3.3 Seeing Red

Oh nuggets . . . I kinda slacked off on updating this blog. Ugh. I swear I didn't mean to. *hangs head in shame*

Well let's quickly recap for those who might have forgotten - We've just recently begun Generation 3, the (Orange) Explorer. Our heir is the Evil, Clumsy, Adventurous, Night Owl with the Photographer's Eye, Monarch Spectrum. His spouse Minion-For-Life is Norris Riffin-Spectrum, who is a Genius, Brave, Artistic, Friendly Night Owl who is in the Law Enforcement career track with a mind to become a Dynamic DNA Profiler. 

Thanks to Nraas mods, Monarch is currently incubating his and Norris' first nooboo, which will be the start of the fourth (red) generation of this rainbow-flavored DITFT challenge.

Monarch's parents are still alive and living with the boys, his father Dakota Fox-Spectrum reached elderhood in the last chapter and his mother Bumble Bee Spectrum is close to joining him there, but not quite yet. Dakota is in the Military and Bee is at the top of the Journalism career as a Star News Anchor.

She's also currently doing me proud by finally finishing a decent portrait of Norris.

It gets hung up in the living room along with Monarch's, because our current heir doesn't know the meaning of the words subtlety or humility.

But then again, he's evil. So . . . yeah.

MONARCH - Okay, I'm just about done with this whole being as big around as a house thing. So I've hatched a perfectly evil plan to induce labor!

Oh dear . . . I'm almost afraid to ask.

Apparently that 'perfectly evil plan' ended up being aerobics in front of the television. Yeah . . . that's some sinister stuff right there.

MONARCH'S PORTRAIT - I do not appreciate your sarcasm, Sim Deity.  >:[

Well, despite my mocking, apparently Monarch's plan was effective. Time for babies!

Monarch gets sent off to the hospital to have his first birth.

Norris was at work, but cancelled the action in order to be with his hubby.

All in due time Monarch came out with our first born of gen 4, a little boy named Apple Spectrum! Apple was born with the Brave and Disciplined traits. He also enjoys Country music, Mac n Cheese and the color Orange.

Monarch was a very proud and happy papa, especially since he and Norris had both had wishes to have a boy.

That fulfilled wish gave Monarch just enough Lifetime Happiness Points to purchase his generation's Motive Mobile. We've got quite the fleet developing!

It's been so long that I forget where Norris is going or why . . . but hi Apricot! Some might remember from previous updates that Apricot's Flirty nature had dissolved her marriage to April. Happy to report that one of her dalliances has resulted in a baby at least. We'll be seeing her in later updates.

Monarch and Norris decided to play in the photo booth. Not sure why they're both in their formal wear, but still . . . CUTE!

Yeah . . . uh . . . they're still 'playing' in the booth, too. And was that a baby-jingle I heard? :P

HAI AL! 

For those who might have forgotten (but seriously, how could you forget him?!) this is our Spectrum founder, Alabaster. Hanging out with a good book that night it seemed.

I can't remember the details as to how or why, but the family came into a Chinese gnome. We named him Cheetos, to go with our other regular gnome Doritos. :P

Atticus (our founder's trusty steed) decided to haunt that night as well. And ignored the fact that horses aren't supposed to come inside the house . . . .

MONARCH - Hi, horsie! Want a carrot?

ATTICUS - Do bears crap in the woods?! . . . that would be a yes, by the way. Gimme.

Monarch attempts to give Apple a bath. I say attempts, because I don't think the blanket is supposed to go into the water with him, there, dad . . .

Picture proof that Monarch has successfully completed one of his generation's goals, which is to max out the Photography skill. Yay, go Monarch!

And apparently he hadn't actually graduated yet . . . lol. It's been too long for me to remember what his 'Most Likely' was, but he graduated successfully at least. So yay for that.

That night it was also time for Bumble Bee to join her husband in elderhood.

BEE - Ugh, I'm all wrinkly and gross!

You're not gross! . . . Wrinkly maybe, but not gross. :P Despite her own reservations, I think Bumble Bee became a very cute elder sim.

Monarch is confirming the presence of baby #2 . . . hopefully he'll survive shoving his face through the toilet though.

BEE - I have a grandson?!? Seriously?!?!? I AM EXCITE!!!1!

Apparently Bumble Bee has just recently found Apple.

Monarch pops with the next pregnancy while Norris sleeps on, blissfully unaware.

After making sure Apple was taken care of, Dakota and Bee sneak in some lovey-dovey timez.

Hey Oriole!! Oriole Bird-Spectrum was Alabaster's wife, the spouse of Gen 1.

BEE - Mom, guess what! I have a GRANDSON now! How crazy and awesome is that?!

ORIOLE - Congratulations, dear!

BEE - See? There he is! Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?!

He was just born last night, how do you have an entire wallet full of pictures already . . . .

Norris has put in a lot of time on the work-out equipment for his job, so he sneaks in some recovery time on the massage chair.

Before it's time for Apple to have his very first birthday. He heads into the kitchen to help cheer him on, along with the grandparents, while daddy Monarch does the cake honors.

Blowing out the candles!

And here we have toddler Apple! He inherited grandma Bee's black hair (now with red tips) and daddy (and grandpa Dakota's) brown eyes and eye-shape.

Norris helped Apple get started on his walking right away.

Meanwhile Bee called Apricot over to do an interview.

BEE - Your brother has already given me one grandbaby with a second on the way. When can I expect one from you Apricot?

