PART 42!
Welcome back to another part!
A cloudy winter’s morning begins with Salim getting some early writing in before heading back to work
Not wanting to disturb her husband as he’s hard at work, Kate heads into the kitchen to make breakfast, hoping the smell of pancakes will draw him out!
She’s right that the smell will draw people in – Leia is quickly out of bed and watching some cartoons while she waits for breakfast
And the family have chance to eat together
With just over an hour until he has to head to work, Kate and Salim sit down and discuss something pretty important – another child. Kate has decided that she’s not sure she wants to be pregnant again or have a newborn baby, so they have been discussing adoption.
But unfortunately the conversation ends there, as Salim has to head to work
Upstairs, Leia is reading a book in her brother’s room
And Mateo wants to be just like his big sister, sitting down with a book too! Awwww!
Meanwhile, Kate does some research on adoption and makes an official application
She then has a chat to Liberty about it, who is very supportive and proud of her friend for making the decision to bring another child into the home
So with the application officially made and it just a matter of waiting, Kate sits her children down to tell them the news
She explains that she isn’t sure if they’ll be adopting a toddler or a child, but that they will be soon getting a new brother or sister
The siblings seem excited about the prospect of a new sibling
And Kate hugs them, grateful to them for being such amazing kids
Before making some lunch
Mateo is upstairs in bed, as the excitement of the day has meant he needs a nap
So it’s lunch and some mother-daughter bonding for Kate and Leia
Leia even decides to clean up after lunch, proving just what a wonderful kid she is!
She was thinking about diapers and blocks during cleaning, which I thought was so apt considering the conversation they’ve just had! I guess she’s excited!
Later, Salim gets home having earned a promotion
And soon gets a phone call from the adoption agency – their application was successful and they can head over tomorrow to meet some children, before adopting a child and being able to bring them home!
Salim shares the news with his wife, and the two are over the moon at the fact that they’ll be bringing a new child into the home
The couple are thrilled at the idea of bringing a child in need of love into their family and giving them all the love they can
And speaking of children, Kate heads over to the snowy Willow Creek to see Summer
She greets her friend, the new mother, before heading in to meet her child
Summer had a daughter, aptly named Winter as she was born on the first day of winter! So ladies and gentleman, this is Winter Holiday!
Back at home after an emotional day, Kate heads to bed
While Salim gives his son a bath
Before putting him to bed
Leia also heads to bed ready for school tomorrow
And Salim joins his wife in bed
And that’s that! What will happen next? What will the Benali-Armstrong’s newest addition be like? Will their new child settle in easily to their new home? What else will happen?
Be sure to keep leaving comments! I love seeing what you all want to see next!
Tune in next time for more of The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
THANKS FOR READING
XOX OliCait XOX
P.S. Sorry for the delays in updating guys! I've been having a few problems with my laptop as it's so old! I'm planning on buying a new one after Christmas! Next update hopefully coming later or tomorrow!
PART 43!
It’s time again to check in with the Benali-Armstrongs!
Today, it’s adoption day!
The family will be getting a new member!
Who else is excited?!
Well, we know Salim is, as he’s up early and prepping breakfast!
Leaving Mateo to sleep in, the rest of the family sit together and eat their omeletes for breakfast
With 2 hours left before she has to head to school, Leia decides she wants to spend some time in the freshly fallen snow
So she heads into the garden with her Mum to build a snowman
Well that’s one thing to welcome the new addition home to later, eh?!
As Leia heads off to school, Salim and his friends, Gavin and Bob, get cracking on putting the furniture up in the new child’s bedroom
They’ve designed it as a toddler’s room, as they are planning to adopt a toddler
And have stuck with the yellow walls and designed the room around it
The couple take a moment to themselves in the room, realising they will soon be heading out to pick up their new child, who will need lots of love, something they’re very prepared to give!
Mateo is up now too and very excited about the day ahead, so Salim plays with him for a while to get some of the energy out!
Liberty heads over to the Benali-Armstrong’s house to look after Mateo, and Kate shows her the newly furnished bedroom
And thanks her for looking after Mateo
Kate gets to cleaning the house, ready for their new arrival
And even bakes an apple pie!
And before heading off, Salim watches his son play in the snow for a while
Before Liberty takes over the childcare
And the couple head off
To meet their new child
While her parent’s are out, Leia returns home, now a B student! Congratulations Leia!
And ladies and gentleman, without further ado, this is the family’s newest addition!
Josette Benali-Armstrong!
The family meet their newest addition, with Leia happily greeting her new sibling
And Mateo seemingly very happy to meet his little sister!
The family head down to the kitchen to enjoy their freshly baked apple pie
And get to know their new addition, as well as chatting to Leia about her new B-grade at school!
As the parents start to clean up, Leia entertains her little siblings
But it’s not all fun and games, as Kate needs to potty train Josette
Before tucking her into bed for the first time in her new home
And as Kate also tucks Mateo in
She has some time to help her eldest daughter with her homework
Before it’s bedtime for the rest of the house
So, what will happen next? Will Josette settle in well to her new home? Will Leia continue doing well at school? Will Mateo enjoy his last day of being a toddler?
Find out next time on The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
So guys - do you want to hear a little about Josette’s history? Her parentage? Do you think we could include her birth mother in an episode even? Let me know what you think! Maybe we should just leave it, I just don't know if y'all think there should be a little more depth?
Josette is so adorable! Maybe you should talk about her birth parents with her being curious about them.
Great idea! I wanted to incorporate more about her adoption into the story without making it too deep or boring to read. I think bringing it up with her perhaps in her teen years will be interesting.
