Chapter 8.2 - Double Birthday Party

 Saturday 21st August 2021
Today is the day for Knut and Eivinds 35th birthday and their passage onto the adult life stage. Their birthday falls on a saturday this year, perfect for a great party!

 Ah, and what better way to start your birthday then waking up to a screaming toddler at 4:30 in the morning? But one can always feed him and change his diaper. And go back to sleep..

This is perhaps a cruel trick on my part, but whenever my sims have kids I always put the baby/toddlers crib in the same room as the parents bed (if room). The wellbeing of the offspring has a higher priority than the wellbeing of the parents. If you choose to have kids, prepare to face the consequences... no mercy. :P

After this Bjørn-Yngve woke up and had a quick breakfast downstairs before retreating to Helenes writing den to play chess. Admittedly its getting a bit boring with how many of my sims seem to be so interested in playing chess... but they like what they like...

Knut woke up and decided to make peanut butter and jelly.

Helene woke up with the phone ringing. Madison van Watson called her and wanted to talk about... fish.

Helene: Morning Madison.. whats up?

A mumbling voice is heard through the phone.

Helene: Oh wow.. you've been up fishing all night? Did you get any?

 Helene: Awesome, thats good! I'm sure you could make a fine buck from selling that!

 Helene: Oh thanks for asking. Yeah, my books are doing alright. I'm making some money, but I'm not getting rich yet.

 Helene: "Guests will arrive in an hour, gotta make sure I look my best!"

Yeah, if you're a snob its important to be keeping up appearances... but trust me, you're fine!

Eivind: "My party is coming up soon, maybe I should be a good host and prepare some soup"

Soup? No, you can do better than that...

Sometimes I take the liberty and direct them to do something, because they do not always have the best ideas...

 

 Eivind: Ok, boss, I'll make burgers then.

First guests have arrived. The party has begun. Helene talking to her older sister Kathrine:

 

Helene: Hi sis, how is your medical career going? Did you get that pay raise you were hoping for? Knut is doing really well in his politcal career. He's making loads of cash!

 

Kathrine: That's good to hear! I did get that pay raise, but it wasn't as good as I had hoped.

Helene: Ah, I see. I'm still waiting for Knut to take a hint and buy me that expensive diamond ring I have been looking at.

Kathrine: Oh sis, you're always so demanding! You would need to be almost a celebrity to make that kind of money!

I agree!

Helene: That could be, but I am sure Knut is going to be a top star in politics! He is on to really big things!

Don't run off with your mouth now.. you know just as well as I do that Knut has no such ambition...

Happy birthday Knut! Ah, one never gets used to aging up. I know, its always a little terrifying each time.. probably even more so when it happens in such leaps and bounds...

Now that wasn't so bad, huh? Now it's your brothers turn!

Happy birthday Eivind!

His outfit didn't change after he aged up, he still looks just the same.

So many people in there, this is actually incredibly noisy.. can't even hear the stereo.. :P

Knut has the loner personality trait and agrees with me.

Knut: The invitation said formal clothing, Ranveig. Formal clothing, not your fitness wear! Do I really need to spell it out for you, you're insane! You know that? Insane!

Wow, pot calling the kettle black here.. this is not how you make your party guests feel welcomed.

This one hurts, I can tell, coming from your own brother, no less...yet Ranveig finds the strength to be nice. Or maybe she's being sarcastic...

Ranveig: Oh, Knut.. you were always the brains of the family. I have always admired you for being such a genius.

Ranveig: What a doofus... why is that guy my brother?

That question should go to your parents, not me...

 Eivind: I'm feeling much better over here watching tv, where there is not so many people.

I'm not going to say anything about that. Atleast you're not being rude like your brother.

Helene thinks to herself: I am so happy that mom (Frida Kråkesen) could come over and enjoy herself.

Helene and Knuts son Anton got hungry and wasn't to shy to let everyone know..

Knut: Sorry folks, its time to feed the little man!

Monica: Has any of you tried the new lunch coffee over at Hogan's Diner? It's really great stuff!

Eivind: No I haven't tried that yet, but I have heard a lot of good things about it. I'm sure its great.

Frida (talking to Sofie): Have you heard about Helenes latest book, Romletomle? Its getting a little mixed reviews. The Diraciff Writers Magazine gave it only a 52 % rating!

Sofie: Well, I think you should clean out your own dirty dishes before doing someone elses.. the few books you wrote got pretty mixed reviews as well!

Frida turns away and doesn't answer.

Egil to Frida (Helenes parents): Who has the smoothest, fastest and most expensive cars in Sunset Valley, huh? Thats good old Egil, alright!

 Egil to Ingrid (his grandchild): Have you seen grandmas bike? It is the best of the best, a super expensive Yokoshimoto Wasp, the gold and aluminum model! And who bought that for her? Me, of course!

Helene to Eivind: We have so much in common! I think we should get to know each other a little better!

Oh no you don't.. you're married to one of the twin brothers, you can't have them both! Sofie is not going to like that if she hears it...Reminder: Knut is married to Helene. Eivind is married to Sofie.

