cereality

Carlin posted a pic and Layla's 2 years younger brother is legit only 4-5 inches shorter than her. He is set to catch up to her fast. Whatever happened to that pool they were going to have by summer? End of April and no ground broken yet. Given that summer starts by Memorial Day down south where the weather is warm, was the contractor BS-ing them? Did the contractor get a bigger better job so C&E's dinky child sized pool isn't at the top of the list? How ever will they party party now? It would've been perfect to have the pool to have Katie/Trav over all the time until Sept.

I think that's probably true of all these girls. They came from this worldview of you only ever look at your future husband and he only ever looks at you, period - you NEVER have a coworker of the opposite sex, let alone a friend. Hell I imagine Katie, Carlin, Alyssa, Josie would have a HUGE problem with their man being seen by a female doctor; the men I guess are ok with their wives seeing male drs. bc usually these drs are pulling the child out of the birth canal and/or there are life altering issues like cardiac problems for Alyssa where you can't sit and wait for a female cardiologist to become available. They were suddenly in this world of courting and they probably at some point in dating noticed things like - Evan or Trav smiled and said thank you to some waitress; some waitress made small talk with their man; Evan ran into some female coworker while out on a date with Carlin and said hi and introduced Carlin - and gasp turns out that coworker did not have a man etc. - and the Bates girls DID NOT LIKE IT. Suddenly they felt like OMG there are SOOOOO many hussies out there, all trying to make a play for MY man, I need to lock this up. But they didn't say anything or act jealous or possessive at the time bc they didn't want their man to think they were a weirdo. So instead the Bates' girls and Mama B's solution was to badger the man into proposing ASAP and RUN down the aisle. And THEN the true possessiveness could begin. THEN if Trav talked to a woman from church or at the Sbux drive thru, Katie could go full bitch mode and be all like "MY husband." THEN if Evan came home and told some funny story from work that involved a female coworker, Carlin could make known how she doesn't like him eating lunch with a group of people including women and how he should be lunching in the car and being on the phone with her [which he used to do 🙄] and THEN Carlin could make a big enough fuss about him working outside the home and "showing" him all the "work" he could do from home by her side 24-7 for the next 50 yrs, that he would quit and be home.

Man Carlin comes across so . . . messed up. She simultaneously is acting soooo extra bc that's just her personality + extra means more YT viewers so more $$$$, while simultaneously seeming like she can't identify her feelings. I mean she spends the entire time blubbering at the farm regarding how she's soooo emotional and it's soooo special that her kids now get to experience her childhood. Uh I get that it's nice that your kids like the farm that you always loved but let's be real they spent 2 days mooing at cows, they didn't turn into little house on the prairie children. Same on the ride home, hysterical sobs as they pull away from the farm as she goes on about how she can't stop watching the YT video of Zade handing Papa Bill flowers and how Zade just stood there and posed with Papa Bill and said cheese just begging for his picture to be taken and it's such a frameable picture . . . . Uh Carlin could you possibly be sad about something else? Evan was the one who said at the farm that it was hard because Carlin loves her grandfather so much yet he can't remember she's the granddaughter. Also on the car ride home Evan let slip that Bill didn't remember Carlin even after being introduced - every time she'd walk into a room for the 2-3 day visit, he asked who she was. Now I get these details are sad and maybe Carlin just didn't want to say these things on camera for all, but then why must these hard family moments be lived out on camera then?? Though this was the kid who grew up with 97 siblings - in order to get any attention at all you had to be dramatic and hysterical. And when she as a teenager told G&K she had anxiety - she was told to pray it away, she wasn't grateful, she needed more church related thoughts and activities, and oh yeah distracted like a toddler - bc yep G&K involving your teen daughter in a game of broomball or basketball surely cures anxiety. So not surprising that at age 26 she's having some issues with feelings. And of course Carlin and Law couldn't handle doing anything for Bill/Jane. Let's be real Evan let slip that they were only going bc Law had a project he needed to film on the farm and Evan was going to do the filming. So they went there for their own reasons + content. This isn't the same as Michael going and staying with Papa Bill at the hospital so Mama Jane could stay home; nor Alyssa going and cleaning the house; Erin and Alyssa both cooking; or Trace going and doing yard work and home maintenance projects. These 2 grandkids could barely manage to make breakfast, and in fact they DIDN'T. If you watch C&E's YT, TIFFANY is the one making eggs and cinnamon rolls. Evan is trying to be helpful by making coffee (using 16 oz bottles of Poland Spring? Maybe they don't drink tap water on that farm IDK but there has to be a more efficient want to cook than opening individual water bottles?). But at least the inlaws took care of breakfast even with Evan annoyingly going on and on about how it's the circle of life - bc the grandparents used to be up at 7 am making THEM breakfast and now they grandkids have to do it. The 2 actual grandkids - Carlin was taking care of her daughter's personal hygiene in the kitchen while saying Mama Jane hates that, and Law was going on and on about how he couldn't find the toaster. And then when he found it - we got another 5 minutes on how simple appliances were back then blah blah.

