The SiMania Joint Duelacy – Chapter 5

Written by: hippielayla86

Welcome back to the SiMania Joint Duelacy, for Chapter 5, hippielayla86's (Lydia) second chapter with this family.

Each generation of this legacy is written by a different member of the SiMania Sims Chat Forum -

www.s12.invisionfree.com/sim_mania. We've currently made it through 3 generations, and will now be following generation 3's heir Ricky McMania throughout his time in

the spotlight.

If you haven't done so already, you should read the previous chapters for this legacy, Chapters 1&2 by

elushi0us (Darcy), Chapter 3 by meadowthayer (Haleigh), and Chapter 4 by me (Lydia). All four of these chapters can be found in previous posts in this journal.

Just as in Chapter 4, this chapter will be narrated by Generation 3's heir Ricky. Let's get on with it shall we?

Upon moving home I invited my fiancée over to the McMania home. Delia arrived promptly and I didn't waste a moment before I invited my lovely bride-to-be to move in with us. Of

course, Delia accepted the offer.---Delia is a Popularity sim who wants to become Captian Hero.

She is a Pisces with 5 Neat, 3 Outgoing, 7 Active, 3 Playful, and 8 Nice points.

Last time we saw each other, I had just proposed to my girlfriend Delia, and then you learned about what happened to my brother and sister after we all graduated.

Now, as you may have guessed, it's time for my story!

We didn't waste any time and decided to get married that next day. All of my family was there for Delia and my big

day!

As Delia walked towards me, I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest...

The next thing I knew Delia and I were holding hands and making our vows to honor and love each other for the rest of

our lives. “I do” love and cherish this woman, “I do” know that she and I are destined to be together.

I've never felt more alive and in the moment than I did that day.

Mel started off our reception with a toast to the bride.

“To Delia, the woman who finally anchored down my little brother's heart! A woman whom I can gladly call my sister-in-law and friend. May you and my brother live long and happy lives, blessed with many, many

children.”

After dinner, Delia and I took to the dance floor for our first dance as husband and wife. We were shortly joined by Mom,

Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.

As the reception came to a close, with my brother and sister and their families leaving and my parents and grandparents caught up in their dancing, I whispered in my new wife's ear.

“So you want to make this official or what?”“Ricky! Can't you be a bit more romantic!”“Okay, okay... My dear, you look so beautiful, the way the

moon is hitting your eyes, and your skin is so soft.. I can't wait a moment longer, I must have you!”

---Though this is all you'll see of the wedding in this chapter, I've

written a “wedding album” for the couple which you can find linked to in the original post for this chapter. Also Ricky and Delia were successful in getting pregnant on their first try. This is more exciting to me than them having a roof raiser wedding. :D

Delia and I laughed all the way upstairs to our new bedroom. And even though she wanted me to be romantic, with a little bit of teasing and kissing, she melted in my arms...

“My dear, that was a lovely wedding, you were just radiant. Although, did you have a bit too much to drink? I heard you in the bathroom this morning...”

“Actually, can I tell you a secret?”“Of course”“Well, I think I'm pregnant”“Wow, so soon? That's terrific my dear! We should go

nursery shopping this afternoon.”

The next morning Grandma was up bright and early making breakfast. She knocked on Delia and my door and invited us down. While I groaned and rolled over, Delia put on her bathrobe and headed downstairs.

Later that day while Delia was up in our bedroom painting, she got a confirmation kick from our child on the way that she

was pregnant!

I don't know if I'm really ready for kids yet, but I guess nobody ever really is.

The next day Lady became an adult cat. Delia told me that she really wanted Lady and Baloo to have kittens, but we had too

full of a house.

That night I called Mel on the phone, and asked her if she'd be willing to adopt Scout, the family dog. She said that'd be

perfect since Claire, Isaac and Joe were all still really upset over her giving Lady to us.

Oh wait... you won't go around telling will you?---If you remember from last chapter, Lincoln's LTW changed to

20 simultaneous friends when the lot switched from Haleigh to my computer, so I decided to enlist some help from SimPe and change it back to Captain Hero. Therefore, Lincoln is now perma-plat!

Dad has finally done it! He's gotten his final promotion. Confidentially he shared with me that he's now Captain Hero, and of course I'm not to tell anyone.

