Life and Times of Sandi French part 2 - The Wonder Years, and 3 Days with the Ursines

 It's summer and a weekend, so I sent the household to the public pool for some fun. Plumbob moved the pool to where the criminal warehouse used to be and used the combined movie theater/criminal workplace rabbithole for this version of Sunset Valley. Here's the pool clubhouse and the pool itself.

The clubhouse features bathroom facilities, a snack bar, indoor seating, a couple video cabinet games, and a patio with outdoor seating and a juice pong table.

The pool area has a lifeguard stand, diving boards, water slide, hot tub, outdoor seating, and a sandbox for the little ones.  Fun was had by all.

Sandi had the opportunity to meet Miraj Alvi and Mortimer Goth.

River tried to have a conversation with VJ, but he basically ignored her. What a studious young man!

On Sunday, Sandi invited Darlene over for a play date to help cement their friendship.

Darlene likes her friend, but is a little grossed out by her table manners. 

That evening, Molly and Fiona decided to have a girls night out at the lounge. There were a lot of people there, and a crowd was standing around watching a mime in front of the bar. All the women were wearing the same tired-looking ensemble that Molly and Fiona use for nightgowns, so I think Plumbob must have had some custom content evening outfits. 

So I used Nraas to change their outfits for them.

Then I went to see what the girls were up to. I found that Molly had spotted Xander, and they were dancing together.

Meanwhile, Fiona went upstairs and was singing her heart out on the karaoke machine.

Morgana Wolff was the only one to hear her, and she didn't seem too impressed. 

Molly and Xander were getting pretty cozy, but he had to leave for some reason. But he called her a few minutes after he left, and they had a long conversation.

I checked on the house around 2 am, and Darlene was just heading home. Her parents must be worried about her.

Molly may need to find a new line of work; she came home in this condition on three separate occasions. Who knew being a chef could be so hazardous!

Also, Fiona and Molly bicker with each other almost every morning before work, but they are still friends.

River's birthday rolled around, and she had a party at the house.

The sandbox was very popular with the girls.

River tried to get to know Michael Bachelor better, as he could be a potential mate. I don't often wish for rabbitholes, but I wish there was a way to send River off to college in the same way as kids can be sent to boarding school. I want her to go, but I don't want to go with her. 

On River's graduation day, they decided to go to the festival after the ceremony.

Little Sandi beat out the adults in the hotdog eating contest. She was so proud of herself!

River spent most of her time skating and became quite good at it.

She also met a smokin' hot proprietor. Could this be love?

With River now a young adult and Sandi a teen, I think it's time for someone to move from the house. However, there is only about 6600 simoleons in the family funds, which isn't enough for Molly and Sandi to move out nor for River to move out on her own. I don't want to just kick River out and not know where she lands, but Sandi is getting too old to share a bedroom with her mother. I decided to take break from the household and see if Story Progression comes up with a solution. So I went to check on Claire Ursine and her baby girl who is born at the beginning of each new Sunset Valley game.

Here's a brief backstory on Claire. She's a loner who likes to fish. She had a relationship with her neighbor Jared Frio, who got her pregnant then jilted her, leaving her to raise her daughter on her own. I think she used to work in the culinary career with Jared, but left after he broke off the relationship with her. Since then, she has been working in the criminal career to make ends meet. She has the kleptomaniac trait and a lifetime wish to be a master thief. When I checked on her, she wanted to join the military, so I helped her do that before I left her; however, she was soon back to her old ways after I left. 

As for the baby, her name is Miki. She's clumsy and artistic. She was a day away from becoming a child when I joined them.

Claire wanted to teach her to talk and to potty train her, so we got those things done in the nick of time. 

Miki doesn't seem to have a toy preference like Sandi did.

In addition to little Miki, Claire also has a cute little dog named Bonnie.

Considering she's in the criminal career herself, I was surprised that Claire was the victim of a burglary. Jackie Hutchins attempted to rob her!

However, Claire had a burglar alarm - something Jackie hadn't considered. Claire just let the police handle it, and nothing was stolen.

Claire was irritated with all the noise the alarm was making, but was glad she had invested in it. The baby didn't wake up to the noise. 

The next day was Miki's birthday.

Claire had to go to work, so she gave Miki some money to take herself to the arcade as her birthday gift.

It was there that she met Kevin Keaton, the other baby that is born shortly after the game begins.

Because her mom works at night, Miki often finds herself home alone and has learned to entertain herself.

Leisure Day was a hot one, so Claire took Miki to the beach for the whole day. They had a blast!

She taught Miki how to fish, and Miki found a nice shell while snorkeling. They weren't the only ones enjoying the beach.

Hank Goddard was having fun in the sprinkler.

The teens were enjoying some refreshments. Darlene has aged up into a pretty girl.

Before I left them, Miki made another visit to the arcade. There were a lot of townies hanging out there.

Bella had aged up to a teen.

Christopher Steele and Miki had a nice conversation about fishing. 

Fiona was chatting up Styles McGraw. 

Nancy Landgraab was furious to find Nick Alto hanging out here. Meanwhile, Molly was talking with Thornton Wolff. 

I got a notice that things had changed on the McIrish homefront. That's not at all what I expected, as I made sure River met a couple eligible bachelors before I left her, but I guess the dude's single although his sexual orientation is a bit murky. 

 Maybe she likes his house and money? At any rate, I moved her in with him, freeing up her old bedroom for Sandi. In other news, Molly and I have had enough of Xander. She tried asking him out to the movies, and he was a real jerk, mocking her for being a single mother and thowing shade at her daughter. It appears he has commitment issues, so we're calling it off.

They now thoroughly dislike each other. Sandi had a quiet birthday at home, aging up to a teen.

Her mom was working, but River was there to celebrate with her.

This is right after she aged up. Her mom made it home from work and they had cake together. I gave her a different hairstyle and some new clothes after this picture. The next day she went over to Darlene's house after school. She watched TV with Darlene and did homework with Lisa and Arlo.

She was thrilled to see they had a chemistry table, and she discovered a potion while she was there, too.

I'm not sure why, but the next day, Sandi autonomously skipped school. Fiona gave her a lecture about the importance of a good education.

Sandi took the advice to heart and went to school, taking an art class and driving class in the morning, then finishing out her usual classes in the afternoon. Prom is coming up. I wonder if she will get a date or just go stag.