typo errors that break up the flow. Proof-read before you enter. I know you don’t really mean that the smell of pancakes would kill the house, but it sure brings about some strange images.
- Storyline is jumpy and makes very little sense at all. So Jupiter was pregnant? When, how, why? Why did no one mention this previously? Was Catherin also pregnant? She doesn’t look it in some of the pictures, and in others she does. The after shots seem to imply that the family has just been totally ruined by Catherin leaving- but before she was portrayed as horrible and abusive! Surely it would be an improvement for her to leave, not something that would totally wreck their lives?



Cumulative Scores

Duderocks: 109
Daisie: 107
Ilovejonesi: 107
Rabid: 105
Simcharley1990: 100.5
Spicycookies: 96
Cavilez1987: 95
Iceangel12891: 94.5
Wndy26: 93
Mbunnell: 74

Eliminations
Which means that this round the elimination is Mbunnell - we're sorry to see you go, and I hope you enjoyed it this far.

[Spicycookies_SC]

I'm kind of insulted on some of the comments, but I guess I can't change those. I also thought that it was supposed to be the point of view from both the toddler and adult and that's what I did. I couldn't really do Juliet's point of view either. Think about it, she's a 3 year old. I was trying to talk like one with as little detail as possible. And the babysitter thing was kind of supposed to be a hint of how irresponsible he was. It seemed obvious enough but I guess I should of written that in. I said the "I want to marry him when I'm older" thing because lots of little kids say they are going to marry their mom/dad when they are older, and I thought that would make the speaker seem younger. It wasn't supposed to be "weird". And there is music notes coming out of the toddler BECAUSE SHE IS PLAYING THE POTS! Music notes?!?! Playing on music on the pot?!?

I'm sorry for the spaz but I'm really confused and I need answers to why these things were said. Thanks :D

[Imcran]

Well, Spicy... Er, it was supposed to be from both POVs, and the after only had Juliet's. Hence... the after wasn't from both POVs. As I said.

I personally, am not a fan of things like plumbbobs, speech bubbles, Zzz or censor blurs in the pictures. It's a personal preferance, but I feel they detract from the story. Everyone, across the board was marked down if those things appeared.

I'm afraid I've never heard a toddler say something like 'I'm going to marry mommy/daddy' when I'm older, and it seems quite odd. As for the sitter, I wasn't sure if there was supposed to be one or if he was just leaving a toddler home alone. It wasn't expanded upon and I couldn't therefore, be sure of which it was.

I'm sorry you felt the comments were insulting, but I'm attempting to give constructive criticisms of what you've done. I hardly marked you badly- you got 31/40 from me, and the highest I gave anyone was 35.

[duderocks]

Thanks for the comments, judges. I'll take note of them once more.

-Oh, and the woman Thaddeus was making out with (second Before shot) IS the fiancee. Forgot to take note of that.
-Also, He got engaged to her, but was still sleeping around at that time (think Don Lothario). Again, forgot to point that out.

[Rabid]

I'm afraid I've never heard a toddler say something like 'I'm going to marry mommy/daddy' when I'm older, and it seems quite odd.

That's not all that unusual- I've heard that before. It's some form of the Oedipus complex. Not attempting to stir the pot or anything, just thought I'd throw my two cents in.

Congrats to duderocks for the top score :)! I can't wait to see round three.

[duderocks]

You're welcome, Rabid. :) *is excited for Round 3*

[Imcran]

That's not all that unusual- I've heard that before. It's some form of the Oedipus complex. Not attempting to stir the pot or anything, just thought I'd throw my two cents in.

Technically, she'd be an Electra complex, not an Oedipal, and such complexes require a competing figure for the child's affections, but this isn't really the place to debate whether Freud's theories were entirely correct or not. :P

[TRIriana]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/Sam_Monoceros/Sim%20Competition/RoundIIIBanner-1.jpg

Entitled “Unexpected Disaster”, this round is designed to really make you think and push the barrier. I do hope you’re ready for this, because I look forward to reading what you come up with. My name is Erik, and I will be your host this rainy evening. In one way, this round will be simpler - there is only one option for you this time around. But of course there must be a more difficult part, or the can be no challenge! You can read below under Picture Requirements for more information on that one.

1. For this round you must signify a disaster for your family. This can be something big or it can be something small…it’s entirely up to you what it is, and how you lead up to the disaster.

Picture Requirements and Information

The minimum picture requirement for this round is five, as before and the picture maximum is ten.

Again, I would like perspectives from father and child(ren).

A minimum of three sentences per picture.

And the big one: Your entry must end on a cliff-hanger - this means no conclusion to what occurs in the entry.

Round end dates are on the initial page. Three people will be eliminated during this round - so if you want the opportunity to tell all on what happens to your family after this round, give it your all!

[wndy26]

Imcran - thought I would let you know, the wet suit is his work outfit - he works in oceanography....that's how he comes home from work.

[mbunnell]

Imcran - The reason Catherin nor Jupiter's pregnancy's were never mentioned, was they weren't ment to be seen in the pics. I do play this family religiously and jupiter was prego before I started this story. I didn't realize you could see Catherin's since I've been using nonpregnancy complatiable cloths.
As far as not following the ruling I read them a couple time and thought it was suppose to have both perspectives. I didn't see it said both perspectives for both before and after.

[Charley-x]

Imcran, yeah sorry about them meters, i tried EVERYTHING to get them out, plumbbob toggle does'nt work cause i use that, as you can tell in first pic, and showheadlines off does'nt work, if anyone else know what gets rid of them i'd love you :)
congrats on getting top scores this round dude, i really liked you entries.
sorry to see you go mbunnell!
again thank judges for quick score and great comments, they do help so much :)



EDIT: OMG! I LOVE ROUND 3 :D:D

[wndy26]

As far as not following the ruling I read them a couple time and thought it was suppose to have both perspectives. I didn't see it said both perspectives for both before and after.

Thats the way I read it too....I thought I just needed both perspectives somewhere throuhout the entry....there was no possible way I could get both perspectives on the before - as the twins weren't born yet.

[Charley-x]

"On top of that, the after shots have to show a perspective from the father and the child(ren), in the shots and the writing." TRIriana did say the after bit has to be by children and father and first can be just by the parent. :)

[wndy26]

OK...I must have just misread it then. Oh well... dang.

[Velvet_Morning]

Thanks for the comments, Judges :D

simcharley- you can use the insimenator to max out their skills and then the meter won't appear. Thats how I do it. Hope it helps! :)

[Charley-x]

thanks ilovejonsi, but i cnf to install insim for just that, hopefully there another way or i'll just use animation which don't do that, or edit them out but hopefully there a cheat!

[thatsfancy]

If you have move_objects on you can just pick up the plumbbobs and stuff and just move or delete them. That's what I do.

[Daisie]

Thanks for the comments, judges, and congrats to everyone. :) I'll have to think of a good disaster for Round Three - I'm glad I'll have most of the day at home tomorrow.

[IceAngel12891]

Thanks for the comments, good and bad, my only thing is that the speech bubble was there because he was teaching her how to talk and I don't see how that ditracts from the picture, when that is what the picture was about. Also, the z's were there to show that he was being lazy sleeping into the afternoon. I know that they aren't usually acceptable, I just thought I had incorporated them into the plot enough. But thats my fault for thinking that. Also, I missed the part that said that it had to be in the kids POV, I thought it was the changes of the dad before and after. I guess I'll have to read more carefully next time.

[Charley-x]

If you have move_objects on you can just pick up the plumbbobs and stuff and just move or delete them. That's what I do.


Oh wow, did'nt realise you could do that! Thanks!

I've got an idea for my next round aswell :) Abit of Déjà vu is involed for Ellie :anime:

[Velvet_Morning]

It was 3 p.m. on Sunday and I was beat. I had been up most of the night with a terrible headache. The kids, however, slept great and were up at 6 a.m. and wanted breakfast. So that afternoon I was crashed on the couch while Ava and Noel were watching SpongeBob. They must have gotten board because after awhile they were begging me to go outside. “Come on Daddy! We want to play outside!” Ava whined. “Mmmmm, I’ll be there in a minute” I said half asleep. “OK!” Ava exclaimed as she grabbed her little brothers’ hand and went out to the front yard to play.

http://i38.tinypic.com/210a69l.jpg

Two seconds was all it took for me to fall back asleep. I was just so tired and I still didn’t feel well. I don’t know how long it had been but all of a sudden I was jolted awake by the sound of screaming and tires screeching. My heart was racing so fast as I ran outside that I thought it was going to fly out of my chest. “Please God” I begged “Please let them be ok.” The first thing I saw when I ran out the front door was Ava standing by a car sobbing.

http://i37.tinypic.com/ibxtno.jpg

Why was she crying? Whose car was that? Where was Noel? Millions of thoughts swarmed through my head as I made my way over to Ava. Then I saw him. Noel was lying in front of the car…in a pool of blood. Then everything went into a blur. My mind just couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing.

http://i33.tinypic.com/e0kfsy.jpg

The voice of the driver was muffled. All I could make out was “sorry”. I wanted to strangle him just then. How could he have not been paying attention while he was driving? Then again, how could I have been asleep? When my mind finally jumped into gear I took the cell phone from my pocket and frantically dialed 9-1-1. At the same time I was yelling at Ava to go grab some towels. I held my son in my arms while I waited for the ambulance. I prayed the whole time that I wouldn’t lose him.

http://i35.tinypic.com/33uq2cl.jpg

What seemed like hours later the ambulance was racing down our street. The lights were flashing and the sound of the sirens pierced my ears. The EMTs seemed as if they were moving in slow motion. One of them took Noel from me and rushed him over to a stretcher. They were talking to me and asking me questions but I couldn’t respond. I couldn’t form the words. They put him in the ambulance and sped away, leaving me and Ava to follow.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2urtonp.jpg

When we got to the hospital, a woman behind a desk told us to sit in the waiting room, despite my pleading for her to let me be with my son. “There is nothing you can do, Mr. Clark, she said, “Please sit down, the doctors will do everything they can for him.” Everything they can, I thought as I sat down, what if they can’t do enough?

http://i34.tinypic.com/1z64ajr.jpg

Just then I broke down. I had been trying so hard not to cry. I wanted to be brave for Ava. I can’t imagine what was going through her head at the time. But I couldn’t do it anymore. I hated myself. How could I have fallen asleep when my kids needed me? None of this would have happened if I had been out there. I wouldn’t have let him go in the road. He’s only two, he didn’t understand. If he dies, I thought, it’s all my fault.

http://i34.tinypic.com/29ehrat.jpg

Ava's POV

It was Sunday and I really wanted to play outside. The weekend means you get to play all day, so I didn’t want to be stuck inside all day watching T.V. Daddy was sleeping so I shook him to wake him up and ask if we could go outside. He said he would be out in a minute, so I took Noel out to play with me.

http://i35.tinypic.com/3539n9v.jpg

I was playing on the monkey bars and Noel was practicing kicking the soccer ball, just like I taught him. I guess I wasn’t watching him very good. I was concentrating so hard on not falling off the monkey bars that I didn’t notice the ball rolling into the street and the car that was going too fast…until it was too late.

http://i38.tinypic.com/971vgz.jpg

I saw as the car ran into my brother and he fell to the ground. “NOEL!” I screamed as loud as I could. I ran over to him. He was covered in blood. I tried to wake him up but I couldn’t. He just laid there. I cried harder than I had ever cried before. I didn’t want Noel to die

http://i33.tinypic.com/19wps5.jpg

My daddy came running outside and told me to get towels. I ran so fast into the house that I almost fell. When I came back out Daddy was holding Noel and rocking him back and forth like he does when Noel falls down and gets hurt. When the ambulance took Noel away to the hospital, me and daddy drove behind them. I was so scared he was going to die. I cried the whole way there. Daddy just stared at the road and didn’t say anything. I thought it was because he was mad at me for letting Noel get hurt. When we got to the hospital I thought everything was going to be ok. The doctors would fix him. That’s what they do. They fixed me when I fell off my bike and broke my arm. But then my daddy started crying. He never cries and I knew things were very bad. Maybe the doctors wouldn’t be able to make him better.

[TRIriana]

Wonderful entry, ILoveJonesi! :)

[nyane24]

Amazing entry ILoveJonesi!

[Charley-x]

Great entrie ilovejonsi, ok i've got to change my entrie now, Whoooooopsie. gaa stuck for ideas . :D

[goddessmoon2008]

. I said the "I want to marry him when I'm older" thing because lots of little kids say they are going to marry their mom/dad when they are older,

I used to want to marry my cousin!

EDIT: ilovejonsi- amazing!!!!

