cereality

Something seems . . . not right . . . with Carlin lately. First off I don't believe she snarfed down peanuts in the shell. We didn't see her doing it, just talking about it later. But hello it was at Tiff's shower - if she had never seen peanuts [unlikely in the south] and didn't know how to eat them and even snarfed down the first one or two shell and all, guess what she would have realized in two seconds as the piles of shell on table grew from everyone else. And uh yeah bestie Whit was at her table, plus Zach - they would've made fun of her/"informed" her asap that she is to de-shell a peanut. I think it was just a cutesy - oooohhh something to poll my audience about and get them involved in a convo between me and Evan . . . which fell flat. Besides the desperate attention whoring to stay relevant, she just seems like she's . . . struggling. I'm sure the show going away + constant struggle to stay IG relevant + the store not seeming like it's doing fantastic given its constant sales to get rid of inventory + pregnancy + real life costs seem to be breaking her. She was posing at the gas station holding her pregnant belly out of desperation [looked like trailer trash doing that at the gas station too but I digress], and Evan paid her no attention. He legit looked ill as he watched the pump going strong as he had filled up 17 gallons of gas for $68, with no signs that the tank was full yet. But hey they're the ones just starting out with a husband who is a STUDENT who needed a GIANT SUV. Well . . . good luck with providing the $$ for this fam buddy. And less than 30 days left on that house now - if the other family doesn't get a house within a month, the sale of their house to E&C falls thru. So I'm guessing there's some sleepless nights lately. And the object of Carlin's mental issues = Layla. Sorry but she is putting entirely too much on a TWO year old. Numerous times in the last week or two she's asked Layla if they're friends, etc. Yesterday at Target, Layla asks her to sit in the cart with her [one of those HUGE carts w/ seats for two kids] and Carlin goes on about how they are FRIENDS and then says "Layla say BEST friends . . . ." She's effing two. If you're having issues, find mental help, pray it away etc. - don't put it on a two year old to make you feel good/content/needed/secure etc.

Back to fast food for Layla - chicken and fries from Sonic at 10 am for breakfast?? What is she a 22 yr old college bro? Love how Carlin now poses all the avocado, banana, and strawberry eating for Layla on IG no doubt in response to what people have said here and on Reddit but then oops there's a video of chicken nuggets at breakfast. And BSB is offering a 22% off site wide sale? What like 2-3 weeks after that whole - give away "damaged" clothing by the container full sale? I have a feeling that business is not moving its goods as much as it should and is sitting on WAY too much inventory. Which is super interesting in a time when everyone else is sitting on way too little inventory due to manufacturing delays, shipping delays/increased shipping costs etc. Jeb or Jud [IDK which is which] are giving off the same feral vibe of many of the younger Duggars. Not a good thing - as the Bates always came across slightly more "cared for" than the Duggars. Carlin posted an IG yesterday w/ the younger boys at her house and one was complaining about how she had made him move all the stuff from her closet to the living room and then bring it all back and he just wanted to watch a show etc. - complaining wasn't that big of a deal bc an 8 yr old is going to complain if he goes to his sister's to watch TV and is put to work - but just the way he was speaking, it was hard to understand him and sounded like he was getting zero education. Which is prob true since KJ certainly doesn't do homeschool, the older sisters are now all gone, so it's up to Addie/Ellie/Callie to cook + clean + do laundry + homeschool and every few weeks they esp Addie/Ellie take off for Fla or NJ and Callie is prob like whatever I have too much housework, I'm freaking 12, do some workbooks - or not. And I Love You Day seemed chintzy this year. The couples dinner was at a steakhouse and as much as Kelton tried to be like oh I've really wanted to try this place - it looked like a cheaper/lower level restaurant, not even "up to the level of" this family's favorite date night place - Cheesecake Factory. Then one morning seemed like breakfast/lunch at Sonic. The last night was pizza at the house with Evan stopping at DOLLAR GENERAL to pick up snacks - so looks like the kids were expected to contribute some of the food. Big change from the beautiful rented AirBnbs in the mountains etc., catered dinners/fancy restaurant dinners for couples night, and meals sponsored by Purdue. My things have changed post UP Tv.