Eivind thinks: There seems to be an invisible magnet that just keeps pulling us together!
(Eivind had the magnet thought bubble here, but I was to slow to catch it on screenshot.)

What!? NO, you did NOT just think that! I object! However, as much as this annoyed me, I did not intervene, and luckily it sorted itself out, because... 

Helene: And I have the best most awesome car in town!
...of Helenes tendency to brag. (Just like her father..) Eivind yawns, and Monica in the background doesn't look to impressed either.... No one likes an excessive braggart!

 Haha, bad move, Helene! Bad move!

 And just so you know, Sofie has been standing there listening to you all along... and she is not looking very amused. Sofie is very wary of this kind of thing, and looks down on anyone cheating on their signficant other.. She knows what it can lead to, something she learnt from very early on in her life...

Eirin just switched to her swimwear right in front of Ingmar. The way she looks at him makes me guess she might be hoping for something. Do you think the swimwear will help? Ah, you're so cute! :P Reminder: Eirin and Ingmar are the parents of Ranveig, Monica, Knut and Eivind.

 Helene, you must know that trick doesn't work.. No one finds your car impressive and nobody really cares... Eivind is still not impressed...

Ingmar just insulted Eivinds house, and Ranveig feels its time to step in between. Monica wants to back off from her father and brother fighting. Well, its 2:30 in the night. Maybe its time to end this party before things start to get out of hand.

 Yeah, I think this party is over. Time to round up and send everyone home!

 Helene (to Monica and everyone): Thank you for coming and for making this such a great party! But I think its time to go home now everyone! Thank you so much for coming!

Monica: The pleasure is on my side! Such a great party for my brothers! Thank you for hosting the party!

And that was it for now for the Kråke-Motorsen family and the twin brothers birthday party!

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Chapter 8.1 - August 2021: The Kråke-Motorsen Family

This chapter introduces the Kråke-Motorsen family, which consists of Ranveigs brother Knut, his wife Helene and their two sons Bjørn-Yngve and Anton.

Map of upper Sunset Valley ("old town area") with labels of family names and some important buildings. Notice the location of the Kråke-Motorsen home near the centre of the image.

Plum Tree Family Trees (for context):

The Kråkesen Family tree: https://theplumtreeapp.com/public/600d7fec6e8dbe0009f875b0 - Helene and Knut have the right branch.
The Kråkesen Family tree: https://theplumtreeapp.com/public/600d7a17f6542d0008498d08?p=600d7b4fd245bf00080e8243 - Helene and Knut has the rightmost branch also on this tree.


The Kråke-Motorsen family is a pretty standard family of two parents and two children living in their home in the upper parts of the old town. When I turn to the family, it is late monday evening on the 16th of august 2021.



This is the mother of the family, Helene Kråke-Motorsen and her youngest son, Anton. Helene thinks it is time for Anton to go to bed, and is in the process of putting him in his crib.


This is the oldest son, Bjørn-Yngve, in the dining room about to do his homework. At 10 past 11, thats a little late, don't you think? It wasn't as bad though, as he only had a few percentage left, so I'll let it pass. Luckily, his grade at school is an A, so, good boy!



And this is Knut, the father of the family. He has been hanging out at the Hermansen Lot, which is the towns arcade hall and nerd hangout. Good thing he had the sense to be on his way home, so I won't have to interfere and send him home.



And everyone was fast asleep, except Anton the toddler. Of course.

The next morning Bjørn-Yngve was the first to wake up. Does the young one have dreams of following in his fathers footsteps and being a politician?



Bjørn-Yngve: "Hahaha, dad, are you going to hold speeches at the podium today?"

Knut does not respond, he just eats his food until car horns from outside interrupt the silence and its time to go.



After they had left for school and work, Helene woke up. The first thing she wanted to do, was to sit in her little writing den to read a book. Helene is a bookworm and a writer of children and science-fiction books. She also works as a receptionist at the day spa, but today is her day off.



Helene: Uhhhh... dabbledoo? What was I doing here again?

She is also an absent-minded snob. Funny I never noticed what a big nose she has until I started taking screenshots of her, and now I can't unsee it.. and you probably can't either. I'm sorry Helene.. don't mind that, you look great!



But she has a great motherly instinct.



Helene: So, so... nooboo. I'll let you eat.. on the floor.



Later Anton was playing with boxes in his older brothers room.



Motherly instinct at work again, her action says to clean all plates on the lot, but she goes to pick up Anton, as if she knew he needed to use the potty which I had placed downstairs for convenience. Or inconvenience depending on where they are at.



Good mother!



Knut: Daddy is home! Here comes the hungry dragon! Tickle, tickle!



Helene (thinking): "Knut is home. I must look my best. How do I look? Do I have something inbetween my teeth?"

No, you're fine...



Bjørn-Yngve is also home, and the first thing on his mind is to do his homework. What a lovely family, I could just sit back and watch. :P




But as Helene has a wish to teach Anton to walk, I'm gonna let her to that.



Bjørn-Yngve and Knut eating pumpkin pie leftovers for dinner.

