Speed Simself - Update 2.1

We finally made it to university! It was a long drive and it's nice to be on solid ground again. I know I want to be a Chess Legend, but I have no idea what job I want. I'm hoping being in college will help me "find myself" and figure that out. For now I've chosen a technology major because that's the one I have the most credits for. 

My sister Tamsin has dreamt of being a CEO of a Mega Corporation since she became a teen so she's working towards a business degree.

My brother Erik has the similarly big dream of being a World Renowned Surgeon so he's going to the school of Science and Medicine. 

My girlfriend Savannah is a witch. Like a real turn you into a toad witch. She's going to use that to her advantage by becoming a Master Magician. You know, the fake kind. She has the magic part down but she's not much of a performer so she's getting a Fine Arts degree.

My other two adult siblings have decided to forgo college and start working on their music careers right away. They (along with Cassie's BF Ryan) bought the house next to my parent's after graduation. 

This semester we're living in a dorm because we didn't get enough financial aid to get an apartment. I'm used to living in a full house so it's not too bad. 

Savannah and I aren't sure we're really supposed to room together, but no one stopped us so we're going with it. So far our relationship has been pretty tame, just kissing and stuff, but I think we're both ready to get more serious.

Tamsin and Erik decided to room together as well. The picked a room across the hall on the same floor as us.

We arrived on a Sunday so had some free time to settle in. My first priority was making the fireplace in our room fireproof. I'd really rather not burn the house down because we left for class without putting it out or something. 

Tamsin is super charismatic so it's no surprise she started making friends with our other dorm mates right away.

Later that night we all went to the student union to check things out. I hopped up on the podium and started impersonating our professors, or at least what I suspected they would act like. Savannah thinks I'll probably end up being a rebel.

Tamsin found a whiteboard in a study room and started drawing random equations all over it. I'm pretty sure she just made them up though because she's never been that good at math.

Erik really wanted to get a free soda out of this vending machine. You know he's a bit insane, right? We weren't rich by any means but we do have enough to get a soda.

Unfortunately this was a big mistake. He rocked the vending machine a little too hard, and it fell on him. I couldn't believe it! Who dies of blunt force trauma from a falling vending machine on the first day of school?

Tamsin was the first one of us to get to the scene. She's the only one who had to see his poor body lying there before the Grim Reaper cremated it and put it in an urn.

Erik didn't seem to mind that he died though. He greeted Death with open arms.

He didn't plead for his life, he didn't beg, he just shook Grim's hand and off they went.

We all took it really hard. How in the world was I supposed to break this news to my parents?! We just got here! He may have been crazy, but he was my brother and I loved him. I didn't know how I was going to get through the semester now. I almost decided to just withdraw and go home.

The mascot dude came over and tried to cheer me up, but I wasn't having it. 

"Don't you see that my brother just died?! Go away and pester somebody else!"

The saddest part of all was the single soda left sitting on the ground, unlodged from it's spot inside the vending machine as it fell. Tamsin took the soda and put it in her backpack. She swore no one would ever drink it.

Speed Simself - Update 1.6

Now that the kids had starting aging up to young adult we knew graduation would soon be upon us, as well as university! They were mostly good about studying and doing what they could to get scholarships. 

Erik however, would rather get his groove on!

Ceilidh was very excited about her child birthday.

But being frugal now, she opted not to have a party and just celebrate with family.

As a birthday present she got her very own tablet and started studying photography right away. Isn't she the cutest?

Erik learned this new thing from his nerd friends, I think he called it mind meld? We were supposed to learn something about each other by doing this weird secret handshake thing but it didn't work. Could it be possible as I've grown older I'm just not nerdy enough anymore?

Josh has been spending a lot of time working on his art and he's getting really good! I'm so proud of him, he's painted two masterpieces and everything. We're finally getting to a comfortable place financially with his recent sales.

To celebrate achieving his lifetime wish he completed the portraits of  the whole family and hung them in the study. We moved the prom pictures to the opposite wall.

Cassandra thinks there's no point in going to college if she wants to be in the music career, so went off to her first day of work. I think it could still help but she's an adult now and can make her own choices. 

Woohoo it's mah birthday!

Uhg, maybe we shouldn't have celebrated so much. My new elder back is killing me!