And they went to Sonic in NJ to get Kelly Jo WATER?? She had a box of like 8 extra large WATERS and went on and on about how these ones are peach flavored and these are raspberry or whatever. Uh lady water flows out of a tap and you can add some powdered flavoring to that. Yep this time it's Ellie stuck at home and for once Callie gets away and isn't responsible for dinner and dishes for a bunch of grown men living in that house. I imagine Callie only got to go bc KJ and Michaela were going so she has someone to fly back with; we haven't yet see her fly alone like Addie/Ellie can.

Super interesting that both couples traveling to I Love You Day have been radio silent since yesterday. Both are driving. Normally they'd be on IG non stop doing Q&As and letting you know how many times they stopped at Sbux. But reality is now they know they have to save content for their YT channels - boring as they are - bc if people have watched your road trip/ILY Day content on IG already, they're much less likely to sit thru a 20 min video on it next week. Alyssa posted one pic like 3-5 hrs into her drive showing a Chick Fil A stop for dinner.

I mean if I were him I wouldn't have any kind of launch party for the CD - as it'll be 20 family members in attendance and no one else. Remember his recent "concert"? There were literally like 15-20 ppl in the audience and he was up there sounding like it was a high school talent show; frankly even the Vols ballgame he just sang it - high school talent show level talent. It would be embarrassing to have a launch party with no one there. Just let the damn thing drop on iTunes/Spotify, take the $1000 or whatever you make and move on. Tiff has to be advising this right? I mean she's actually been in the industry for real and understands how crucial red carpet type nights are -- better to go direct to streaming [for movies] than to have a red carpet/movie opening that is sparsely attended.

She's definitely selling herself short and using HER money to support them. Wonder how her parents feel about that. Sure religious conservatives want their kids married ASAP lest they start sleeping with boyfriends/girlfriends, but she is ONLY 23 and Law isn't the only religious guy around; in fact San Diego has a fairly significant conservative Christian community where she could find someone. But yeah all of the - Law being in Cali with her for weeks and weeks, that's because of HER financially not him. He saves up money mowing Michaela's/Tori's/other sisters' lawns as if he's a 15 year old boy and buys a ticket out to SD and then everything is on her financially; she picks him up from the airport, they stay at her house, she continues to buy groceries and gas as she always would, lots of activities there are free like the beach, and then he uses his pocket money to spring for mini golf and In-and-Out burgers a few times and is SUCH a hero. She really is dating a high school boy. She's had a decent career for Hollywood - where lots of child actors appear in something one time and never make it again. Per her Wiki bio: Espensen began her career as a child actress making guest appearances on television series such as Hannah Montana, True Jackson, VP and Zeke and Luther. In 2011, she landed a main role on the Nickelodeon series, Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures (2011–2013), on which she played Piper, the little sister of Ashley Argota's character. Espensen followed this up in 2014 with a co-starring role on the Disney XD series Kirby Buckets. In 2016 she was added to the cast of the 2017 feature film Spider-Man: Homecoming, playing the role of Cindy, a role she reprised in the 2018 film Avengers: Infinity War. She had a main role starting at age 12 that lasted two years and co star roles starting at age 14 as well as movie roles thru her college years. The net worth info online for actors suggests a NW of $1-5 million; even if that's on the lower end or her NW is "only" 750k, not over a million, that is a LOT at age 23 and positively monumental compared to her 30 year old fiance mowing lawns for allowance and picking up hourly shifts as a constable like 8 hrs/month. As for rentals I wouldn't be surprised AT ALL if she has at least one [and maybe more] rental apartments aside from the one she lives in, which I'm betting she owns. Her family seems upper middle class much like Bobby's and with that comes some investment savvy. I wouldn't be surprised at all that when she started making money at age 12 her parents decided to invest it for her by buying a rental apartment [or two or three over the years] that she could have as income properties when she was older [rather than just letting the money sit in savings or using the money themselves for anything]. I've known UMC families that have done this when their child has some earnings/winnings - they continue to live as normal, save for the child's college/wedding etc. as normal and just invest that money, often in real estate or the stock market, for the child. If that is the case, guess what even less pressure on Law to work steadily once they're in Nashville - bc his wife has rental income from at least two San Diego apartments coming in [my guess is SHE has purchased the ones she lives in with her more recent movie earnings and her parents purchased one or more in her name when she was younger]. Maybe it's just me but this is why I feel like you should never tell [lazy] guys up front what you have/how financially successful you are bc they start viewing it as OUR money and it gives them even less interest in slogging along to make money. She's going to be funding his musician dreams + living expenses for them in Nashville for years; it may not be as viable once there is more than one baby though.