Question regarding Josettes adoption: would y'all like to see her birth mother visit her occasionally in an open adoption, or keep her only in stories we will tell Josette later?
Let me know!
Question regarding Josettes adoption: would y'all like to see her birth mother visit her occasionally in an open adoption, or keep her only in stories we will tell Josette later?
Let me know!
Maybe her birth mother can have visitation rights?
Question regarding Josettes adoption: would y'all like to see her birth mother visit her occasionally in an open adoption, or keep her only in stories we will tell Josette later?
Let me know!
Maybe her birth mother can have visitation rights?
This would be a good idea. Or do a toddler playdate. I think it would be cool to do an open adoption. It would be so nice to see who Josette takes after and the features and personality traits she gets from her mom.
(Top left to bottom right)Edur Zahrah, Cinderella, Tiana, Pocahantas, Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Emerson, Nicole, Traci, Addisyn
Question regarding Josettes adoption: would y'all like to see her birth mother visit her occasionally in an open adoption, or keep her only in stories we will tell Josette later?
Let me know!
Maybe her birth mother can have visitation rights?
This would be a good idea. Or do a toddler playdate. I think it would be cool to do an open adoption. It would be so nice to see who Josette takes after and the features and personality traits she gets from her mom.
Thanks for your ideas guys! If you guys want to see her biological mother in an episode or two I will be sure to include it! Perhaps when she becomes a child her mother will visit her! We'll see!
PART 44 So, as I’ve had some feedback from you guys I’ve decided that Josette’s adoption will be an open adoption (I was planning to do that but you guys confirmed you wanted it, so thanks!) I will update you with visits etc. as and when I decide to hold them.
Anyway, with all that said, let’s get back to it!
It’s christmas eve and also the night before Mateo’s birthday, so today is a busy day of preparation!
So of course, the family need a good breakfast to get them through! While Kate whips up some French toast
While Salim gets the kids up and ready
Breakfast was a rush and a lot happened so I didn’t manage to get a shot which is a shame, but here’s Salim enjoying breakfast with his daughter
Leia heads off to school, braving the snow
And Salim is not far behind
Meanwhile, Kate gets the kids wrapped up and the three head outside to play in the snow
They have a tonne of fun
And get soaking wet!
So after drying them off and getting them changed, Kate reads them a story
Which the children thoroughly enjoy, despite being full of energy of the excitement of tomorrow’s festivities!
The toddlers head upstairs and play in Josette’s room for a while
While Kate enjoys a few moments with a coffee on the porch, enjoying the winter snow
While Mateo is told to play nicely in his room for a while
Kate gives Josette a bath
Before putting the two down for a nap before christmas eve excitements begin
And getting a few moments to herself for a warm shower
Leia is home from school, excited for a day off for christmas, and has a snack
Wanting to leave the kids in bed a little longer, Kate grabs a few moments of writing time
And Salim chills out in front of the TV
But then, christmas festivities begin! Kate whips up some christmas cookies
While Salim and the kids put up the decorations
And then it’s time to decorate the tree!
While Leia and Kate take control of christmas tree duty
Salim reads his children a christmas story
And after the family enjoys the christmas cookies
It’s time to put the kids to bed, tucked in ready for santa to arrive with their gifts
And as each little angel is tucked in tight
Given kisses and wished sweet dreams
Some presents are placed under the tree
And it’s time for bed
Tomorrow, Mateo’s birthday AND christmas day! It’s gonna be a big one folks! So tune in next time for it!
PART 45
Merry Christmas!
It’s a busy day today as Kate is up early beginning to prep the christmas dinner
And she leaves some leftovers out for breakfast as the family slowly wake up and come down to enjoy them
And as she cooks through the morning
The rest of the family slowly emerge from their rooms and grab a bite to eat
While Salim keeps the kids busy in the snow outside
Kate also takes the chance to make Mateo’s birthday cake
The family have a few guests coming over for dinner, so they’ve set up extra tables in the living room (a kids table and an adults table) so there’s enough room for everyone
But before the christmas festivities can begin it’s time for Mateo to age up, blowing out the candles on his birthday cake
And he is officially a child! Happy Birthday Mateo!
For his birthday he got a swing set for the garden
And Kate and Salim also decided to set up monkey bars for the kids as a christmas gift
The christmas guests soon arrive ready for their lunch, with Liberty, Summer and their kids coming over (Gavin had to work)
Not wanting the turkey and ham to get cold, Kate soon calls everyone in for dinner
And the extended family get to eating!
The girls (that’s Winter next to Summer, she’s so cute!) aren’t much enjoying being sat in their high chairs so Summer sits them down to watch a little TV while everyone eats
And everyone slowly finishes off the plates, all dazed and stuffed after a delicious meal
Mateo and the twins head outside to brave the cold and play on his new swing set
But as the night draws in it’s time for the friends to head home. After some gift exchanges and hugs, the friends head home and the Benali-Armstrong’s gather around the tree to exhange gifts
Josette is first to open a gift
Followed by Mateo
Then Leia
Before Kate and Salim open their gifts too
All are happy with their gifts!
Among the collection of gifts are a science kit for Mateo,
a doll for Leia,
some toys, bubbles and a book for Josette,
a chess table for Salim…
And a karaoke machine for Kate! Awesome!
With gifts and food all done, the family head into the snow for some family fun
Building snowmen and enjoying the christmas snow!
While they were outside, Father Winter arrived and left some more gifts for the kids
So the three open them up happily
Josette even has a few extra gifts from her birth mother, who we’ll meet in a later episode
Upstairs, Mateo’s room has been remodelled for his birthday
So he has plenty to keep him occupied throughout his childhood!
