Teddy and Rose have settled into a routine by now, Teddy all wrapped up in his scientific research, while Rose has set out to learn everything there is to know in life. (Her LTW since switching to Knowledge as her aspiration has become to max out 7 skills.) They've built a completely new house on their plot of land, demolishing the old wooden shack and putting up a brick structure, with proper insulation. While not the height of luxury, it's a very comfortable home.

Despite getting on in years, Teddy and Rose are definitely the most lovey-dovey couple in the neighbourhood. I don't know whether it's Rose's Romance past, or the fact that they only have one kid to care for and thus have more time for eachother. 





Teddy woke up with a crick in his neck one morning, and the creeping realisation that he really IS getting old.



While less visibly lined (cosmetics can do wonders for a girl), Rose has started making some concessions towards her age as well, mostly in the way she dresses and styles her hair. Bunching it up in a knot prevents it from falling in front of her face all the time while she's studying anyway.



Rose having seen something shocking while spying on the Greengrass Homestead. Her face just cracks me up :D



Besties Ivy and Flora spend a lot of time together, playing and talking. They've taken to enacting the adventures of Arthur and Riana, Crimefighters Extraordinaire lately.

Flora: "Bang! Bang! I will get you, you dastardly thief!"
Ivy: "Hahaaa, missed! Nobody can catch the Riverside Burglar!"
Teddy: "Will you girls keep it down a bit, please? Dad's trying to read up on reverse engineering alien technology."



Despite having highly intellingent parents, Ivy occasionally doesn't seem all that smart.



She definitely prefers playing, running around the house and whizzing down the stairs to burying her nose in the books. Personality-wise, she's a perfect mix of Teddy and Rose, having inherited Teddy's energy and Rose's playfulness. She's a very, uhm, busy kid.



I'm starting to want to refer to Teddy as Theodore (his given name) a lot more since he started dressing up for the whole scientist part.



Ivy's parents make sure she does her homework every night, despite Ivy being more interested in playing around with the fridge or in the bathtub.



As a reward, she gets to hold playdates for all the village kids afterwards. Here's Flora and Hannah, who have already become great friends as well.



Wensleydale comes over because his mum makes him, but he really doesn't understand these girls, especially not when you put them together in a group.





Apparently transportation is a big issue amongst children these days.



Ivy: "You know, I think cousin Wenny is really sweet on Hannah! He kicked her in the back yesterday, so that proves it."



Poor Ivy, having to watch television on the floor because her parents are having sloppy makeouts on the couch behind her :P



Rose and Teddy invited over their families for a little get together. Even though she only has to walk a few metres to get to the Babbling house, Lily insists on arriving by broom. Not that I mind, everyone loves a stylish entrance.



Apparently being around Teddy and Rose fans the flames of romance for Felix and Lily as well.

Violet: "Guys, party's inside. Can you stop crooning like a drowned chicken for five minutes and be sociable with the rest of us?"



Ivy seems to be a bit lost amongst the adults. She's not very interested in her uncle's conversation about the economy, and her aunt Lily won't share the gossip that she's gotten from that strange silvery lady, Anna.



Deciding to have an early night, because adults are boring, Ivy just went to bed. I love how kids sleep, all sprawled out in their beds :)



Unfortunately, during the night the Riverside Burglar struck again! She made off with a couple of the Babbling's most precious possessions, including the telescope upstairs. This burglary was the fifth in Riverside Hollow so far, and thereby unlocks the first spot in the Journalism career, which is arguably not a lot of comfort for the Babblings.



Fed up with having been the victim of a burglary three times (!) now, Theodore sets to work on a new robot to keep the house safe. He knows Arthur is against Security bots, but his family can't sleep peacefully anymore at night, so to hell with that excuse for a policeman.



Rose activates and programmes the security bot to protect their home from anyone who has bad intentions towards it. Let's hope it'll succesfully ward off the Riverside Burglar once and for all :)