Josh can't wait to retire and get that pension money. I don't think you actually get a pension if you're self employed, but I'm not going to rain on his parade quite yet.

Getting used to his new achy body is depressing enough!

One good thing about getting old is you have plenty of time to play video games! We're gonna see if we can find Nessy in the water around the Deeprun Tram later.

Birthday time again! Savannah came over but she's already had her adult birthday. This made Roran even more excited to grow up since their romantic actions are far more limited with him still being a teen.

I can really see the resemblance to his father, although it's been a looong time since Josh had that much hair! He picked up the charismatic trait. 

Liam spent most of his teen time left trying to get a girlfriend but had no luck again. By the time he got around to blowing out his candles the full moon had come out and most of the guests had gone home.

Sigh. He became a party animal and wants to be a rock star! I guess this is his desperate attempt to get girls' attention. 

Even at my age I'm still pretty childish. I love goofing around with Ceilidh while she's still so little. It won't be long until she grows up and is ready to leave the nest like her siblings.

Speaking of which, today was graduation. Cassi was voted Most Artistic, Tamsin Most Popular, Erik Most Likely to Offend Others, Roran Most Likely to Never Leave the House, and (sigh) Liam Most Likely to be a Rock Star.

Of course we had to get a family picture with everyone in their robes! Sadly the photographer at the courthouse kinda sucks. You can see Liam in the back wearing his sideways baseball cap instead of his actual cap. 

After the ceremony we went home and the kids (well, adults now I guess) took the university aptitude test to see how many credits they had earned and whether they would get any scholarships. Savannah came over too because she intends to go to the same school as Liam.

It wasn't long before the moving van got there to take my babies away. I already miss them like crazy but I know getting their degree is important to them. I can't wait to see them again during break!

Speed Simself - Update 1.5

Why do I keep doing this to myself?! During labor I swore this would be my last child, I'm getting too old for this. I think Tamsin might have sworn off kids altogether once she saw how painful it was!

All the pain is worth it though once you see your sweet child. We decided to name her Ceilidh. She hates the outdoors like her father and I and is a virtuoso like Liam.

Soon prom was upon us. Nikolas showed up and asked Tamsin on her very first date. From what I understand they decided to make their relationship official while at the dance. 

 They all had a great time, even if there were a few fights, and I love looking at these photos while at the computer. Cassandra was voted Prom Queen and Erik Prom King.

 

We even got one of all the kids together before they left the school.

For Christmas we invited all the kids closest friends. Our house isn't that big so it was a tight fit but I wouldn't have it any other way. For the most part they loved their gifts. They got a new gaming console, another guitar, some new books, a few paintings, and a plastic pink flamingo that Erik just had to have.

Christmas didn't just mean gifts, it also brought new romances. Cassandra had been crushing on Ryan for a while but he finally made a move!

I'm not sure hanging the mistletoe was a good idea. Savannah was quite surprised by Roran's advances.

She may have been shocked but she didn't run screaming from the house, so I guess that's a good thing?

I always tell the kids not to wander around outside when there's a full moon, you never know what's going to happen! Thankfully Cassi is lucky and was able to blend in with the zombies rather than be attacked. 

Ceilidh's birthday was coming up soon. Josh doesn't always show it, but I know he'll miss this stage. It's hard to see your kids grow up.

Turns out she has his hair but my eyes. I love looking at our children and seeing little parts of ourselves.

We started working on her skills right away. She took to talking quickly but struggled a bit with walking.

Soon it was time for more birthdays. I can't believe they grow up so fast!

I love seeing how excited their friend is in the background of this picture! For some reason I can't remember her name, but she's come over a few times. You can see Tamsin is too distracted by Nikolas to pay much attention to her sister's birthday.

Poor Liam tried to make a move on this girl from school, but she just wasn't having it. I overheard from the other kids that she already had a boyfriend.

Tamsin didn't want a big party for her birthday, just family, but Erik and Liam each brought a girl home from school any way.

Tamsin is so confident now that she's a young adult, you can tell she's gotten more charismatic.

Both Erik and Liam tried to get with these girls in between Tamsin's birthday and Erik's, but as far as I know neither of them are very serious. They just don't have as much luck as their siblings when it comes to romance.

Erik might not be as charismatic as his twin, but he is turning out to be quite the schmoozer! I thought his weird clothing choices were just a fad, but it appears not. Are those tights?!