But even christmas has to come to an end eventually, as the family head to bed after a long, exciting and tiring day
Even Kate and Salim head straight to sleep, too exhausted for any christmas woohoo this year!
Marriage and kids really does tire you out!
And another christmas in the Benali-Armstrong’s household is over! What will happen next? How will Mateo settle in at grade school? Will Josette continue settling in well at home? What else will happen?
Find out next time on The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
HEY GUYS! Sorry there hasn't been updates; I've been working on assignments and I've also been working on a remodel on The Sims 4 too which will hopefully be up a little later! New updates for the story will be coming soon! Thanks for your patience!
Hey guys. So like I said I may not be updating for a while as I'm really into builds at the moment in the free time I do have, and I don't have much due to uni assignments. I will DEFINITELY be back soon - in the meantime, if you're interested in building and refurbishments, check out my refurb: https://forums.thesims.com/En_US/discussion/952194/renovating-the-landgraab-mansion/p1?new=1
Sorry guys. I'm afraid my game is just being way too slow to be able to do an episode today. I may need to take a break for a while until I can get it all fixed. Keep the story bookmarked for now and I'll come back to it when I can! Thanks for being understanding. X
PART 46!
It’s another Friday in Brindleton Bay and Kate is up early to finish her latest book
While Mateo and Leia are having breakfast and getting ready for Mateo’s first day of school
Leia talks him through what school is like, and Mateo says he’s most looking forward to science class
The kids even have time to quickly rush through some homework with the help of their Dad
Before being waved off to school by their Mum
Who quickly returns to writing after waving them off
While Salim wakes up Josette and sits down for breakfast with her, leaving his wife to write
But not for long, as she soon comes walking out confidently, having finished her latest book!
So she joins her family for breakfast
Before spending some time playing with Josette
I’m so glad these two decided to adopt – Josette is the perfect child! She’s independent so she goes potty and can handle being alone for a while, and is well behaved (so far)!
Salim decides to relax in front of the TV on his day off
While Kate is upstairs teaching Josette some basic needs
Before putting her down for a nap – dolls and learning is hard work for this little one!
With an hour before the kids return home from school, Kate takes time to take a look online for Leia’s birthday present – she’s becoming a teenager in 2 days!
But she quickly has to shut the computer off as the kids return home
As Mateo comes into the office to tell his parents all about his first day of school
Kate decides to order a pizza to celebrate Mateo’s first day
And the kids watch some TV after dinner
With their little sister, who decided she had enough of the blocks she was playing with upstairs and came down for some pizza
And after bath time for the kids
It’s time for bed for them all, as Salim reads his daughter a story
While Mateo and Leia head straight to bed
Leia needs plenty of rest before her last day of grade school tomorrow
And it’s not long before the parents are in bed too
And that’s the end of another day for the Benali-Armstrongs!
What will happen next? Will Leia’s last day of grade school go well? And what will she be like as a teenager? What gift is Kate planning to get her?
Find out next time on The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
THANKS FOR READING, and your patience with the delay in updates recently!
It’s the day before Leia’s birthday, and her last day at grade school! Time sure flies!
Salim, Leia and Mateo are up and having breakfast
And Leia is talking about her last day of school and her birthday
But the chat is cut short as the three have to leave for work and school
Soon after they’ve left, the girls are up and having breakfast too
And after giving Josette a quick bath
Summer and Winter come over for a play date
The girls play dolls for a while
While the Mums sit and chat and watch them play
The kids are home from school and Mateo heads out into the garden to play on the monkey bars
While Leia sits with the girls to watch some TV
Which gives Summer and Kate a good chat about tomorrow’s birthday party for Leia and the mystery gift they’re getting for her
Before it gets dark the girls want to play in the snow, so Salim sits out on the swings to watch them for a while
And has a bit of fun himself!
As night draws in the Holiday girls must head home
So Leia keeps Josette company upstairs
While Mateo does his homework in the kitchen alongside his Dad who’s reading a new book
Kate whips up a birthday cake for tomorrow
And Josette wants to watch her mother cook while she makes a chicken stir fry for dinner – I wonder if she’ll grow to love cooking?
And the family sit down to eat their Friday night dinner together
And soon after, the kids head to bed
With a long day of birthday celebrations coming tomorrow
And with the kids in bed, Salim gets to work putting up the decorations for tomorrow…
He decorates the kitchen
The living room
The front door
And he even places some balloons outside of Leia’s bedroom
Meanwhile, Kate gets to work whipping up a few snacks for the party tomorrow
And the two finally get to bed, readily awaiting their eldest child’s birthday!
And that’s it for another day! What will happen next? How will Leia’s birthday party go? What will she be like as a teenager? And WHAT is the mystery gift?!
Find out next time on The Life of the Benali-Armstrongs!
So guys! It's the new year after tomorrow's episode, and we'll also have kids of all 3 ages - so, what do you want to see happen next?! I want to make sure this story stays engaging!
Maybe we can see Leia develop some more interests and bringing friends over and kates' friend's kids coming over more.
Yes I deffo want to do that, it's just so hard to accommodate it when it can take me ages to take a single shot! I will be trying to have more of their friends showing up!
It’s the day of Leia’s birthday and I can’t believe how quickly she’s aged! It feels like just yesterday she was a little baby…
It’s also New Year’s Eve, so we have a double party and celebration today!
Salim is up first and gets started on French toast, Leia’s favourite breakfast
While Kate gets Josette up and ready for the day
And the family sit together to eat breakfast with the birthday girl, who has to resist the urge to open some presents!
But not for long, as she’s soon opening up the pile of presents from family and friends – she gets some new clothes, some new bedroom furniture and a few trinkets
And before long, it’s party time!