[Velvet_Morning]

Thanks everyone! :D

[Daisie]

Urgh. For my disaster, I need to extract the girls as children out of my real, everyday neighborhood, but the SimPE site is down, and I never got the AL update. :eviltongu But I'll figure something out, I suppose.

[TRIriana]

You could use the Agesims on cheat, take the pictures as you need them and not save the lot afterward?

[Daisie]

Yeah, thanks. I am gonna have to do everything in that lot and not save - it's fine, just would have been nice to have another copy of the girls' genetics somewhere.

[duderocks]

Daisie: SimPE site is no longer down. ;)

[Daisie]

Ah, thanks for the update, dude! I hadn't been checking back. :)

[duderocks]

The Fosters have been experiencing some strange and unexpected phenomena ever since Thaddeus got married to his sweetheart, Madeline Foster (nee Trimble)


Setting: The House of Psychedelic Wonder, Desiderata Valley (5:00 pm)

Thaddeus: Ah yes! Another spring night in The Valley. They say that spring is beautiful during the day. What they DO NOT say is that it is even more beautiful when the sun goes down and the romantic moonlight takes over the sky... *goes into dreamy, reflective state*

While Thaddeus was getting immersed in his daydreams of the perfect spring night, he was woken up by the small voice of his son Finley.

Finley: Daddy! Daddy! Do you know what day it is? Do you? Do you?

Thaddeus: Uh..er..erm... (it's obvious that he's still quite groggy)

Finley: IT'S THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE WEEK! And second Sunday of the week is FISHING DAY!

Just as he uttered "Fishing Day", Thaddeus woke up from his little nap with such a jolt that he jumped from his seat.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot058-5.jpg

Thaddeus: Oh Finley, I'm sorry I forgot about Fishing day. Pack you fishing stuff and get ready.

Finley: Already ready, sir. *salutes*

It was getting rather late, and there is still school to attend the following day. But even with Thaddeus oversleeping on their lovely pink and yellow couch (his favorite spot, mind you), they still went on and forged the long walk in going to Desiderata Neighborhood Park, this month's Fishing Day Spot.


Setting: Desiderata Neighborhood Park, Desiderata Valley (Sunday, 6:30pm)

Finley: *whiffs at the atmosphere of the park* Wowza! I love the smell of the clean and pure lake during spring nights. My friend Scott tells me that the better the smell, the more fish. Boy, I hope he's right.

The family takes the long walk from the entrance to the lake further north-east. Being experienced at this type of activity, it only took them a couple of minutes to set up and start the fun part: FISHING!


Thaddeus: Mmm, mmm! I can't wait to taste the lovely Golden Trout I'm sure I will catch today.

Maddie: Oh don't be so overconfident! Golden Trouts are rare these days. They caught so many, it's already on the path to extinction!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot056-4.jpg

While Thaddeus and Maddie were having a little "debate" on the extinction of the Golden Trout, Finley finally catches one of his favorite fishes...the Giant Rainbow Trout, a more common variety of the trout family.

Finley: I caught a Rainbow Trout! I caught a Rainbow Trout! *jumps up and down*

Thaddeus: Great job, son. Well, fishing is rather tiring. Do you want to stargaze for a little while before we go home?

Finley: Okie, dokie!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot052-1.jpg

Stargazing...What constellations will be appearing tonight? Lycanthropus, or Chloraphylees? Familliares, or the Lone Star? But who cares if you know the names of the constellations, for the stars that make them matter the most.

Thaddeus: Ah, It's great to see the stars after a long tiring day, isn't it?


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot053-2.jpg

But in the middle of observing a wonderful cluster of stars that they haven't seen before, Finley saw an orange orb that seems to be going downwards instead of the usual direction that most meteors head on. With a mix of curiosity and fear, he asked his father...

Finley: Dad, What is that orange, fiery thing over there?

Thaddeus: That, Mr. Foster, is a Ball of Fire, and it's *suddenly panics* CRASHING DOWN ON US! Quick, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot040-4.jpg

Without a single word or gesture, they headed on without even turning back or even getting their fishing gear. At least those could be replaced. There is no turning back. They headed home before it's too late.

Little did they know of the events that will happen when they reach home.


Setting: The House of Psychedelic Wonder, Desiderata Valley (7:45 pm)

Maddie: Whew! That was close. I'm sure there will no longer be a Rain of Fire in this part of town. Let's go inside and get some rest, shall we?

Just then, yet another rain of Fire descended from above. Not only one, but probably thirty fireballs descended from the sky, piercing through the roof and into the house that Thaddeus worked so hard on. It then became a fire so strong, everyone will die just by inhaling the fumes. In fact, it turned the House of Psychedelic Wonder into the House of Inferno Hell!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot043-9.jpg

Thaddeus: I never thought that Fire could do so much damage. Soon, I was being engulfed by the huge flames that surrounded the whole house and every nook and cranny in between. As the flames were finishing every part of my body off, I see my son crying helpless cries for mercy to never take me away from him. Maddie tried to extinguish the fire, but they were too big, too big...


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot044-2.jpg

Moments later, as if life was fast forwarded to 10 times its normal speed, Thaddeus was totally engulfed by the monstrous flames that were torturing him this time around. His body reduced to ash, his family left speechless. It took Finley all of the strength his voice had to scream just one word, a word that signifies the huge fragment being taken away from his life.


Finley: DADDDDDYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was already past midnight. In just a blink of an eye. Everything went pitch black. Finley felt like his eyes were being gouged out by the flames. But he wasn't worried of his eyesight or anything he feels on his body. All he thinks about...was the father he longed to have for so long, and was taken away.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot047-3.jpg

Finley: After the fire completely turned my daddy into ash, this strange creature appeared through the blazing hot fire. He was wearing this black cloth that partly exposes the fleshless bone and was carrying some tool called, a scythe or something. Actually, he was like a soul trapped in this grotesque form. I asked Maddie, "What is that?" She told me, he's the Grim Reaper and he's the sign of DEATH! *cries* I don't want daddy to die!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/duderocks/ScreenShot048-3.jpg

I cried the whole time. He was the only person who treated me as if I'm his son, and then they take him away. Why is life like this? I'm only 12, I should be happy.

My attention turned to Maddie, and the scary creature. They seem to be playing a game, and the prize is Dad's life. From further observation, it looks like it's one of the games we play in class. Get an object, shuffle between hands, ask person where the object is. Wrong hand? you lose.

But there is still hope, if she makes the right choice. If she picks the hand where the bundle of energy could be found.

Please, Maddie, please make the right choice...

[TRIriana]

That's great, Duderocks!

[wndy26]

Now, how can anyone top that, Dude!

[goddessmoon2008]

Duderocks: Wow, that was amazing...

[Spicycookies_SC]

I was wondering if my story can be a big more into the future? For example, I'd like to do something for my entry, but I would need to make the sims a bit older. Is this possible?

[TRIriana]

That's absolutely no problem at all. :)

[Daisie]

The children's perspectives don't need to be shown for every picture, right? Several of my pictures involve only Dad, and I want to make sure I won't be penalized if the story is only from his POV at those points.

[TRIriana]

Nope, as long as there is some perspective from the kid and some from the dad; it doesn't matter how many pictures tehre are for each.

[wndy26]

Washed Away


(Thomas O'Malley's POV)

The phone rang around 4 in the morning, waking both of us up one Saturday. It was work...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/3008308130_2ae0282bb5_o.jpg




"Yes sir, I understand sir. I'll meet you at the harbor. Which boat sir? Ah yes, the Seaborne...ok...see you in an hour," I assured my boss.



As I dressed in my work clothes, I explained to Mandy what was going on. Apparently an Orca had washed onto South Belladonna Cove Beach where some socialites were partying the night away. They attempted to get it back into the ocean but it was just too large and the water too shallow. Since I was on-call for the weekend, it was my job to escort the Orca to a safe spot in the ocean and set it free, of course, after I tagged it with a tracking device.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/3007469381_a2b79c502f_o.jpg


"Oh honey, I worry about you being on that boat. It's clear a storm is blowing up, just look at the sky," Mandy said as she hugged me close.

"Mandy, I will be fine. I have done this a hundred times. There really is nothing to worry about." I told her firmly.


"Tom, promise you will call the second you make it back to shore, I don't want to worry any more than need be." Mandy begged.


"Of course I will and I will see you around noon - it shouldn't take any longer than that," I promised quickly as I was heading out the door.

As I drove to the harbor to board the Seaborne, Mandy's weather prediction was more than accurate. It began to rain hard. I pulled into the harbor and raced aboard the Seaborne into the cabin. The Seaborne was the largest vessel around that could transport an Orca of this size in its hold. There, I met with the captain and my boss. We chatted for a bit while the captain put us out to sea.

When the rain slowed down some, I headed out to see the Orca. The Orca and I stared at each other for a while, I could feel it pleading with me, to free it. We didn't have much time. I attached the electronic tag into the Orca's thick fin and watched the rain and lightening as we headed for the drop off point.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/3008308042_b1bb7b2492_o.jpg


We made it to the drop off point at around 7. After hoisting the Orca over the side of the boat with a crane, we watched it glide away. Everyone else headed back into the cabin as I stood thinking about the look the Orca had given me earlier, it's sad stare. I wondered if it knew we were only trying to help it. I couldn't help but think about my little girls back home...they would have loved to have met the Orca - it was beautiful.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/3008308140_decec49cd9_o.jpg


Before I knew it the sky darkened up a bunch and the wind picked up. I started to head for the cabin and the boat began to rock back and forth...all I could see was ocean and rain. I tried to hang on to the rail as I was making my way back to the cabin. The rain was coming down so hard I couldn't see where I was going.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/3007469293_9c6dd9ff2d_o.jpg


The ship deck was slippery from the rain and the wind was blowing so hard that the rain stung like a thousand needles as it hit my face. I couldn't see anything! My feet slipped out from under me. I panicked, grasping for the rail, and then I felt my head throb...something hit my head....and everything went dark...


A while later....


(Annie and Tori's POV)

Annie: It was early when the policeman came. I could see him from the bathroom window. I was wondering what was going on. I found Tori playing with the toys in the bedroom. I told her what I saw...she ran to the bathroom and looked out...he was knocking on our door. A real policeman, in uniform with the lights on and everything!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/3007469595_4ff4cb049e_o.jpg


I ran to get momma out of bed. Momma saw who it was and told me and Tori to go back upstairs and play chess while she talked to the officer. We went upstairs, but we watched what happened from the upstairs balcony.

Tori: They walked into the living room as we went upstairs. From the balcony upstairs, I saw momma set down on the couch and the offcer kneeled down and said something to my momma...then she started crying. I wanted to kick him...why did he make her cry?


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/3008308182_fc59d68ac3_o.jpg


Then, I got really scared. I have never seen momma cry like that before. I wondered what he could have said to make her upset. I looked at Annie and she looked at me. We just watched as momma cried for a bit after the officer left. After a while, it felt like an hour, she finally stopped crying. Then, she called us down stairs.

"Tori...Annie...Please sit down. We need to talk. I have some bad news," Momma said hesitantly. "It's your dad," momma said sadly. "He was out to sea this morning, rescuing an Orca when a storm blew in and he was washed away by the sea. They haven't been able to find him, but they are looking."

Annie and I were very sad...we started to cry. We were never gonna see him again. Our dad was gone...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3008308292_f28b3d7149_o.jpg


Annie: Momma stood up, she looked up toward the sky, out the window. She said strongly, like she was commanding God to do her will, "Girls, he is missing, not dead. We have to keep hope. They will find him!" http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/3008308354_d3c8b0346c_o.jpg


And it was then that Tori and I began to have hope...just maybe he could be out there. If momma believed, then we could too...



Stay tuned for the conclusion....

[TRIriana]

There's just over twenty four hours now for entries to be turned in!

Wndy, I love your idea. :).

[Charley-x]

what time does it end tomorrow? :)

[TRIriana]

10PM as always. :) If more time is needed though, I will grant more. I estimated that we can afford to have some extra time if it's really needed, and still complete the next round within the required time.

[Charley-x]

ok thanks, could i have like a 2 hours extension? if not don't worry, its just cause i have to get into town after school and go to the doctors, and i wont be home until like half 6, and then my friend is coming round, so she's gunna have to sit there while i do my entry lol, i would of done it sooner but i did'nt realise it finished today and i've been major busy, anyway if not, don't worry i'll just have to a really quick pic, i have my entrie all written out though, as awalys. :)

[TRIriana]

That's perfectly fine. :)

[Spicycookies_SC]

I have all my photos and I have just begun writing the text. My round 3 should be in sometime tonight or tomorrow afternoon!

[cavilez]

I have all my pictures taken too I just need to do the writing. I seem to be drawing a blank. Iknew I should have written it down. Damn it. I will just go based off of my photos. its pretty simple. Good luck everyone.

