A Christmas to Remember

December 602

Narrated by Chelsea Finnbar.  Chelsea is 26 years old.

This is the first update/Next Update 

Chelsea started out the winter feeling lonely.  She had been putting all her effort, through summer and fall, into getting her dogs settled in, keeping the house clean (keeping the bugs at bay, at least), and finding a job she could live with.  She had started out at a record store in Port Prominence.  She barely made enough to cover the ferry costs there.  She was much happier working at Town Hall in Simdale Valley--helping people out with their town business, hearing what mattered to people.  But she only saw people at work, it seemed.  She never had time to even entertain, with the puppies she had raised in the warm months.  Winter made her feel the need for human company, and she set out to Town Square to meet someone, anyone.

Reference: Styles by Apple Valley & Ashland Sims

After reading Ashland's post about these awesome style preferences, I wanted a way to refer to it easily from my blog, so I decided to make it a reference post.

Design and Clothing Preferences by Ashland Sims and Apple Valley Blogs

Ages: Round 3

Round 3: Years 604 - 605

Households (10)

604

January
Endeavor

February
McElveen, 1st Trimester

March
Yuki Ono

April
Seiki Ono

May
McElveen, 2nd Trimester

June
Julia Jones

July
Peninsula State Bank Tour, &
Julia Jones' Pre-Internship Interview

August
McElveen Baby due

September
Fall Birthdays
Petite-Brown (Back to School)

October
Seiki Ono

November
PSU Honors Dorm (Julia Jones & Hattie Granger)

December
Zachary Bruty's 1st birthday (age to toddler)

605
January 
Bright

February
Finnbar (Valentine's Day)

March
PSU Honors Dorm

April
Redbird mini update "Birds of a Feather"


May
Seiki Ono (Parents' Day)

June
Ramaswami mini-update 1 of 3

July


August
McElveen baby 1st birthday (age to toddler)
Ramaswami mini update 2 of 3

September
McElveen

October
Julia Jones


November
Seiki Ono (Thanksgiving)
Ramaswami update 3 of 3

December
Jones (Simdale Valley, Christmas)

Random Events

Due Dates

Laney McElveen, due August 604

Birthdays

Summer 605
Sienna Endeavor, Charlotte McElveen (4th birthday)

Engagements

None this round

Weddings

None this round

Break-ups

None this round (so far)

New Citizens

Deaths

None this round (so far)

Taxes

Total Paid:  $27,639
Less Refunded:  $19,065
Total Tax Collected:  $8574.00

Petite:  paid $422
McElveen:  paid $23,979
Finnbar:  refund $800
Redbird:  refund $2356
Bright:  refund $5278
Jones 2:  refund $925
Roberts-Bruty:  Refund $2500
Ono:  Refund 7206
Endeavor:  Paid $3238

For Tax Assessment, see this post.
My hubby says I'm a mean overlord.


Categories borrowed from Millwood, thanks for a great way to organize this!

Round 2: Years 602 - 603

Households (8)

Summer 602 
Played but not posted, Bright

Winter 602 (Christmas) 
Finnbar

Early Spring 603
Jones (Mini Updated Posted on N99)

Mid Spring 603 
Simdale Clinic

Late Spring 603
Ono

Summer 603
Played but not posted, Redbird

Fall 603
Honors Dorm (Julia Jones)
Freshmen Dorm (Seiki Ono)

Fall 603 (Thanksgiving) 
McElveen-Endeavor Family

Winter 603
Sandy's Baby

Due Dates

Sandy Bruty, Winter 603

Birthdays

Fall 603
Julia Jones, Seiki Ono (both 18)

Engagements

None this round

Weddings

None this round

Break-ups

None this round 

New Citizens

Zane Roberts (Non Playable)
Sandy Bruty (Non Playable)

Deaths

None this round 



Categories borrowed from Millwood, thanks for a great way to organize this!

Reference: Taxes

Sims in the Peninsula State pay the following taxes, every year ending in 5 or 0 (every 5 years):

10% on the total of:  Home Value + Bank Balance (except college fund & retirement*) + Cash 

Deductions:
House Credit:  $1000 (and Sims whose home has a negative balance (mortgage), have the amount they still owe deducted from their total tax owed.  Together with deductions, this can cause them to get a refund instead of owe on taxes, see Refunds, below.)
Child Credit:  $1500 (per child)
College Credit:  $1500
Business Credit:  500 for Rank 1 up to 5500 Rank 10
Farm Credit:  $2000
Married/Joined Credit:  $1500 per couple

Exemptions:
Retired sims are tax exempt, but families who live with them are not.
*Up to $30,000  in savings can be considered to be for retirement, which is not taxable.