I decided to sign the deal, but I'm not sure how long I'll keep the show, it sounds like I'll be away from home too much.

---*Ricky is now a Celebrity Chef from a good chance card, and

has achieved his second LTW, this one being much easier than the first of 20 simultaneous lovers. He now wants to reach the top of the athletic career.

I got a big promotion today too. I got an offer from SimFood Network to host my own cooking show*. The execs recently visited Simder Point a popular theme park and ate at my restaurant and loved my dishes.

Delia has been enjoying her maternity leave and has learned how to play violin.

She's been reading a lot of baby books and is convinced that playing music for our baby will increase their

intelligence.

The baby must have loved the music so much that Delia went into labor a few minutes later.

Delia gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whom we named Menolly. Menolly has my red hair and Delia's green eyes.

You know how I thought I wasn't ready to be a Dad? Oddly enough, all of my doubt went away when I saw the look of

pure joy and contentment on Delia's face. If my wife is ready, I can be ready too.

Anne's Menolly is a harper (harpers are Pern's politicians disguised as musicians since they seem to help soothe conflicts as well as bring about big changes for Pern) who loves to compose “twiddlings” about her many fire lizards. As a child Menolly was sheltered, and reprimanded for making music as this was a man's job. But as she matures she quickly finds out that she has a lot that she can share with Pern as a harper. Menolly is definitely one of my favorite characters from the series.

Menolly is named after a character from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series.

Menolly has really brightened up the house. All of us are hanging on every coo and giggle that she makes,

determined to put a smile on her face since she puts smiles on ours.

Though everyone is smitten with Menolly, Grandma Sally and Grandpa Grayson seem to be the most taken with her. The two of them spend all day in the nursery

doting on their great granddaughter.

Delia has been spending her free time perfecting her violin skills, and the local music club has taken a notice

to it.

Today Delia was invited to join My Muse.

There's another new addition to the

McMania family. Baloo and Lady have

had a kitten.We named their kitten Pumba.---Pumba's personality is Genius, Calm, in between

independent and friendly, Cowardly and Finicky.

Both Delia and Grandpa have been spending a lot of time with the little Pumba. After only an hour Pumba

is already following Grandpa around the house.

Grandma Sally has set up her sewing machine in Menolly's nursery, so that she's never far away from her great grandchild when she wakes up.

---Sally has gotten a silver sewing badge.

While Menolly and Pumba sleep, my family gets down to business and studies. Mom has become obsessed with violin, Grandpa reads all of the latest parenting books,

while Delia studies up on the latest fingerprinting procedures.*

---*Delia's LTW is to become Captain Hero, but the Law

Enforcement career hasn't been available. So she's been spending her maternity leave studying logic and cleaning which she'll need for that career when it becomes available.

It's Menolly's birthday today! Once she's fed and well rested Grandpa gets the honors of taking her

to her birthday cake.

That's what was supposed to happen. But on the way up to the nursery, Grimmy had

other plans for Grandpa.

Grayson McMania – 79 days old

Grayson had a long and full life, he married his college

sweetheart Sally, raised three sons, and was Grandfather to numerous grandchildren and

great grandchildren.

In his career he achieved his dreams and became the Minister of Education. Along with being a wonderful husband and father he was an

avid animal lover.

He will be greatly missed by his family and by me. He was a wonderful sim to play.

Grandma was devastated over losing Grandpa, but put on a strong face for all of us – she decided that she

needed to be there for her great granddaughter on her birthday.

We all tried our best, but grief overtook us. Grandma handed Menolly over to Delia to finish blowing out her

candles.

So with Delia's help, Menolly aged into a toddler.

Delia decided to head upstairs and dress Menolly in the jumper Grandma had made for her, hoping to cheer up her Grandmother-in-law, the only grandma she's ever had.

---Menolly's stats: Pisces – 7 Neat, 7 Outgoing, 7 Active, 2

Serious, 8 Nice – in my opinion, a great personality!

Grandma went to bed alone for the first time in over 50 years. Mom couldn't bare the thought of it so she

decided to keep her Mother-in-Law company.

Dad couldn't sleep so he spent the night with Menolly.