Leia has a great time dancing with her friends – the twins (Thomas and Tobias) and her friend from school. Fiona
The snacks go down well too
And Leia sits alongside her family and friends and enjoys her cookies
And before long it’s time to blow out the candles!
And Leia is a teenager! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEIA!
And here she is! This is her party outfit, but you’ll get to see her other outfits over time!
And her new bedroom, which is similar to her childhood bedroom other than a new bed and some décor, including plant lights, a make-up table, and some make-up and hair products on her dresser
Salim gives his daughter another gift from him and Kate, and she’s a little confused
Um… Salim? Why…
Well, because the surprise gift for Leia is a kitten!
Leia decides to name the kitten Tiddles, and she instantly falls in love with him!
She thanks her parents for the amazing gift
Leia’s friend Julian pops over to wish her a happy birthday
And she greets her friend happily
The friends talk for a while, as the clock ticks towards midnight
And soon it’s time for the countdown…
5…. 4…. 3…. 2…. 1….
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The family and friends celebrate the new year together
And it’s soon time for bed
Leia feeds Tiddles before heading to bed
And they fall asleep together – I can already tell they’re going to be the best of friends!
And that’s all for this part!
Well, a lot happened! Leia is now a teenager, we have a new kitten, and it’s the start of a new year for the Benali-Armstrongs!
What will this year bring?
Find out next time on The Life of the Benali-Armstrongs!
It’s another day in Brindleton Bay and Kate is the first up, heading into the office to get started on a new book
Josette is soon up too, and sitting in the office with her Mum and playing with some blocks
And it’s not long before Leia is up and bringing Tiddles downstairs for his breakfast
The newly aged-up teenager has decided to test out her cooking skills by making breakfast for her family
Which goes seemingly well – no fires at least!
Mateo quickly joins his sister for breakfast
Enthusing and complimenting her for a successful breakfast
The rest of the family soon join too, and Leia’s cooking skills are quickly complimented by her family – it looks like she’ll be doing the cooking today!
It’s Josette’s birthday tomorrow
(does anyone else feel like we’re having a birthday every other day here?)
So, Kate and Salim want to spend a day out with their children
Mateo bumps into Thomas and Tobias (Thomas pictured here) and heads off to play with them
While Kate and Salim watch Josette play on the slide
Mateo is having a great time playing with his school friends
And Leia spends a while cloud gazing and sunbathing
Mateo spends some time chatting to his friend from school.
Aww. She looks so shy. Childhood romance, anyone?!
Salim grills some burgers
But Leia bumps into some school friends, so skips out on lunch with the family (she is a teenager after all!)
So, while the rest of the family sit down to enjoy their burgers
Leia sits down to play chess with Harry
But it’s not long before Salim does a not-so-subtle walk by, to make sure chess is the only game they’re playing!
Some father/son bonding gets underway as the afternoon draws on, as Salim teaches his son to fish
And the two do some fishing together
Mateo even catches his first fish! A little guppy! AW!
As the evening draws in, the family head home after a happy day at the park, sitting together to watch a film before it’s time for bed
Even Tiddles joins in the family watch party!
And before heading to bed ready for her first day of high school, Leia wants to get in some play time with Tiddles, so she grabs a laser pen and has some fun with the kitty!
This is such a cute interaction!
Upstairs, Kate reads Josette a bed time story for the last time, as tomorrow she will age up!
Deciding to take on some more adult responsibilities, Leia offers to put up the decorations for her sister’s birthday
Piling up the gifts and setting up some balloons
Before she heads to bed and it’s the end of another day for the Benali-Armstrong’s!
What will happen next? How will Josette’s birthday go, with a visit with her birth mother? How will Leia’s first day of high school go? What else will happen?
Find out next time on the Life of the Benali-Armstrong’s!
It’s part 50! To celebrate, we’ve got a very special episode! Today is the day of Josette’s birthday.
As you’ll remember, Josette is Kate and Salim’s adopted daughter.
With your help, we decided that Josette’s adoption would be open – her birth mother will be able to visit occasionally (birthdays mainly), with her first visit today!
So, without further ado, here’s our special part 50 episode!
Our morning begins with Leia doing her pet-owner chores – cleaning the litter box!
And having breakfast with her brother, sharing her anxieties about her first day of high school
Before heading off! Good luck Leia!
And is quickly followed by Mateo!
Kate and the birthday girl are up next, having breakfast together as Kate explains the events of the day
Before Salim takes her upstairs to get ready
And the two play dolls
While downstairs, Kate whips up a cake for Josette
And Kate greets today’s special guest… Jolene Timothy – Josette’s birth mother!
The mothers sit together and talk for a while, about Josette’s childhood and the adoption
And even sharing photos of Josette’s first week at home
Before it’s time for Jolene to meet her daughter for the first time since she was born
The two are both shy at first, but they soon get comfortable with each other and they start chatting happily
Even telling jokes and laughing together
Kate heads to the kitchen to make some coffee, giving the two some space to get to know each other
And before long it’s time for little Josette to age up!
(I missed the aging up unfortunately!)
And it’s time for the presents
Jolene gives her a scrap book for photos from her pregnancy and a few family photos too, after clearing it with Kate, who thought it was a brilliant idea
And after gifts, the family head upstairs to show Josette her new bedroom
Styled green!
While Josette shows Jolene her new bedroom
Tiddles surprises us all with aging up too! Well happy birthday to you too, Tiddles!
Upstairs, Jolene and Josette have another chat
Before it’s time for Jolene to head off. She bids Josette goodbye and tells her she can’t wait to see her again soon
And downstairs, Jolene thanks Kate for the visit, telling her how amazing it was to see her daughter and see that she’s in a loving family.
