Sim in the City VII: Winter Wonderland

Previously: Zora and Miko found out the hard way just how much work parenting is while Salim tried and failed and tried and failed again to get a woman named Liberty to fall in love with him. None of their neighbors would be quiet long enough for anyone to get a decent night's sleep, and just as everyone was in the grips of exhaustion-fueled madness, the gnome from hell arrived to make their lives even worse.

It's finally Phoebe's birthday! (I feel like her toddlerhood lasted forever, but maybe that's just me.) Miko may have just gotten home from a hard day at work, but she still has just enough energy left in her to celebrate.

Zora, meanwhile, has chosen to miss out on the festivities to instead return to her favorite autonomous pastime of "trolling teh forums," and she doesn't even have the excuse of a stressful work day to fall back on.

Oh, well, her loss! I guess she doesn't care if she misses the once-in-a-lifetime adorableness of her daughter blowing out her birthday candles.

Just like that, Phoebe is a still-adorable child! I can't wait to see what kind of personality she develops now that she's old enough to actually have one.

Zora is still frequenting the local gym, trying to work off the last remnants of the tiny love handles she developed post-pregnancy. She didn't ask for a trainer, but this random buff guy came over to start encouraging her anyway, encouragement that her clumsy self certainly needs.

Girl, I know it's miserable, but look at that waistline! Mission accomplished! Just don't go home and eat a bunch of leftover birthday cake in celebration.

Miko's primary cause as an activist is raising environmental awareness, and she's decided she's sick of being silenced at meetings in stuffy boardrooms for the nonprofit organization she works at, Speak for the Trees. Instead, it's time to take to the streets with the harsh but necessary truth about the rapidly deteriorating Sim planet. Apparently, it's just as bad there as it is here.

On a lighter note, her newly-dyed hair so perfectly matches her protest tee, it's almost like she planned it.

After a couple hours of demonstrating, she's only managed to get good old Pink Hair here to join the cause, but hopefully all of those other onlookers are listening and learning rather than just laughing at her.

After his many failed attempts to start something steamy with Liberty, Salim is starting to realize his true soulmate may have just been waiting patiently in plain sight all along...

Salim: Listen, Maki, we've known each other for years now, haven't we? I enjoy your company. I think you enjoy mine. What do you say we go out sometime and see where it takes us?

I don't want to speak too soon, but I'm pretty sure that coy look on her face is a yes!

Whether or not anything develops on the romantic front with Maki, at least Salim can rely on his career to be dependable. Between promotions at work and the many books he's finished at home (seriously, it takes, like, two hours for a Sim novel to be written, what kind of black magic), he's making quite a name for himself in the literary world.

No matter how successful he gets, though, he'll always have time to bond with his daughter. What a sweet and wholesome image!

Miko has also taken well to her new role as stepmother, helping Phoebe finish up her homework in the morning before school.

The Spice Festival is in town again, and it happens to coincide with Night on the Town Day, which means all of the food and drinks are free! I thought this would be a good occasion for the family to get out and spend some time together away from home.

Salim: I see somebody still can't handle a little bit of heat.

Miko: I see somebody never learned how to properly use chopsticks either.

Zora: Guys, just let me live! It's harder than it looks, damn it!

Phoebe: Wow, Mom, pretty sad that an old lady like you can't take the spiciness and a little girl like me can!
Miko: Now, now, Phoebe. Your mother can't help that she's an abnormal human being with freakishly sensitive taste buds.
Zora: Ugh, why does everybody have to be so mean? I hate you all! I'm out of here!

Phoebe is queen of the monkey bars. No other kid can touch her! Hey, wait a minute, where did the adults go?

Oh, it looks like Zora is introducing Miko and Salim to her old friend, the bubble blower. Judging by the expression on her face, it's a rather mindblowing reunion.

Zora: Whoa, guys, I am so high. We've gotta get out of here before I do something I'll regret later.

The next morning, Maki just happened to stop by while Salim was in the middle of making breakfast, and he got so flustered in her presence he nearly burned the entire apartment down.

Considering she once toyed with the idea of having a romantic relationship with Maki herself, I wasn't sure how Zora would react, but it looks like she's very pleased that two of her oldest friends may be finding love with one another before her eyes.

Phoebe: UGH! Dad, can you not? Get a room before I throw up my bacon!

Another day, another promotion. Miko is really working her way up in the political world.

Miko: Listen, kid, here's the deal. Your mom told me to keep an eye on you while she's at work, but I've got my own work to do, so you're going to play on that cool pirate ship over there while I squeeze the pockets of rich folks for donations. Got it?

I don't think Phoebe is too bothered by Miko's ulterior motives in bringing her to the park. She's already made fast friends with this adorable girl named Aahana, and it looks like they're in agreement that girls rule and boys (especially these nerdy boys trying to join their exclusive play group) drool.

Sim kids playing together has always been one of my favorite things to capture, and TS4 is no exception to that rule. These two are going to be BFFs in no time, I can just sense it.

Phoebe: Get off the ship, loser! Didn't you get the message? Boys aren't allowed to be pirates anymore. This is a girls only vessel. Now scram or I'll make you walk the plank!

It's a good thing Phoebe's making friends (and possibly enemies) because Miko just gave Zora the good news that they're expecting their first child together, which means they'll have less time to devote to Zora's firstborn.

But the baby's not here to suck up all of their time and energy yet, and it's finally snowed enough to stick, which means lots of winter family activities - another one of my favorite Sim things to capture!

Snow angel time! This was more a fluke of spacing rather than an intentional thing, but I love how Zora is adorably falling on top of Miko to make hers.

Miko: Who's ready to get totally pummeled? I may look nice, but I've got a mean throwing arm!

Phoebe: Lady, if one of those snowballs comes anywhere near me, I am never speaking to you again.

Zora: Don't mind her. I'm wide open, baby! Give me everything you've got!

Phoebe doesn't have time for a friendly snowball fight because she's spotted one of those nerdy boys she met at the park, who it looks like she's decided is now her personal object of torment.

Phoebe: Hey, freakazoid, what's that over there?

Phoebe: That's what you get for wearing a bow tie and cardigan with sweatpants, you weirdo square!

I'm not saying I promote child-on-child violence, and I certainly don't want her to become an all-out bully, but I am getting a good laugh out of seeing Phoebe develop this totally outspoken and assertive take-no-bullshit attitude.

If you're wondering why Salim didn't join in on the winter shenanigans, it's because he's a little, um... preoccupied with Maki, if you get what I mean. Comparing how quickly and easily this happened to how hard he had to work to get Liberty to even flirt with him, I wish he (and I) had seen the potential in Maki sooner.

Speaking of ideal couplings, Zora and Miko decided to go on a flirty if frigid park date to celebrate Miko's pregnancy. This picture mostly exists because I was really impressed that I could see their breath in the air - what a small but realistic detail!

Even making out on a park bench looks scenic in this game.

Miko: Remember this place, babe?
Zora: Hell yeah, I do! How could I possibly forget?
Miko: Want to make a new memory here right now?
Zora: HELL YEAH, I DO!

As passionate as their observatory lovemaking surely was, it wasn't quite enough to take the edge off the bitter cold outside. Zora lights a nice cozy fire so they can continue their romancing indoors.

Zora: Hey there, little lady. What can I get you to drink?
Miko: As much as I'd love a good martini, you'd better just make it water. Remember, I've got a little life growing inside me now.

Miko: Well, I'll be damned if this isn't the best water I've ever tasted! Of course, it helps that it was poured by such a sexy bartender...

Oh my God, these two are still so cute together! I'm so excited to see what kind of magic their combined genetics will work.