This would also solve C&E's need to party party -- i.e. have someone else around at all times. Plus it'd let Trav pretend he is a regular 23 year old - out doing his own thing rather than toting along a wife and 2 kids. Yet it doesn't solve Katie's problem. Sure she wouldn't have to be an adult alone in her own home with her own kid BUT what if her man is out there laughing it up with other females who happen to work for the tour or event spaces??? What if he like Bobby realizes that there was noooo need for him to marry and saddle himself down so young and regrets doing that? FWIW I wasn't wishing health problems on Katie or anyone. BUT I do think A LOT of these girls have anxiety probably just due to how they were raised. They have exactly nothing of their own - no education that could support them/their kids; no jobs; no wisdom or ability to handle adult life; no life experience. The ONLY thing they have is their men and any little thing that threatens that "stability" is going to be anxiety inducing - in Katie's case it was anxiety inducing to have her husband talk to the Sbux employee!? I mean they aren't normal women who had boyfriends while both they and boyfriend went to college/held jobs -- i.e. you were in class for your major, your bf for his, one or both of you worked jobs or internships while going to school, and you didn't get to see each other until nighttime bc you were busy all day and [gasp] maybe there were even some days where you didn't see each other -- but you fully trusted each other and your relationship. I remain convinced that at its core Carlin's desperate need to have Evan home and the reason she was boohooing at 6 am for 4 years of electrician school was that in her mind - he was out there 40+ hrs/wk talking to women, and what if he got interested in someone else? I think for the first 2 or so years he was able to convince her that all he did was sit in a classroom and that was NBD because it was all guys. But once apprenticeship hit and he was assigned to a company building a building at a local hospital, I think Carlin lost it. Suddenly she was picturing Evan on coffee breaks, lunch breaks, etc. at the hospital cafeteria and all these cute nurses were talking to HER MAN. And now I bet Carlin feels 1000% validated that she hasn't let Evan out of her sight in 2 years bc look what happened with Ethan (Evan's brother) - his wife dared let him have a job outside the home and he cheated . . . . And I can't imagine Carlin and esp. Kelly WON'T get into Katie's head with all this re the tour -- i.e. look what Bobby did when allowed out of the house, look what Ethan did, do you think this is a good idea??

Haven’t watched their video but I’m laughing at the idea of Trav touring. His woman has openly said she gets jealous when the female employee at Sbux dares smiles or says - nice weather today huh - to Trav, to the point that she has to hold up her hand to show her ring and be all “MY husband.” Good luck to her dealing with a tour. I’m sure she’ll try to be with him 24-7 but reality is he’ll get plenty of time with whoever he’s touring with, their staff, staff at event spaces. I mean it’s inevitable that Hailey will need to nap which means he goes to afternoon rehearsal or sound checks alone. Even if she dumps H on Addie/Ellie, what is she gonna do - stand backstage 1 foot from the curtain at all times making sure Trav isn’t laughing or joking around with any female with the tour or event space, ever? And Trav like Bobby may start to realize he married entirely too young and rather enjoys hanging out and talking to others without his clingy wife around. Can’t imagine Katie isn’t worried about this in her heart if hearts. Wonder how similar she really is to Carlin - are we gonna hear that she wakes up at 6 am crying daily begging Trav not to go?