Refunds:
If deductions are greater than the total owed, the difference is refunded to the family.


Thanks to many other Sims 2 bloggers, most specifically Sullivan, whose numbers I have copied.

Profile: Bright Family

Madeleine, Sheldon, and Lillith Bright

Ages:  5, 40, 40

Profile: McElveen Family (Gen 2)

Declan & Laney McElveen, age 40; Charlotte McElveen, Age 4, and Ethan McElveen, 1 month

September 604

McElveen Family, Generation 2

Charlotte (age 2), Laney Redbird McElveen, & Declan McElveen


Declan Endeavor is the oldest child of the original founders of my Strangetown neighborhood.  When he was a child, the family had very little and both his parents were working long hours.  Declan, consequently, really knows the value of a simoleon and since his 13th birthday has held down a job as well as excelled.  Declan majored in Economics at Fiesta Tech, graduated with honors, and got a job in a tech company right after graduation.  He climbed the ladder quickly, has made a lot of money, and has invested it well.

Laney Redbird and Declan met early in their college career at Fiesta Tech, and became engaged before leaving college.  Laney is very serious and active, and since college wanted to have three children graduate from college.  After graduating with honors, Laney got a job in a retail company headquarters and became a junior executive within a few years.  She quit working for the family to move to Simdale Valley and to take care of Charlotte full time as a baby and toddler. She would like return to work when she feels that her children's needs allow it, and she and Declan are considering opening a business in Simdale Valley, but haven't decided what type would be most needed by the community.

In August 604, Laney and Declan welcomed their second child, a son, named Ethan.

Profile: Endeavor Family

George and Simone Endeavor, age 32; Sienna Endeavor, age 4

September 604

The Endeavor Family

George Endeavor, Simone McElveen Endeavor, Sienna Endeavor (age 2)

The Endeavor Family combines the old and new in Simdale Valley.  George Endeavor, named for  Old Simdale Valley Founder George Fish, is also descended from the Endeavor family of old Simdale Valley.  He is married to Simone McElveen, who is the daugher of the primary Strangetown prosperity 'hood founder, Chloe McElveen.  Simone is in the Slacker Career, but keeps busy as the lifeguard program coordinator for both the community pool and the Simdale Y.  She also volunteers as the supervisor of the drama club (her major in college) at the local school.  George started out as an architectural intern, basically overseeing a lot of different local construction and renovation projects such as the New Simdale Valley School, the Simdale Valley Clinic, and the old Victorian home on the town square, which is a project funded by the Simdale Valley Preservation Fund.  In January 604, he was promoted to architectural partner.  However, due to ongoing problems with the school construction, he is still overseeing that project for now.

Chloe and Jackson, Simone's parents, have retired in New Simdale Valley, and they live with George and Simone in a rambling old house across from the cemetery, Children's Park, and community pool.  Jackson was on the list to join the astronaut program, but retired before attaining that goal.  Chloe was a successful scientist at Fort Strange, but when the family moved to Simdale Valley, she was able to get a job as a science consultant in a large company in Port Prominence.

Profile: McElveen Family

The McElveen Family

(Left to Right)

George Endeavor, Jackson McElveen, Declan McElveen

Simone McElveen, Chloe McElveen, Laney McElveen,

Sienna Endeavor, Charlotte McElveen

The McElveen Family came to New Simdale Valley from their home in downtown Strangetown.  Jackson and Chloe had worked all their lives on the military base (he was a career military man, she was a scientist).  They put their three children, Declan, Simone, and her twin, John, through college and saw them gain much more success in life than they had been able to.  Declan, especially, made a lot of money within a few years of graduation, in the business career.  During the transition to Simdale Valley, Chloe was able to get a job with one of the research companies that supplied the science lab on the military base at Strangetown.   She is a  consulting CEO.  Now that they are settled in Simdale Valley, living with George and Simone, Jackson has fulfilled his wish of retiring and spends his days with his granddaughter, Sienna. 