[Daisie]

*** Charlie's POV unless otherwise stated. Also, please remember that Pleasantview's civil processes are a bit different from those of the real world. :) ***

It's amazing how fast things can come crashing down.

I was teaching a senior Simlish Lit class on Monday morning, and I was feeling pretty content. The students were bright and attentive, for once, and we were exploring the nuances of Shakespore's famous plot devices in very interesting depth. All in all, I thought happily in the middle of class, this was turning out to be a good start to the week.

That's when the phone call came.

"Professor Green?"

I looked up from the pages of A Midsummer Night's Abduction to see Matt, the student who worked part-time in my office, poking his head through the classroom door.

"Professor Green," he said, "there's a phone call for you - it sounds important."

Annoyed to be interrupted in the middle of class for what was probably a prank call or a bothersome administrator on the line, I stalked to the back of the room and took the receiver out of Matt's hand. I was preparing to scold him for disturbing class, but a female voice was already blaring from the phone.

"Mr. Green? Is this Charlie Green? I'm from SimCity's Federal Real Estate Office..."

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r31.jpg

Numb, I listened wordlessly to the woman on the phone. There was a problem, she said... something about the mortgage... but I paid the mortgage!... or the house, the children... an auction... furniture? why furniture?... foreclosure... insurance... relatives, somewhere to go... could I please call back as soon as possible? Shock pierced through the fog I was in, and I thrust the receiver back into Matt's hands. I mumbled something about an emergency at home and made my way to the faculty parking lot. The drive home seemed to take years.

It was when the house came into view that my senses returned, and the enormity of what the real estate agent had told me hit me, hard. The girls and I had nowhere to go in Pleasantview if we lost the house. What would we do?

I stood outside my car for a long time. Gazing up at the house I'd worked so hard for, I waxed nostalgic. I remembered the realization I'd had after my wife left, that raising the girls was up to me. Being able to afford a better home for them had been my first big goal as a single dad, and I'd managed it even while spending less time at work. In this house, the girls had spoken their first full sentences, been potty-trained, and prepared hand-in-hand for their first day of kindergarten. It was heartbreaking to be faced with losing it.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r35.jpg

Hannah: When the bus dropped off Lizzy and me after school, Dad was standing outside with a sad look on his face. I was worried about him.

Lizzy: I saw the sign in the yard first. It had big red letters and a sad face. I didn't know what the word - "foreclosure"? - meant, but it looked bad, and suddenly I was really scared.

Hannah: Dad almost started crying when he told us what it meant. He told us that he didn't know exactly what was going on, and that he was going to get it straightened out. I believed him, 'cause I always do. But I was mad at whoever had put the sign in our yard.

The girls were shocked and upset when they saw the evidence of what was going on. Lizzy began to cry immediately upon viewing the scene.

"Everything's going to be okay," I whispered, kneeling and comforting her. "We'll be okay. I promise. We'll be okay." If I said it enough times, I hoped I might believe it, too.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r32.jpg

Lizzy: After a while, Dad told us to go to our room while he made a call. I was still sniffling, but I was hoping he could figure out what to do. He always had fixed everything that went wrong before, but this time seemed different.

I retreated into the kitchen to call the real estate office. The woman I'd spoken to before told me that their records showed that I hadn't been paying my mortgage for the past year.

"My payments are always on time!" I said, remembering halfway through the sentence to lower my voice so the girls wouldn't hear. "And no one mentioned any of this before."

"Mr. Green, our records haven't been wrong in years. Unless you can prove that you've been paying, you will be evicted from your home tomorrow morning."

"I have no way to prove it," I moaned. "Please, can't you double-check? There's been some mistake, surely."

"I'll check again," she allowed, "but that's it. When I call you back, I'll tell you for certain whether you'll have a house this time tomorrow."

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r36.jpg

I wasn't sure whether to feel hopeful or utterly defeated. At least there was a chance the records were wrong. While I waited to hear, I would make sure the girls were okay.

Hannah: We were in our room. Lizzy kept snuffling and wiping her eyes, and I got so frustrated. I finally told her to shut up, and she whipped around and looked like she was going to punch me!

Lizzy: I was so upset, and Hannah was being impatient, and it was like she didn't care about our house at all! And she got mad at me, and I wasn't even... I was just worried, that's all.

When I walked in the room, the girls' squabbling had nearly come to blows.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r33.jpg

By then, my nerves were shot from all the stress, and at first I wanted to scream at them for arguing when there was a crisis developing in the next room. But I stayed calm and took their hands.

Hannah: When Dad came in, I was embarrassed for being childish. I wanted to apologize to Lizzy, but Dad started talking.

Both girls bowed their heads, ashamed. I smoothed Lizzy's hair back and allowed myself a sad smile.

"Girls," I said quietly, "I know you're worried about the house, and what's going to happen to us. But fighting won't solve anything. When things are going wrong, it's so important for us to stick together and face our problems as a family. That way, whatever happens, we'll be okay."

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r34.jpg

Lizzy: That's when the phone rang. All three of us looked up at the same time, and Dad went running for the kitchen. Hannah and I followed him. We knew that the phone call must be important.

Hannah: I could just tell that someone was calling to tell us if we could keep our house. I was shaking, I was so nervous.

I glanced at my daughters, took a deep breath, and reached for the receiver.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/DaisieBucket/TS2/r37.jpg

[wndy26]

Wow Daisie...I really like your story...can't wait to see what happens. :) It really hits home at this point in time...with all the forclosures happening all over the USA...I can really relate.

[Spicycookies_SC]

Things were going smoothly as ever in the Riches household. Juliet had started going to elementry school, Samuel had gotten a much better job, and the summer brought the two of them yet even closer together. It had almost been 8 years since Samuel and Juliet had been reunited with one another, which brings us to the place in their timeline where the best disater could have ever happened in both their lives.

Juliet: When we first met her, we were still vacationing at the local beach. Dad had neatly placed a towel on the hot sand where we sun-tanned for what seemed like forever. Everything was going swell until the bizarre woman had to lay down on her towel right alongside us.
I was a bit disturbed at first, wondering why she had to sun-bathe so close to us. Could she not move down to any other spot on the empty beach?

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/sunbathing.jpg

“Can I get a drink, dad? I see a vending machine over there somewheres.” I said to my father, simply pointing my finger into the direction of the vending machine to show him.

“I don’t have enough money for both of us to get a drink…” Dad replied, not bothering to open his eyes to see where I was pointing. His body seemed lifeless as if washed ashore.

That’s when I heard a loud moan coming from over where the weird woman was tanning.

“Ohhh, I’m so thirsty.” She moaned again, grasping her throat in what seemed agony. Dad bolted up from the towel with a great deal of concern upon his face.

“Are you alright? Here, I have a bit of change; I think I have enough to get you a cola or something, if you want.” Dad replied with a steady voice, reaching into his trunks for his wallet.

“Thanks!” She replied, seeming quite fine now. I watched miserably as the two of them headed over towards the vending machine together, walking quite close to each other. A quarter was placed into the brightly colored machine and out came a fizz drink, bouncing off the bottom and onto the sand. Dad reached down to pick it up off the sand and then handed it towards the woman. She gave a cute, flirty smile as a reply.

I watched from behind dad‘s legs in disbelief. I was his daughter and he wouldn’t even buy me a drink when I asked him nicely! Now some prisky girl comes along and he falls head over heels for her! Dad was practically rolling in the sand, doing tricks for her! I angrily watched as the two of them flirt with each other, making me feel very left out.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/nonONO.jpg

And that’s how dad and I unfortunately met Amber, my dearest rival.

Samuel: Amber was awfully beautiful. I hadn’t dated in what seemed numerous years because I was too busy parenting my daughter Juliet, but perhaps now that we were both more grown-up, we could settle with another woman into our family. And I wanted Amber to be that girl.

Or, at least, that’s what I hoped for. I usually didn’t take my feminine friends too seriously, but Amber was shockingly special. Her eyes sparkled, her hair shined, and I couldn’t ever take my loving glance off of her when she flashed a smile. Her hair was long, a dark brown color. Her eyes were emeralds. After I met her at the beach, we had exchanged phone numbers and promised to meet together sometime real soon.

“That Amber girl is really something, eh Jules?” I said to Juliet joyfully as we drove back home from the beach that afternoon. Juliet sat in the front seat across from me, arms crossed over her chest.

“Yeah, really something.” She muttered as a reply.

Soon affter that, me and Amber had frequently organized little meetings with each other. I gladly invited her over for lunch and supper every single day of the following weeks. We would sit on the couch together and cuddle up. Juliet didn’t seem to mind our relationship TOO much, except for the fact that she despised Amber’s guts.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/nastyface.jpg

We were only dating for three weeks when I decided that I could no longer wait any longer; I wanted to propose to Amber more than anything in the world! That was all I could think each second that ticked! But first, I knew I had to talk to Juliet. So I invited Amber over one night, planning on breaking the good news to Juliet then soon after proposing to Amber, if everything went as cording to plan.

I sat Juliet down on my lap playfully. She smiled up at me. Juliet was really cute for her age. I didn’t even realize that she was almost 10 years of age.

“Juliet, I’m going to propose to Amber tonight.” I said, spitting out the news too soon. The words seemed to have escaped from my mouth and were swallow up in Juliet’s ears.

“W-what? W-why? Don’t you love me?” Juliet stuttered as the tears poured out of her eyes and onto her face. I gulped nervously as I watched her start bawling, rubbing her eyes frantically. She was in pain, and I didn’t know what to say or do to comfort her.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/sobbing.jpg

I rested my chin against the back of her head and thought of words that I could say. Anything would have made a difference! The sound of her cries made me feel even worst.

“But, I do love you, Juliet. You’re my girl.” I said in a low voice, trying to calm her down, as well as myself.

“If I’m your girl, then why would you want to marry her?!” Juliet spat angrily. She rose up from my stunned body, pushing me away from her. She looked at me angrily as more tears flowed down on her face. She looked at me for a split second, both of us stunned by her words of rage. Juliet instantly took off into a sprint down the hall and into her room, the door slamming behind right her.

“What’s going on?” Amber cried, bursting into the room agitatedly.

“It’s… Juliet.” I managed to reply with hurt in my voice. I felt tears well up in my eyes. I couldn’t pick between Amber and Juliet. I loved both of my girls equally. I wanted to be the best father I could be, but I still couldn’t set my feelings aside for my own daughter. I felt like the worst father in the world if anything. I didn’t deserve such a wonderful child such as Juliet.

“I’m going to go talk to her.” Amber merely said me and took off for Juliet’s room. I felt too sick to manage a reply. Had I just lost my baby girl?

Juliet: I was huddled up into small corner of my bedroom, my hands over my eyes as the sobs came out. I could hear someone open my bedroom door. It was probably dad, whom I least wanted to see. How could he want to marry Amber? Does he love her more then he loves me?

“Juliet,” A soft voice spoke, aimed towards me. The voice belonged to Amber. I felt her hand coming towards my shoulder, trying to comfort me, yet I didn’t know how to defend myself towards her. I didn’t want Amber to be in my room, or my house! I wanted her to die!

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/approach.jpg

“You took daddy away from me! I hate you! Leave us alone! He doesn’t love you, he loves me!” I cried. Amber looked at me with upset in her eyes. I couldn’t help but feel extremely selfish, which made me even feel worst. It was silent for a moment and I could tell Amber was trying to think of how she could put her words into a soothing sentence.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/timetotalk.jpg

“I know he’s your dad, and I promise you, Juliet, that I will never take you away from him. I can tell he loves you more than anything in the entire world, and it will always be that way. I think what your dad wants is for you to love me just the same. And, the truth is, I already do love you, Juliet.” Amber said to me gently. It sounded just like something my real mom would say. I bursted out crying once again and uncaringly wrapped my arms around Amber’s waist. I was in shame. How could I have been so mean, so wrong, about poor Amber?

Samuel: The day that was supposed to have been perfect had not gone exactly as planned, but here Juliet was, happily smiling and laughing, wrapped up in mine and Amber’s arms like the little girl she was.

The air was rather cool, but we weren’t cold at all. All three of us, Me, Juliet and Amber, were holding each other just like a family as we watched the glimmering stars that winked down at us. I didn’t have the slightest clue as to what had happened in the bedroom with Juliet and Amber earlier tonight, but everyone seemed superior now, and Juliet seemed especially close with her tonight. What else could possibly go wrong? We chuckled and cooed at the occasional star in the night sky. I couldn’t imagine my and Juliet’s happily ever after any other way then this.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/stargazing.jpg

It was morning. The balmy sun was rising up over the lush hills. The three of us had fallen sound asleep last night, watching the stars. I found myself no longer snuggled up beside Juliet, but now hugging Amber. I yawned and stretched out my arms like any other morning. I looked to my right side. No Juliet. To the other side I looked and saw Amber. She looked so delicate sleeping, like a doll almost. She had been a great help with Juliet yesterday.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/oh-sopeaceful.jpg

All of a sudden, at the thought of yesterday, memories of the past events rushed into my head like a runaway rollercoaster. I shot straight up off the ground and turned my head around both ways, looking anxiously for Juliet.