It’s so bizarre to me that they are there to spend time with their elderly great grandparents with health problems, are having to tell Bill who they are etc, and meanwhile Evan is standing off to the side with a camera and boom mic filming all of this?! I imagine Jane wants them to leave soon and Bill has probably asked a few times who the camera man is and why he’s filming. I mean if you MUST air something - why not just the videos of the kids running to see the cows or even the interaction with Zade handing Bill/Jane flowers where they just seemed like regular doting great grandparents. They don’t think it the least bit undignified to air clips where Bill looks confused as Layla is dancing or has asked multiple times who the kids are or even who Carlin is?? What’s next - showing the man’s medicine regimen or how he looks when he dozes off mid day??

Agreed and yesterday’s interaction with him was even sadder. Bill and Jane were sitting on the porch with Carlin and Zade and Bill was interacting as Zade went back and forth handing his great grandparents flowers. Then Bill goes - you know I just can’t place your name and face. Carlin actually acted very human and was like it’s ok - I’m Carlin, I’m your granddaughter and this is your great grandson. She then kept talking saying - you were a judge for a while, we came to court with you sometimes - do you remember that? And he said yes - those were interesting times. Carlin handled it all well though it begs the question why these interactions need to be shown to all. Trace/Erin/Alyssa/Michael visit a lot too - we don’t see the times Bill has to ask their names or kids names?! And then Carlin being Carlin in the middle of all this she’s like - I own a little boutique, it’s been open for 5 yrs now - as if she’s telling Bill about her life - and she drops an ad re the 5th anniversary sale?! 🙄

She's such a rude bitch I really don't understand why anyone sends her anything. I mean she straight up said she wasn't a fan of the bag but it's growing on her?! WTH?! Hope that "best friend" drops her just like Tikky did. Wonder if having John at home 24-7 is making her even more resentful. You know these fundie women don't understand the concept of a job. She might've thought that John working from home = John being like Chad or Evan, always around, always dealing with kids etc. John OTOH hates the kids as much as her + has a job + has an excuse due to job, so I imagine he plays it as - sorry this door is getting shut at 9 am, not opening again until noon, and then not again until 5, good luck to you with the 5 kids. And unlike normal people it's not like they are willing to send their kids to school - which would then give Alyssa 6 hrs/day with one or maybe 2 kids at home. Nope instead gotta go wandering through Costco in a pack of a half dozen . . . .

Swimming too. I mean let's be real dance + swimming are the only things she has as just her own - places where she gets to go and interact with other adults and other kids, and do something she likes. I predict she is going to be dancing well into her teens or until Evan decides that's enough I'm not paying for more of this. Z&W's kids seem the same way with basketball, soccer, gymnastics. It's sad really bc they could give their kids this experience 6 hrs/day, 5 days/wk, 9 months a year. It's called freaking school. There's a reason that most little kids like school. Sure it gets old by middle school and you'd much rather stay home and sleep and not have homework. But for little kids it is the best way for them to interact with their peers and other adults all day long and actually learn something. All these kids would probably do pretty well in school but alas can't send them to public school with all the heathens and maybe even non white kids . . . and neither Zach nor Evan is ponying up private Christian school tuition for 12 yrs for however many kids both end up having. Not to mention Evan has said clear as day that school doesn't give him the "flexibility" he needs - i.e. rolling out of bed at 10 am, skipping days when they don't feel like getting kids ready and out the door etc.

