#crawford family

[curiousb]

The Crawford Family Album: Volume VIII

Getting the boot from your job on your first day is nothing but demoralising. Cassandra is certain that she has what it takes to make it in the music industry, but so far the music industry does not agree.

Some time spent focusing on her love life should give her a boost.

But that’s not proving to be as simple as she thought it would either. She wants to get engaged to Walter; she fears being rejected for engagement by Walter; but she doesn’t want to get engaged to or marry Walter. What’s a girl to do? On the other hand, he seems much more clear on where he wants this relationship to go.

One thing seems completely obvious to both of them though. Where’s the sense in renting two separate apartments, when they could save money and have the opportunity for even more fun if they moved in together? So, Cassandra starts shopping for a bigger apartment for them to share.

We are left in no doubt how she feels about their landlord.

That’s reassuring, having a law-enforcement officer as a neighbour - no burglars here!

Just time for a little job-hunting...

...before celebrating their first night in their new home!

[stephanbroadus]

No indictment in Ohio Wal-Mart shooting

No indictment in Ohio Wal-Mart shooting

About 100 people rally in support of John Crawford Jr. and his family in their pursuit for answers into the Aug. 5 shooting of John Crawford III, in Beavercreek,, Ohio, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/The Daily News, Ty Greenlees)

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio grand jury found officers’ actions were justified in last month’s fatal shooting of a man holding an air rifle at a Wal-Mart store, a…

[mortimersdesk]

Laura thinks I should show you this, dear followers.

It is a family tree she made for my family.

I'm not soo keen on it, since it's not completely accurat. For example it list's me, Cedric, Humphrey and Adelaide in this order from left to right. but this is not the order we were born in...

[curiousb]

The Crawford Family Album: Volume VI

To the external observer, Edward is a carefree child.

But, unfortunately the reality is somewhat different. His parents are frequently too busy with their own dissolute lives to pay him much attention. He really misses his favourite big sister, Frances, now that she’s at uni, but at least she’s only a phone call away.

She’s always happy to listen to him...

...and to share a cuddle.

He’s also busy making friends outside the home.

On a stormy winter’s day, carefree couple Lydia and Henry are my final first-generation Sims to reach their golden years, amongst family and friends.

Trust Lydia to age up into something glam.

Yeah, you’ve still got it, Henry! (I wish the special-event camera didn’t automatically cut away the walls - grrr.)

Typical for one of the Crawford parties. At least it’s George with his wife - Kitty - this time.

Lydia’s estranged sister Mary gate crashes the celebrations, purely with the intent of starting a fistfight in the kitchen it seems!

Much to the delight of the guests! Although Edward’s chum Alexander just seems bemused by the turn of events.

*Sigh* - being hoary-headed doesn’t seem to have changed these two at all.

Poor little Edward is not coping at all well with his mother’s lifestyle choices.

Late-night games’ marathons are the least of his concerns.

His parents do sometimes remember that they have a young son though.

And then he discovers the perfect medium for channelling his emotions - on the stage!

[letshuggiespeak]

A few of my family members singing how great thou art! :)

[curiousb]

The Crawford Family Album: Volume V

Edward is generally a happy little soul.

Although he craves more attention from his dad Henry than he usually gets.

Big sister Frances is usually on hand though, and enjoys spending time with him.

In fact, she’s the one to celebrate his birthday with him - while their parents are otherwise engaged.

And to guide him gently into childhood. (Honestly, she is usually very nurturing with him - she just had a moment of teen mischievousness!)

Edward’s child stats:

~ Libra 2 / 10 / 6 / 10 / 3

~ Artistic / Over-Emotional / Good Sense of Humour

~ OTH: Arts & Crafts

~ Favourite Colour(s): Yellow / Red

Mum eventually notices that Edward’s a big boy now! Dad remains supremely uninterested - still brooding over his stalled career, while brother-in-law Frank is flying high on Broadway.

Lydia does have a tender side, she’s just easily distracted by all the fun stuff that life has to offer...

...such as solo, late-night marathons of Don’t Wake the Llama. Sadly, this was the last time that Herbert the Free-Range Parrot was ever seen - he flew away to pastures greener in the early hours of the morning.

(He actually just got stuck above the game table for hours, and the only way in the end to unstick him was to delete him.)

Edward has inherited eldest sister Cassandra’s passion for sandcastle-building.

