I think it's apple cider

I decided clean out my old saveGame files but checked the families first to see who they were. One was last opened on June 9, 2010. I thought I might be greeted with peeps laying on the bed waving goodbye to me when I opened the game but that was not the case. Mom and dad were in their mid-50's and their sons Loot and Ice were 16 and 13. Both boys were sick and needed antihistamine, after which their status said 'a bit weak'. So I split the fruit, vitamins and antibacterial gel between them and then they were both peachy. While mom went to the kitchen to make something for the family to eat (there was still 1200 food in the refrigerator), dad sent me the e-mail below! LOL!

Oh my goodness! How did that happen? But at least they're all happy and safe and alive now!

I routinely made copies of the saveGame files at different points in the game in case something happened. Usually I remember to 'pause' the game before making my copy. Looks like I forgot. Oops. After comparing that family to the current family, THAT family was 4 generations ago so after I got them all fed and happy, I deleted the file. One might ask why I bothered to feed them at all if I was just going to delete them anyways. The reason is simple... I thought the e-mail dad sent me was hilarious so I had to act on it! LOL!

Ha! Ha! It's like this:
Guiding Hand: Okay guys, I'm back! It's time to give you something to eat!
Virtual Family: Yay!!!!!
After Meal...
Guiding hand: Right guys, now your tummies are full, you're moving out! Bye!
Virtual Family: But we were gonna watch TV!
Guiding Hand: No excuses! Goodbye!

Of course I'm sure you didn't say it like that! I'm a huge exaggerator sometimes! Of course I understand why you had to act on that email!
Oh, what's a saveGame file? Is it like saving something on the hard drive? (I'm a Mac user so I don't know about Windows backups and I've never backed-up a game before)

Mac users also have savegame files (think of them as your families - preserving them). You can find out more about backing them up here.

Thanks! That was really helpful!

I'm on the first Gen

Here are my people and their ages

Matt - 50
Alice - 47
Tom - Off to college
Amy - Off to college
James - Off to college
Benjamin - 18
Ruby- 10
Vulcano - 3
Other Notes:
I have $850.00
Alice is a runner :DD
I will pick Tom for the next generation
Edit:Matt reached 50!I got the lessons of life trophy.

I started my very first family. I chose to adopt Megumi. She has hair in a bun with chopsticks and wears a red dress. I married her to Kenta who has black hair and wears a sweater with khaki pants. They gave birth to a girl named Ren who has messy bluish black hair. She is now 8 years old. They also game birth to a boy named Ryou who has brown hair that almost seems green. He is now 5 years old. I love my little peeps!!

Yes all the names are Japanese because I love Japan!

Updates:
Matt age 57 Level 7 QA Engineer
Alice age 55 level 5 Mail-Order Butcher(Was SO close to level 6 but got the email where she gets reset (GRRR!)
Tom:College
Amy:College
James:College
Benjamin:College
Ruby:18
Ray:10

Also i have $3554.38,6752 Food,and 37/48 collectables Which are:12/12 in the coins-11/12 Picture Pieces,9/12 Nuts and twigs,and 5/12 Bugs. Im on my first Gen. I will chose Tom and what ever he works as i will upgrade that area.I only have level 1 in the work areas.