He ended up enjoying himself listening to Menolly babble and laugh at the talking rabbit head.

Since Dad was watching our little munchkin Delia and I headed to our bedroom for some alone time.

As the days went by, Grandma started to get

better. She spent all of her time with Menolly teaching her the important skills she

needed to learn.

She even taught Menolly her first words, “Grey Granma”

Ie, “Great Grandma”

This picture was Mom's idea, and I must admit, it was a good one. Four generations of McMania women

all in the same room.

I know I haven't really mentioned my work in a while. So this may come as a shock to you – I've become a Hall of Famer! Yes, I quit the tv show business and started a career in Athletics. (Ricky's 3rd LTW if anyone is keeping track)

And now that I've done that I really just want to kick back and party! (New LTW = Pro Party Guest)

I'm not the only one who had a busy day, Delia successfully finished up Menolly's potty training.

Del & I have been busy bees lately, painting each other's portraits. With our two portraits done we have

pictures of the first three generations of my family. Not many people can say that.

The same day that Del got a job in Law Enforcement, she found out she was expecting for the second

time. So, she doesn't get to go to her new job just yet.

We're both really excited!

Life is definitely full of it's yings and yangs.

Our beloved Baloo passed away today.

When Menolly sleeps, Grandma is at the sewing machine. She's just finished an outfit for Em (M as in

Menolly) to wear after her next birthday.

---Sally has a gold sewing badge.

Speaking of Em, she's become quite attached to Pumba.

Our little kitten is now a grown cat. Pumba grew up today looking so much like Baloo, we almost

thought he was Baloo's ghost!

Sally McMania – SiMania's Joint Duelacy Founder dies at age 83.

On the night of her great granddaughter's birthday, Sally left this world.

Sally was a romance sim though one would never know it by looking at her life.

Sally married Grayson and they had 3 sons together, their youngest Lincoln moved back in with them to carry on their family. Since then Sally has been a very devoted Grandmother.

Sally was also very successful in her career, she accomplished her LTW of becoming a Rock God.

Sally was a wonderful founder, and a great sim to play, she will be dearly missed.

Grandma is dead. I can't believe it, she's gone... why, why did she have to go?

Tonight was supposed to be a joyous night – it's Em's birthday... but again, Em's birthday is marked by a death...

Grandma loved Em so much, she was so excited for her to grow up so they could become even better friends.

I just can't... I'm just so... I can't even talk right now...

Em's birthday was a really sad night for the McMania's. Delia was the only one who was there to cheer on Em as they blew out her candles. Ratna, Lincoln and Ricky all went to bed early.

Menolly wasn't too far behind everyone else to go to bed. But first she changed into the outfit Sally had sewn for her.

Menolly has claimed Sally and Grayson's bedroom as hers.

That night as everyone slept, they all had wants to resurrect Sally.

While we all slept, Del woke up at 3 A.M. in pain. She was going into labor!

---Fiona is named after Fiona Apple – one of my favorite

musicians.

Delia gave birth to another girl, we named her Fiona. Our little girl has Delia's brown hair and Grandpa Grayson's

blue eyes.

It was like Fiona knew that we needed her to be born that night. A wonderful little baby girl to brighten our

lives, which death had just so recently dimmed.

I can't help thinking that I wish Grandma could've met Fiona.

Delia is ecstatic to have an infant in the house again. Our baby is really helping all of us cope with the loss

of Grandma.

When life gets tough, you learn what you're made of – and our family has turned out to be very resilient. I've changed careers once again – I'm now living life easy. I've become so good at having a good time I'm at the top of everyone's invite lists for parties (in other words he's a Pro Party Guest, 4th LTW achieved, New LTW = Rock Star). Life is good.

Em is also doing a lot better. She's started school and has been bringing home A's on a regular basis. I'm so proud of my baby girl!

Married life is as good as ever. Very relaxing, very fulfilling and very* loving.

---*Ricky craves woohoo all of the time being a

romance sim, and Delia is very eager to indulge him. Gotta love woohoo in the hammock that results in a pregnancy.

Em continues to surprise us. She's such a little book worm and very dedicated to education.

I helped her with her homework tonight, if you can call it helping when all I did was confirm her correct answers!

In my baby's freetime she's been reading and memorizing famous speeches. She's quite a go getter!

