Hi Mum it's Sammy (clone 59 - part 13)

Our little munchkin just isn't getting the hang of the whole talking thing.

Well, at least she gives her daddy full attention. Donna never wanted to pay any attention to me. And Charlie wasn't much better.

Charlie was laying on the charm for Tulip Tomasi. I wonder if Charlie had any idea that his meeting with Tulip was going to be in the news? With her celebrity parents, she's as much a target for paparazzi  as they are. Especially any whiff of a relationship.

With a lot of charm and some nice flowers, Charlie did convince Tulip to be his prom date. I believe "Don't embarrass me" came up as part of the conversation.

Little Donna loves painting. She'll head for the easel when first home from school and stay there all night if we let her.

She shows a lot of imagination in her drawings. I've never seen anything around here that even slightly looked like that. That painting and her imaginary friend as well. You'd swear we had a fourth child in the household.

Sunny discovered the mischief the boy set up before he left this morning. He rigged the sink and his mother got a very unwelcome second shower for the day.

"Charlie Grant!"

"He's not home yet, dear."

"You will have a talk to that son of yours when he does get home?"

"Yes dear. But I'm not sure it's going to do much good. Not at his age."

So what does my Sunny do to make herself feel better?

Play guitar, that's what my Sunny always does to make herself feel better. I wonder if she'd notice if I talk to Charlie or not? Hmm, better not risk it. Sunny will go into hysterics if I don't.

While poor Sunny found herself soaking wet, I was taking care of the baby.

I adore toddlers. Their big smiles, how everything is a new exciting adventure for them. But I don't think I'm going to convince Sunny that we should have another baby. She's put off her career for long enough. It's going to be a sad day when Merry is old enough for school.

It was getting late for our youngest two. I went to find Donna to get her ready for bed.

"Donna, it's bedtime for you."

"But Daddy, Charlie isn't going to bed now."

"Charlie is older. You need your sleep young lady."

"Would you read me a story?"

"Of course, sweetheart. Which story?"

"Simblelina, please." She gave me a hug.

"Simblelina was the tiniest Sim you've ever seen. She was so small that she could live in a dollhouse very comfortably."

"She was sleeping in the doll bed when the most horrible thing happened. A huge thing that was like a hand but 100 times bigger snatched her out of bed."

"'Oh nom nom,' said the monster. 'Dolly taste good.'"

"Poor Simblelina was covered in monster drool."

Try as she might, Donna can't listen to the whole story in one night. A few pages into the story and she's fast asleep.

Merry loves that weird toy of hers. If we let her, she'd do nothing else all the time.

"And then the terrible claw came out of the swamp. It came to ..." Poor Sunny was half asleep.

"It came to..."

"Tickle Merry and put her to bed before Mommy falls down."

Donna was tucked in for the night and Mia was tending to Merry. It was time to consider making a late supper.

The spaghetti sauce is coming together. Just a little more of something. I threw in a few more herbs and set the sauce to simmer.

While it was simmering slowly, I had a chat to Charlie.

"Boy, the sink."

"Sink? Which sink? What about it?"

"Don't play dumb, the sink you rigged earlier today. Your mother was caught and was seriously not amused."

"But Dad, it wasn't m..."

"Hold it right there, boy. You try and duck this and your arse is grounded for a month. Now what were you about to say?"

"Umm, that you were the target?"

"Right. Still, you obviously have too much time and too much energy. I want to see you enrol for some after school activities and for tonight, go hit the bench press. A good workout should get your mind off pranks."

"Yes, sir."

"Do not prank your mother. Next time there will be serious consequences."

So Charlie spent some time on the bench press. A bit of a workout won't do him any harm and Sunny will be happy that Charlie found pranks can have consequences.

"This little lamb has one flower."

"This little lamb has two apples."

"This little lamb has three raspberries."

The book is called "Counting Lambs" I wonder what a lamb is anyway?

I decided to take a few extra days off work. Sunny is about ready to go stir crazy and I need some time away. Some extra time with Merry, she is such an adorable munchkin.

While I was toddler wrangling, the rest of the family was gathered around the table. Apparently neither of the kids managed to finish their homework last night.

"Come on Merry. Come to daddy. You can do it."

One wobbly step at a time, but she's finally got the hang of it.

After Merry had walking down, it was time for another session of trying to get Merry to use a few normal words with her normal toddler chatter.

It took time and a lot of patience but we got there. Finally.

"Then the terrible claw came just to ..."

"Tickle Merry."

My claw technique has just never quite been as good as Sunny's. The babies always react more to hers.

"And now, I'm gonna getcha nose. I'm gonna bop Merry on the nose. What do you think of that?"

That's better. She's much happier now.

It was prom night and up to now Charlie has been acting like he could care less about the entire idea. That lasted up to this afternoon, when suddenly there was a frenzy of activity. Buy flowers or not. Was his formal outfit ok.

Eventually, Tulip arrived and it was show time.

Charlie changed into his formals, dressed to kill.

It's amazing how different his hair is slicked back for a change.

The Tomasi's had rented a limo for the night. Nothing is too good for their youngest.

"So Charlie, nice picture of you and Tulip at the prom. How did it go?"

"It was fuc..."

"Language, Charlie."

"It was awesome, Dad. I was crowned King of the Prom. The chaperones weren't keen on my speech though."

"Why?"

"I might have suggested pranking the school was a good idea."

"Anything else I should know about?"

"Tulip and I had such a blast together. We kissed and then we decided to go steady."

Our son is old enough to go steady. God, that makes me feel old.

"And this little Simmy went to market.
And this little Simmy stayed home.
And this little..."

The wailing from the crib got louder.

"Oh, Merry, please stop crying."

I've been trying to get Merry to sleep for some time but she's just too tired. Reading isn't working so I'll trying turning off the lights and shutting the door. That might get her to sleep.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. Merry woke the entire house with her screams.

Sunny sang to her for a few minutes and the baby was asleep. It was a good thing too. Charlie and Donna have school tomorrow, and Sunny has work.

Well, Mum, Amelia and I both 'celebrated' birthdays. We tried to keep it fairly quiet, reaching middle age is not one of those things that makes you really happy.

We ended our celebration with a visit to the tree house. We both felt a bit better after that.

Before either of us was really ready, it was time for Merry's birthday.

"No, no. I can't be that old. I have a teen and two school age children. It can't be true." Sunny was not happy to have another reminder that time is flying past.

As for Merry, she's growing up to be quite the beauty. When she's not choking herself on food that is.

Our girls decided to play hopscotch together. Merry seems to be a bit of a natural. Donna is like Charlie, rarely able to get past the first stone or two.

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Bonus pics - This is much bigger than usual - pics I liked that just didn't fit.

Chrysame's Macy Monroe has a little boy with Moe Pesce.

Jacob Tomasi and new wife

Thomas Leman Tomasi had been in the park listening to Amelia. When Marta Tomasi arrived later, she made a beeline for her husband and they danced a storm. I love it when couples connect with each other at random community lots. It's so sweet.

So it's their daughter Tulip that Charlie took to the prom.

Other people use Simselfs of people they interact a lot with. Me? I pick on Twallan's simself Nathaniel Raas. He cannot summon the power of Twallan mods to save himself. :)

Sam reading to Donna

Tuck in time - so freaking sweet.

Poor Mia really had gotten drenched by the exploding sink.

Donna, stop hitting yourself with a pillow

Oh wait, it's Hester that hits you. :)

Mia went out to lunch and found her brother Travis with his daughter Ruby. What a great name for a red head child. Ruby looks like Travis and Sophie have good genes together.

Merry spent way too long cross eyed.