But he’s also showing a lot of creative promise in other ways.

[curiousb]

The Crawford Family Album: Volume IV

We start with some angry keyboard playing from the expectant Lydia - something tells me that she’s not especially happy about being pregnant again!

Yep, it’s definitely time to stop wearing that unflattering maternity swimming costume.

The girls both happen to be at home, so they get an impromptu lesson in the facts of life.

Frances in particular seems to approve of her new baby brother.

Meet Edward Crawford - recessive genes win out this time, and he gets his aunt Mary’s green eyes!

Cassandra also proves herself to be surprisingly handy with a baby bottle.

Mean Girls Cassandra and Nancy continue to be a bad influence on each other.

Herbert the Free-Range Parrot: “I remember when all this was fields...”

Miles: “yeah, sorry, parrot - we’ve trashed the place.”

Time for Edward to age up.

He dressed for the occasion.

~ Libra 2 / 10 / 6 / 10 / 3

~ Artistic / Over-Emotional

I’ll leave you with Henry, meditatively watching the waves on a starlit night, and reflecting on...swimwear. Deep.

[curiousb]

The Crawford Family Album: Volume III

Henry is slowly moving up the career ladder, but unfortunately not getting the same breaks in Show Business as his brother-in-law Frank Churchill. He always believed that he was destined to be a star, but his hopes are fading with the years.

Maybe working on his tan would get him noticed by the powers that be?

Lydia’s ambitions are much less grand, and she’s just keen to check out the new karaoke bar that’s opened in Takemizu Town in nearby Sanditon. (It’s @lurking-lilibeth​’s Little Buddha Karaoke and Ramen, with a few tweaks of my own.)

It’s certainly a popular place, although the only one willing to sing a duet with Philip Elton is Scout the Stray.

It also proves necessary to dodge professional curmudgeon, Sister Agnes Crumplebottom!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Cassandra is sneaking out - in her PJs - with cousin Simon.

She’s still interested in the more innocent pursuits of her childhood however, along with new friend Nancy.

The beach house has become a popular hang-out place for the neighbourhood teens.

And they’ve discovered the hot tub for themselves!

Youngest family member Frances is usually left to entertain herself - but being a confident, independent little soul, she’s fine with that.

Maybe she’ll start to come into her own a little more, now that she’s a teen? (By the way, cousin Miles seems to be rather struck by the charms of Catherine Steele.) 

Frances’s teen stats:

~ Leo 6 / 9 / 4 / 8 / 4

~ Brave / Excitable / Rebellious / Flirty

~ OTH: Games

~ Favourite Colour(s): Red

~ Aspiration: Pleasure / Family

~ Turn-ons / -off: +Indoorsy / +Outgoing / -Serious

Flora is determined not to be beaten by a silly plastic llama - she remained playing by herself, long after all the guests had left and the family had gone to bed!

Although not especially close, the girls get along well enough.

Two more people getting along rather well are Henry and old acquaintance Caroline Bingley!

A mid-life crisis, sparked by frustrated career ambitions, seems to have made him want to prove that he’s still got it.

I think he has!

Oh! I’m not sure that this revelation is going to improve his state of mind. (Yes, it is Henry’s baby.)

[curiousb]

The Crawford Family Album: Volume II

We’ve seen a lot of Lydia Bennet about town, but how are she and Henry Crawford getting on at home?

Well, Lydia is still her old, outrageous self, chatting online in the altogether for one thing.

(I installed a new mod, and the next time I loaded their lot, there she was, strutting around the house with no clothes on  - it was just so Lydia!)

Uncle Charles in action, playing with Frances.

I can’t believe that these two had never met before! They seem to be getting on just fine though.

I’m so glad that Cassandra is playing on the beach, and doesn’t have to witness mum baring all to the world.

In fact, the Crawford hot-tub-with-a-view seems to be popular with the whole Merybury community, especially as a convenient location for their trysts.

I really hope it was worth freezing your **** off for, Charles.

There’s a very popular new family member, Herbert the Free-range Parrot.

He has many well-formed opinions on the state of the world, and enjoys debating them with Henry.

Cassandra has also become great friends with Robert Dashwood, who comes home from school with her most days to assist with her sandcastle building obsession.

Cute kid hugs!

Frances, leaving behind the world of potties and cots.