Bjørn-Yngve: It's funny how mom went from writing science fiction books to childrens books as soon as Anton was born! But I think now she is back to writing science fiction again.

Again, Knut doesn't answer his son. He really is not the talkative kind when eating.


Oh yes! This is the moment Anton learned to walk! Mommy is so proud!



Knut and Bjørn-Yngve have one thing in common though, and that is their love of playing chess. Knuts life time wish, which he has fulfilled, was to master logic and handiness. Bjørn-Yngves life time wish is to be a chess champion. And a game of chess seems to be what it took to have daddy talking.



Knut: Good thing we have Helene to do the dishes! Gives us time to play chess instead!

Well, now.. don't push your luck there, Knut!



Helene writing on her last science fiction book about the Romletomle people. She had written a lot less on it then I thought. Luckily she hadn't planned that long of a manuscript and managed to complete it in one sitting.



Ah, I was waiting for this moment... As Knut is from the Motorsen family (he is Ranveigs brother), he has inherited the insane trait as well, which has given them all a disposition to put on their swimwear at random times and talk to themselves....



As Helene works at the spa, she goes to work in the afternoon. Knut has a job in the political career. After Helene goes to work and before Knut comes home, there is a short period where Anton needs a babysitter.



Lise-Veronica Motor-Notesen is coming home with Bjørn-Yngve after school. (Lise-Veronica is the daughter of Monica Motor-Notesen, see Motorsen Family tree).



Since Bjørn Yngve is a genius he can finish his homework quickly to sit down and watch tv with dad.



Helene is super happy about... brushing teeth? Well, dental hygiene is important. Especially maybe if you're worried about having something inbetween your teeth.



Helene:Ah, watching the kids play. Hmm, I wonder how Monica is doing. I want to invite her over.



Monica: Oh, sure, I'll be over right away!

Helene: Great, see you in a few.

Monica: Actually... something important just came up here, so I can't. I'm sorry!



Helene:These Motorsen people... always so ....random... (makes face to camera).



Helene: "How do my teeth look? Are they fine?"

Your teeth are just fine.. I promise... -_-



Bjørn-Yngve has no interest in playing with Lise-Veronica. He would much rather just practice chess.



Ok.. I know you're absent minded, but come on... that's not where you put the trash! Don't try to look like you don't know what you're doing.. pick that up, and take it out! Now!



That's more like it...



Your father is insane, he can't help it. Lets just hope you won't end up the same way, kid.



Miss absent-minded, your son needs to use the potty, please take him out of there.



Too late.. And you're daydreaming about money again. Well, it looks like you have some dishes to do.. and clothes to clean. No one else seems to be doing anything around the house...



Helene:No time to clean up the dirty clothes, I must go to work. Knut can do that when he gets home.

At the same time Bjørn-Yngvewas home from school and doing his home work, after which his grandfather, Egil Kråkesen, gave him a call. They had an interesting conversation which I had written out and all as it happened, but unfortunately because of that I forgot to take screenshots...

Later, when Helene came home from work:

Helene: I want to talk to Maria Rodriguez and hear how she is doing.

That's easy, just give her a call and hope she is not busy. (Maria Rodriguez is one of the refugees living in the New Town area).



Helene: Hi Maria.. how are you? ..

Helene: Oh.. oh, you were in an eating contest?



Helene: And you won? Congratulations, that's great!

Helene: Haha, yeah, if you have the stomach for that kind of thing its a good way to get free food!



Helene: I just finished my last science fiction book about the Romletomle people. It is already a hit and has sold for 260 simoleons!

Helene: And then.. oh, you have to go? You're getting another call? Ok, then I won't distract you, bye then!



Helene: Hmm, I wonder what could be so important she had to interrupt me.. maybe she has found a lover and was waiting for him to call?

Those are only speculations, Helene, we don't know that...



Helene: Men.. can't do anything right.. disgusting! Guess I will have to fix this and take them to the laundromat myself tomorrow...



Helene: Just gotta check the mirror to make sure I look my best before going to bed.. Hmm, that sounds suspiciously like running water?


Bjørn-Yngve: MOM!! Get out of here!! I'm taking a shower!!



Helene: Oh my Narrator, son! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!!

Bjørn-Yngve:Whatever mom, I'll go to bed...

The next day when Knut was at work and Bjørn-Yngve at school, I sent her off to the laundromat to do what was necessary..



Helene: Up we go little boy, we're going to the laundromat to do what your father couldn't do!

At the Hausmannsen Laundromat:



Asgeir Karlsen: Good morning Helene, doing laundry today?

Helene:Yeah, you know how it is. I told Knut to fix the dirty clothes, but he just dropped them in two big stinking piles next to the laundry basket!

Asgeir: Well, I'm not going to say anything about that...



Asgeir: Oh, hi young man. Want to play with your reserve grandpa Asgeir? Oh, yes you do! Up we go, austronaut man!

Anton:Laughs.



Asgeir: Oh, you're such a good boy! Yes you are!



Wherever there's a mirror...



Helene: Ok little man... lets go home and get out of here before somebody thinks we broke that laundry machine... we have to prepare for your dad and your uncles birthday party tomorrow!

 

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