“Juliet?” I cried, my voice coming out hoarse at first. I was beginning to really fret. I ran around the whole yard screaming. I ran inside my house and into each room, my blaring voice shouting Juliet as loud as I possibly could. I raced over to the nearby park and she wasn’t playing there either. Where else could she be?

“JULIET!” I exclaimed, my voice echoing down my silent street way. Juliet wouldn’t have run away, would she have? She seemed so happy last night.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/fruitsbasket44/The%20Sims%202/julietsmissing.jpg

Confused, I ran back toward the backyard to wake up Amber and call 911. What had happened to Juliet? Who took her, and why? Tune in next round to find out the answers to your questions!

[Rabid]

Is it possible that you could give a two or three hour extension? My dog is sick and, because he's so neurotic, I need to help my mom take him to the vet. I don't know how long we'll be there, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to make the current deadline. If not, I understand; I'll just have to rush the entry.

[TRIriana]

No problem, Rabid. :) I hope your dog is okay at the vets.

[Rabid]

We changed him to a different anxiety medication recently, so we think that might be the source of the problems. Thanks for the extension and the concern :)!

[IceAngel12891]

I'm glad I could get this finished today, my sister had her baby (a boy) yesterday & I was at the hospital all day yesterday so I wasn't sure I'd have time to finish it today.

(This will be in Julia's POV first and then switch to Owen's after the second picture)

It all started on an early Saturday morning. I went into my sister Stella's room like I do everyday to wake her up. We always play for a little bit before we wake mommy and daddy up to make breakfast. When I got to her room, I was very shocked to find out that Stella wasn't in her crib! I got really worried and looked for her EVERYWHERE! I couldn't find her anywhere. I was getting really upset. I needed to get mommy and daddy pronto. Maybe she was in their room, I went to look.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/juliashockedjpg.jpg

I ran to mommy and daddy's room and woke them up. Stella wasn't there.
"Daddy, Daddy!! Get up, Stella is missing!! Mommy! Stella isn't here! I can't find her!" They jumped out of bed and we looked around the house again but couldn't find her. "STELLAAA!!! Stella! STELLAAAAAAA!" we all shouted, but she was nowhere to be found. Where was my baby sissy? What happened to her? I was very scared and worried. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/awake.jpg
(Switch POV)
It was about 7 AM when Julia ran into our room yelling something about Stella not being in her crib. I thought she just meant she had escaped and was hiding in a closet somewhere but then she said she couldn't find her anywhere in the house. My wife and I jumped out of bed and we all searched everywhere for Stella. I even checked her closet, but she wasn't there. We were all starting to freak out. Where could she possible be? Did somebody take her? Should I call the cops? No, I decided to look around once more before I did.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/closet-2.jpg

Finally, I thought to look outside and thats when I discovered my little girl in the pool. "How could this have happened? I asked myself, "I could have swore the door was locked!" I rushed over and grabbed her up and gave her cpr. She started breathing again, but just barely. What was I going to do?! I had to get her to the hospital. I had to save my little girl.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/babyinpool.jpg

I knew I could get her to the hospital faster than an ambulence could get here so we all got in the car and drove to the hospital. We didn't get dressed because obviously we had our baby girl's life to save, it didn't even cross our mind that we were in our pjs and I had no shirt on. I was still yelling at myself in my head. "How could I have been so stupid, I knew that pool was a bad idea!" I said to myself, "I should have at least put a fence up, but we were waiting until that stupid fence sale started, now look what has happened." Its all my fault.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/car.jpg

We got to the hospital and they rushed off with Stella. We had to wait in a cramped waiting room with a mother and her screaming baby. Julia was just in shambles and as my wife & I were comforting her while trying to hide our worry. Finally, I saw a doctor walking down the hall towards us. It had seemed like we had been waiting for years. I jumped up and waited for the doctor to get there to tell us if my baby girl was going to be ok...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/IceAngel12891/doc.jpg


Will Stella be ok? Stay tuned and hope that our creator makes it to the final round to find out!


I hope this is long enough, it has at least, if not more, the required sentences in each paragraph. I know I'm a crappy writer...

[cavilez]

Mainly from Lei~Lani's POV unless otherwise stated

Lei~Lani: Anva you have to do my hair like this. Ugh let me show you. I swear my hair never acts right when I am going somewhere that I need to look really cute.
Anva: Well I like it... Sort of.
Lei~Lani: Oh yeah thanks, that makes me feel so much better. I want James to really notice me tonight at this party. You know how Jules has her theory about every boy in school. Well she thinks that James likes me. Well tonight will be the test on her stupid theories, he he. Is Jules and Goerge gonna be there?
Anva: No, they have EVIL parents, just kidding. I have no clue why they aren't going but they said that they hope we have fun. We can just rub it in their faces, how much fun the party was and what not.
Lei~Lani: Oh yeah they will regret not going to this party. Especially, after I tell them about me and James kissing all night.
Anva: Eww, since when have you wanted a boyfriend?
Lei~Lani: I can like boys. What time is it? Oh crap, we need to hurry up I don't wanna be late!
Anva: Patience is a virtue, my dear. Oh wow, my mom says that to me all the time and it DOES sound old.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot045.jpg

*knock on door*
Caleb: Hey let's go over a few rules, about this little shin-dig you girls are going to.
Lei~Lani: Dad it's just a kickback from the kids at school.
Caleb: Well whatever it is, I still want rules. So I want NO DRINKING! NO SEX!
Lei~Lani: Whoa, dad thats just wrong.
Caleb: Hey I am just being a father here so just listen to me. I don't want nothing happening to you girls. I love both of you ok. I just need reassurance that you are gonna be ok.
Lei~Lani: Yes dad. Can we go now?
Caleb: Yeah, have fun but not too much of it.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot046.jpg


The party was so much fun and James even told me that Jules wasn't lying about him liking me. We started talking and drinking and dancing. I got a little tired so I went and sat down on the couch. James came and sat down next to me and was asking me if I was alright and stuff. It was nice that he was comforting me. We started kissing and touching each other (I think it was the alcohol in us).
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot044.jpg

Lei~Lani: Oh man I can barely walk right after the party.
Anva: Should we call a cab?
Lei~Lani: And leave my car here? My dad will kill me. Im not even drunk. Oh man hold o... *pukes in a bush*
Anva: Good because I am wayyyy to drunk *laughs like a drunk* to drive.
Lei~Lani: Alright let's go!
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot047-1.jpg

Anva: OH MY GOD, LOOK OUT FOR THAT SKUNK!
*tires screeching and then a loud crash*
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot048.jpg

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot050.jpg

*knock on door*
Caleb: Im coming hold, on. Oh hello officer, can I help you with something?
Officer Rachel: Do you know a Lei~Lani Orun and a Anva Carter?
Caleb: Yes that's my daughter and her best friend. Why what's going on?
Officer Rachel: We are gonna need you to come with us.
Caleb: Wait what's going on? Are they ok? What happeneed? Where are they at? Can I talk to them? Wha-
Officer Rachel: Sir calm down. They were in a horrible car accident and they are on their way to the ER.
Caleb: This isn't fair. *crys softly* Let's go!
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n439/cavilez1987/ScreenShot053.jpg

[Charley-x]

My pictures are supposed ot be dark as it's night time so don't comment on them going your pictures are too dark, thats the point. And phewwww i made the dealine.

Ellie: “Pleaseeeeeeee daddddyy” I begged. I really wanted to go to my friend, Madison’s slumber party but daddy said I wasn’t allowed to go because I ‘accidently’ fed the fishies peanut butter jelly sandwiches. “No Ellie, I told you, you’re not to play round friends, play on the computer and watch TV until the end of the week. You know the fish only eat fish food.”

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-11-0720-55-38-97.jpg

“Fine!” I snapped back and ran upstairs. I slammed my door and burst into a fit of tears. “That’s not going to get you anywhere, ellie!” I heard daddy call.


Mason: “Girls!” I huffed. I dreaded the day Ellie became like this, the beginning of a teenage drama queen. As much as I love her, I just have to punish her. She’s got to learn that tantrums don’t get her anywhere in life, She’s got to work and be good for the things she wants these are just some of the lesson my princess has to learn. After about a hour of sulking in her room I called ellie down for tea, she didn’t reply so I figured she was still mad at me.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-11-0720-06-30-49.jpg

After sticking ellie dinner in the microwave, ready for when shes hungry, my phone rang, I ran into the hallway to pick it up, it was Mrs Jutha, Madison’s mother.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mason, it’s Julie, Madison’s mother.”
“Oh hello, listen I’m sorry about the sleepover-” I tutted as she cut me off.
“No worries! It’s a shame though as Madison was really excited about spending time with ellie. Why exactly are you punishing her? ”
“She-e-e um… fed the fish some thing that could have killed them, and they were what my wife was going to buy.”
“Because she fed the fish your punishing her? She’s eight!”
“Yes but. Ellie has to learn. She can’t do something wrong and get away with it, that’s how I’m going to raise my daughter, and quite frankly it’s got nothing to do with you.”
--Beeeeeeeeep--
I grumbled, how dare she tell me that I’m in the wrong. I gritted my teeth and stuffed in my anger. “Ellie! Get down now, your dinner is ready!”


Ellie: Right-e-o. sleeping bag = check, pj’s= check. Toothbrush and paste= check, flash light= check toys=check, sweets=check. Thats about everything I need. I was worried as i packed my stuff into my rucksack incase daddy founnd me packing and would punish me even more.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-11-0721-04-11-09.jpg

I pulled myself together, I had to go to Madison’s or she wouldn’t be my friend anymore. I ignored daddy pleas and didn’t go downstairs, instead I went into his bedroom and picked up the phone
“Hi Madison, it’s me, I’m coming over.” I cut Madison off before she replied. I peaked down stairs and saw daddy walk into the bathroom, this was it, I had to go right there and then, and I made my way for the backdoor ready to go down the alley. I got outside and climbed over our fence then turned my flash light on. I was really scared walking to Madison’s on my own but I had to do it, anyway it was daddy’s fault, he could of took me. I got to the alley and debated whether to go home, I decided to keep walking, I got half way down the alley when I heard footstep behind me.
“Ow!” I gasped.

Mason: As I got up to answer my phone I called up to Ellie one more time, she didn’t answer.
"Hello Mason." Julie said happily
“Oh its you, can I help you?” I replied, feeling less happy.
“Well no, but ellie called Madison about 30minutes ago saying she was coming after all, I was just wondering why you haven’t dropped her off yet?”
What? Had Ellie run away. I stuttered my words with worry and told Julie I had to go, “What? No. I’m sorry I have to go, Julie..”

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-11-0721-10-12-46.jpg

I dropped the phone and ran up to Ellie’s room, she wasn’t in there I shouted her name, no answer, I looked in her closet and saw her stuff was gone, I ran downstairs and saw the backdoor left agar, I flipped the TV off and ran out the back door, and over the fence, the way me and ellie always go. I called for her, several times and willed her to respond, but she didn’t I made my way along the alley towards Madison’s house I called “Ellie-Mae!?” over and over, by the time I reached the end of the alley I found a flash light still on, I rumbled round in my pockets looking for my phone.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-11-0721-23-08-87.jpg

“Hello? Yes, please help me, it’s my daughter, shes gone missing, maybe kidnapped aswell.”


http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/charley-29/Sims2EP82008-11-0721-24-15-93.jpg

[TRIriana]

Great entries everyone, I'm so glad to see that the sentence limits have for the most part, been within guidelines. :)

[Rabid]

Round Three:
Unexpected Disaster
(all POV from Silas unless otherwise stated)




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R3Photo1.jpg




After a long day of work at my private architectural firm, I was exhausted and more than willing to drop into bed for a solid eight hours. I've been told by other parents that raising children is exhausting, but raising two children by oneself has proven to be quite a challenge. Shuttling the twins from school to soccer to playdates on a daily basis is often hectic, but nevertheless, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Needless to say, I felt as though my head had hardly hit the pillow (when in actuality I had been sleeping for four hours) when the keening, high-pitched drone of a ringing telephone woke me at 3:30 in the morning.