~ Leo 6 / 9 / 4 / 8 / 4

~ Brave / Excitable / Rebellious

~ OTH: Games

~ Favourite Colour(s): Red

And discovering a love of the sea.

What could be better after a dip in the sea on a hot day but a glass of home-made lemonade?

And relieving your neighbours of their cash.

Cassandra’s birthday sneaks up on me, but at least this time she gets a cake and a party!

I completely neglected to get a decent picture of her, but there she is at the back, by the balloons - my first teen!

Cassandra’s teen stats:

~ Virgo 4 / 10 / 5 / 10 / 3

~ Over-Emotional / Charismatic / Star Quality / Flirty

~ OTH: Games

~ Favourite Colour(s): Pink / Black

~ Aspiration: Romance / Popularity

~Turn-ons / -off: +Charismatic / +Laid Back / -Cultured

See what I mean about the hot tub?

Sometimes, Lydia and Henry even get to use it themselves.

And sometimes Lydia and John.

I know, Mary, I know!

[curiousb]

The Crawford Family Album: Volume I

It’s high time to catch up with the graduates, now that they have all settled back into Merybury.

First, my favourites (I can’t help it), Lydia Bennet and Henry Crawford. They’re both still resolutely anti-commitment, but nonetheless happy to share their frolicking, free-spirited lives (mostly) with each other. 

Since Lydia Loves To Swim, they found themselves a house right on the beach.

Just like all my other Sims, they can’t afford to fully furnish their new home (I’m playing without using any money cheats), but they had just enough money for the essentials, such as a sofa - of which they immediately took full advantage, regardless of the passing paperboy.

The problem with this (especially when you have an individual Risky Woohoo rate of 26%, as Lydia does), is that it tends to lead to this...

Please welcome Merybury’s first new baby, Cassandra Crawford! (Pregnancy is a short-and-sweet 24 hours in my game.)

Henry, and Lydia too, it must be said, make surprisingly attentive parents!

But since babies don’t do very much, and patience is not one of my virtues, they don’t stay babies very long in my game (just one day, thanks to @simnopke’s ‘1yearAs1dayLifespan’ mod). Cassandra certainly hit the genetics jackpot!

~ Virgo 4 / 10 / 5 / 10 / 3

(I have @episims​’s ‘Baby Personality’ mod, so the personalities of born-in-game Sims don’t necessarily tally with their astrological sign, which I think is more fun anyway!)

~ Over-Emotional / Charismatic

(I mostly determine 3t2 Traits using my monster spreadsheet, so these are not necessarily ‘traditional’ toddler traits, although I do try to keep them age-appropriate; e.g. no Flirty toddlers/kids. I still occasionally use the Trait Randomizer, for a bit of, well, randomness!)

She’s also a little on the demanding side!

But thankfully easily pacified by a nursery rhyme.

You might - or might not - be pleased to know that motherhood has not changed Lydia one iota, and she takes the opportunity, while Henry is at work, to invite an old friend round to help her test out the new hot tub. They don’t even have a full complement of kitchen cabinets, but a hot tub was an absolutely essential purchase out of Henry’s first pay packet, as far as they were both concerned.

And then things got a bit chaotic, and I completely neglected to record the arrival of Cassandra’s little sister, Frances, right until she aged up to toddler!

Another cutie! And also Henry’s daughter, not John Willoughby’s.

~ Leo 6 / 9 / 4 / 8 / 4

~ Brave / Excitable

The two girls shared a birthday, so while Frances was getting all the attention, Cassandra aged up all alone, with only Mr Wobbly Wabbit Head to witness the event. Despite being a bit of an attention-seeker, Cassandra took it in her stride.

~ Virgo 4 / 10 / 5 / 10 / 3

~ Over-Emotional / Charismatic / Star Quality (randomized, and it suited her!)

~ OTH: Games

~ Favourite Colour(s): Pink / Black (My rule is that the colour of their everyday outfit when they age up to child is their favourite.)

Being as Outgoing as you can get, after a change of attire, Cassandra rushes outside to greet her aunt, Mary Bennet, who thoughtfully pops by every day, sometimes more than once (she’s so diligent), to steal the newspaper.

Yeah, I’m not sure that a water-balloon fight on a cold winter’s night is such a great idea...

I hate to say I told you so... Poor Mary turns into an icicle, while Cassandra leaves her to her fate...

...to go indoors and play with her baby sister. Oh, those Sims!