I mean the real estate market is competitive but honestly how many STUDENTS can buy a house ever - competitive market or not? Like I get it he's ~27 with a wife and two kids so he SHOULD have a house but have they forgotten that he started school at 22 basically when he realized - oh $hit being a secretary in a medical office won't provide for Carlin and our half dozen kids, I better find a profession? I do wonder if some of this is some unsaid "competition" with Katie and Alyssa. After all Katie's husband hasn't even graduated and bought a house and yet that's because daddy bought a house for him [either directly or by upping his "payroll" at the family school so much that he could afford to buy as a 20 yr old]. Since Evan's daddy isn't doing that, there's no comparison. And w/ John there really should be no comparison as he bought around age 30-31, they were renting the whole time prior to that, and he actually didn't start in HVAC at age 27 - I think he went to HVAC trade school right out of high school and started in his early 20s, so he had ten years of planning and savings under his belt when he bought. These fools - if they don't buy pre-graduation will act totally aggrieved if he's been an electrician for an entire year and doesn't have a house. They need to calm down. If you don't get a house now, you'll get one in six months or a year or two years - is it really the end of the world? If you need more space for a family of four - uh RENT a house or bigger apartment??

What’s her sudden problem with being alone? She posted an attention seeking IG pic crying bc E was leaving for work at 645 am. Funny up until a few weeks ago she’d tell us E leaves around 6 am and she and Layla would picture themselves rolling out of bed at 10 am. Now she’s suddenly up crying at 6 am bc her man has to leave her and go to work?? How on earth is she going to handle it when she’s getting up at 1, 4, and 6 am with a newborn and her man STILL has to go to work? I wouldn’t be shocked if they moved into G&K’s house for a few weeks post birth bc she’s so “overwhelmed.” I mean they do crash there already a few times/month when they’re over there late w Z&W. I mean this isn’t a Jill Duggar situation where she had never been in a house alone when she married so she’d meet him for lunch daily and often spend a 1/2 day in his work parking lot. These fools have been married for 3 yrs and E has had school/work the whole time so it isn’t new; sure before she had Katie but it’s not like Katie spent 40 hrs/wk at her house. As for Z&W I’m willing to bet they wrapped up at the store and W was like I’m going to head to the house bc it’s still early and I’ve been meaning to paint the windows and Carlin said omg I’ll come too. And this is family + polite passive aggressive TN fundies so it’s not like Whit could say - today’s not good it’s a work day, we‘ll have you over soon - and it’s not like C can read the room, ever, let alone now in her depressive state. I always said don’t W and Carlin get sick of each other - work, double dates, hanging out after work etc. Maybe W is getting slightly sick of her now that Carlin’s time isn’t being split btwn W and Katie. Maybe W is like - uh just spent 2+ days w you in ATL + 2 whole days at work, I just need to be without you/your constant attention seeking chatter in my house for a few hrs . . . .