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I levered myself out of bed drowsily and pawed through the heap of dirty laundry on the floor in search of the handset. Can you tell that I'm nothing if not organized (insert sarcasm here)? Organization is one life skill that fatherhood has not instilled in me, much as I wish it had. When I finally located the receiver in the back pocket of a dirty pair of jeans, it had already gone to voicemail, but surely a call at this time of night was important.


"Silas?" came the hesitant, wavering voice on the opposite end of the line.


Was this who I thought it was? "...Annabelle?"


"Yes, it's me. I need to tell you something." Her voice was shaken and unsteady, faltering and unsure.


Although I moved to the west coast a week after Rachel's death, the move has not seperated myself and the girls from her parents, Robert and Annabelle. As their only child, Rachel's children were their only grandchildren, and after her death, the girls became all they had left to dote upon. They visit twice yearly, once at Hannukah and once during the summer. For nine years, they've been attempting to persuade me to visit them in New York, but it would take the jaws of life to bring me back there. Memories of dates, long walks through Central Parks, and ticket stubs from Broadway plays Rachel and I saw linger around every corner in the city where my wife rests eternally. No matter how much I loved her, no matter how much I will always love her, my respects are best paid from a distance. Although a part of her will always lie six feet under the cold ground of New York, her love will always lie with me in San Francisco.


"Okay, shoot," I responded, rubbing a palm over my sleepy eyes. I was a bit perturbed that she drew me from bed, to be quite honest.


"...Robert died." It was a sob choked into the receiver, a half-dead prayer whispered into waning moonlight that led to broken, shattered weeping.


"Oh, Annabelle..." I murmured. As if cruel, misguided fate hadn't taken enough from her already- first the unjust theft of her daughter, and now the robbing of her husband? What more did she have to give? I remember Robert well- he was a good-humored, competent man who was quick both to laugh and to forgive. I remember meeting him in a Brooklyn cafe to ask permission for Rachel's hand in marriage, and I remember the box of photos (which I now keep under my bed) that he gave me before I left New York, for something to remember her by when it didn't hurt as much. I went away to forget, to heal, to become something else, and ended up discovering who I truly am in the first place- a father.


"When's the funeral?" I questioned. "We'll be there on the first flight out."


"It's in two days," she responded, broken sobs having subsided to long sighs and hitching breaths. "I look forward to seeing you, Silas."


"And I you."


She hung up without a goodbye, as she always did. Did she do that before Rachel di-... before Rachel? I couldn't remember, but in the grand scheme of things, that small annoyance didn't matter. The woman had just lost a spouse, after all, and I knew how that felt more than I ever wanted to.




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I changed into something more presentable and gently nudged open the door to the girls' room. What would I tell them? Even though they didn't see their grandfather often, they revered him not only as a charming older man, but as a link to the mother they never knew. What would I say? How would I comfort them? There had been tears throughout their lives- tears over spilled milk, tears over sisterly disputes, tears over not having a mommy like the other kids, but never tears over death. How could I assuage the pain of this most recent loss when the pain of mine was still an ever-present companion, even after nine years?


I bent down to wake Celia, gently brushing a lock of her mother's auburn hair from her eyes. She gazed at me sleepily and sat up in bed with a questioning expression before I replicated the same action with Sasha.


"I wasn't sure what Dad woke us up for, but whatever it was, he looked scared and upset. It had to be important, but his weird behavior was scaring me." -Celia


I dragged the desk chair between the two beds, gazing ambivalently at my girls, at the light of my life. How would I start? They regarded me with curious, inquisitive eyes and fidgeted anxiously beneath the duvets. "Celia, Sasha... I have to tell you something. Your grandfather passed away."

Contrary to what some might expect, there was no epic, titular meltdown of Hollywood proportions- there were merely mystified, sorrowful looks of confusion that spoke volumes of how little the girls could comprehend this. Suspended between childish naivety and the basest beginnings of maturity, they understood the words but couldn't possibly fathom the gravity behind them.




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Sasha rose and silently cloistered herself in the adjacent bathroom, and although I ached to follow her, I knew that she needed space to attempt to understand the crushing blow that fate had just dealt. I instead focused my attention on Celia, who crawled off the bed and wordlessly enveloped herself in my waiting arms. "It's going to be okay, sugar," I crooned senselessly, surprised that the words came so fluidly and so easily. It wasn't going to be okay, she had lost a part of her life that she could never get back, but the soothing stream of verbal comfort continued to flow of its own volition. "Grandpa's in a better place, you know that." Hot tears flooded onto the warm skin of my neck and collarbone, her face buried in the fabric of my sleep shirt.


"Is there a funeral?" she questioned. It cut me down to know that my daughter was aware of funerals, that she knew of their importance, that she wanted to pay her respects. How could a being so pure and innocent be so worldly at such a young age? It wasn't fair that my daughters didn't have a mother, and it wasn't fair that they knew about the sorrowful proceedings associated with death. I never wanted that for them. Rachel never wanted that for them.


"Yes," I answered. "As soon as I can get us plane tickets, we'll go to New York and go to the funeral."


Her perfect, unfettered brows furrowed into a frown. "New York? Isn't that where you and Mom used to live?"


The ache of Rachel, ever present and eternally simmering beneath the surface no matter how happy I was, manifested itself into a physical hurt. My throat ached with unshed tears and my chest throbbed with restrained emotion as I gently brushed the auburn hair from her shoulders. "Yeah. It is."


"I could hear Dad and Celia talking from behind the bathroom door. I didn't want to talk about Grandpa, and I really just wanted to be alone, but I couldn't help listening. I couldn't believe we were going to New York- Dad never talks about New York. It's hard enough to get him to talk about Mom." -Sasha




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We arrived in New York right on schedule for the wake. All three of us were nervous and jittery during the flight, but none more so than myself. When the city came in view, I damn near suffered a panic attack and had to quickly excuse myself to the restroom, lest I hyperventilate in front of my daughters and frighten them. I cloistered myself in the restroom and panted heavily, almost as though the very proximity to the city was making me ill, and I'm quite sure that it was. Extraordinary, what the body remembers; the bones defined by love, grief silting the arteries, fear the veins' eternal mold. Who would have thought that mere flesh and blood could hold so much of the psyche's ghostly script? I pulled out the photograph of Rachel that I keep in my wallet, traced the exquisitely chiseled planes of her smiling face, and mused on how sometimes coming back is harder than leaving.


I never regret the choice that I made. I just wonder why I couldn't cope with Rachel dying and why I made it.


At the wake, I embraced a teary Annabelle. The girls were nervous about coming, as was I, and immediately avoided the casket. Sasha consistently clung to my leg and I eventually snatched her into my arms (she might have been too old, but these were extenuating circumstances) not only to comfort her, but to avoid Rachel's numerous friends that littered the funeral parlor. Perhaps they would discount me if they noticed the upsetted child in my arms, and I hoped to God that they would. I couldn't see them, I couldn't face them- I couldn't look at them and remember when they used to visit our apartment or tag along to lunch with Rachel and I.


"When Dad picked me up, I was kind of confused. Doesn't he know that I'm too old for that? Still, he looked like he needed a hug, so I let him hold me. I was getting sick of playing the piano with Celia, anyway." -Sasha




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When the crowd cleared, I took Sasha and Celia's hands in mine and approached the casket. Robert had suffered a fatal heart attack, therefore there would be no disfigurement, and no matter how traumatic the experience would be for them, I knew that it was a life lesson. I couldn't let them walk away without saying a final goodbye to their grandfather, knowing that they would later regret it.


I knelt down between them as they surveyed the body. Celia rocked back and forth nervously on her heels, and Sasha incessantly fidgeted. "He looks... weird," Celia stated.


"His skin looks like a white crayon," Sasha said, and I had to repress a laugh. This is the innate beauty of children- even in the most desolate of situations, they have a sublimely unique viewpoint and are able to be constantly optimistic. It's my daughters that keep me going day after day, and it was they who got me through that dreadful event.




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R3Photo7.jpg




When the food was served, I fell apart. I sat stagnant next to the girls while they nibbled and chatted amiably between themselves about inconsequential, frivolous subjects, but my mind wandered to the cemetary down the path from the funeral home.


The cemetary where Rachel was buried.


I couldn't come to New York for the first time since her death and not visit her final resting place, that much was apparent. But part of me, despite obligation, couldn't force my turpid limbs to move, couldn't gather the willpower to do what was necessary. I feared that I would fall to pieces before her tombstone, but I knew that I had to go alone before I could take the girls. I couldn't say goodbye to Rachel, I'll never say goodbye to her, and I would tear up heaven and earth if it meant getting her back, but I needed to do this alone.


I excused myself and left the girls with their grandmother, wandering down the beaten path toward the cemetary with my hands shoved nervously into my jacket pockets. As I walked, every irrelevent detail about her came flooding back in a vivid array of vibrant images. I remembered the way that she never squashed household insects in tissues but let them crawl out the window, and I remembered how she always made me taste her atrocious cooking and tell her what was bad about it rather than what was good. She was hard and bright, beautiful and eternal, lusted for the truth but didn't always want it, after.




http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R3Photo8.jpg




I followed her memory to the cemetary because I couldn't not, never could from the first time I laid eyes on her in a crowded coffee shop in Manhattan. I couldn't not follow her, couldn't ever look away from her, not when she was pale and dying against rosier bed sheets, not when the glare in her blue eyes would have caused lesser men to falter. Not, I think, unless God turned his back one day and the devil dared take the chance to rip us apart.



I'd follow you anywhere.





(hope this is enough of a disaster... I think that Silas having to come to terms with Rachel is absolutely a disaster, but some may disagree)

[Spicycookies_SC]

Good Luck Everyone!! :D I'm certain I'm going to need my own share of luck, though..

[Daisie]

Hehe, me too, Spicycookies. Everyone had great entries this round. :)

[Rabid]

^Amen to that. All of these great entries have me biting my fingernails! I think it's going to be neck and neck. Whatever the outcome, I can't wait to see the results. :D.

[wndy26]

Since round 4 was supposed to start yesterday, will we have longer than the 12th to finish our entry?

[TRIriana]

Sorry about the delay guys - the scores should be in very soon. You'll have longer than the 12th to finish your Rounds IV entries,too. :)

[Imcran]

My scores are in. I have to say, you guys were just smouldering with creativity this round. ^^

[TRIriana]

Round III Results


TRIriana

Rabid
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 8
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 5
Overall: 38/40
I think that Silas having to come to terms with Rachael’s death is very much a disaster, particularly as in previous rounds it’s really been shown just how much it still hurts and how certain he is that he never wants to return to New York. I was genuinely, “Wow,” at his decision to get on the plane and finally go back to a city with so many memories for him. It’s lovely continuity. It was also nice to see Rachael’s mother and get a quick look at the person who brought up the woman Silas loved so much.

Daisie
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 38/40
That last picture of the family around the ringing phone was a nice touch - it made me want to find out there and then just what the answer was going to be. Again, a real issue that was nicely broached and you really feel the tension that the twins must have been feeling because of what’s going on.

ILoveJonsi
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 5
Overall: 38
I thought it was very creative how your points of view were completely separated; first from Rhys and later on Ava’s perspective, during the same period of time. It was a good idea and it paid off. The first shot of Noel on the floor creates a shocking impact and really pushes home what just happened because of a moment of laxness. My only quibble is that he picks Noel up, something that makes his current state even more precarious.

Wndy26
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 38
I do like how the disaster in your story was as a result of Thomas’ job- falling overboard in jobs such as this is a very real danger and I think you portrayed that very well. The shots on the ship looked great!

Duderocks
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 38
I loved how different and, let’s be honest, bizarre yours was! It was refreshing to read a disaster more on the Sim scale of things. I really like how you included Grim in your story, too. It made me very curious to see what happens next, and perhaps why the fireballs started in the first place.

Spicycookies
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 7
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 33/40
At the start of the story you really feel for Juliet, and really understand why she’s so enraged at this brand new woman vying for her father’s affections. I think the points of view were very well thought out and helped to develop the feeling in the story: Juliet’s anger and later, apparent horror at how she acted and Samuel’s adoration for his new girlfriend and anguish at his daughters feelings. However in the start of the story he does come off sounding uncaring and, perhaps for a moment, like the Samuel from the pre-Juliet life: ignores Juliet’s thirst in order to jump up to buy this flirting lady a drink. I’m very interested to see what happened to Juliet.

IceAngel12891
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 33/40
The threat of a toddler finding their way into a swimming pool and, ultimately, drowning as a result are very real threats and I think you did good to portray that. I think the last picture might have looked better as a wide shot of a hospital room and the family clustered inside: from my perspective it looked like Owen was panicking in the living room whilst the text stated a waiting room. I did like the perspectives though, so nice work with those.