Yep this is the stuff normal dads do with their daughters. I def have a friend whose activity with dad when she came home from breaks in medical school totally stressed out was James Bond movie marathons. Just this week a guy at my work took his high school age daughter to Texas (from the east coast) to see the eclipse - bc he + this daughter are into space/astronomy/nature - while mom and the other daughter aren't. Besides fundies IDK anyone training their daughters on courting and being a wife and mommy. And even with that Alyssa is taking that way too far. Her own father did not get suited up to take each daughter on a birthday date starting at age 5. The times we've seen enjoying with his girls alone were things like taking Alyssa hunting and taking Tori to some playground as they reminisced right before her wedding. But really this is just how John and Alyssa see girls. We HAVE to raise them to get them married off so we'll begrudgingly raise them and the way to raise them is give them wife + mommy skills = church + taking care of a baby + cooking + laundry. We know all the girls go to church. It appears Allie is already having to mother Rhett; we've def seen Alyssa barking at Allie regarding laundry; and we've seen Alyssa go on about oh Allie WANTS to make her sisters lunch . . . . So I imagine cooking dinners is coming pretty soon for Allie too, as Alyssa seems to hate it/do very little of it and is probably counting the days until she can pawn that off on Allie and Lexie. IIRC Michael started cooking for the family around this age so I'm pretty sure it's right around the corner for Allie too.

Exactly. A daddy daughter birthday outing could actually be a nice tradition if they didn't make it so gross as in - I'm training you how to act on a date bc let's be real, clock is ticking, your intended will be here in 7 yrs just as I showed up for your mom and you better behave right and seal that deal and get off my payroll. And heaven forbid John pay attention to or spend time with his girls when it isn't their bday + he isn't training them on locking down a man. I mean if he legit cared, he could do something with each girl for their birthday that they wanted to do. Sure maybe there are 1-2 who are girly girls who'd want to dress up and go out to dinner. But Lexi - likely she'd choose to go to the batting cages or a basketball game or something like that with dad. Maybe some kid would choose a movie or bowling or ice cream sundaes or whatever. Alyssa has taken this to next level creepy. IDK if Gil had a standing tradition of taking the girls out for their bday, but once teenage Alyssa for her birthday asked to go hunting with her dad and he took her!? So IDK where this suited up going on a date thing came from. The creepiest "date" hands down was in spring 2020 - I think it was Allie. It was when the world was totally shut down for Covid so there was no place for them to go. But couldn't just go do an outdoor activity with dad, nope. John suited up, Allie in a fluffy dress, Allie wanting to put on some tacky plastic bracelet or whatever as Alyssa talked her out of it bc omg it doesn't match, you need to wear this other tacky bracelet. Alyssa "decorated" the back of the SUV so John and Allie could go get McDonalds drive thru, park in a random office park parking lot, and sit in the back and have their date. It gave the grossest make out spot vibes I've ever seen . . . . Like I legit don't think Alyssa realizes that teens will park cars in random isolated lots to get it on when they have no other place to do the deed without getting caught. And then Allie wanted to play so you had her playing hide and seek around the office park lot, with John chasing her in a suit and dress shoes. Again giving stranger danger type of vibes . . . . Somehow none of this struck Alyssa as being weird at all.

I thought the same things. One of the kids is sitting in the back looking on as Allie gets her donut!? They were headed to co op so I assume the Munchkins were for everyone - the whole class. Sure her sisters will get what the class gets but my god why not just treat all the sisters in advance of co-op? You can make it specially for Allie by being like - everyone gets a breakfast treat that Allie picks, ok Allie picks strawberry donuts for everyone today. Meanwhile Rhett is walking around yesterday wearing a personalized baseball jersey with Rhett on the back. Maybe from his bday party? But in any event he'll outgrow it in weeks/months but they bought it anyway. So money isn't tight for him but $10 of donuts for the girls - eh why bother, just get one for the bday kid and be done with it.

Wait so now C&E's romantic getaway for her birthday involves Law/Tiff + Mama B. Uh that's one definition of romantic getaway. Can they really not do anything with his family or her family in tow?! Do they get bored by themselves or something!?

Same. My first thought was - what is up with that child? She comes across A LOT younger than she is. Most 4 year olds can tell a story/send a message pretty clearly. Even most 3 year olds can do that. It's not like when they are age 2 and younger and they speak in such a way that only mom/dad/caregiver who sees them most understands. Between the speech and her being such a small child for her age - when bestie Khloe stands a whole head taller and speaks like a preschooler - you wonder. I mean I hope everything is fine and it's just parental neglect [not that I think parental neglect is a good thing but it's a fixable thing]. You wonder if C&E would even notice if anything was wrong - they seem to LOVE keeping Layla a baby prob since babies are a social media boon and that's how they are making $$$. I mean don't they look at Khole, Willow, Tori's sons and feel like hmm - our kid seems behind? I mean even Hazel speaks more clearly and she won't even be 3 until the summer.