---Menolly has maxed her charisma.

Mom has been a great help with Fiona. She's been staying home with her vacation time*. It's proven to be great timing, Delia found out that she's pregnant again.

---*Ratna had 11 vacation days when the family was passed

to me from Haleigh, so she's finally taking advantage of her time off so Delia can go to work to take care of her LTW.

Even though my wife is focusing a lot on her career, she doesn't let her relationships with her daughters

suffer. She and Menolly are great friends. I find them together all of the time.

Before we knew it, it was Fi's birthday! Mom got the honor of bringing our little munchkin to her cake.

Fiona is a beauty! We can't wait to see her take on the world.

---Fiona's Personality: Libra -- 7 Neat, 8 Outgoing, 2

Active, 3 Playful and 8 Nice. Her personality is very similar to Menolly's except for Fiona is pretty Lazy with only 2 Active versus Menolly's 7 Active points.

Menolly is the first of us to feel the presence of my grandparents in their afterlife. Grandma Sally

showed up first and then Grandpa Grayson showed up the next night. Menolly said she thought she saw a llama, and so we figured it must've been Grandpa

in his old mascot uniform...

It makes me really think about what happens to us all after our lives...

Delia's decided to take it easier this pregnancy and actually use her maternity leave. So she's been spending a lot of time with Fiona. Today she sat down with her and got her to say her first word,

“Bottle”. Fiona called me up at work in the studio to tell me about.

Oh yes, the studio, I have a new job again. I play in a studio orchestra as a pianist. I got bored just going to parties all of the time, it's been a nice

change. I hope to go solo soon though.

I'm not the only one finding new passions – Menolly has taken to the stars.* We got her a telescope recently and she's been glued to it every night since then. She even

discovered a new star and got a 500 simoleon reward for her discovery.

---*Menolly's predestined hobby is science. And just like

McCaffrey's Menolly, she's obsessed with a telescope or as book Menolly calls it “the long distance viewer”

Delia has gone back to work, and now the rest of us have gotten a turn with Fiona.

I taught Fi how to walk the other day, and Dad has starting singing nursery rhymes with his

granddaughter. She's a natural with music.*

---*Fiona's predestined hobby is music and dance.

Em continues her pursuit of knowledge daily. She's been playing her heart out making little songs on the piano.

She's even been bold enough to submit* some of her songs in competitions.

It seems so has no musical boundaries, the sky is the limit for our first daughter.

---*Menolly is obsessed with

the piano, and has gotten enough enthusiasm about it to be invited to join My Muse.

With a life so busy it might seem like I'd have no time to spend with my number one gal; but I'd never let time

get in the way of love. Delia and I are so lucky to have found each other, I can't imagine life with any other

woman.

We're both getting really excited about Delia's fast approaching due date. This pregnancy has been

harder on my love, so we've decided this will be the last time, besides, three children are three more than I

ever thought I'd have.

In our house you can barely distinguish the weekends from the work weeks. Delia and Em

spent a quiet Saturday afternoon together reading.

---*Menolly has maxed her cooking while Delia

continues to skill for promotions. She's now a lieutenant, so she's got a way to go to get to Captain Hero.

The height of the weekend was reached when Delia went into labor. Mom and Dad were there along with

our neighbor Kimberly (my old girlfriend Sam's sister). It didn't take long before Delia had given birth

to Sadie. A beautiful girl with brown hair and big brown eyes.

At that very moment I arrived home with some great news, that is surely overshadowed by the birth of my daughter.

But I'll share it with you all, I've finally gone solo! I'm touring with my own band and I've become somewhat of

a rock legend.*

---*Ricky is now a “Rock God” at the top of the Music

Career, which completes his 5th LTW. His new LTW is to become a Pro Party Guest again, so he'll stick with music for now.

I walked in the door just as my wife was handing little Sadie* over to Dad.

---*Sadie is named after The Beatles' song, “Sexy Sadie”

from The White Album -- while it's not my favorite Beatles' song, I really like the name and thought it fit in well with the other McMania daughters' names. Oh, and The Beatles are definitely my all time favorite band, so hence naming a child after something to do with their music. :D

We were all very shocked when Delia's pain didn't subside. Delia has surprised us all and has given birth to a fourth daughter, whom we

named Giselle*. Our youngest daughter has red hair and light blue eyes.