Simcharley1990
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 7
Rules Following: 2.5
Emotion: 3
Overall: 29.5/40
Having a quick glimpse into two different ways of parenting was a nice idea to include in the telephone conversation, and Madison’s mother really comes across as being prissy and bossy. Seeing Ellie rebel was interesting, but you really get the idea that she’s going to blatantly ignore her father and go to see her friend anyway - which obviously isn’t going to be a good idea! The last picture I think was not needed: it becomes two shots that are far too similar. What might have worked better is a split shot, one showing Mason looking concerned on the telephone and on the other side the operator taking the call. Your pictures weren’t too dark at all, and it was obvious that it was supposed to be set during the night so points weren’t docked for that.

Cavilez1987
Storyline Creativity: 8
Plotline Flow: 7
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 2.5
Emotion: 3
Overall: 29.5
Caleb’s over protectiveness of Lei Lani is amusing, particularly as what he warns against is so blatant in front of his daughters friend. A minor quibble is that the picture accompanying the embarrassed Lei Lani text, is that she appears to be smiling. Showing her looking embarrassed at her father would have worked better. The shot of them looking tipsy as they leave the party is amusing at first - and then the text shows blatantly that they still intend to drive home, which mixes the feeling after that moment. The flow went down a little because there was no bridge between the fleeting mention of alcohol and the two teenagers deciding to leave the party, so something more in between would have helped. The Officer is a little blunt when telling Caleb what’s happened to his daughter. But it was a good entry, so nice job, and I like how Anva is a “recurring character” in the story.


Goddessmoon2008

Rabid
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 5!
Overall: 40/40
Wow. I was not expecting the Grandfather death. It was very unique and a wonderful story! And yes that is a disaster.

ILoveJonsi
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 5
Overall: 40/40
I loved that you did his view then the entire story in her view. Great job! Hope Noel turns out ok.

Cavilez1987
Storyline Creativity: 9
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 38/40
I liked that the majority of the piece was Lei Lani's point of view. Great job and I cant wait to find out how it all goes.

Daisie
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 38/40
That was a good idea! Foreclosures are all to real in our world today. Great job.

IceAngel12891
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity: 10
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 4
Overall: 38/40
When I saw her in the pool my heart jumped. Wow is all i can say. Congrats on your sisters baby!

Simcharley1990
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 4
Emotion: 4
Overall: 37/40
I love the feeding the sandwiches to the fishes! It was very suspenseful and a great story.

Spicycookies
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 10
Picture Creativity: 9
Rules Following: 5
Emotion: 3
Overall: 37
That was an interesting way to lead to the missing child disaster. Great story and I cant wait to see how it all works out.

Wndy26
Storyline Creativity: 10
Plotline Flow: 9
Picture Creativity 9
Rules Following 5
Emotion: 4
37/40
I like the fact that you showed him leaving. The orca picture, it looks so real! Great job.

Duderocks
Storyline Creativity 10
Plotline Flow 9
Picture Creativity 9
Rules Following 5
Emotion 4
Overall: 37/40
I love the fact that Maddie coming seems to be causing strange things to happen. Great story!

All over comment: Everyone did a wonderful job and every story left me wanting more.


Imcran

Rabid

Storyline Creativity: 10/10
Plotline Flow: 9/10
Picture Creativity: 9/10
Rules Following: 5/5
Emotion: 5/5
Total: 38/40

- Rules followed, yay.
- Emotional, descriptive, expressive, lots of other adjectives that mean ‘good’ in this case.
- Creativity is excellent as always. A death in the family and trying to get over a previous death is certainly tragic, so I’d mark that as a disaster.
- Plot flow is great, but it’s a shame there isn’t more from the kids in there. I understand the vast majority of it is relevant to Silas, but it would have been nice if they had a paragraph or so rather than a line each.
- Pictures are very good, but the first two shots are a little dull. A split screen would have been good for the telephone picture, just to vary it up a bit. However, the last two pictures you did were so emotive and good that I can’t justify docking you more than one point.

Duderocks

Storyline Creativity: 10/10
Plotline Flow: 8/10
Picture Creativity: 9/10
Rules Following: 5/5
Emotion: 5/5
Total: 37/40

- Rules followed. Excellent
- Emotions are expressed well, even if it made me laugh. Amusement is an emotion.
- Holy Hannah. Random balls of fire falling from the sky? I cannot fault you for sheer hilarity and Simishness. And it certainly was creative- I wasn’t expecting it at all.
- Pictures are very creative, very nice indeed. I particularly like the shot of Finley pulling up the rainbow trout. The only problem with the fire pictures is that the smoke distorts the shot a little.
- Your plot flow is good, but the script format lets you down somewhat. It’s good to see you describing the emotions outside of it though, although I’d like to see you trying it without the script form.

Wndy26

Storyline Creativity: 10/10
Plotline Flow: 7/10
Picture Creativity: 9/10
Rules Following: 5/5
Emotion: 5/5
Total: 36/40

- Rules followed, just. Be careful on how many sentence you’re using per picture.
- Emotion nicely conveyed, particularly the shock and the mother’s resolve.
- Creative much? It was nice to see the disaster happening to the father rather than the children, and falling overboard in a storm after rescuing an Orca is brilliant, very inventive. Can’t fault you there.
- Plot flow is lacking in places due to occasionally being rather light on sentences. You just needed that little bit more to put it through.
- Pictures are good, very creative. The mother’s smile in the last shot seems a bit odd though, and the shot of just the rain was a bit flat.

Daisie

Storyline Creativity: 10/10
Plotline Flow: 8/10
Picture Creativity: 8/10
Rules Following: 5/5
Emotion: 5/5
Total: 36/40

- Rules followed, excellent.
- Emotion conveyed nicely, particularly the shock of the phone call.
- Mortgage disaster! Very nice and unusual, not the angle I was expecting. You really worked this one very well. It’s amusing to see it done as a Sim City mortgage as well, rather than real world.
- Plotline flow is good, a little choppy in places due to cutting back and forth between the girls. But overall, nicely done.
- Pictures generally very good- perhaps could have done a little more with the second phone picture as his expression seems quite amused, and not much is happening. Overall though, very well done.

ILoveJonsi

Storyline Creativity: 8/10
Plotline Flow: 8/10
Picture Creativity: 9/10
Rules Following: 5/5
Emotion: 5/5
Total: 35/40

- All rules followed, excellent.
- Emotion conveyed well, particularly the contrast between Ava and Rhys
- Quite creative, although I think maybe car accidents are a little cliché. While I understand why Rhys would pick up Noel, I can’t justify the EMTs picking up a child who’s been hit by a car. The danger of a snapped neck or spine is far too great for them to just pick Noel up and carry him to the stretcher.
- Pictures totally make up for the slight cliché. The only shame is that we couldn’t see the driver of the car, since that would have been interesting. As it is, it sort of makes it look like he’s jumped out of the car, apologised, and run away.
- Flow is good, a little light on descript in a few places, but over all, not bad.

IceAngel12891

Storyline Creativity: 8/10
Plotline Flow: 7/10
Picture Creativity: 8/10
Rules Following: 5/5
Emotion: 2.5/5
Total: 30.5/40

- Enough sentences, pictures etc. Very good.
- The confusion of Julia and the panic of Owen is well conveyed, but comes off a little choppy.
- Although an interesting idea, Stella being in the pool is a bit sudden. How did she get there? How did she get out of her crib? It would have been nice if you’d showed that part just to mesh it together a little more.
- The pictures are generally very good, although the last one doesn’t look like a hospital corridor or waiting room- it looks like someone’s lounge.
- Plot flow is generally good, could use some more description. My biggest quibble is the sense of confusion over how Stella got out of the crib and got outside- this could have used some more explaining, as well as a little more description for the emotional impact.

Spicycookies

Storyline Creativity: 8/10
Plotline Flow: 7/10
Picture Creativity: 8/10
Rules Following: 5/5
Emotion: 2.5/5
Total: 30.5/40

- All rules followed, excellent.
- Emotions expressed well, but sometimes rather sudden. A little more description would round it off better.
- Good timeline, and it’s interesting to see Juliet so jealous. However, Samuel comes off as rather cruel- not buying his daughter a drink when she’s thirsty? It gives the reader a hard time empathising with him, and makes him seem to be a poor father. Also, the running away, if that’s what happened, part is rather out of left field- it seems to be improving and suddenly Juliet is gone. Certainly a cliff-hanger, but hard to tell what to make of it.
- Pictures are pretty creative, although we do seem to see a lot of the back of Amber’s head. It would be nice to see her looking towards the camera.
- Plot flow is ok, but the ending could have used a bit more build up and explanation. Also, Samuel seems to have no empathy with his daughter at times, and lots at others.

Simcharley1990

Storyline Creativity: 7/10
Plotline Flow: 7/10
Picture Creativity: 6/10
Rules Following: 2.5/5
Emotion: 2.5/5
Total: 25/40

- Three sentences per picture rule not followed, last picture has only one line.
- The tension is good, but some emotive parts fall a bit flat- the ending needed more description to express Mason’s concern.
- Pictures were a bit unvaried. I like the one of Ellie frantically packing her backpack, but the ones of the father on his own are a little flat. Could have perhaps combined the last two pictures into one- we don’t really need to see him on the phone twice. It would have been nice to see a spliced picture of him on the phone to Julie- it would have given you more variance.
- Surprisingly creative towards the end. The kidnapping twist was nice, but more could have been built up on that- Ellie feeling she’s being followed, etc. As it was, it hits you in the face suddenly, and then it’s gone. More emotive description needed.
- Plot flow is fine, flat in a few places where description should have been added to further emphasise the scene. It comes off as fairly abrupt.


Cavilez1987

Storyline Creativity: 6/10
Plotline Flow: 6/10
Picture Creativity: 8/10
Rules Following: 2.5/5
Emotion: 2.5/5
Total: 25/40

- Not enough writing per picture. One has no caption at all, another has only 2 sentences.
- The script format loses quite a lot of emotional impact here since we can’t see what the characters are thinking or feeling, only what they’re saying. There is some emotion conveyed in parts, but not nearly enough of it. What emotion is conveyed is at times contradicatory.
- Pictures are quite interesting, the drunk shot looks good. The car crash pictures worked nicely as a before and after, although it would have been better if the before shot had been outside the car, showing the skunk as well. It’s a shame she’s grinning in the picture where Caleb is scolding her- she should look more embarrassed.
- The plot flow is ok, but due to being in script form comes off rather flat and lacking in description. Unfortunately, text and pictures often don’t match up, which causes problems- for example, the drunk picture seems funny, but the text is very serious- she’s about to drink and drive.
- The idea was good. However, due to the lack in emotions, and the fact that it’s rather Lei-Lani’s fault that she ended up in the accident, it loses some of the impact. Also, the father’s exclamation at the end of ‘Let’s go!’ comes out rather too enthusiastically for someone who’s daughter is dying.

Cumulative Scores
Rabid: 116
Ilovejonesi: 113
Duderocks: 112
Daisie: 112
Wndy26: 111
Iceangel12891: 101.5
Spicycookies: 100.5
Simcharley1990: 91.5
Cavilez1987: 92.5

Unfortunately there were eliminations, and the people to go this round are: Spicycookies, Simcharley and Cavilez - sorry to see you go, but you did well to get this far. :)

[TRIriana]

The Grand Finale

First off all I have to say: Congratulations to the six finalists for making it this far! You've almost made it to the finishing line, but there's just one more test of your abilities to go before a winner can be announced in the contest. Read on - and good luck!

1. Your mission this time, should you choose to accept it...is to write the resolution to the cliffhanger of last round. The ending can be happy or it can be said, this is entirely up to you.

Picture Requirements and Information

The problems of the previous round must, one way or the other, be resolved. No loose ends!

The minimum picture requirement for this round is five, as before and the picture maximum is ten.

Again, I would like perspectives from father and child(ren).

This time more writing is required: two paragraphs per photo.

Think of the conclusion to your story like the sequel to a book or a film...your cliffhangers were great and emotive...the next part has to be as good as, or better in every way to halt the chance of it falling flat.

Deadlines are on the main page and will end at 10PM, unless more time is required. :)

[wndy26]

TRI - does that mean two paragraphs per photo?

[TRIriana]

Yes, per photo - thank you for pointing that out, I'll edit the information.

[Rabid]

Top score?! Wow, I can't believe it! What with how great everyone did at round three, I certainly didn't think it would be me. Thanks to the judges for all of the constructive comments and congrats to everyone on a job well done! Sorry to see you go, Spicycookies, simcharley, and cavilez :(.

I can't wait to wrap up the story in round four :)!