So their bday getaway is the Outer Banks? They flew Knox to Norfolk Va and now driving 2 hrs to get to the Outer Banks. Not sure I understand that as a couples getaway destination - kids would've loved that sort of thing. It's like Carlin going to Disney on a girls trip . . . . And on the above points, they are such crap parents and specifically Carlin is a crap mother. She spends soooo much time primping in her stupid looking dresses, ripped jeans, Dime beauty blah blah. Yet she puts her 4 yr old in a fluffy Easter dress and can't be bothered to throw a pair of shorts or tights/leggings underneath? You kind of have to do that with girls when they're of the age where they're still running and playing bc you don't want to tell them to sit down and be ladylike or be self conscious about playing but you also don't want them flashing the playground in their underwear either. Granted maybe they went to the church easter egg hunt thinking it'd ONLY be an easter egg hunt and then were surprised by the slides/bouncy houses and didn't want to tell Layla she couldn't play. Fine, it happens. But then don't effing take a video of her dress flying up and if you do happen to have video of it, don't freaking post it.

Given how desperate they are for content, it's interesting that they do almost nothing for their kids' birthdays. I mean they're home 24-7 - how hard would it be to throw a family party - have food, party hats, kids games, and the kids 8000 cousins over? Perish the thought maybe have the kids make some friends and invite them!? Even Kelton who clearly does not like the Bates does that for his kids yearly. I mean Layla's 4th birthday was that sad sleepover with her best friends - i.e. Khole - and then her "party" was going to Chucky Cheese/some similar place mid day/mid week with G&K, Addie/Ellie/Callie, Jeb/Jud!? WTH!? Zade got a decorated dining table bc that's what Whit does for her kids and that's about it . . . . The only time we've seen the kids have a party - even just a family party - has been when the Stewarts throw it in Nashville; I think they did last yr for Layla complete with pink cupcakes. Maybe they just don't want to waste $ feeding family? Maybe they want to do exactly nothing and expect Michael to take care of food as Kelly expects at her parties or Zach to come over and grill all afternoon for everyone and both Zach/Michael have politely declined? I mean the Stewarts have clearly drawn some kind of line re filming at their home in Nashville, but IDK that they'd refuse to attend their grandkids' bday party at C&E's home with a zillion Bates running around also, just bc there would be filming; after all the filming wouldn't be focused on them and they could just be in the background. On a different note - as I don't watch their videos if I can help it - the jeep they bought is an ACTUAL Jeep, i.e. not like a Grand Cherokee or some other family car? Bc Evan had Warden over installing holders in their garage. They have taken the doors + the roof off the Jeep - and those things are hanging off of walls in the garage. So C&E are now gonna cruise in a Jeep as if they're 20 year olds driving on the beach, not a care in the world, with 2 kids in carseats in the back!? Uh doesn't seem super safe!? I know people say so what kids ride in convertibles. But a Jeep has a fairly high center of gravity + is open on the sides and the top. Driving fast in a high center of gravity car with 2 very small passengers in the back, do they not feel safer in a "cage" - i.e. a car with sides and a top!? These two idiots were too emotionally immature to marry and have kids . . . . It's like the Jeep allows them to live the youth they never had - safety for a 2 and 4 yr old is an after thought.

He did. Apparently cheated on his ex wife - that's what the ex wife has said. IDK if that means he moved back in but given how these people are - i.e. Evan's unmarried sisters live at home - maybe he did in fact move home. Or maybe Carlin is keen on HER man NOT being around such an influence who'd cheat on his wife. But in her heart of hearts you know Carlin is relieved. This validates her decision to boo hoo for 4 yrs until her man gave up being an electrician + show him the art of the grift/social media so that he'd never want to go to a job ever again and BAM she watches over her man 24-7 so ain't no time for him to ever chat with another woman.

