Erin was spending more and more time hanging out with her “best friend” Bungle. When she talked about him, I just smiled and nodded. I mean, it’s not like it was unusual for people in this family to talk to things that weren’t there. I just hope she doesn’t forget to spend time with real people too.

Branden, on the other hand, seemed to know what she was talking about. He asked Erin a lot about Bungle. He seemed to want to know if Bungle knew where Glenda was. Glenda who? Wait, wasn’t that the name of his favorite doll when he was a kid?

Erin seemed to understand, though. She said she’d try to find out for him.

In less confusing news, Caitlyn was being very scholarly these days. Deanne was jealous, but not jealous enough to do her own homework.

She didn’t take it very well when Branden tried to be helpful and offered to help her with her math. Sometimes big brothers just aren’t appreciated.

Then, while Branden was cleaning up after breakfast, he saw something that made his face light up.

I don’t completely understand, but I think he found his old doll? I didn’t realize it meant so much to him.

There wasn’t much time to talk after that because the school bus arrived. For the first time *all* my children were headed off to learn.

With Hetal also gone to work, I got to have a peaceful breakfast at home. Alone.

The silence was golden.

Then I had to head downtown so that the mayor could give me a medal.

Pretty nifty, huh?

Now that’s more like it.

I wonder what I should do with my new-found fame and fortune?

It was at the grocery store.

Caitlyn arrived home with her phone stuck to her ear. She can’t stop talking to some admirer.

Deanne has a new crush. She can’t stop talking about some Weaver fellow. I’m pretty sure he’s Ayden van Gould’s love child with that psycho chick Echo he was dating for a while.

I think Esteban may be a bit difficult for Deanne to catch, though.

Erin took an interest in our new stereo, which was a sort of housewarming gift from some people I’m pretty sure we don’t know. Hodginses, I think?

But she didn’t like the song that was playing.

Kitty break!

I got the kitties a new present. I don’t think they know what to make of it yet.

Everyone is back to being very responsible.

Branden in particular has been working hard on some kind of after school project. He’s hoping it will help him in his future career.

He hasn’t even been taking breaks to get something to eat.

I hear the project went very well, though! I wouldn’t expect anything else. Branden is such a hard worker.

Caitlyn is such a good big sister.

Erin went right to sleep. I swear that never happens when I do it!

Meanwhile, Deanne was hard at work at some kind of secret baking project. What could she be making?

It looks like we have another birthday coming up….

———-

No fails!

Note: I missed a fail in the last chapter and went back and edited it. If you don’t feel like going to check to see if you missed it, Branden peed himself at the party.

This is the last post before the heir poll. I’ll put that up shortly.

The big event in this post is that I discovered that the MasterController Reset Sim command is much stronger than the resetsim cheat, which is what I usually use. Branden’s IF doll wanted to “come out to play” when he was a child, and I pulled her out onto the ground while he was napping on a park bench at school. I didn’t know you had to pull out an IF *at home*. So Glenda disappeared, and I hadn’t been able to find any way to get her back. MasterController Reset Sim did it. I’m sure Branden wishes I’d figured that out a LONG time ago….

Oh, and well, Allison reached the top of her career, which would be far more exciting if that were her LTW. She only has rescued 10 people, and she needs 30. I missed several emergencies early on because I didn’t realize what a short amount of time you have to respond to them, and then she just hasn’t gotten a lot of rescue opportunities. It seems unlikely that she’ll be able to finish it, but I guess we’ll see.

Now that there are no toddlers to watch, I do get a little extra time for myself.

Sometimes I like to imagine I’m a submarine, looking out through tiny portal windows into the deep water.

Wow! They ought to warn you about water! It’s hard to breathe!

Caitlyn is spending a lot of time with the kitties. I’m so glad one of the children really understands what’s important in life.

I mean, when you look at these tender souls, how can you fail to love them?

Cat can see right into the depths of your soul.

Branden was the next of the kids to try to make peace with the refrigerator.

He told it not to feel so bad that the girls were ganging up on it. It’s hard for a guy to get a word in edgewise with so many girls around.

He suggested that the refrigerator join him and Christof for some guy time. The fridge could bring the snacks.

Erin slept sweetly in her new bad.

Until Christof and Branden showed up, trying to find the new bathroom.

It’s not that hard, guys. The door is behind you.

Today was Spooky Day, and it was time to party Wonderland style! I called everyone we knew and invited them to a big costume party.

Branden was really worried about what to wear, poor guy. His crush said she would come.