Kate and Jolene share an emotional hug, before Jolene heads home
And Kate gets a bit of time with her eldest daughter
And the two chat about her first day at high school – it went well, she made some friends, and she’s really enjoying her classes
But she’s feeling unwell, so she soon is told to head to bed
And as the rest of the family follow suit
It’s the end of an emotional day for the Benali-Armstrong’s
What will happen next? Will Leia continue to enjoy school? Will Josette enjoy grade school? Will she be okay, now she’s met her mother, not seeing her again for a while?
And one final question – as part of the PART 50 celebrations, I want to know your opinion – do you want to hear more about Jolene’s story? Her pregnancy, and why she had to put Josette up for adoption?
Let me know in the comments below!
Comments
Doesn't seem to have one I checked the baby's genealogy! Very strange!
And yes, adoption is an idea for them as time is ticking. It may seem like they're rushing the kids thing but Salim ages up to elder in 10 days!
Welcome back to another part!
A cloudy winter’s morning begins with Salim getting some early writing in before heading back to work
Not wanting to disturb her husband as he’s hard at work, Kate heads into the kitchen to make breakfast, hoping the smell of pancakes will draw him out!
She’s right that the smell will draw people in – Leia is quickly out of bed and watching some cartoons while she waits for breakfast
And the family have chance to eat together
With just over an hour until he has to head to work, Kate and Salim sit down and discuss something pretty important – another child. Kate has decided that she’s not sure she wants to be pregnant again or have a newborn baby, so they have been discussing adoption.
But unfortunately the conversation ends there, as Salim has to head to work
Upstairs, Leia is reading a book in her brother’s room
And Mateo wants to be just like his big sister, sitting down with a book too! Awwww!
Meanwhile, Kate does some research on adoption and makes an official application
She then has a chat to Liberty about it, who is very supportive and proud of her friend for making the decision to bring another child into the home
So with the application officially made and it just a matter of waiting, Kate sits her children down to tell them the news
She explains that she isn’t sure if they’ll be adopting a toddler or a child, but that they will be soon getting a new brother or sister
The siblings seem excited about the prospect of a new sibling
And Kate hugs them, grateful to them for being such amazing kids
Before making some lunch
Mateo is upstairs in bed, as the excitement of the day has meant he needs a nap
So it’s lunch and some mother-daughter bonding for Kate and Leia
Leia even decides to clean up after lunch, proving just what a wonderful kid she is!
She was thinking about diapers and blocks during cleaning, which I thought was so apt considering the conversation they’ve just had! I guess she’s excited!
Later, Salim gets home having earned a promotion
And soon gets a phone call from the adoption agency – their application was successful and they can head over tomorrow to meet some children, before adopting a child and being able to bring them home!
Salim shares the news with his wife, and the two are over the moon at the fact that they’ll be bringing a new child into the home
The couple are thrilled at the idea of bringing a child in need of love into their family and giving them all the love they can
And speaking of children, Kate heads over to the snowy Willow Creek to see Summer
She greets her friend, the new mother, before heading in to meet her child
Summer had a daughter, aptly named Winter as she was born on the first day of winter! So ladies and gentleman, this is Winter Holiday!
Back at home after an emotional day, Kate heads to bed
While Salim gives his son a bath
Before putting him to bed
Leia also heads to bed ready for school tomorrow
And Salim joins his wife in bed
And that’s that! What will happen next? What will the Benali-Armstrong’s newest addition be like? Will their new child settle in easily to their new home? What else will happen?
Be sure to keep leaving comments! I love seeing what you all want to see next!
Tune in next time for more of The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
THANKS FOR READING
XOX OliCait XOX
P.S. Sorry for the delays in updating guys! I've been having a few problems with my laptop as it's so old! I'm planning on buying a new one after Christmas! Next update hopefully coming later or tomorrow!
It’s time again to check in with the Benali-Armstrongs!
Today, it’s adoption day!
The family will be getting a new member!
Who else is excited?!
Well, we know Salim is, as he’s up early and prepping breakfast!
Leaving Mateo to sleep in, the rest of the family sit together and eat their omeletes for breakfast
With 2 hours left before she has to head to school, Leia decides she wants to spend some time in the freshly fallen snow
So she heads into the garden with her Mum to build a snowman
Well that’s one thing to welcome the new addition home to later, eh?!
As Leia heads off to school, Salim and his friends, Gavin and Bob, get cracking on putting the furniture up in the new child’s bedroom
They’ve designed it as a toddler’s room, as they are planning to adopt a toddler
And have stuck with the yellow walls and designed the room around it
The couple take a moment to themselves in the room, realising they will soon be heading out to pick up their new child, who will need lots of love, something they’re very prepared to give!
Mateo is up now too and very excited about the day ahead, so Salim plays with him for a while to get some of the energy out!
Liberty heads over to the Benali-Armstrong’s house to look after Mateo, and Kate shows her the newly furnished bedroom
And thanks her for looking after Mateo
Kate gets to cleaning the house, ready for their new arrival
And even bakes an apple pie!
And before heading off, Salim watches his son play in the snow for a while
Before Liberty takes over the childcare
And the couple head off
To meet their new child
While her parent’s are out, Leia returns home, now a B student! Congratulations Leia!
And ladies and gentleman, without further ado, this is the family’s newest addition!
Josette Benali-Armstrong!
The family meet their newest addition, with Leia happily greeting her new sibling
And Mateo seemingly very happy to meet his little sister!
The family head down to the kitchen to enjoy their freshly baked apple pie
And get to know their new addition, as well as chatting to Leia about her new B-grade at school!
