Culpepper Pals: Summer 2: Titan

[beanstalk_sims]

Did somebody ask for more Culpeppers? I just finished playing the summer rotation, and I don't want to get too far ahead, so you get another update!

Last time, he Titan family enjoyed a rather calm season, of school projects and scout badges. The house was expanded to make room for the boys as they grow, meaning the family had to tighten their belts financially. This meant that Norah's desire to expand the family would have to wait, although they did add Frankie the dog to the family instead. Twins David and Oli both went through phases - David went through a clingy phase, whilst Oli had a Loud phase. It seemed a bit backwards for the twins, like they'd somehow been mixed up.

Index / Boolprop




We're in gloomy little Windenburg to spend time with the Titans!

I swear, sometimes I play summer in this 'hood and the sun barely shines. Let's hope we have a little more luck with the weather this rotation.




Inside the house, Miko and Norah are flirting, which is nothing unusual.




David's rooting through the trash for void critters again, also not unusual.




And Oli is upstairs playing.

All in all, things are totally calm, quiet and 100% normal.




Time to mix things up a little then!

I really hesitated on this, for a couple of reasons. Money's still a little tight after the extension on the house, but it's manageable. The other issue is thatI don't want the population getting too big, so that the rotations become too big in the future.

But I couldn't resist, ultimately. Norah and Miko are having another little one. Norah's always wanted a big family.




"I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet our little one!"

"I really hope it's not twins this time!"






And like most of my families with pets, right at the beginning of the rotation, little Frankie needed treatment.

Unfortunately the family need to save money for the new baby, so Frankie gets a cone of shame.




Family life for the Titans is pretty calm, and pretty domesticated. It may not be for everyone, but nothing makes Norah happier more than this.




That night, Miko joins Norah in adulthood. She's only a little bit younger, but the way the rotations fall makes it look like a larger age gap.

And of course, David is doing an impression while his mum blows out her candles. It's the perfect time for that, obviously.






The afternoon was spent on the slip 'n' slide, and the other Culpepper kids were invited over. You can see Taeko in the background playing with toys instead of joining in.

Norah and Miko sold the swingset to pay for the slide. The boys didn't use it much, so I didn't think anyone would miss it.




Look how happy Frankie is to see his little purple ball!




The following morning, and everyone's out to work and school. Miko's actually the last one to leave.

Also the lighting looks kind of gloomy? Summer in Windenburg usually involves a lot of clouds and rain, it seems.




The boys generally beat their parents home on an average day. David decided to spend the free time becoming besties with Frankie.




Do you mix your cakes one handed?

I'd like to point out that Norah is pregnant, done a full day of work, and still cooks when she gets in. And she loves it! Norah is a Domestic Goddess.




Anyway, it's birthday time for the boys, and David's up first.

Doesn't he look impressed?




Gosh, David looks so lanky all of a sudden.

And yes, the boys shared one cake. Making two was too much effort, especially when this one will last days in the fridge.




"Hurry up and grow, Oli! I wanna go out and celebrate our birthday!"




The first Culpepper teens! Oli is on the left, David is on the right, but you can tell that from a single glance I reckon.

Oli's aspiration is Strangerville Mystery, giving him Home Turf as his aspiration trait. Oli already had the Genius trait, and his new one is Childish. I've not played through the Strangerville mystery yet, so I'm really excited to do that when Oli grows up - I thought his Genius trait might be helpful.

David's aspiration is Beach Life, which also gives him Home Turf as his aspiration trait. David had the Child of the Islands trait already, and this time gained Evil. I randomised their traits and decided to roll with what I got, even though I'm not sure Evil is the right fit for David. We'll see. I picked his aspiration based on his Child of the Islands trait.




"Check me out bro, I'm hot!"

"Great. Didn't you want to go out?"

"Oh yeah! Let's hit the town!"




David's been a teenager for five minutes and is already addicted to his phone.

Anyway, David and Oli headed to the discotheque in Windenburg's bay to celebrate their birthday. The boys have a curfew of 11, set by Norah via the noticeboard, so they won't be going too wild. At least, not tonight.




David immediately starts enjoying himself. I sense there might be a lot of partying in his future.




David please. Have some dignity.




After his antics on the dancefloor, David decides to try his luck at the bar.

"One alcohol please!"

"...wait, how old are you?"




Apparently serving teens juice is totally fine. And David is loving it.




"Did my brother ditch me on the dance floor?"

I think he did, Oli.




Once the boys get home, it's time to tackle school work. And they'd both brought home projects. Doesn't Oli look thrilled?

"I remember helping you and David out with these projects when you were kids! Isn't it fun to be doing it again?"

Miko's enthusiasm has improved a lot since last time.




She wasn't just content with helping Oli either, she also helped David.




I love this little family <3




Another day arrives, and once again everyone is out for work and school.

Time flies when everyone is busy.




You wouldn't think it was summer looking at the neighbourhood.

It actually looks like a quaint part of English countryside, so the rain is totally realistic.




Oli comes home from school and gets straight onto his homework. My little nerd <3

I also really need to makeover the boys bedroom, I haven't touched it since they were kids. But the family is kind of saving money right now, so it'll have to wait.




Is David killing sims? Is that what the Evil trait leads to?




That evening, the boys head out.