K&T don't even realize how lame and out of step they are with people their own age. I mean most 21-22 year olds associate apartment living to living with their college buddies with more college friends next door, maybe studying/working hard but partying and having fun. Meanwhile cue K&T - OMG those people don't know the meaning of life we are MARRIED and PARENTS - and we've done entire YT videos on going to Home Depot to find the exact right fertilizer to revive our lawn or the exact right Christmas lights . . . . They live like they're 45 years old. I'm sure the indignity of apartment living is beneath Trav. I mean he's a rich kid - grew up with his own bedroom/bathroom in mom and dad's McMansion. Then moved out to get married into his own home paid for in cash by mom and dad, which he gut renovated with the highest end fixtures. Now he has to live someplace with no yard for his kid or dog, where people dare walk by their apartment to get to their own apartments and he hears footsteps or talking!? I'm sure they'd never say the quiet part out loud but I wonder if they are a little bit shocked by seeing others in the apartment complex. Even in a very white area like Rocky Top, apartment complexes are more "diverse." You're going to have single moms, single dads, gasp black or Hispanic people, immigrants who are working and saving up to buy their own house years down the road. I imagine Katie is going to start pressing for a house SOON to make this move permanent. She'll boo-hoo like Carlin did about how they'll never get a house, it's soooo hard to live in an apartment with a baby and dog blah blah. I imagine Trav was probably interested in getting a house upon the move - not to make the move permanent but to spare himself the indignity of apartment life - but let's be real HE isn't rich, his parents are. I imagine his parents did not and will not pony up the money for him to be able to buy a house free and clear in Knoxville. I can't imagine they're super thrilled about their son and DIL - children that they are - moving away from family support that the Clarks know they need. Which is fine Trav can use the monthly checks from his parents' school/rental income from NJ to save up a down payment take a mortgage like the rest of us . . . . I mean Evan managed to do it. But I think Carlin/Evan do have money stress - as in what if we don't make enough via YT this month etc. That's something Trav has never experienced. Trav would have to double down on YT + his wife's shilling + making some $ from music + making sure the rental home is always occupied so rent is flowing in.

It's interesting that they are 26 and 29 years old with a home and family of their own and they are still SO caught up in their own selves, that they can't read the room. Evan stood there bragging about free weeks at his parents - literally - hahah I don't have to pay for food, nor lodging, nor anything else and I even line up behind my sisters when we go to Sbux so they'll buy for me. Uh hello if you're NOT paying, someone else is?! And your parents are retired?! IDK Stewart family dynamics and not all parents would feel ok with a grown kid saying ok we're visiting this week so here's $200 to cover the added food, water bill from our showers etc. BUT when you're a grown up who pays your own bills, you realize this stuff costs money so you cover it quietly. If you're staying for a week+ - you grab takeout for everyone a few times that YOU pay for, to save MIL the cooking and to cover the cost for a few meals; you run to the grocery store and pick up some essentials when running low without seeking reimbursement; perish the thought you even put a meal or two together yourself for everyone. You could even throw your sheets/towels in the laundry. Instead they act like college freshman who are home on vacation, not a care in the world. And they continue to act like that until they are called out about it, and then they get offended and go running home and relations chill. It's no different than last Nov/Dec, when they showed up at K&T's house in NJ during/after her kidney stone issues ready to party. Evan literally filmed outside their house on a Thursday being like yeah we'll be here through at least next weekend, expecting 10+ days of party party. Then Trav comes out and says 'uh yeah last time you were here was insane running to NYC with Katie about to deliver, we won't be doing that, we'll be sticking close to home this time" and legit takes Evan out to the gym once on Friday and church on the weekend and that's it. So when C&E realize that K&T and Trav's wallet won't be "partying," this trip - they legit hit the road by Tuesday and never went back to NJ again. Even now K&T have been living in Knox for a few weeks and we've seen NO meetups besides church for Easter + C&E showing up the day they arrived. Not suggesting that K&T hate them bc I really do think Trav likes the "excitement" that Evan brings - compared to his own more quiet family - BUT I think he likes it in limited doses and prioritizes HIS wife/kid first. So they're likely making efforts to NOT make themselves available to C&E 24-7 now that they've moved bc they know then it'll be the expectations of staying at each others' homes until midnight or running out for ice cream at midnight, kids sleeping on the floor - and K&T seem to NOT be cool with raising H like that.