Declan is currently a junior executive at a large tech company in Port Prominence.  He and Laney are considering opening an arcade in New Simdale Valley.  His wife, Laney, is happy for the meantime to stay home with Charlotte, but she will probably eventually return to her business career as well, so a business in town would allow her to be close by.  Simone (Slacker Career) manages the lifeguard program at the Simdale Valley Community Pool and the YMCA, and supervises the Drama Club at the school.  She and George got married after college.  George is a descendant of both the Endeavor and Fish families from Simdale Valley. ( He is named after George Fish).   He is an architect and hoping to build on a lot of special projects in Simdale Valley, Summerton, and Port Prominence during his career. 

Profile: McElveen, Ethan

Ethan McElveen, age 2 days old

First Bath

Personality

Sign:

(Neat ;Outgoing ; Active ; Playful ; Nice )

Primary Aspiration:

Secondary Aspiration:  None Yet

Lifetime Wish: None Yet

Main Hobby:

Natural Hobby Inclination:

Main Interests:

Favorite Color:

Style:

Parenting Style:

Relationships

Sister of:  Charlotte McElveen

Contemporary of:  Bruty

Best Childhood Friend:

College Roomies:

Romantic Interests:

Spouse:

Children:

Grandchildren:

Education/Career

Profile: Granger, Hattie

Personality

Sign:  Pisces

(Neat 5;Shy 3; Active 7; Serious 3 ; Nice 7)

Primary Aspiration:  Family

Secondary Aspiration:  None Yet

Lifetime Wish:  Top of Business Career

Main Hobby:  Sports

Natural Hobby Inclination:  Tinkering

Main Interests:  Basketball, Football, School, Work, Weather

Favorite Colors:  Navy and Red

Style:  Classic
Parenting Style:  Authortative

Relationships

Contemporary of:  Julia Jones, Seiki Ono

Best Childhood Friend:  (Created in CAS as YA)

College Roomies:  BF with Julia Jones in Sophomore Year

Romantic Interests:  First Woohoo, Seiki Ono

Spouse:

Children:

Grandchildren:

Brother:  David Granger

Sister:  Emily Granger

Parents:  Deceased

Education/Career

 Major:  Economics

Global Economics Honors Program at PSU

Profile: Ono Family

Daniel, Age 46; Sayuri, Age 51, and Yuki, age 12.

Daniel, age 43; Sayuri (Dr. Ono), age 48; and Yuki, age 9.  

March 604, Twikki Island

(Seiki away at PSU)

Ono Family, 603 (Round 2)

(Left to right, top to bottom)

Sayuri, age 47; Daniel, age 42

Yuki, age 5; Seiki, age 17

The Ono Family moved to Simdale Valley in Year 600, after Sayuri was recruited to be the town doctor.  Daniel is a game designer and has always taken the primary responsibility for caring for the kids while Sayuri has concentrated on her career.  He is a playful, attentive dad, almost always available when he's not at work to toss a ball with Yuki or play video games with Seiki.  Seiki declared the art major after one semester at PSU.   Seiki got very good at tinkering in high school, after getting a robotics table for his 16th birthday.  His senior year he was working on cleaning bots to help around the house.  Yuki wants a soccer goal for the backyard, but is going to have to wait for the family budget to allow it.  Yuki is a good student and mostly compliant child, who gets away with things when she can without getting in trouble too much, sometimes.

Simdale Valley Clinic was mortgaged to Sayuri at 0% interest in exchange for her services as town doctor, so eventually it should make a good living for the family, but for now they are living mainly on Daniel's salary and savings they had from Port Prominence, where Sayuri was an ob/gyn at the medical center.  It is tight right now because they are also paying a partial mortgage on the house.

Profile: McElveen, Laney

Laney, age 40, just having delivered her second child, Ethan.

