1.13 Moving Day

A couple days later, the final plant of the required 8 had evolved to its perfect state. Once the kids got home from school and homework was done, Adaleigh decided to share the good news.

"So I have some news... I let the Simsville Council know the plants were just about finished. So they began breaking ground on our new home a few days ago." she said excitedly.

"So that means we're moving soon?" Laura chimed in.

"Actually we will be moving tomorrow."

The kids looked at each other for moment, almost unsure. The Collin spoke up. "Wait, that house they are building two lots over... that's for us? So we get our own rooms?" Collin said excitedly.

Adaleigh laughed, sharing an amused look with Collin. "Yes, everyone is going to have our own room and their own bathroom. Your dad and I designed it together."

Ever the goofball, Cameron couldn't help but chime in. "As long as my bedroom is closest to the fishing pond."

Adaleigh smiled. The kids seemed happy. The new house was set to be finished tomorrow and the last of her 'Perfect Garden' was just about complete.

....

The next morning, the kids headed off to school from their old house for the last time. Adaleigh who had been up early waved goodbye and headed to the garden. She planned to spend the morning packing up the last of their belongings and take them over to the new house. After she water her garden one last time.

It would be strange not managing this garden any longer. The Simsville hired gardeners would take over once the place opened to the public as the "Newcrest Park & Gardens." In a way, she both relished the free time and wasn't sure what she would do with herself now that her greatest task was complete.

The watering complete and most of the house packed, Adaleigh made the call to get the moving van to help them make the final move. She also called in some reinforcements to help her and Laurent set up all the new furniture. At times like this, a girl needed her best friend.

After she made the calls, she and Laurent decided that since it was only a couple blocks over they would walk over to the new house together. When the arrived, she sneaked a peak over at Laurent. "So? What do you think?"

Laurent seemed completely dumbfounded. "It's really a lot bigger than it seemed on paper right?"

"It's... amazing." he finally said. "I can't believe that this is the house that we designed together."

"I know right?" she smiled. She couldn't believe that they had come so far from the first empty lot. When it had been just her and her dream.

"Hey McGinnises!" a voice said and as Laurent went inside to investigate the house and see where the movers had placed their boxes, Adaleigh turned and smiled.

"Summer, thank you so much for coming over to help." she said wrapping her friend in a warm hug.\

"Of course, when the great Mayor McGinnis calls, her subjects come immediately."

"Seriously though. Summer, Laurent and I would never be able to get all these beds together before the kids get home from school. Not to mention, we need to make sure all the big furniture is moved to its proper place if we're going through with the dinner party that Laurent has been planning in his mind from the moment we started work on this new house."

"Seriously, Ada, I'll be here any time you need me."

The rest of the morning passed easily with Laurent doing a good portion of the manual labor and Adaleigh and Summer adding the small touches. The living room, kitchen and dining areas looked the most complete.

As Laurent had requested, their dining area had a open view into the living areas, as well as a bar area, where the kids could easily do their homework while Laurent cooked up more of his wonderful meals.

For now they could only afford a single stove top, but they planned to eventually expand to a dual stove set up. They also would need to invest in ventilation system for over the stoves once the money allowed.

As to the bedrooms, they sparsely decorate the kids rooms knowing that in two days they would all be aging up into teens. For the time being, the kids would make due with less decoration and as a birthday present they would be allowed to decorate their rooms as they liked upon aging up.

Collin chose dark blue walls, and light blue sheets for his room and his room was the closest to his parents bedroom.

Cameron, the outdoor loving child, was given a bedroom with a view of the back porch and, eventually, Adaleigh knew they would need to change his windows for some veranda doors so that he could easily escape to his favored fishing spot which now had the added benefit of being even closer than before as it was literally the lot next door now.

Across the hall from Cameron, the baby girl Laura had the added privelege of having her own closest and a sweet pink oasis of her own.

Adaleigh and Laurent's master suite was also sparsely decoreate with only a simple bed, desk and the one lone computer. They did plan to eventually get the kids their own computers but... that could wait for a while yet. There were so many other things for them to do.

After the movers had been shooed out of the house and everything that was necessary was put out, Adaleigh and Summer sat down on the new couch in front of their very first television and both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh my goodness, I can't believe how many dishes that Laurent ordered for your new gourmet kitchen." Summer breathed as she plopped onto the couch.

"There aren't that many." Adaleigh laughed.

"I beg to differ as the one who unwrapped them all and found room for them in your new cupboards." she said.

"Well, you could have put together three twin beds with me and Laurent instead." she said good naturedly. "Another hand in the heavy lifting would have been welcomed."

Honestly having Summer there to take care of little things like hanging up the pictures and putting away the dishes had been a god send. She and Laurent barely managed the beds, much less setting up their living room for guests.

Without Summer they probably would have slept on a mattress without a frame just to make sure the living room as in top hosting condition.

She noticed a change in her friends face and stopped smiling. "What?"

"Well, honestly... I couldn't."

"Wait... why?"

Summer smiled a small smile. "I'm pregnant... and married."

"What? I - I mean that is great news. When did it all happen?"

"You know, the marriage happened a while ago. I moved in with J and his roommates.... it's been interesting."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Well, there was quite a bit of turmoil going on in the Mayorial house, I didn't want to add to it. I know that you've been under a lot of pressure from both Simsville and Laurent. I didn't want to add my drama to the mix."

"Still, you know I'm here for you." Adaleigh laid a hand on her friends shoulder. "So wait, does that mean you are Mrs. Huntington III?"

"Just Mrs. Summer Huntington, thank you very much."  she said exasperatedly. "You don't know it, but J was quite flabbergasted that the III didn't come along with his last name."

Adaleigh and Summer laughed together. "You're going to bring him to the housewarming party tonight right? I'd love to get a chance to meet him."

"Well, sure if you don't mind. I don't want to impose another guest on you."

Adaleigh smiled, most everyone they had invited were Laurent's coworkers. It would be nice to have some more of her friends (or friend's husbands really). Though Summer was technically a coworker too but since she had met Summer first she never  counted that. "No, it wouldn't a problem at all. At least there will be one non-culinary person here for me to talk with."

"Ok, if you're sure." Summer said and Adaleigh found she didn't look all that happy. Concerning.

Laurent on the other hand, was humming away as he prepared appetizers for the guests. Once the kids arrived, they would have a short time until the guests arrived.
______

Author's note: I'm not really sure why I am so enthralled by Summer Holiday, MCCC has taken quite a few liberties with her life (starting with making her love interest gay and then getting her married to non-commital J Huntington) and I just find the decisions its made so interesting. That and as Summer is really one of the few outside Sims who consistently comes around I just feel like Adaleigh would want to know how her life is going. I swear though that I am in no way playing with her in anyway that is outside the limits of the challenge. Just MCCCing and checking in on the way it goes.

Here's a final top down view of the new McGinnis Ranchhouse. Constructed by yours truly with some basis in a real ranch house blueprint I found online here, with minor Sims 4 modifications. The final product doesn't look much like the original shown, mostly because I have no idea how to do the roofing they show but the idea for the open kitchen and the archways around the dinig area definately came from here. I am actually really proud of the final product and will upload to my gallery. 

If you're interested just search 'theaemasimming' under origin ID. 

Hope you enjoyed and tune in next week to see the continuation of this day into our sweet Home warming Dinner party.