---*Giselle is named after the main character in

Enchanted, a very charming Disney movie which has definitely become one of my favorites. I think what makes the movie so good is how perfectly Amy Adams portrays a Disney Princess :D

Delia and I couldn't be happier with our newborn twins. They were more than we were expecting, but they are

double the happiness as our last children.

Delia seems glued to our newborns. She is definitely aware that the next time newborns are in this house

will be when one of her children is grown up and moved back in with us.

She isn't missing out on any of the special moments that make up your child's earliest years.

Em has become very independent now that her twin sisters have arrived. She spends a lot of time on her own in the music room, perfecting her talent.

Sometimes I worry though that she's getting lonely.

---Em has maxed her creativity skill, she also maxed

her mech skills that same day.

But, my worries are soon to come to an end. Fiona will be joining Em in her childhood years tonight. I'm really hoping the two of them get along well.

Just like her mother and her older sister, Fiona is a natural beauty. Delia keeps on telling me that Fiona looks more like me than her side of the

family.

Delia is back at work again, and has gotten another promotion. She's now the head of the Swat Team.

Since Delia and I have our hands full with the twins most of the time, Mom has been helping Fiona

with her homework.

---Ratna taught Fiona how to do her homework.

Tonight is the twin's birthdays. The whole family is here, I had to take the night off of work to be there but it's worth it.

Mom and Dad, the proud grandparents, took the twins to their cakes.

And here's a picture of the twins. Giselle is on the left with her bright red hair and Sadie is on the right.

---Giselle's stats: Scorpio – 10 Neat, 7 Outgoing, 10 Active,

4 Playful, 4 NiceSadie's stats: Taurus – 7 Neat, 9 Outgoing, 2 Active, 10

Playful, 1 Nice Neither of them are very nice, but they still did this action

autonomously. It never gets old for me.

Mom and Delia are the ones who get started with the toddler training, and both of them have been quite

successful. Mom potty trained Giselle the other night, and Delia got Sadie to say “high chair”.

When the adults go off and rest, the toddlers get to play to their hearts' content with their toys.

Sadie has really taken to the rabbit head while Giselle can't get enough of her bells.

Sadie and Giselle have us wrapped around their little fingers.

Who could say no to these adorable girls?

---*Menolly's wants were dominated by “Pumba

learns a new command” and “Pumba learns to sit-up” so since Lincoln has more freetime, he helped get Menolly into a platinum mood for her birthday tomorrow.

Em's birthday is quickly approaching and one of her wishes* is for Pumba to sit-up when asked to. So Dad went to work and made it happen. Pumba now sits up on command, he can't wait to show Em.

Fiona came home from school today with an A+ and a cousin, her cousin Isaac, apparently they're

becoming fast friends.

Em also brought her friend Trista home from school today and the whole bunch of them hung out

together for a long time.

Delia came home with another promotion today, she is quickly climbing her way to the top. She is now the chief of police, but she still isn't quite satisfied.

Lydia here, this picture is in here because I'm at a huge loss. For some reason Ricky and Jason Cleveland one of Delia's co-workers that she

brings home hate each other! I often find them poking at each other and angry. The problem is

that Delia brings him home pretty much every day. I'm glad for Katie's sake Jason won't be passed

along with the family!

I was able to catch the girls and get them to pose for a picture before Em made her way to her birthday

cake.

Sometimes its hard to believe that they're both my children since they don't really look that much alike.

Tonight is Em's night, she's entering the most awkward, exciting time of her life – her teen years.

And I've got to admit, that I'm a little nervous about her starting to date... I remember what I was like at that

age, nothing on my mind but girls.

I'm hoping that all of my baby girls take after their mother when it comes to love.

And here is a picture of Menolly after she blew out her candles, isn't she a beauty? I'm definitely going to have to be patrolling any dates she may have... But, fortunately I

was able to get out of her that she's more interested in the library and her telescope than dating.

---Menolly is a Knowledge/Pleasure sim. Her randomly

assigned turn ons are brown hair and charismatic sims, but she doesn't like stinky sims.

Everyone ended up having a great time at Em's birthday party, especially Delia and I.