Hetal didn’t have nearly so much trouble.

Or Christof.

You could guess what Caitlyn was going to be, couldn’t you?

Deanne.

Strawberry particularly liked Erin’s costume for some reason.

Or maybe she just really liked picked on Erin.

Here came the first guest with some food to share! That’s a neat trick!

It turned out to be Larry Pierce. Branden was not impressed.

The chainsaw murderer costume turned out to be extra popular. I don’t want to know why.

I went for a different style. After all, I do my best to bring a bit of magic to everyone around me. Now where is that snack?

I was going to ask Larry if he brought any more treats when a screech went up from the kitchen.

Everyone came running in their costumes from all over the house to stare and the flames and panic.

This was my chance to show my stuff. No magic ice spells here! I can put out a fire underneath some other girls armpit. I’m that good.

In no time, I had reduced the kitchen to a black smoking mess that was at least not on fire. Christof decided he was better off eating salad.

Vegetarians.

Everyone settled down to eat and chat. We know how to make a recovery here at the Wonderland household.

Except for Branden, who missed his chance to talk to his crush Lacey Boyles because he had to dash upstairs for a shower.

Well, of course the party was a hit. Tell me that this wasn’t the most creative entertainment you ever saw.

Absolutely everyone thought the party was beautiful, even folks who didn’t attend.

When the guests left, I decided to show Hetal some of my magic tricks.

Erin came upstairs to find someone waiting for her.

Or at least she told me she welcomed her best friend to live with us. I never saw the guy.

I’m just glad to know she’s making friends.

———-

Self-Peeing: 8 + 1 = 9
Fires in Home: 1 + 1 = 2

When I said a couple of posts back that we’d soon be reminded that this is an ISBI, this is actually what I meant :). I’m not sure how much I conveyed how hilarious this was while I was playing.

Unfortunately, Allison did in fact invite everyone she could, and they brought friends, and that caused the game to crash just as Allison put out the fire. So some of the shots are from when I played through the party without the fire.

Bungle is my first successful, non-glitched Imaginary Friend. I’m pretty amused, but I hear that pretty much everyone is sick of them after a while. Caitlyn and Christof didn’t receive IF dolls due to the mailbox being glitched. Deanne’s disappeared not long after she received it. So only Branden and Erin even had dolls in this game.

One more post. Then heir poll.

Now that I have the fireplace safely upgraded, it’s the favorite place for all the kitties.

They sleep beside it and play beside it.

I’m so glad I could do something to make the house cozier for them!

Before school, Deanne and Christof got up early to do their homework. Hetal and I didn’t do too bad with our kids, did we?

Erin played sweetly with her doll Bungle the whole time I was at work.

Which was great, because the babysitter stood on the front porch the whole time. I’m sure that coming inside is usually part of the job, isn’t it?

I passed the time at work upgrading my fire extinguisher.

The emergency of the day was a big one!

Sometimes half your job is calming down people who were never in danger.

It was a hard fire to stomp out. As soon as put the fire out one place, another blaze would pop up someplace else. I really need to finish upgrading this fire extinguisher!

Meanwhile, Hetal got into a conversation after work that didn’t go very well.

Branden wanted to meet up with her after work, but since she was caught up in her argument, he decided to sit down and do his homework.

Apparently, both of them forgot they were supposed to be home for something important.

At least Caitlyn, Christof, and I were here for Deanne’s birthday.

Isn’t she beautiful?

She makes me think of someone very important — me.

Four teenagers. I don’t know how we’re going to survive.

The teens gabbed their cake while I headed upstairs.

Deanne had some advice for Caitlyn. Maybe she’s getting a little ahead of herself, don’t you think? Caitlyn is older and has more experience.

Caitlyn suggested maybe Deanne should get some more sleep and see what things looked like at the morning. Deanne took her advice and headed upstairs.

Caitlyn’s such a patient big sister.

I had to get the other birthday girl!

I couldn’t believe that my littlest baby was finally growing up.

What an amazing little girl.

We all had our cake and wondered where the rest of the family were.

Branden made it back just as the singing was done and had a slice of cake with everyone.

But where was Hetal?

I think it suddenly occurred to her that she really screwed up.

We finished our little party and cleaned up. Erin did most of the work!

I just couldn’t believe it. No more diapers! No more potty training!

Hetal finally got home, but she was ashamed to talk to to Erin.

She was so overwhelmed, she fainted dead away!

Poor dear. I think all she needs to do is apologize.