How long have K&T lived in Knoxville now? Few weeks? What exactly are they doing? They moved because Trav had some big upcoming music career yet all we seem to see is him putting things in their storage unit + going down the apartment playground slide with Hailey mid day. I get if they won't show actual meetings in Nashville etc., but shouldn't he be NOT at home so much if he needed to be in Nashville to make his music career work? No real hanging out with C&E yet either. They saw each other at church for Easter + C&E showed up the day they moved in, but outside of that we haven't seen any party party hang outs. I wonder if K&T are taking that slow bc they know as soon as they agree to spend an entire day with C&E, it'll forever be expected that they be up for midnight ice cream runs etc. -- and K&T have shown they live according to Hailey's schedule.

So are C&E on the outs with the Stewarts? They were home from Christmas by Dec 26-27. Didn’t go to Nashville for either kid’s birthday - not even before or after for a family party as they always have done. And now Easter seemed like just the 4 of them at church + photo shoot number 8000 + tiny little backyard egg hunt. What on earth happened?? These people use to take long weekends at the in-laws that were routinely 6-8 days long. Did MIL/FIL lay down some rules like you must contribute while you’re here say by cooking or cleaning up the kitchen a few times? Did MIL/FIL say absolutely no filming in our house so now C&E can’t go there much since they are always “working” — ie they need to film daily to catch something in their boring lives to make a 20-30 min weekly YT. Or is Carlin keeping Evan away after he started saying he misses his family and would love to think about living in Nashville?

So Alyssa continues to be a douchebag - or whatever the female equivalent is. Posted an IG with Rhett walking around under the dining table w a can of Hormel chili in hand. Apparently he went into the pantry, grabbed a can, is walking all over with it and won’t let anyone touch it. Cue Alyssa - omg BOYS are sooooo funny. Uh 1 yr olds grab things and get possessive about them - it isn’t a boy thing. If your girls didn’t do it, well maybe you blanket trained the life out of them so they dared not grab anything from the pantry or walk anyplace in the house except where you told them to stay?!

I agree. I wasn't suggesting the baseball cake was a bakery special order, it was just a grocery store cake. It's just that 1 kid got a nice looking cake that went with the theme of his party. The other 4 it was like - eh just give me the smallest 4 cakes you have, in 4 different colors so we can say it's special for each kid but it really is the same cake just one pink, blue, purple, or yellow ring at the bottom.

My guess is that the pettiness runs in both directions. As an older daughter/holier than though, Erin ALWAYS expected to have the best of everything. The first one to marry, traditionally good looking husband, spitting out babies as the Lord wants, I legit think she expected her life to be better than her sisters. Now she's beyond annoyed that annoying middle sister Carlin ended up with "more" - a better wedding; a middle class life; owning a home while Erin/Chad continue to rent and stack kids like firewood; a business that ended up successful even though Erin had to leave it - likely bc Chad wanted her to; a husband who is modern - i.e. will take a mortgage, allows his wife to do whatever she wants whether girls trips or wearing tight pants, allows kids in activities, takes vacations bc he's found ways to make $ even if it is by exploiting kids. Meanwhile I don't think we've seen Chad/Erin take a vacation in years though I guess they used to drive to Fla. occasionally before moving; but when Erin went to her bro's wedding in Cali - she couldn't even bring her whole family. But it's not like Carlin isn't a petty bitch. At the I Love You Day party, at one point Carlin/Evan and family are approaching, so Carson holds the door open for them. They legit did NOT acknowledge Carson - didn't look at him; didn't say hi; didn't say "Layla do you remember cousin Carson, say hi"; didn't even say thank you!? It was ridiculous to see a 26 and 29 yr old snub a 9 yr old like that who was just trying to be polite. We've seen the same before too. While Carlin/Josie relations thawed - it seems after their uncle in South Carolina died and Layla now goes on about Willow being her best friend - the Christmas prior to that we saw Carlin/Evan acting the exact same way with Willow. At some point in the Bates Christmas party, they were outside, their kids on the swings. Willow wanders out - neither Carlin/Evan acknowledges her or says hi or tries to make some conversation between Willow and Layla akin to "say hi to cousin Willow" or "isn't cousin's Christmas dress so pretty?" I think all these kids grew up in a hyper competitive - who is my bestie vs. who do I hate; who am I jealous of - environment, that they take adult pettiness to the next level. I imagine it's also because they have zero real world exposure. When your whole world = family, you can act like this bc what is a sister going to do? And frankly if something big happens that shows you the meaning of life and you want relations to thaw (like Josie and Carlin), most siblings will allow that - at least to some level. Had they spent ANY time in the real world, they would realize that even if you are at odds with people, you can't freeze them out and act like a bitch and expect reconciliation when/if you want it. I mean who among us didn't have a college roommate or classmate we didn't like, but we had to make it work for that year/semester? Who among us didn't have a coworker or boss we hated but again you made it work bc you knew you were going to have to deal with them until/unless one of you switched jobs. These are the day to day life things the Bates kids and their spouses who also sit home attached to their wives' hips - missed.