The next morning Em woke up early and dove into a book. I'm glad to see that things haven't changed too

much now that hormones are raging through her system!

---Menolly has maxed her cleaning skill.

Now that Em is a teen and can help out with her sisters, Mom is taking a much needed break with

Dad. They spent all day together talking about their lives together, all of the good times and all of the

hard times too.

Looking back on that horrible night, it's almost as if Mom and Dad knew...

Dad is no longer with us, and I can't believe it, he was so young!

Lydia here: There was a lot of commotion the night grimmy came to take Lincoln. It seemed like a normal night after a normal day, Lincoln had just finished a novel, and answered the phone about the royalties and then BAM grimmy appears before his book arrived.

Lincoln McMania – Dies at age 71

Lincoln was SiMania's first voted heir. He lived a long and full life. First he married his love Ratna and had three lovely children, Cole, Melinda and Ricky.

Lincoln also had the joy of meeting his many grandchildren – Claire, Isaac, Joe, Jesse and of course Ricky's children, Menolly, Fiona, Sadie and Giselle.

Outside of the home Lincoln became Captain Hero achieving his LTW late in life. He leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Nothing prepares you for the death of your parents. I was too devastated to even comfort my own children. Delia as ever, is our family rock and went around to all of us in turn consoling and comforting us. I know she misses Dad too, but somehow she always knows the right thing to say.

Fiona and Em both went to bed in tears, while Delia tried to keep the twins calm. They didn't quite understand what was going on, but they are always in tune with our moods, so they were distressed as well.

I really do think Mom saw it coming. She's so quiet in her grief, I wish that she would open up to me. I was always closer to Dad, so I don't know how to approach Mom now.

In the next weeks Mom devoted her time turning our basement into a mausoleum. She moved Grandpa and Grandma urns down there too with Dad's.

I know I couldn't have done this myself, but she's even put her own portrait down there next to Dad's.

Delia has been spending more time in mediation and has been practicing yoga. All of the gloom and crying

in the house was taking its toll on her psyche.

---Delia has maxed her body skill, now she's eligible for

that final promotion!

Mom hasn't let her life stop without Dad. I think losing him has made her make the most out of every new day. She doesn't seem to be slowing down at all.

---Ratna taught Giselle how to walk.

Delia has made it her life goal to find the villain who defeated her father-in-law. She is now the new

Captain Hero, and is out to protect with a vengeance!

---Delia has achieved her LTW of becoming Captain

Hero. And there wasn't a fight, it just makes for a good story. :D

My lovely wife has finally figured out what she was missing in her life. She told me that she had always known that Dad was Captain Hero, and she knew about the final fight that pushed him to the end of his life.

It's hard to believe, but today is the twin's birthday. We were all still heartbroken over Dad's passing that we kept it a

private party.

Not only am I heartbroken, but now I'm paranoid of my family's safety. What if Dad's arch enemy knew his true

identity? Was this villain going to show up at our house and attack me and my family?

I was glad that Mom and Menolly brought the twins to the cake, I was having a hard time keeping my mind in the here

and now.

Both of my babies have grown up so beautifully. Giselle definitely looks a lot like me, and Sadie is a little Delia in the

making.

When all of our children were in bed, Delia and I took a soak in the hot tub. We started out talking, and I tried to convince her to give up her search for Dad's arch enemy. She ended up getting the better of me, and before I knew it we weren't

talking anymore, our lips were busy in other ways.

I wish I had had the chance to convince Delia to switch careers.

The next day our girls woke up early. Giselle was having a blast* with her new jump rope. Meanwhile Sadie and Fiona were busy studying away in the living room.

---*Giselle's predestined

hobby is fitness.

Fiona maxed her cooking skill, and Sadie got 8 points of cooking in 3 sims hours which was pretty incredible. All in all a very productive afternoon.

We've decided now that all of our children are in school that we should get them into a private school. I went to one myself when I was younger and I've always felt that it made a positive impact on my life.

So we invited over Headmaster Vince Gothier to our home for dinner and a chat to discuss the possibility of being admitted.

Delia gave Mr. Gothier a tour of the house, we both had dinner with him – joined by Jason why is he always here?? -- everything went smoothly.