[IceAngel12891]

Thanks for the good scores, I'm glad I made it to the final round, even though it was just barely. To answer the question of how she got out, I didn't add a picture because she has a toddler bed and she got out the door;; Owen said "I could have sworn I locked the door" I can see where that confusion could be though because I wasn't as clear as I could have been and I should have added a picture. That is what contests are for though, to learn how to do better and to show your creativity, lol. I think I've learned some from this contest, so even though I won't win, at least I've taken something from it.

[Daisie]

Thanks for the comments/scores. And congrats, everyone. :)

[duderocks]

Thanks again for comments and scores. Congratulations to everyone, Rabid especially, for getting good scores.

Sorry to see you go, Spicycookies, simcharley, and cavilez. You were doing so well.

[Velvet_Morning]

Thank you very much, judges and great job everyone! :D I can't believe I didnt even think about it being dangerous to pick Noel up! Everyone knows that! :doh

[duderocks]

I don't want to do this, but can I ask for an extension of one day? I'm unfortunately very busy right now and won't be able to start until tomorrow. Please!

[Rabid]

I echo duderocks' request for an extension of one day; I have a paper to write tonight and newspaper business to work on tomorrow, so I can't possibly imagine getting done without an extension.

[TRIriana]

An extension will be fine. :) I'll let you guys know briefly, my Internet connection has been acting a bit iffy today, so if I don't respond as quickly as usual it's due to that.

[Daisie]

Ah, great. I was just coming in here to see if an extension would be possible. :)

(I got tied up working on a school thing this afternoon, and I'd only have had an hour or two free to work on my entry tomorrow before the deadline.)

[duderocks]

Legend: A means Finley's POV, while B means Thaddeus' POV.

A:


Please Maddie, please make the right choice...

The Grim threw his scythe off his hand and showed Maddie an orb of energy coming from my father's soul. He put his arms on his back and shuffled the energy like a professional gambler shuffles the cards in a game of cards. He then lets Maddie choose, his life or a permanent mark on the Gothier Green Lawns.

As I watch Maddie go through a gamble, I feel as if my heart was beating a thousand times as much a before. The DUG DUG DUG DUG was so audible to me, it seemed to drown out the incoherent "discussion" she was having with the Grim Reaper. After all, my dad's life is at stake here. One wrong move, and any hope of saving him is over.

I could see Maddie shaking like mad. Probably weighing the probability of getting the small orb of energy the fleshless being has on his hand. After what it seemed like eternity, Maddie finally chose a hand.

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The rest of the scenario seemed like a blur. I think the only things that were clear snapshots to my eyes are the hand she chose and the unveiling of the magical orb of energy that holds my father's soul.

"Oh well, you have won my game of chance, my friend. MR THADDEUS FOSTER! You are to join the land of the living once again." said Grim as he sighed. Maddie had defeated the Grim Reaper, and my father has cheated death.


B:

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As my soul felt that fate has gone in favor of me, I felt it get out of the Reaper's "crystal case" and back into my body lying at the center of the Circle of Fire. Then, I started to rise from the ashes and my body started rebuilding itself. Almost instantly, I was whole again. Ready to take my second life.

However, this is still one vary daunting task. I am alive, well and healthy. But how can I get to the house if I'm surrounded by the extremely hot flames that can burn even the most fireproof of fireman gear? It's impossible to escape at this very moment, lest I get burned once again and leave a mark on the resident graveyard.

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The ways I thought on how to escape were futile indeed. Calling for help was next to impossible and judging from the site and extent of the flames, the fire extinguisher is not a good idea.

But just as I was about to sit on the charred grass and think of an escape plot, spectral jets of water rose from the ground and put out the fire right before my very eyes. Surely, this was not the work of any ordinary Sim. But who cares if I do not know who this person could be? I know I don't. The most important thing is I come to the house in one piece.


2A


"DADDY! YOU'RE HERE!" I said as I run to the person I considered as my father for the last three years. I was this close to losing him to the Rain of Fire, but I thank Grimmie for giving me another chance. He may be a scary-looking guy, but he will save your loved ones' life if you become nice to them (or so I heard that the closer you are to the dead, the better the change of getting the soul back.)

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Daddy didn't say a word on anything that happened tonight. Instead, he gave me a big Papa Bear hug. Feeling the arms of a loving father like him gave me a really fuzzy feeling that made everything he told me on his playboy past melt away from the warmth I experienced just now.


2B

As I embraced my son's tiny body, something sent shivers down my spine. It was as if someone was staring at me. I looked around the room. Nothing. I then had a conversation with my son, narrating about my near death experience. Being turned to ash, my soul sucked in a vacuum crystal, and my resurrection.

Seriously, I have a feeling that something in this room shouldn't even be here in the forst place. I looked around one again and found a stone sculpture with firetruck red eyes that seemed to be ready for a kill....

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Fear and surprise then started creeping into my face. I looked at Finley again and asked him, "What is that?" He just shrugged because frankly, he had no idea either. My mouth then gaped to it's limits and my eyes wide open as I state into this strange object.

A lot of thoughts raced to my brain. For one, what is it doing here? It's stone cold, it's shending me shivers, and it gave us the creeps.

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3A:

Like daddy, I also saw the strange object glaring at us. If he was being creeped out of the sculpture, I was even more creeped out because first, it's in my room. Second it's on my table. Finally, I didn't know I was sleeping with a scary object beside me.

I approached the sculpture with as much courage I could muster. I then looked at dad and could see the pained look on his face, as it he didn't want me to even look at it. From inspection, the eyes were NOT painted red, but there seems to be a light that was inside it that gives off the red eye color.

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I then went to our living room and tried to find a book that gave information about this sculpture. Despite our vast book collection (because we are all avid readers), I couldn't find anything. However, one quote from a book struck me the most.

Nothing can destroy the cause of the Rain of Fire except Fire itself.


3B

From that quote alone, I kind of figured out that the sculpture is the source of the unnatural phenomena happening in Desiderata Valley. Finley showed me the book and I told him that I called a friend of mine who knows quite a lot about cursed objects and will go there right now.

Braving any chilling thoughts I have, I picked up the sculpture and went to the Strangetown Community Center. It was quite a long drive, and it was already 4 in the morning, but as we get closer to our destination, it was all worth it. He greeted us with open arms, and soon got into business.

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"So, Shawn, is this object really the cause of the Rain of Fire?" I asked him intently. He then looked at the glowing red eyes and then back to me. His face indicates that he may have the answer I was looking for.

"Thaddeus, my friend, this was not called the Wrath of the Gods for no reason. For the ancient cave sims, this indicates that the place where this marker is at is cursed and therefore, must be destroyed. The stone is so strong, even the biggest hammer will not be able to break it."

"Then how can we destroy it?" I said.

"Oh, go back to Desiderata National Park, get twelve stones, some firewood and build yourselves a bonfire. Although I should warn you, the statue might disintegrate even before and spread the curse to the whole neighborhood!" said Shawn intently.

"Do you think it will work?" I asked him, being a little skeptical on these things.

"Yes."

"Oh thank you so much, Mr. Bromley. Thanks for showing the way." sid Finley as he shook Shawn's hand tightly.

"My pleasure."


4A

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We went again for a long drive back to Desiderata National Park. It was around 7pm by then, a perfect time for a campfire. I immediately gathered some stones, some firewood and helped Mommy set up camp as Dad did the necessary rituals Mr. Bromley asked them to do (and thank God it didn't disintegrate right away). Soon, it was time for the curse to be out of the place...forever.

After dad placed the statue on the bonfire, nature took its natural course. The eyes started to change its color until it became the gray the statue was. It also turned to a charcoal gray and became so soft it could be mashed with a hammer.

As the sculpture stayed on the bonfire longer, it became more and more like ash than stone. I imagined the curse being lifted out of our heavy shoulders and into the thin air. We then left the ashes standing so the winds can blow them off. It was a really tearjerking sight, and one of the memories that will never come off.

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The next day, I turned thirteen. I was becoming less like a kid and more like a young man. More so during these days. I had a pretty low key birthday. Just me and my parents. Even without the flashy lights and the games, I still turned thirteen.

But how come I'm wearing this outfit? Where did it come from? Oh well, doesn't matter. I'm going shopping for proper teenage clothes anyway...

-END-

[Velvet_Morning]

People say waiting is the hardest part. I never understood that more than that day in the waiting room. I just sat there, hoping that someone would tell me something, anything, about my son. Ava sat next to me; all cried out, with a stunned look on her face. I wanted so badly to comfort her but I didn’t know what to say. How could I make her feel better when I felt so awful myself? I couldn’t tell her what she wanted to hear.

After two hours the waiting room was eerily quiet. Ava had moved to a couch and fallen asleep and there was only one other person in the room. He had the same expression on his face as Ava had earlier. I wondered who he was waiting to hear about. A child, a wife, a friend?

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My thoughts quickly shifted back to Noel. With the normal hustle and bustle of an Emergency Room gone, I was left to think. Something I had been trying to avoid. I didn’t want to think about what a horrible parent I was. I envied Ava. She was asleep and didn’t have to deal with the pain she was feeling. At least for a little while.

The deafening silence of the room was interrupted as a young man in a long white coat walked through the doors. He almost didn’t look old enough to be a doctor. He walked over and sat down next to me with a sad look on his face. For a moment I had the urge to run out the hospital. As if not hearing what he was about to say would make it untrue. He introduced himself as Dr. Garrison and started to speak. Noel was stabilized but in a coma. They weren’t sure if he would wake up, and if he did, if he would have any brain damage and be able to function normally. But at least he was alive and had a fighting chance.

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As we walked to the room Noel was in, I tried my best to explain to Ava what was happening. I wanted her to be prepared to see her little brother hooked up to a bunch of machines and not being able to wake up. I think she understood better than I expected. After all it was a lot like when Noel was born.

We were almost to the room when Ava suddenly stopped in her tracks. She looked down at the floor and tears started pouring from her eyes. “It’s ok, honey” I said, doing the best I could to console her. “I’m sorry” she sputtered “It’s all my fault.” Her response surprised me. I didn’t once think about her blaming herself and I didn’t know what to say. Being only six years old she didn’t understand that it was me who messed up and not her. “No Ava, it’s not your fault” I said, on the verge of tears myself, “You didn’t do anything wrong. It was an accident. You can’t blame yourself, ok?” She nodded as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Ok” she said in a quiet voice. But I wasn’t so sure she meant it.

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When we walked into the room nurses were fumbling about, writing things in their charts. Noel was lying motionless in a crib. His face was bandaged and bruised and he had an oxygen tube in his nose. He looked so helpless. I wanted to go back to that afternoon and do it over again. I would have run after him and snatched him up before he got to the road. He probably would have been mad at me for stopping him from getting his ball. He might have even cried, but he would be ok. Now Noel was lying in a hospital, fighting for his life and there wasn’t any magic wand I could wave to make things better.

Despite how hard it was, I was still happy to see him. For the past couple of hours I thought he was going to die. Sure, he still could, but I had hope that he would make it through this. He had to. What would do without him? All we could do now was pray.

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For the next two weeks Ava and I were constantly by Noel’s bedside. She didn’t want to leave him and neither did I. The doctor said he could still hear us so we tried to keep the atmosphere happy. I read books to him and Ava sang and drew him pictures. Most of the time though, we just talked. Ava told Noel stories that would’ve made him laugh and promised him a big party when he woke up. I think she was trying to bribe him. If only it was that easy.

I was extremely proud of Ava for being so brave. I think most of it was due to the fact that she was so young and innocent. She had never experience death before and was sure Noel was going to be fine. I on the other hand, was losing hope. With each passing day the chance of him waking up was becoming less and less. It scared me to no end. I couldn’t imagine my life without my son.

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After those first two weeks I had a hard decision to make. No one knew when Noel was going to wake up. It could’ve been weeks, months, even years. Ava couldn’t miss anymore school and my boss’s understanding was running out. When I told Ava that we couldn’t spend all of our time at the hospital anymore, she kicked and screamed. It was hard for the both of us to leave him there but it wasn’t possible to keep on living like that. For two months we visited Noel every evening. For awhile Ava cried every time we left and I did my best not to.

It was a Tuesday morning and I had just walked into my office when the phone rang. My heart sank when I heard that it was a nurse from the hospital, but there was a hint of excitement in her voice. “I have good news, Mr. Clark” she said “Your son is awake.” I couldn’t believe it. He was awake. Noel was actually awake! It was possible that he wouldn’t be the same as before the accident but at least we would have him back. The rest we could deal with. I immediately drove to Ava’s school to pick her up. The look of excitement on her face when I told her was such a great thing to see. It was the first time in a while that it wasn’t just for show.