This is the problem with raising children in a herd according to what religion has decided girls SHOULD WANT. That means all Carlin should have wanted was a cute man who'd provide + babies. She got that. And is miserable . . . wait what happened, I bet she feels some "guilt" about not being happy when this is what she prayed for?? Uh yeah because different people want different things. I think Tori, Erin, Josie DID just want the man + babies and now are pretty content with their home lives. Carlin OTOH [and I think Katie and to some extent Alyssa] are different personalities. Not saying husband and babies isn't right for them ever, but Carlin is also someone who would've enjoyed college if she had gone to a real school [not a few semesters at Crown and finishing online at Liberty] - actual dorm life, sorority, road trips w/ friends, real parties where you talk to/flirt with boys. Kelly did say she LOVED the 1-2 semesters she spent at Crown and was never home bc she always always hanging out at school. Uh yeah genius parents, you should have pushed this one hard to take time for herself and do 4 yrs of in person school, not marry at 21. She and Evan also would've done well even if they wanted to marry young bc SEX to use BC and not make a honeymoon baby. They would've been happier just the 2 of them for ~5+ yrs, picking up and going whenever he didn't have school to wherever they wanted to travel be it vacations or long weekends, no worries about a kid with a heart issue, feeding that kid, potty training the kid, a house that's too small for 4 ppl yet can't afford/find another, and non stop OBGYN appts for complications. But - no babies until ages 26 and 29?! Heavens no that is NOT going to make you happy bc that is not God's will for a woman - to delay motherhood. On top of realizing the freebies from UP are now gone and it really is just Evan's salary + holding onto some YT income and BSB income, I think it's hitting Carlin and Evan HARD that it'll be drudgery with 2 under 2- with no respite of free vacations every few months courtesy of UP to look forward to. And then when it comes to the real world, they're divorced from reality. She posted some stupid skit about how she's not even disappointed anymore if they don't get a house blah blah. Morons - it is the tightest housing market in years bc of lack of new construction [and thus ppl aren't vacating older homes bc the new home they're trying to build doesn't have electrical yet bc the copper wiring factory has been shut down due to covid] AND there are buyers out there with way more money who can outbid a mere student/apprentice?? Like do they really EXPECT to win with [I presume] 3% down offers when others have the cash to go 20k over asking and oh yeah when the house appraisal is off by 10k, NBD they can kick in another 10k too?? Like why not rent something bigger and revisit this in like 6-12 mos?? Carlin doesn't look well right now. ALL the videos posted today - even the "happy" ones show a woman who has been legit crying all day. And I'm sorry but you know she's 100% jealous that Z&W are onto house #2. I wonder if bestie Whit is backing off a little bit - they don't seem as chummy chummy as a few months ago and today as she's videoing Z&W's house both are kind of "ignoring" her and continuing to work on the house and Z seems a bit annoyed that she tracked paint all over his brand new floors . . . .

It was telling that their bday post talked about what they're looking forward to - laughter, blah blah - and LEARNING TO LOVE ON YOUR LITTLE BROTHER. Newsflash morons - she is her own child and a baby herself and you should be looking forward to milestones FOR HER independent of whether she loves "baby boy" or is one of those toddler who says she hates him/he should go back/and tries to hog mom and dad's attention for herself. Though if she does any of those things, E&C will be on their knees praying bc OMG their 2 yr old isn't good wife or mom material if she can't be loving towards her own brother and isn't gaga over an infant. And I agree with @BitterApple - with Layla being the first daughter, Carlin will constantly be emotionally unloading on her and looking for her to tell her that of course she is the PERFECT mom and sooo beautiful and soooo entrepreneurial for hocking junk on insta and making $$ to add to dad's income blah blah. And this will be even more true if there's another boy or two after this one - ALL of this will fall on the oldest daughter. And add to that the "sharing" of mommy responsibilities that Layla will be subject to as the oldest girl. I mean it's already starting as on a video E was crowing about how you have to train kids to help, Layla loves to help blah blah. Uh yeah bro you're just making sure she acquires wife and mommy skills asap and helps out the moron you married so you don't have to; I mean as gross as they are with dishes - they seem to let them pile up and do them once a wk as if they live in a frat house - guaranteed by age 6-8, it'll be "oh Layla thinks it's SOOO FUN to do the dishes . . . . At least they're feeding her better. Guaranteed they read here and on Reddit bc posters specifically have been saying - if you're not going to cook for her at least give her PBJ, avocado etc. and lo and behold, she's been featured eating both of things once. I do have a feeling some dr. is telling Carlin to eat better too - given that she's anemic + with her sudden weepiness, it's quite possible some dr. is telling her that walking across the street w/ your SIL to a gas station convenience store w/ buy bags of chips+ iced coffee = straight sugar, not a meal. Carlin has posted pics of herself eating turkey sandwiches w/ avocado, snacking on apple slices - and then Layla gets some avocado or apple too. Remains to be seen whether Layla's better eating lasts after Carlin doesn't need to eat well and can go back to cheetos + iced coffee; then w/ baby bro being her focus, she could easily be tossing Layla potato chips for lunch again - or maybe PB crackers to keep the PB LOL.

