Debutante

Mariela heads out into the world, hoping to meet friends and maybe a romantic interest. Her dad chooses this time to be completely inappropriate.



When will they get a sense of ownership?

Mariela heads to the pool, which she finds...



...practically empty. And then...



... filled with geriatrics. Actually, a bunch of her mom's old flames who have aged WAY faster than her. Weird.

She arranges to meet her childhood friend Buck Carlton at the park.



And finds that he's aged into an adult!

Finally she finds someone her own age.



I know Mariela's a genius, but why does she have to have a deep conversation about marriage with this guy she just met!



You've gotta be a saint to kiss that face.

Practically Yesterday...

... Mariela was a baby, and now she's going to be a teenager!



As she considers her wish, Talia just laughs and laughs at her.



Oh the growing pains!



Score! Except, poor Mariela, you seem to have inherited the elusive "Ugly" trait. Oh well. We can always hope for the next generation.

So we know that Mariela's mother has a taste for older men, but this really seems too
much.



Oh, so that's why she invited him over.



Much as she tried, she couldn't seem to beat him and fulfill her wish.

The house looks rather like a home, though!

Birthday Blitz

Gardening has been taking up most of Talia's spare time, and some of Ranier's too since they're both working full-time. So we're going to hit the highlights of the past few days, which pretty much amounts to... birthdays!

I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves. Some of those expressions are priceless!













A couple observations. Adults do not look any different than young adults. But they do look pretty smug.

And we have a LOT of leftover birthday cake! Is there any other way to age?

Bug-a-Boo

An interesting bug cropped up recently. Mariela with Dad:



Elast-o-Mariela!



And speaking of crops, Talia fulfilled an opportunity that took a lot of work and grew 3 great crops to give to Meadow!

Matriarchy in Progress

Welcome Mariela Lo Duco into the world! Does she have a big welcome home party waiting for her? Not quite.



Ranier still has the opportunity to complete his opportunity. You can see that work is going to come first in this family.



At least someone is paying attention to her. Mariela is a bit young to have gotten the "Don't talk to strangers" lesson.

But before you know it...



... they're growing up.




Peek-a-boo!

Oh Baby

Check out the new digs! Ranier brought about 2500 in funds, which definitely warranted a home renovation.



How cute!



Ranier gets this cool opportunity to bring a friend to his workplace for a meal (he's an aspiring chef) so I check out his contacts and guess who's an acquaintance!



Yup, that's Hunter Cottoneye. Without the hat or glasses. Who woulda thunk he was that attractive?

Talia arrives with all eyes on her...



Until she has to leave to go to the hospital! Check out how nonchalant Ranier is being. Don't worry, he follows shortly thereafter.

A Twilight Marriage

The breakup with Jon might have been harder on Talia than she realized. She begins to talk to herself, a disturbing event that becomes more and more frequent over time.



But whose chunky legs are those in the corner? It's Ranier!



He's so disappointed that she won't move in with him. Little does he know what's coming next...





Together at last.



Followed immediately by a private wedding ceremony. Because all of Talia's guests would be ex-boyfriends.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Jon doesn't seem prepared for the news of his and Talia's breakup. He should have had an inkling, since she asked to meet him in a graveyard.



First she tries to explain it to him.



And then when he asks for another chance, she says "No way!"



Talia is totally over it. She goes and picks a death flower. Just in case, I guess?



Jon, on the other hand...