Laney, age 38, with Charlotte, age 2

Laney as a student at Fiesta Tech

Birth Date:  564

(Created as YA in Strangetown 'hood)
Nee:  Laney Redbird

Personality

Sign:  Scorpiio

(Neat 6;Outgoing 5; Active 8; Playful 3; Nice 3)

Primary Aspiration:  Family

Secondary Aspiration:  Fortune

Lifetime Wish: Graduate 3 children from college

Main Hobby:  Sewing

Natural Hobby Inclination:

Main Interests:

Relationships

Sister of:  Naomi Redbird
Contemporary of:   

Best Childhood Friend:

College Roomies:

Romantic Interests:  Declan McElveen

Spouse:  Declan McElveen

Children:  Charlotte McElveen, born Sep 600; Ethan, born August 604

Grandchildren:

Education/Career

Alma Mater:   Fiesta Tech (Honors Program)

Major:  Economics

Career 1:  Junior Executive

Career 2:  Stay-At-Home Mom

Profile: Miguel Jones Family

Moira and Miguel Jones, Age 57 

603; Round 2

Profile: McElveen, Declan

Declan, Age 40

Year 604

Simdale Valley

Declan as a student at Fiesta Tech

Birth Year:  564 (Born in-game, Strangetown 'hood)

Personality

Sign:  Cancer

(Neat 9;Outgoing 7; Active 6; Playful 6; Nice 9)

Primary Aspiration:  Fortune

Secondary Aspiration:  Family

Lifetime Wish: Make 100,000

Main Hobby:  

Natural Hobby Inclination:

Main Interests:  Work

Parenting Style: Authoritarian

Relationships

Contemporary of:  Naomi Redbird, Laney Redbird

Best Childhood Friend:  Simone McElveen

College Roomies:  Naomi, Laney

Romantic Interests:  Laney Redbird

Spouse:  Laney Redbird

Children:  Charlotte McElveen, born Sep 600; Ethan, born Aug 604

Grandchildren:

Education/Career

 Alma Mater:  Fiesta Tech

Major:  Economics

Career:  

Profile: Alexis Jones Family

The Alexis Jones Family, 603 (Round 2)

Alexis is 40; Julia is 17

Profile: Jones Family

The Jones Family, Round 2

Left to Right, Back to Front

Miguel, Age 57, Alexis, Age 40;

Moira, Age 57, & Julia, age 17

Profile: Roberts-Bruty Family

Roberts-Bruty Family, December 604

Sandy Bruty, Age 40, Zane Roberts, age 38, and Zach Roberts-Bruty, age 1

Sandy Bruty met Zane when she took the job of chef at his restaurant, Jack's Place.  Jack's Place is the seafood restaurant at the pier in Simdale Valley, named after Capt. Jack, the notorious pirate who was said to have wintered in the bay.

Sandy and Zane started living together when they found out Zach was on the way.  Neither had considered having a child, but by the time he came, they were ready to provide a home for him.

Sandy's best friend is Naomi Redbird, who owns the Birds of a Feather salon in Simdale Valley and lives right across the street.

Profile: Redbird, Naomi

Naomi in college

Birth Year:  572

(Created as YA in Strangetown 'hood)

Personality

Sign:  Leo

(Sloppy 4;Outgoing 10; Laid Back 4; Serious 4; Grouchy 3)

Primary Aspiration:  Romance

Secondary Aspiration:  None Yet

Lifetime Wish: 10 first dates; (as YA, 20 different woohos)

Main Hobby:  Dancing, Socializing

Natural Hobby Inclination:  Dance & Music

Main Interests:  Politics, weather, fashion

Favorite Color:  Bright

Style:  Fashionista

Parenting Style:  Uninvolved

Relationships

Family:  Sister of Laney Redbird McElveen; Aunt of Charlotte and Ethan McElveen

Contemporary of:  Simone and George Endeavor, Laney McElveen, Declan McElveen

Best Childhood Friend:  unknown

College Roomies:  Laney Redbird (now McElveen), Declan Endeavor

Post college roomies:  Ophelia Nigmos, Ripp Grunt

Romantic Interests:  Ray Fuller (Mr. Big); has 2 bolts with several sims, none really special yet. Many from Strangetown, most notable being Ripp Grunt who she constantly rolled wants for and it was mutual.  They were quite a pair!

Spouse:  Are you kidding!?  No way!

Children:  not for a long time!

Grandchildren:

Education/Career

Alma Mater:  Fiesta Tech

Major:  History

Career 1:  Record Store Clerk, Party DJ (as adult in Strangetown)

Career 2:  Salon Owner, "Birds of a Feather" in Simdale Valley

Profile: Ono, Seiki

Seiki, age 21

Sims 4 Aspiration:

Serial Romantic.  This sim wants to go on a lot of dates with different, interesting people.