Have they said already that it was just McDs in the back of the SUV - wonder if that's the new date for all the girls bc that's what Allie got in 2020; not that these fools care about Covid but her birthday fell at a time when restaurants in Orlando were actually closed so your only options were drive thru. So of course being idiots who are totally divorced from reality, Alyssa decorates the back of the SUV as if it's a make out spot for two high schoolers and that's where daddy and daughter had their McDs parked next to a romantic Orlando retention pond which probably had an alligator or two and then played hide and seek with moron John chasing the child around in a suit and dress shoes as he worried if the child would fall in the retention pond or run out into the parking lot while he had his eyes closed for her to hide . . . . The visual of a small child w/ a grown man in what high schoolers would clearly use as a make out/sex spot was beyond disturbing. They are beyond gross with this dating daddy BS. One on one time with daddy for your bday - cool. You even wear a nice dress if you want to - cool. Mommy styling the child's hair and putting on makeup [and on one date for Allie talking her into wearing some other crappy plastic bracelet other than the one she wanted bc it would go better with her dress], Daddy in a suit and tie, picking you up for a date at the door, bringing your roses, and basically putting in your head that this is how it'll be when your husband arrives in 11-12 yrs - GROSS. As to the person saying how does he have time - fear not, John doesn't start dating them until age 5 I believe [could be 4]. I mean they take this dating crap SOOOO seriously that Alyssa was in the hospital having her freaking first heart surgery - which had complications - and John ran out afterwards w/ Alyssa still hospitalized to take Allie on her date?? At first I was like oh they had agreed in advance that he should go see her for her bday so she won't associate her bday with something bad like mommy in the hospital + no parents there to see her. But NOPE Alyssa had lined up a sweet friend to curl her hair, makeup etc. so it would be a DATE - to Outback Steakhouse IIRC. Note to asshole John - spending time with your girls, good. But that time spent should be AGE APPROPRIATE and INTEREST APPROPRIATE - which means even though they are JUST girls, it should be DIFFERENT things with different kids. Sure some girls DO like getting dressed up - in that case why not take that girl someplace she'd like - hint hint like a ballet for Allie. This kid OTOH is the sporty one. You know what would've been a DREAM for her bday - going with daddy to the batting cages or to ride go carts or mini golf or to go watch a professional soccer game/sporting event. Oh wait what am I thinking, they're GIRLS. Their only interest is wanting to push out a baby in 14 yrs just like mommy did and of course daddy is thinking about that day and hoping it comes ASAP. I feel esp bad for this kid. This is the sporty one who wants to be a dentist and that ain't ever going to happen - neither playing soccer nor 8 yrs of post high school education at a real university.

My how things have changed. Tiff posted an IG story saying that she and Law are trying to save as much as possible but still want their green tea macha so they ordered one large and an extra cup and split it and it was the perfect size and they saved $4. Wow. A month ago this would have been unthinkable for these people. This is how they grew up which Law no doubt remembers as Z has mentioned it and Law is only 3 yrs younger than Z. Z has said if they went anyplace like the zoo Gil NEVER allowed them to get a soda no matter hot it was - it was the public water fountain; or if he allowed it as a super rare treat, he'd buy one soda for every 2-3 kids in attendance and they'd share; same with restaurants - in the rare event they went which Erin has said was like 1-2 times/yr max, they were NEVER allowed to order a drink, it was food only + water. I think the financial divisions between the siblings are going to become clear - specifically the sisters w/ the skilled trade husbands [John; Evan; Kelton] vs. everyone else esp the brothers who pretty much do nothing or have jobs that would be considered pocket money rather than actual careers. I mean in contrast Josie was posting that they will totally make skiing an annual event for her family of four - and it's NBD because you can buy lift tix and cheap flights and an AirBnB on Black Friday and then just rent your skis etc. on arrival. In one video you can clearly hear Kelton saying "Josie what do you think of these cabins" - pointing at the ski in/ski out cabins while riding the lift; Josie ignores him and prattles on about Willow but you know they're thinking next yr when it's just us, let's get a cabin right on the mountain - none of this driving 20 min to ski. I just think what she considers "cheap" w/ both of their businesses won't be what say Trace or Law's budget consider cheap. It's actually telling that Law is there and hasn't been out skiing really. Seems like he went out once with Jeb or Jud [can't tell the difference] and that's it -- they've been there like 4+ days. Now I'm sure the excuse is that Tiff has arrived - I think on Thursday night/Fri - and as a Cali girl she doesn't like cold but that doesn't explain the prior four days. But on this same trip every year in the last 2-3 years he and Trace and Jackson/Warden/Isiah were boasting daily about tearing up the slopes etc. Now Jackson doesn't attend [IDK if Isiah is there either - not a single pic of him; Warden was seen at the airport] and the ones who do attend definitely aren't skiing daily except Kelton/Josie, as rentals cost money. Kelton/Josie are in fact ok giving their 2 yr old an expensive hobby bc clearly they expect to be able to afford it in the years to come. I mean she didn't need lift tix etc. this yr bc Josie said they were free under 3 - but she did need rental skis, all the clothing etc.