As the parents start to clean up, Leia entertains her little siblings
But it’s not all fun and games, as Kate needs to potty train Josette
Before tucking her into bed for the first time in her new home
And as Kate also tucks Mateo in
She has some time to help her eldest daughter with her homework
Before it’s bedtime for the rest of the house
So, what will happen next? Will Josette settle in well to her new home? Will Leia continue doing well at school? Will Mateo enjoy his last day of being a toddler?
Find out next time on The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
So guys - do you want to hear a little about Josette’s history? Her parentage? Do you think we could include her birth mother in an episode even? Let me know what you think! Maybe we should just leave it, I just don't know if y'all think there should be a little more depth?
THANKS FOR READING!
XOX OliCait XOX
Great idea! I wanted to incorporate more about her adoption into the story without making it too deep or boring to read. I think bringing it up with her perhaps in her teen years will be interesting.
Let me know!
This would be a good idea. Or do a toddler playdate. I think it would be cool to do an open adoption. It would be so nice to see who Josette takes after and the features and personality traits she gets from her mom.
(Top left to bottom right)Edur Zahrah, Cinderella, Tiana, Pocahantas, Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Emerson, Nicole, Traci, Addisyn
Thanks for your ideas guys! If you guys want to see her biological mother in an episode or two I will be sure to include it! Perhaps when she becomes a child her mother will visit her! We'll see!
So, as I’ve had some feedback from you guys I’ve decided that Josette’s adoption will be an open adoption (I was planning to do that but you guys confirmed you wanted it, so thanks!) I will update you with visits etc. as and when I decide to hold them.
Anyway, with all that said, let’s get back to it!
It’s christmas eve and also the night before Mateo’s birthday, so today is a busy day of preparation!
So of course, the family need a good breakfast to get them through! While Kate whips up some French toast
While Salim gets the kids up and ready
Breakfast was a rush and a lot happened so I didn’t manage to get a shot which is a shame, but here’s Salim enjoying breakfast with his daughter
Leia heads off to school, braving the snow
And Salim is not far behind
Meanwhile, Kate gets the kids wrapped up and the three head outside to play in the snow
They have a tonne of fun
And get soaking wet!
So after drying them off and getting them changed, Kate reads them a story
Which the children thoroughly enjoy, despite being full of energy of the excitement of tomorrow’s festivities!
The toddlers head upstairs and play in Josette’s room for a while
While Kate enjoys a few moments with a coffee on the porch, enjoying the winter snow
While Mateo is told to play nicely in his room for a while
Kate gives Josette a bath
Before putting the two down for a nap before christmas eve excitements begin
And getting a few moments to herself for a warm shower
Leia is home from school, excited for a day off for christmas, and has a snack
Wanting to leave the kids in bed a little longer, Kate grabs a few moments of writing time
And Salim chills out in front of the TV
But then, christmas festivities begin! Kate whips up some christmas cookies
While Salim and the kids put up the decorations
And then it’s time to decorate the tree!
While Leia and Kate take control of christmas tree duty
Salim reads his children a christmas story
And after the family enjoys the christmas cookies
It’s time to put the kids to bed, tucked in ready for santa to arrive with their gifts
And as each little angel is tucked in tight
Given kisses and wished sweet dreams
Some presents are placed under the tree
And it’s time for bed
Tomorrow, Mateo’s birthday AND christmas day! It’s gonna be a big one folks! So tune in next time for it!
THANKS FOR READING!
XOX OliCait XOX
Merry Christmas!
It’s a busy day today as Kate is up early beginning to prep the christmas dinner
And she leaves some leftovers out for breakfast as the family slowly wake up and come down to enjoy them
And as she cooks through the morning
The rest of the family slowly emerge from their rooms and grab a bite to eat
While Salim keeps the kids busy in the snow outside
Kate also takes the chance to make Mateo’s birthday cake
The family have a few guests coming over for dinner, so they’ve set up extra tables in the living room (a kids table and an adults table) so there’s enough room for everyone
But before the christmas festivities can begin it’s time for Mateo to age up, blowing out the candles on his birthday cake
And he is officially a child! Happy Birthday Mateo!
For his birthday he got a swing set for the garden
And Kate and Salim also decided to set up monkey bars for the kids as a christmas gift
The christmas guests soon arrive ready for their lunch, with Liberty, Summer and their kids coming over (Gavin had to work)
Not wanting the turkey and ham to get cold, Kate soon calls everyone in for dinner
And the extended family get to eating!
The girls (that’s Winter next to Summer, she’s so cute!) aren’t much enjoying being sat in their high chairs so Summer sits them down to watch a little TV while everyone eats
And everyone slowly finishes off the plates, all dazed and stuffed after a delicious meal
Mateo and the twins head outside to brave the cold and play on his new swing set
But as the night draws in it’s time for the friends to head home. After some gift exchanges and hugs, the friends head home and the Benali-Armstrong’s gather around the tree to exhange gifts
Josette is first to open a gift
Followed by Mateo
Then Leia
Before Kate and Salim open their gifts too
All are happy with their gifts!
Among the collection of gifts are a science kit for Mateo,
a doll for Leia,
some toys, bubbles and a book for Josette,
a chess table for Salim…
And a karaoke machine for Kate! Awesome!
With gifts and food all done, the family head into the snow for some family fun
Building snowmen and enjoying the christmas snow!
While they were outside, Father Winter arrived and left some more gifts for the kids
So the three open them up happily
Josette even has a few extra gifts from her birth mother, who we’ll meet in a later episode
Upstairs, Mateo’s room has been remodelled for his birthday
So he has plenty to keep him occupied throughout his childhood!