APRICOT - Seriously mom? This is what you want to put in the paper?

BEE - Don't change the subject.

I think Monarch was on his way to go scare his father, but he got distracted by his pregger-belly.

MONARCH - Ooo, baby!

DAKOTA - Phew, dodged the bullet on that one.

Next up for an interview was Pumpkin.

BEE - I see you and Mitch have already had a son named Cardinal. When are you having another one?

PUMPKIN - Really mom?

BEE - I want grandbabies!

Apple is doing a very good job of being completely precious. Also, nomming color-appropriate blocks? Win.

MONARCH - I'd recommend you be a doctor because they make great money, but I think the Medical career is several generations away, still.

APPLE - Wat?

Monarch is teaching the baby to talk. Sort of.

When he's not busy getting abducted by aliens.

This was actually a VERY frustrating happenstance. Monarch actually came back from this abduction with the Mysterious Weight Gain moodlet. Given that he's the current heir, that alien baby would have been part of the bloodline and eligible for heirship. But because Monarch was already pregnant, when he gave birth to the baby he already had . . . the moodlet disappeared. 

SUPER SAD FACE OF SADNESS!!! D:

Quick, I need a cute pic of Apple to cheer me up!

. . . 

Mission accomplished.

Monarch makes a very attentive daddy, despite his evil ego.

APPLE - Wat is dis? Solid foodz? . . . . I like!

I really need to try to use the high-chair more often . . . I'm just so lazy. XD Feed on Floor is much quicker/easier, lolol.

Grandpa Dakota takes over with teaching Apple to talk. Everyone helps out here or there, really.

Given that Monarch's job is photography, he just happens to be the one who's free to help out the most often. At least he managed to take Apple's clothes off this time, though.

APPLE - Daddy, why are you clapping? O_o I am confused.

MONARCH - It's the CLAWWWWWWW

APPLE - Sweet Cheezus!

All that baby care apparently inspired the next one to go ahead and make an official appearance.

MONARCH - Oh my sweet merciful plumbobs, that pain is not natural!

Despite that, he still managed to give birth at home to a lovely baby girl! Everyone meet Cherry Spectrum! Cherry was born with the Friendly and Good traits. She likes Hip Hop music, Porcini Risotto and the color Lime Green.

Monarch got abducted again that night, but sadly did not get the Weight Gain moodlet that time. D: !!

Just Norris . . . in his cop uniform. Rawr.

MONARCH - Now I have no spawn to distract me! *starts humming the Jaws theme*

DAKOTA - *tired sigh*

MONARCH - PH33R MEEEE!

DAKOTA - Oh my heart!

Monarch doesn't get to indulge his evil side much. He takes his shots where he can.

In one of the bathrooms Garfield--the family pet--has decided that it's time to become an elder kitty.

He does so. He has a little bit of white above his eyes, but otherwise looks pretty much the same.

GARFIELD - I could really go for a giant fish right about now . . .

Garfield has devoted his later years to hunting and he's pretty successful at it too. He's almost maxed.

Just a shot of Gramma Bee, putting Apple to bed. Cuteness!

Monarch was hard at work trying to get rid of that non-existent baby-weight. Now that the first two babies were out of the way, he had plans to return to France soon to continue with his generation goals.

While he did that, Norris challenged Oriole to a fierce video-game battle . . . I'm pretty sure she won. :P

The next day Monarch was off on another adventure, solo this time so I could focus on getting things accomplished.

Things like meeting with strangely dressed locals, learning the customs and local songs . . .

Accepting adventures . . .

Making nectar . . .

Avoiding zombies . . .

Reading skill books . . .

Finding and disabling tomb traps . . .

And FAILING at disabling tomb traps . . .

All in all it was a successful trip. Monarch managed to max his Visa level, so that's one country down. His next trip will be to China, but we'll be taking another break to get the babies grown up a bit more (and perhaps add to the brood) beforehand.

Before we go, some spares updates!

This is Spongebob (Bumble Bee's brother) and his wife Talia's second-born son, Krabby, as a teenager.

They also had a third baby, a little girl named Sandy. She has Al's hair!!

And finally, Pumpkin and Mitchel's son, Cardinal!

Apricot's baby was still an infant worm at this point, so we'll be seeing her next update. Along with more Monarch adventures and probably a new baby or two. XD Until then, happy simming!
____________________

Generation Completion List - ( [X] indicates completed, strike-through indicates failure).

GENERATION 1 - The Farmer

• Master the Gardening Skill [X]
• Master the Fishing Skill
• Max the Gardening Profession
• No woohoo before marriage [X]
• Grow one of every type of plant (Including meat, cheese and Omni) [X]
• Complete LTW (Perfect Garden) [X]
• Have at least one child of each gender [X]
• Marry someone with the Loves the Outdoors and/or Green Thumb traits 

FINAL TALLY - 5/8

GENERATION 2 - The Journalist

• Get married, woohoo, have kid(s) [X]
• Max the Writing Skill [X]
• Reach level 10 in the Journalism Career [X]
• Partner into a business [X]
• Write over 10 stories/reviews [X]
• Complete LTW (Illustrative Author) [X]
• Marry someone work related 
• Buy an Ant Farm [X] 

FINAL TALLY - 7/8

GENERATION 3 - The Explorer

• Visit all locations
• Gain all Visa Levels
• Master Photography Skill  [X]
• Marry a Foreigner and have kids
• Unlock all Tombs
• Complete LTW (Seasoned Traveler)

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