What a cheap ass party. I assume A&J didn't feel like they had to do/spend much bc . . . girls PLUS they're lucky they're getting a party outside the home, what else do they need?? I mean it's hard enough to throw a combined party for 4 kids when the ages range from 3-9. Even harder in a church hall. The only way to pull off a fun party with such wide age ranges is at some kind of play place bc they'll have activities/games for toddlers and for older kids. But seriously A&J couldn't spring for better food other than piles of goldfish, packaged muffins, and packaged rice krispy treats? I realize there was pizza and small veggie and fruit trays but come on?? Couldn't have a few trays of chicken nuggets or cater in a few BBQ chicken trays or something like that for a 6-8 pm party? Couldn't have some activities beyond every child getting 1 polaroid + 1 balloon?? IDK what activities could be held in a church conference room appealing to ages 3 and 9. In normal world, the 9 yr old and her friends would be turning on Taylor Swift music and singing and dancing and the 3 yr old crowd would try to keep up. But lol in a fundie church - def not. While Alyssa is saying the girls wanted to invite soooo many people, but the looks of the sad cake/cupcake table, it doesn't look like they got to invite sooo many people. There were 4 tiny little cakes for each girl + cupcakes for the crowd, and it didn't appear like there were THAT many cupcakes. When you count Erin's brood of 7 + Carlin's family of 4 + Jackson/Emerson - that accounts for a dozen cupcakes right there; add in John's siblings and their families as I'm sure most attended bc they're local - uh yeah I think that was pretty much the attendance. Maybe each girl got to invite 1 church/coop friend or something but I wouldn't even count on that. And IDK why the cakes annoy me so much but they do. The day before this sad party, Rhett gets a great looking baseball cake - that he likely made a mess of. These 4 girls get the smallest cakes the grocery store had and the only thing that made it "theirs" was each was a different color. You can't tell me that 4 kids all like the same type of cake best. In any group - you have some kids that like chocolate cake vs. vanilla; someone wants a cake with fruit on it while others don't; someone is eh on traditional cake but love cookie cake. But then that would involve A&J knowing each girl and giving a damn what she lives AND spending money on said thing. Wonder if Rhett gave each of his sisters a gift, like they "got to" give him a gift the day before. Lol doubt A&J would spring for that. Or if there was a gift from Rhett, watch it was one thing to be shared by all the girls - like a tea set that'll appeal to younger kids that Ally will shrug at. It's interesting how certain Bates kids hate how their parents raised them and are adamant to do it differently/better [Jackson; Zach - doesn't say it but he's def raising the kids as individuals]. Meanwhile Alyssa claims to hate her upbringing but is just perpetuating it. But hey in 10-12 more years, the site of Friday's bday party will be the site of Ally's wedding to whatever boy looks at her first as she runs away from her parents and from being a sister mom.