After dinner Mr. Gothier met my wife in the kitchen.

“Mrs. McMania, I would be very pleased if your daughters attended my school. I'll get the paperwork started tonight, so they can be admitted immediately.”

“Oh thank you so much sir!”

“Vince, call me Vince.”My wife certainly has a way

with men.---Score = 102/90, over 1

hour remaining.

The girls are really excited to be going to a new school. Both Menolly and Fiona have been bored at their current schools. They're excited for the new challenging course work.

---Menolly has maxed her

science enthusiasm, logic skill and discovered a new planet. And Fiona has maxed her music skills taking after her namesake, Ms. Apple, on the piano.

Now that things were settled more for our children, Delia decided she wanted to have a garden. She knew that I had a great garden during college and so she's asked

me to teach her and help her with one here.

---Delia gained enthusiasm in nature at lightening speed and

was invited to the nature club that first night that she started with her garden.

I've become a bit invasive of Delia's privacy ever since she's become Captain Hero. I don't mean to, but I've

been finding myself eavesdropping on her phone conversations... I've sort of become her shadow, even

following her to the garden.

To my relief she doesn't ever talk about her work on the phone, she seems to be treating it as if it were

just a normal 9-5 job.

---Delia has received her silver badge in gardening.

Giselle has really taken to Delia's old ballet bar. She's quite a natural when it comes to anything athletic.

I think her enthusiasm is even rubbing off on Mom, I've seen her up there a few times “warming” up with Giselle. Its nice to see Mom out and about, I'm glad

losing Dad hasn't ended her life so to speak.

---Giselle has maximized her body skills.

And what am I up to? Well, well I'm not stalking my wife around the house I've been sewing quite a bit.

I'm working on outfits that Fiona, Sadie & Giselle can wear when the join Menolly in their teen years.

I couldn't have finished Fiona's outfit any later because tonight is my second daughter's teen

birthday! I'm not as paranoid as I was when Menolly's big birthday came around, but it still

makes me nervous wondering if any of my daughters will take after me when it come to

romancing.

To my relief, Fiona wants nothing more in life than a loving husband and a big family. Once again I lucked

out and she doesn't seem to have picked up my romantic habits.

---Fiona is a Family/Pleasure sim. Her default turn ons

are logical sims who wear glasses (sounds like she thinks her Aunt Mel found a great catch) but she doesn't like facepaint.

Sometimes I have a hard time remembering that Menolly is still just a teenager. She is so thoughtful and attentive with her younger sisters – especially if they're willing to

talk about her favorite thing, science.Just tonight after the party I overheard her talking to Sadie

about aliens, and then I saw her helping Giselle use the telescope for the first time. I'm so proud of my daughter,

she's growing up to be a fine young lady.---Menolly will often autonomously “share hobby tips” with

Giselle or Sadie if they're at the telescope.

You know, I'm really happy about the way my life has turned out. If you would've asked me 20 years ago what I imagined myself doing at 40, being a

family man wouldn't have been my answer. But I'm glad it's how my life turned out.

With Delia's help, I've grown to be a much better father than I ever thought I could be. Looking at me

now, I bet you my children wouldn't be able to guess about my past.

I'm also happy that Delia started to garden. With our children continuing to grow older, it will be a good thing for her to fill up her time with until one of our daughters moves back home and starts a family.

Speaking of our daughters, it seems Menolly's wild side* has come out to play. I can't really find fault in her getting out every once in a while though when

she has all of her homework done.---*Menolly's secondary Pleasure aspiration is a fun

mixture with her knowledge wants. It kind of makes me think that if I were a sim I'd be a Knowledge/Pleasure sim too. At this point Menolly has all of her skills maxed and is just working on badges, so when she got a call to go out with a group on the town, I figured, why not?

Em is such a night owl! When she got home from her night on the town she went straight to her potter's

wheel. She's been making incredible things, I mean first she started out with the basic plate. But now

she's been making huge pots and pitchers.---In a very short time Em had gotten her silver badge in

pottery. I didn't get a picture of it, but Fiona has been busy at the pottery wheel too since she's maxed her skills.

Both of my teen daughters are really excelling in all areas of their lives. Fiona has been promoted to the elite spelunking team. And just today Em started her own website with movie reviews after successfully selling t-shirts on her blog.