Sims 4 Traits:

Alluring, Non-Committal, Bro, and Perfectionist.  Seiki is very successful in romantic pursuits, shies away from staying in one job or one relationship, loves to hang out with other guys and is energized by guy conversations, etc, and takes longer but is more likely to make high quality objects.  He enjoys tinkering (woodworking).

Skill areas:

Handiness, Logic, Programming, Gaming 

 Seiki, age 18, PSU Freshman Dorm

Seiki, age 17

Birth Year:  586

Personality

Sign:  Pisces

(Neat 7; Introverted 3; Active 7; Playful 5; Nice 7)

Primary Aspiration:  Pleasure

Secondary Aspiration:  None Yet

Lifetime Wish: Be A Game Designer (like dad)

Main Hobby:  Robotics

Natural Hobby Inclination:  Tinkering (9/10 enthusiasm)

Main Interests:  Entertainment, Sports, travel, health

Style: Light Emo/Hipster

Parenting Style:  Permissive

Relationships

Contemporary of:  Julia Jones

Best Childhood Friend:  (Created in CAS as teen)

College Roomies:  Freshman RA, Josh Smith; Fraternity Brothers:  Harrison Brown, Anand Surfer, David Granger, Gordon Nott

Romantic Interests:  Julia Jones (crush, age 17); 

First Date:  Hattie Granger (1 date, age 18), later that year, woohooed at Greek party; 

First woohoo:  Tosha Go

First girlfriend:  Tosha Go

First Kiss:  Tosha Go

Spouse:

Children:

Grandchildren:

Education/Career

Attending:  PSU

Major:  Art

GPA:  4.0 first semester Freshman Year, B average 2nd semester, A avg 3rd semester

Profile: Jones, Julia

Julia Jones, age 19

Professional Portfolio Portrait

Julia, age 18, PSU Honors Dorm

Julia, age 14, Strangetown


Birth Year:  586

Nee:  Julia Jones

Personality

Sign:  Scorpio

(Neat 7;Outgoing 6; Active 8 Serious 0; Grouchy 4)

Primary Aspiration:  Fortune

Secondary Aspiration:  Family

Lifetime Wish: Own 3 Top Level Businesses

Main Hobby:  Culinary

Natural Hobby Inclination:  Culinary

Main Interests:  Helping Granddad with Bakery; college; business

Favorite Color:  Lilac/Purple

Style:  Dressy/Elegant

Parenting Style:  Authoritative/Authoritarian

Relationships

Contemporary of:  Seiki Ono, 

Best Childhood Friend:  Ashlee Wade (Strangetown)

College Roomies/Friends:  Ophelia Nigmos (RA); Cleo Benson, 

College Cohort for Global Business:  Cleo Benson, Amulius Archer, Kent Dixon, Emma Roberts, Circe O'Brien, Hattie Granger, Abram Carver (Advisor)

Romantic Interests:  Abram Carver, first kiss (age 18), first boyfriend, (age 19) and first woohoo

Spouse:

Children:

Grandchildren:

Education/Career

Teen Career 1 (Strangetown):  Law

Teen Career 2:  Culinary

Studying at:  PSU Honors Program

Global Business

Major:  Economics

GPA:  4.0

Profile: Ono, Yuki

Yuki, age 12.

Sims 4 Aspiration:

Currently Whiz Kid; Completed Rambunctious Scamp

Sims 4 Traits:

Mean (Competitive)

Physically Gifted

Yuki, age 9

Yuki, age 5

Birth Year:  595

Nee:  Yuki Ono

Sims 4 Aspiration:

Currently Whiz Kid; Completed Rambunctious Scamp

Sims 4 Traits:

Mean (Competitive)

Physically Gifted

Personality

Sign:  Scorpio

(Neat 8;Outgoing 5; Active 9; Serious 3; Grouchy 2)

Primary Aspiration:  Grow Up

Secondary Aspiration:  None Yet

Lifetime Wish: None Yet

Main Hobby:  Soccer

Natural Hobby Inclination:  Sports (enthusiasm 8/10)

Main Interests: Sports, Work, School, Money

Favorite Color:  Red

Style:

Parenting Style:  Authoritarian

Relationships

Contemporary of:  Madeleine Bright

Best Childhood Friend:  Marsha Bruenig

College Roomies:

Romantic Interests:

Spouse:

Children:

Grandchildren:

Education/Career