But even christmas has to come to an end eventually, as the family head to bed after a long, exciting and tiring day
Even Kate and Salim head straight to sleep, too exhausted for any christmas woohoo this year!
Marriage and kids really does tire you out!
And another christmas in the Benali-Armstrong’s household is over! What will happen next? How will Mateo settle in at grade school? Will Josette continue settling in well at home? What else will happen?
Find out next time on The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
THANKS FOR READING!
XOX OliCait XOX
It’s another Friday in Brindleton Bay and Kate is up early to finish her latest book
While Mateo and Leia are having breakfast and getting ready for Mateo’s first day of school
Leia talks him through what school is like, and Mateo says he’s most looking forward to science class
The kids even have time to quickly rush through some homework with the help of their Dad
Before being waved off to school by their Mum
Who quickly returns to writing after waving them off
While Salim wakes up Josette and sits down for breakfast with her, leaving his wife to write
But not for long, as she soon comes walking out confidently, having finished her latest book!
So she joins her family for breakfast
Before spending some time playing with Josette
I’m so glad these two decided to adopt – Josette is the perfect child! She’s independent so she goes potty and can handle being alone for a while, and is well behaved (so far)!
Salim decides to relax in front of the TV on his day off
While Kate is upstairs teaching Josette some basic needs
Before putting her down for a nap – dolls and learning is hard work for this little one!
With an hour before the kids return home from school, Kate takes time to take a look online for Leia’s birthday present – she’s becoming a teenager in 2 days!
But she quickly has to shut the computer off as the kids return home
As Mateo comes into the office to tell his parents all about his first day of school
Kate decides to order a pizza to celebrate Mateo’s first day
And the kids watch some TV after dinner
With their little sister, who decided she had enough of the blocks she was playing with upstairs and came down for some pizza
And after bath time for the kids
It’s time for bed for them all, as Salim reads his daughter a story
While Mateo and Leia head straight to bed
Leia needs plenty of rest before her last day of grade school tomorrow
And it’s not long before the parents are in bed too
And that’s the end of another day for the Benali-Armstrongs!
What will happen next? Will Leia’s last day of grade school go well? And what will she be like as a teenager? What gift is Kate planning to get her?
Find out next time on The Life of The Benali-Armstrongs!
THANKS FOR READING, and your patience with the delay in updates recently!
XOX OliCait XOX
It’s the day before Leia’s birthday, and her last day at grade school! Time sure flies!
Salim, Leia and Mateo are up and having breakfast
And Leia is talking about her last day of school and her birthday
But the chat is cut short as the three have to leave for work and school
Soon after they’ve left, the girls are up and having breakfast too
And after giving Josette a quick bath
Summer and Winter come over for a play date
The girls play dolls for a while
While the Mums sit and chat and watch them play
The kids are home from school and Mateo heads out into the garden to play on the monkey bars
While Leia sits with the girls to watch some TV
Which gives Summer and Kate a good chat about tomorrow’s birthday party for Leia and the mystery gift they’re getting for her
Before it gets dark the girls want to play in the snow, so Salim sits out on the swings to watch them for a while
And has a bit of fun himself!
As night draws in the Holiday girls must head home
So Leia keeps Josette company upstairs
While Mateo does his homework in the kitchen alongside his Dad who’s reading a new book
Kate whips up a birthday cake for tomorrow
And Josette wants to watch her mother cook while she makes a chicken stir fry for dinner – I wonder if she’ll grow to love cooking?
And the family sit down to eat their Friday night dinner together
And soon after, the kids head to bed
With a long day of birthday celebrations coming tomorrow
And with the kids in bed, Salim gets to work putting up the decorations for tomorrow…
He decorates the kitchen
The living room
The front door
And he even places some balloons outside of Leia’s bedroom
Meanwhile, Kate gets to work whipping up a few snacks for the party tomorrow
And the two finally get to bed, readily awaiting their eldest child’s birthday!
And that’s it for another day! What will happen next? How will Leia’s birthday party go? What will she be like as a teenager? And WHAT is the mystery gift?!
Find out next time on The Life of the Benali-Armstrongs!
THANKS FOR READING!
XOX OliCait XOX
Yes I deffo want to do that, it's just so hard to accommodate it when it can take me ages to take a single shot! I will be trying to have more of their friends showing up!
It’s the day of Leia’s birthday and I can’t believe how quickly she’s aged! It feels like just yesterday she was a little baby…
It’s also New Year’s Eve, so we have a double party and celebration today!
Salim is up first and gets started on French toast, Leia’s favourite breakfast
While Kate gets Josette up and ready for the day
And the family sit together to eat breakfast with the birthday girl, who has to resist the urge to open some presents!
But not for long, as she’s soon opening up the pile of presents from family and friends – she gets some new clothes, some new bedroom furniture and a few trinkets
And before long, it’s party time!
Leia has a great time dancing with her friends – the twins (Thomas and Tobias) and her friend from school. Fiona
The snacks go down well too
And Leia sits alongside her family and friends and enjoys her cookies
And before long it’s time to blow out the candles!
And Leia is a teenager! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEIA!
And here she is! This is her party outfit, but you’ll get to see her other outfits over time!
And her new bedroom, which is similar to her childhood bedroom other than a new bed and some décor, including plant lights, a make-up table, and some make-up and hair products on her dresser
Salim gives his daughter another gift from him and Kate, and she’s a little confused
Um… Salim? Why…
Well, because the surprise gift for Leia is a kitten!
Leia decides to name the kitten Tiddles, and she instantly falls in love with him!
She thanks her parents for the amazing gift
Leia’s friend Julian pops over to wish her a happy birthday
And she greets her friend happily
The friends talk for a while, as the clock ticks towards midnight
And soon it’s time for the countdown…
5…. 4…. 3…. 2…. 1….