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It had been so long since I had seen Noel smile or heard him laugh that the excitement was overwhelming. But when we got to his hospital room it was empty. The joy I had earlier completely vanished when I saw the doctor walking towards me. His face was full of sorrow.
“May I speak with you in another room, Mr. Clark?” he asked, his eyes shifting towards Ava.
“No” I said with panic in my voice, “I came to see my son, where is he?”
“Please sir” he responded, “I would like to talk to you alone.”
“NO!” I shouted, “You said he was awake!” “Everything’s supposed to be fine now” I was practically pleading with him but that couldn’t change what he was about to say.
He sighed with defeat and began talking, but I’d soon wish he hadn’t
“It was only a few minutes after he woke up” he said with an apologetic look, “he went into cardiac arrest. We did everything we could but….he’s gone. I’m terribly sorry”
All of a sudden the room began to spin and I almost didn’t notice Ava running from the room. Then everything went black.

I woke up in a hospital bed, confused and with a terrible headache. When everything started coming back to me I wished I was still sleeping. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. I wanted to be with Noel. I laid there for awhile, wallowing in misery, until I remembered that Ava had gone running from the room after she heard the news. I stumbled out to the nurses’ station to ask where she was. After making sure I was ok a nurse led me to a room. Ava had been talking to a child psychologist since she was found huddled in a closet, crying. The doctor informed me that she was doing better now but I doubted it. He left the room so I could talk with her but here was nothing I could say. I just took her in my arms and we stood there crying, wondering what we were going to do without Noel.

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The day we laid Noel in the ground was by far the worst day of my life. Parents shouldn’t have to bury their children. I was so angry at God. How could he have taken Noel away from me? Didn’t he know that I needed him? That Ava needed him? Why would God take someone so young? Noel had so much more left to do. Why couldn’t he have taken me? But no one is more to blame than me. I will never forgive myself for what happened that day.

My family attended the funeral but a part of me wished they hadn’t. That sounds cruel, but I didn’t want to talk to anybody. I just wanted to be left alone. Nothing they could say would make me feel better. Nothing they could do would bring Noel back. At least they were there for Ava but she didn’t know them all that well. They lived on the other side of the country and we hardly saw them. The person she needed the most was me and I couldn’t be reached.

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As hard as it was, I had to move on. I couldn’t just stop living like I wanted to. I still had another child who needed me more than ever. Every day got a little better and I stopped feeling sad every time I thought of Noel. That’s not how I wanted to remember him. I’m thankful for the time we did have together and I find solace in the fact that someday we will all be together again. Just like it should be.

Ava's POV

My little brother was hurt really bad after the accident. The doctors didn’t even know what was going to happen and it made me really scared because I thought the doctors always knew how to make people better. The said he might never wake up or that he might be sick for a really long time. I just wanted him to be ok.

When we were in the hospital I did all the stuff I usually did with Noel, like making up stories for him and singing songs. Except he couldn’t do anything back. I still did it anyway because I didn’t want him to be scared like I was. Daddy said he wasn’t scared though and that he was probably dreaming about going on lots of adventures! In his dreams he could do anything he wanted. Maybe he was even have been dreaming about playing with me!

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Noel was at the hospital for a really long time but one day, Daddy came to my school to get me. He said that Noel was awake. I was really excited and I ran fast to the car. All the kids in my class thought I was crazy but I didn’t care. I was so happy that my brother was ok but when we got to the hospital the doctor wouldn’t let us see him. Daddy got really mad and yelled at him. Then he told us that Noel died before we got there. I was so sad and scared and I didn’t know what to do so I just ran away. I went and hid in a closet and cried for a really long time until someone found me. I didn’t want to be without my brother and never see him again. I loved him very much and I wanted him back, but he couldn’t ever come back now.

We go to visit Noel’s grave a lot. I always bring him flowers to make it prettier because sometimes it’s kind of scary. Then me and daddy sit down and talk about him. We never talk about the accident. Daddy doesn’t want to and neither do I. We just talk about the stuff that makes us smile.

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Daddy says that Noel is in heaven and that he is happy. He’s not hurt anymore and God will take good care of him. I know he’s right but I still want him back. I miss my little brother a lot. Even though Noel’s not here I will always love him. He was the best little brother anyone ever had.

[Rabid]

Round Four:
The Grand Finale
(all POV from Silas unless otherwise stated)


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Nine years and I would have thought that all echoes of Rachel had faded.

I navigated the narrow, tightly-spaced rows of tombstones with a sure sense of direction and timid, stumbling feet. I had been to this cemetary only once in my life and that time had transpired just shy of nine years ago, but I knew the path to my destination like the worn, dog-eared pages of a well-loved novel. I followed my wayward feet with the thought of Rachel, Rachel, Rachel pounding into the manicured grounds, my throat closing around a peculiar, treacle-thick knot of grief and my eyes dewy with the same tears I had been crying for nine years.

The cemetary was small and intensely private, yet the walk from the funeral parlor seemed to be the longest distance ever traveled in my life. The gentle breeze swaying in the oak trees held an underlying connotation of inevitability, and the various lively bouquets laid at the tombstones bore an eerie sense of finality. For years, I'd felt Rachel in everything that I'd done, heard her in everywhere that I'd been, but that sense had never been more potent than it was at this moment. Her voice was in the early autumn wind, her loveliness in the vivid flowers, her blood in the rhythm of the ground beneath me and her aroma in the telltale smell before rain. I had been threading it all down deep to where I kept the memory of her, but she was everywhere, and every day I felt as though I was losing a little part of her.

When I reached the tombstone that I had nine years before laid tulips (her favorite) at, my stomach churned and I felt for a moment that I would be sick, but somehow I managed to steel myself. Trembling, faint fingers brushed the inscription in the cold, timeless stone, tracing the finely scripted letters of her sonorous name, so familiar that I felt as though I could taste the words with my skin.


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The totality of the situation rendered my legs as useful as liquid Jell-O, sending me into an ungainly heap of limbs on the sun-warmed lawn. I didn't want to come back, but upon arriving at Rachel's grave, I found that I never wanted to leave. I wanted to come this way and share every sunset of my life with her until, someday, I would lie down on the manicured grounds and never again rise. But someday was far away, and I had Celia and Sasha to raise, Rachel's legacy incarnate to preserve. Even though I wanted to give her every sunset of my life, that day was all I could promise.

The rational part of me knew that I needed to let go of the woman who haunted me day after day, night after night, but the clingy, emotional husband within me somehow couldn't comprehend that notion. I'd made a goddess out of her ghost, I'd loved her so much that sometimes it hurt, but for nine years, my gut had been empty, trying to grow around the one hole where Rachel should have been that my daughers' light couldn't fill, stretched taut and unable to hold the weight. It seemed an insult to her memory to just move on, but time heals all wounds, and I could only grieve for so long before I was reminded that I was still alive and had something (or rather, two someones) to live for.


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"Sasha and I were worried about Dad when he slipped out of the funeral for almost an hour, so we ducked away from Grandma to find him. It wasn't hard- we knew that Mom was buried nearby from Grandma, and finding the cemetary a block down was simple. He was just sitting there when we found him, and it looked like he had been crying. We knew that he missed Mom, but we never knew it was this bad." -Celia

Before I knew what had happened, my daughters took up residence at my side by seating themselves comfortably close to me. Their presence was silent and amiable, their sinuous bodies warm and familiar and comforting. "What was she like, Dad?" Sasha whispered softly.

I swallowed the obtrusive lump in my throat and wiped at my eyes to eliminate all evidence of tears. How could I ever possibly begin to explain to them the wonderful, fantastic person that their mother was? I had told them stories all their lives; true stories, genuine stories, but they were always short enough that I could leave before the eager honesty on their faces and the sparkle in their eyes so like hers reduced me to tears. This was different, because we were sitting six feet above what was left of her, but somehow, it wasn't really different at all. Even though her bones lie under that cold, foreign ground in New York, her person, her memory has always laid with us in San Francisco.


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"She was beautiful," I responded softly, voice tinged with the echoes of lost love and nostalgia. "She was compassionate, she was smart... you know that she went to Syracuse, right? She loved animals and ice-skating, she loved Italian food but couldn't cook it to save her life, she wore Calvin Klein perfume, she had a scar on her knee from falling down when she was your age, and she always wanted to spend a summer in Greece."

"Dad's stories about Mom were amazing! He told us stories before, but I never knew she was such an amazing person. I wish I could have met her." -Sasha

I had enough words and stories characterizing Rachel to speak for days, enough memories to fill the space of a lifetime. But I merely regaled them with tales of their mother for an hour before the sun sank low in the sky and I knew we needed to leave. When I stood and ushered them to do the same, I was surprised that both Celia and Sasha immediately smothered me in a fierce, affectionate hug.

"She sounds like she was a great person, Dad," Celia stated, her words muffled due to the fact that her face was buried in my lapel.

I smiled, nestling my face further into Sasha's hair and inhaling the unique scent of my daughters, a scent of tulips and hair spray and memories and love. "She was," I responded. "She was."

Leaving the cemetary wasn't difficult- my daughters had wordlessly shown me that my heart belonged with them in San Francisco, not with the shell of Rachel in New York. When I pushed open the gate and took their hands to make the trek back to the funeral parlor, I did it for love.

"Goodbye," I whispered as we departed, and I didn't look back.


Part Two


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We went back to San Francisco the morning after the funeral- even though New York no longer held the repulsive connotation that it did before I arrived, I still couldn't bear the emotional toll of remaining there for too long. Annabelle promised to come visit us every now and then, and I encouraged her to come often and perhaps even relocate to the west coast. The girls could use a female figure in their life. We've always gotten along, but now we have even more in common- we had both lost spouses, we had both raised a daughter, and ultimately, we had both loved Rachel.

My job is fantastic, the girls are succeeding at school, and things seem to be looking up for the first time in a long time. Not that we didn't take part in family activities before the trip to New York, but I've started a new tradition by taking Sasha and Celia to the neighborhood park every weekend. I never want to forget the beautiful, lovely woman who made this activity possible, but I want to move forward and do something positive in her absence. Preserving her legacy and living the life she couldn't through the girls seems the best choice possible.


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People have asked me if I could ever fall in love again, and to that, I'm never sure how to justify a response. I credit my perservance after Rachel's death to Celia and Sasha- if not for them, I would certainly have fallen into the dangerous grasp of alcoholism and perhaps even worse circles. I love Rachel wholly and entirely despite the fact that she's not here and will never be here to receive my affection, and to be quite honest, I don't get lonely. Sasha and Celia are the light of my life, and I have no need for any other companions.

Part of me thinks that, even if I wanted to, I couldn't fall in love again. Being so intensely close to someone, being as vulnerable as I was with Rachel would be nigh upon inconceivable. We shared something special, and I doubt that I could possibly love any other woman as much as she deserves to be loved because I will always be blinded by Rachel. They say that you never forget your first love, and I believe that statement to be unflinchingly true, or at least under my extenuating circumstances.


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/RabidAngel7/R4Photo7.jpg


Just because I schooled myself to move on doesn't mean that I've forgotten about Rachel. She crosses my mind daily, be it due to a misplaced photograph that the girls left on the coffee table when they were looking through the box that Robert gave me or be it simply from a whiff of the perfume she used to wear. The difference is that these things don't reduce me to tears and unshakable melancholy as they once did, and when I wake up from dreams of the woman that I loved so dearly and lost so unfairly, I've learned to smile and be glad I have these vivid memories. I've carved my daughters into my soul and imprinted Rachel into my heart forever.

Wherever she is in that wide wide heaven I know she resides in, I know she can tell that I still love her. I know that she can see it everything that I do- not just in my thoughts of her, loved and lost and always just that much out of reach, but in the way I smell her ratty old bathrobe every so often before I go sleep, in the way I flick the upturned, elfish noses that the girls inherited from her, in the way I pull the photo of her that I keep in my dashboard out when I'm stuck in traffic and trace the planes of her lovely, laughing face, in the way that I can't look at red-headed women with blue eyes without my breath hitching. I see her in everything and I know that somewhere, she sees it, too.

Wherever she is, I know that she doesn't resent the way she died, because she didn't have a hateful bone in her body. I know that she understands that she died to create new life and that she thinks it was a worthy sacrifice. Wherever she is, I know that she's proud of me, of our girls. Wherever she is, I know that she wishes us a long and happy life.

[wndy26]

3 down and 3 to go... all of these conclusions were great. I should have mine ready tomorrow...provided my internet is back up. I woke today to find it was down. When I called to get an ETA - I found out that construction cut a major mediacomm line. All of Iowa and most of Missouri is down, unfortunately I don't know how long it will be down.

I have a backup plan - I can bring my photos to work - on my day off no less...and post them that way. Does anyone know what time the deadline has been moved to?

[TRIriana]

I'll close to the round when everyone's entries are in - at most, I can extend the deadline 24 hours if need be. :).