---Both Fiona and Menolly

are overachievers, Fiona reaching the top of the teen adventurer career, and Menolly reaching the top of the teen journalism career.

The night of 20 hauntings

Lydia here again: I kid you not, the poor McMania daughters, Sadie in particular got frightened over 20 times in one night! Without the help of the snapdragons that their Grandma Ratna made the, I think Sadie and Giselle would've gotten taken away by the social worker! It was a very stressful and annoying night to play to say the least.

Sadie and Giselle woke up in the middle of the night tonight begging for me to make them some omelettes. My poor

babies looked miserable! You would've thought they hadn't eaten or slept in three days!

---The girls finally gave up trying to sleep and had to go

downstairs to eat and try to get their moods up for school the next day. If this were my own legacy, I may have sent Sally and Grayson's graves away since they were tormenting my sims so much! But, they are still on the lot.

Ever since Fiona was little she's been obsessed with the piano. And ever since she's been obsessed

with piano, Mom has been around giving her hints and tips.

Now, by this time, Fiona has surpassed her Grandmother on the piano, but good intentionally she listens as her Grandma “helps” her with her

songs.

Grimmy came for Mom today. We were all taking naps after the restless night we had.

Ratna McMania – dies at age 78Ratna McMania was the spouse of Lincoln,

generation 2's heir. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

She was a very successful business woman as well, reaching the top of the architecture career.

She loved her family though the most in her life, she will be greatly missed.

I found out about Mom's death when I went out to the garden to tell her about the twin's

birthday party we were planning.I can't believe that both of my parents have passed away now. I guess that I should be

happy for Mom though, she's now in a better place with Dad. Maybe they're even going on a

date together...

Mom, the ever thoughtful finance woman, made sure that her will included all of her family. I would

trade all of the money in the world to get Mom and Dad back though...

That night none of us slept well – especially Sadie. She refused to go to bed in her room, she seems to be terrified of it. So Delia and I decided that she should sleep with Delia tonight, and I would sleep

in Mom and Dad's old bedroom.I hope that we're all able to get some good rest

tonight, tomorrow is a big day.

It's hard to believe, but tonight is Giselle & Sadie's birthday party. We invited my sister Mel, and my

brother Cole and his wife Tiffany over to help celebrate.

And with the blink of an eye, all of my babies were teenage girls. Before I know they'll all be off to

college and living lives of their own!

And this my dear readers, is where my narration comes to an end.

My turn as the heir of the McManias is coming to a close with the end of this chapter. Now it is your turn to chose

which of my daughters gets to carry on the McMania name. Delia and I are very excited to see which daughter

will be living with us!--- And now for the heir poll!

Menolly aka EmMenolly's Personality: Pisces – 7 Neat, 7 Outgoing, 7

Active, 2 Serious, and 8 Nice points

She is a Knowledge sim, her secondary aspiration is Pleasure.

If voted heiress, she would be the first with the Knowledge Aspiration of heirs or spouses.

Fiona

Fiona's Personality: Libra -- 7 Neat, 8 Outgoing, 2 Active, 3 Playful and 8 Nice Points.

Fiona is a Family sim with a secondary aspiration of Pleasure.

SadieSadie's Personality: Taurus – 7 Neat, 9 Outgoing, 2

Active, 10 Playful, and 1 Nice

Sadie is also a Family sim with a secondary aspiration of Pleasure.

GiselleGiselle's Personality: Scorpio – 10 Neat, 7 Outgoing, 10

Active, 4 Playful, and 4 Nice

Giselle is Fortune sim with a secondary aspiration of Popularity.

First – To vote, you must be a member of SiMania's Sim Chat forum, so visit www.s12.invisionfree.com/sim_mania

There you will find an heir poll so you can vote for your favorite gen. 4 daughter.

Second, you can also signup for a turn with the McMania family at the SiMania

forum.

And third and most importantly – Thank you so much for reading the chapter! I had a blast playing and writing for my turn with this family. I really hope you enjoyed reading about the family as much as I did creating their lives. :D

With that, I'm passing the family over to ilovereecee for her turn to begin.

Happy Simming!

Hippielayla86 aka Lydia