I found a music festival lot on the gallery, and put it down in Oasis Springs for the summer. I thought it'd be a pretty good place for the teens to hang out. I also had David & Oli start a club with some random premade teens in it, just until some of the other Culpeppers are old enough to hang out with.




The lot isn't entirely functional; sims tend to dance in random places.

Still, it looks pretty good, and it's functional enough to leave in place all summer.




It's always fun seeing my sims when I'm not controlling them. Caleb is having a great time!




Oli decided to pick up some DJ skill simply by watching the DJ, which is fine. I think Oli really enjoys learning.

Also, I think that's Venus dancing right in front of the DJ.




While Oli is picking up new skills, David is making new friends.

The twins really couldn't be any more different.




"Hey, did you know? You're pretty cute."




While David is flirting, Oli meanwhile has cracked open his homework. I guess dancing and socialising just aren't his cup of tea, which is totally fine.




First full day as a teen, and David's scored his first kiss.




The boys had to leave shortly after that, so they didn't miss curfew. But it looks like the party will be going on late into the night.




"So how was your night, boys?"

"Pretty dull. But David kissed a girl!"

"Really? So is she your girlfriend now, David?"

"Jeez, Mum, no. I don't have to date everyone I kiss, do I?"




Norah would've liked to catch up with her boys about the evening they had had, but instead she had other things to attend to.

I think you can tell from Miko's face what's happening, right? :D






I always forget that Norah's babies are little aliens! Anyway, this time, Norah and Miko only had one child (I was so relieved!), a little girl.

This is Marnie Titan-Ojo.




The following day, the sun was shining and Marnie was grown into a toddler. I really don't keep them as babies for long, I'm too impatient for that.

Marnie's toddler trait was randomised, and she ended up with the Wild trait. Good luck to Norah and Miko with that one.




Toddlers in the summer naturally means it's time to break out the kiddie pool.

I have a picture somewhere of Norah lounging in a kiddie pool during summer 1, unmarried and childless. How things change!




Later that day, the Culpepper Pals are invited over. And because it's such a nice day, they've all brought their bikes.




It quickly becomes crowded inside.

I really wanted Kirby to get to know Marnie - seeing as she has a toddler at the moment, I figured it would be great to throw a toddler playdate later this rotation, when I play the Vatores.




And so it begins.

Shari Kibo had the Wild toddler trait, and if she was anything to go by, there's going to be a whole lot more of this.




I can't remember what Norah was trying to do, but that's one bad glitch.

Poor Marnie has a traumatised look on her face!




That evening, David brought Cassandra Goth home from school, which was pretty neat. I don't see the Goths in the background very often, so it's nice to see Cassandra.




That doesn't look comfy.






Anyone else think Cassandra might have followed David home because she has a little bit of a crush on him?

It certainly looks that way.




I can't remember what the original caption for this was going to be, because I just got distracted by the toucan from the inflatable pool on the left there, watching the events unfold.

I don't know, it really amused me for some reason.




David did this the minute he was finished kissing Cassandra.

"Two kisses in two days, I'm a legend!"

Smooth, David.




David turns his attention onto Marnie after that. He has a real soft spot for her, it seems <3




Little mess maker <3




Miko got abducted again. I think this is the 3rd time since I started playing her? Does one abduction make others more likely?




David's breaking curfew, but for a very good reason - to walk the dog. He adores Frankie, and who doesn't love a quiet walk on a summer's evening?




David, that's probably not the best place to sit and study.

Also Marnie is currently sleeping in a hallway because there wasn't enough money to add a room in for her yet. Which is probably why David mistook her bed for a seat, right?




Another morning, another mess. That's parenthood for you, right?




She toddled in here by herself. She wants to spend time with her brothers <3




Well, someone was bound to lounge in the kiddie pool at some point.






Someone's studying their grilled cheese pretty hard. I suppose that's one way of learning how to cook.

I still want to know why it's called grilled cheese when you fry it.




I think David and Oli might have the exact same face. And there doesn't seem to be any of Norah's features in them, although I could be wrong.




It's another beautiful morning, and David's upset because Frankie splashed water onto his feet. So it's going well.

Luckily, he has some pretty good plans for the rest of the day.






David's off to the beach!

I want to say I sent Oli with him, but I have no images of Oli there. It seems unlikely I sent David by himself, but maybe I did? The beach is David's future afterall. He needed a sun tan for his aspiration.






David didn't just laze in the sun though, he also made a new friend.

I'm 90% sure she's a mermaid, and missing her tail, like Venus was in the last update. Not sure what's going on there.




The day comes to an end with a gorgeous sunset.

I can't wait to move David out here once he grows into an adult.




Back at the house, Oli has taken off his glasses and put on his scout uniform.

Over the course of the summer, Oli was promoted to a Pegasus Scout, and only has one badge left to get.




Everyone in this family is too cute <3




I think Oli had a whim to write in a diary, but I didn't expect him to get so emotional over it! I also like how Miko is totally not bothered?




Shari Kibo stopped by, probably because she's David's best friend. It's a little strange though, while he's a teen and she's still a kid. They'll be the same age again soon enough.




David picked that exact moment to start a fire.




A picture speaks a thousand words, right?




Miko is the hero of the hour, and normality returns - just in time for summer to come to an end!

See you next time for summer with Dusty Brows and Summer Holiday!