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The family and friends celebrate the new year together
And it’s soon time for bed
Leia feeds Tiddles before heading to bed
And they fall asleep together – I can already tell they’re going to be the best of friends!
And that’s all for this part!
Well, a lot happened! Leia is now a teenager, we have a new kitten, and it’s the start of a new year for the Benali-Armstrongs!
What will this year bring?
Find out next time on The Life of the Benali-Armstrongs!
THANKS FOR READING!
XOX OliCait XOX
It’s another day in Brindleton Bay and Kate is the first up, heading into the office to get started on a new book
Josette is soon up too, and sitting in the office with her Mum and playing with some blocks
And it’s not long before Leia is up and bringing Tiddles downstairs for his breakfast
The newly aged-up teenager has decided to test out her cooking skills by making breakfast for her family
Which goes seemingly well – no fires at least!
Mateo quickly joins his sister for breakfast
Enthusing and complimenting her for a successful breakfast
The rest of the family soon join too, and Leia’s cooking skills are quickly complimented by her family – it looks like she’ll be doing the cooking today!
It’s Josette’s birthday tomorrow
(does anyone else feel like we’re having a birthday every other day here?)
So, Kate and Salim want to spend a day out with their children
Mateo bumps into Thomas and Tobias (Thomas pictured here) and heads off to play with them
While Kate and Salim watch Josette play on the slide
Mateo is having a great time playing with his school friends
And Leia spends a while cloud gazing and sunbathing
Mateo spends some time chatting to his friend from school.
Aww. She looks so shy. Childhood romance, anyone?!
Salim grills some burgers
But Leia bumps into some school friends, so skips out on lunch with the family (she is a teenager after all!)
So, while the rest of the family sit down to enjoy their burgers
Leia sits down to play chess with Harry
But it’s not long before Salim does a not-so-subtle walk by, to make sure chess is the only game they’re playing!
Some father/son bonding gets underway as the afternoon draws on, as Salim teaches his son to fish
And the two do some fishing together
Mateo even catches his first fish! A little guppy! AW!
As the evening draws in, the family head home after a happy day at the park, sitting together to watch a film before it’s time for bed
Even Tiddles joins in the family watch party!
And before heading to bed ready for her first day of high school, Leia wants to get in some play time with Tiddles, so she grabs a laser pen and has some fun with the kitty!
This is such a cute interaction!
Upstairs, Kate reads Josette a bed time story for the last time, as tomorrow she will age up!
Deciding to take on some more adult responsibilities, Leia offers to put up the decorations for her sister’s birthday
Piling up the gifts and setting up some balloons
Before she heads to bed and it’s the end of another day for the Benali-Armstrong’s!
What will happen next? How will Josette’s birthday go, with a visit with her birth mother? How will Leia’s first day of high school go? What else will happen?
Find out next time on the Life of the Benali-Armstrong’s!
THANKS FOR READING!
XOX OliCait XOX
It’s part 50! To celebrate, we’ve got a very special episode! Today is the day of Josette’s birthday.
As you’ll remember, Josette is Kate and Salim’s adopted daughter.
With your help, we decided that Josette’s adoption would be open – her birth mother will be able to visit occasionally (birthdays mainly), with her first visit today!
So, without further ado, here’s our special part 50 episode!
Our morning begins with Leia doing her pet-owner chores – cleaning the litter box!
And having breakfast with her brother, sharing her anxieties about her first day of high school
Before heading off! Good luck Leia!
And is quickly followed by Mateo!
Kate and the birthday girl are up next, having breakfast together as Kate explains the events of the day
Before Salim takes her upstairs to get ready
And the two play dolls
While downstairs, Kate whips up a cake for Josette
And Kate greets today’s special guest… Jolene Timothy – Josette’s birth mother!
The mothers sit together and talk for a while, about Josette’s childhood and the adoption
And even sharing photos of Josette’s first week at home
Before it’s time for Jolene to meet her daughter for the first time since she was born
The two are both shy at first, but they soon get comfortable with each other and they start chatting happily
Even telling jokes and laughing together
Kate heads to the kitchen to make some coffee, giving the two some space to get to know each other
And before long it’s time for little Josette to age up!
(I missed the aging up unfortunately!)
And it’s time for the presents
Jolene gives her a scrap book for photos from her pregnancy and a few family photos too, after clearing it with Kate, who thought it was a brilliant idea
And after gifts, the family head upstairs to show Josette her new bedroom
Styled green!
While Josette shows Jolene her new bedroom
Tiddles surprises us all with aging up too! Well happy birthday to you too, Tiddles!
Upstairs, Jolene and Josette have another chat
Before it’s time for Jolene to head off. She bids Josette goodbye and tells her she can’t wait to see her again soon
And downstairs, Jolene thanks Kate for the visit, telling her how amazing it was to see her daughter and see that she’s in a loving family.
Kate and Jolene share an emotional hug, before Jolene heads home
And Kate gets a bit of time with her eldest daughter
And the two chat about her first day at high school – it went well, she made some friends, and she’s really enjoying her classes
But she’s feeling unwell, so she soon is told to head to bed
And as the rest of the family follow suit
It’s the end of an emotional day for the Benali-Armstrong’s
What will happen next? Will Leia continue to enjoy school? Will Josette enjoy grade school? Will she be okay, now she’s met her mother, not seeing her again for a while?
And one final question – as part of the PART 50 celebrations, I want to know your opinion – do you want to hear more about Jolene’s story? Her pregnancy, and why she had to put Josette up for adoption?
Let me know in the comments below!
THANKS FOR READING
XOX OliCait XOX