I will say Evan hasn't been irresponsible about school as far as we've seen. There have been lots of trips including last year's ski trip where he flies in Thursday night/Fri morning [as he appears to take class Tues/Thurs and often isn't working Friday so maybe apprenticing is just four days a wk] and just stays the weekend. I feel like reality had been hitting E&C in recent months and then their world got rocked with the show being canceled; like I don't think Carlin's sudden weepiness is ONLY due to pregnancy. They've been flying high since they started courting in like 2016 and somewhere along the way convinced themselves they were celebrities and the whirlwind would never end. From having cameras follow their courtship to jetting off to Maine for the engagement to the first really nice wedding to sex and making a honeymoon baby that they carry around like a purse ,etc. -- and fill that in with freebies that made them feel RICH like ski vacations and 2-3 other vacations/yr, a few hundred extra $/wk in YT income etc., non stop gender reveals/showers/christmas/I love you day - I think they legit thought life would be easy. And now comes kid 2, the reality that you can't jet around with two kids like with one and then OH slap in the face - no place to jet to bc now you have to pay for it yourself, not UP. Their over-confidence has been ridiculous as Evan a few months ago crowed about we really want to BUILD our OWN house, not buy someone else's house -- and went to go look at McMansions being built. Lol. They legit put in one offer on one existing home, confidently thinking their 3% or 10% down was totally going to get them this house. Like did they consider that there are people who can/do pay 25k over asking, can buy in all cash etc??? Or does that not matter because hey we are STARS. I think the house thing + now the show + prospect that YT income will start to dry up unless they can stay relevant say six months from now when all the pregnancy/name/first Stewart grandson stuff is done -- is hitting them hard and Evan has always said he is the one who worries about money - bc Carlin can't worry her pretty little head with math. I mean just looking at Josie's posts this vacation is likely very different than prior ones and prob the last ever ski vacation as you can't do ski trips on the cheap. Looks like flights and the house were booked by UP and the Bates could still use those. But also looks like they are on their own for everything else - lift tix; ski rentals; food etc. Knowing G&K I'm sure they've said they'd only foot the bill for Addie/Ellie/Callie/Jeb/Jud; even though Warden/Isiah/Jackson live at home - I bet they are responsible for their own rentals. lift tix etc. and obv so are all the married/courting kids and thus far I've only see a pic of Warden so I wonder if some of the others skipped bc the $ wasn't worth it. I also wouldn't be surprised if all of those parties are also responsible for a few meals - like not just cooking one night which lots of families do - but footing the bill. Kelton grilled burgers for all on the first night and I wouldn't be shocked if that was K&J's grocery contribution. It is kind of strange to see them now taking packed lunches when they go out skiing - opening up tupperware containers of sandwiches you'd send in a school lunch and Trace crushing a mini snack bag of Cheetos. As we all know from Layla they'd just run to a convenient store and buy bags of Cheetos the size of the kid's head - but now it's those packs of minis you get for school lunches; and there used to be daily brunches and dinners out when they were on vacation and we haven't seen one yet. I have to imagine Evan looked at the money and said - lift tix + rentals for me even from Thurs-Sunday + we have to feed 18 other ppl at least a few times, uh we could save that few hundred for upcoming hospital copays. . . .

Josie has kind of lost her mind over this vacation. The sheer amount of stuff they're taking as if they're going to live in Colorado and now their precious suitcase that they bought new and overstuff cracked. Driving to Nashville from midnight to 3 am, kids walking thru the airport at 3 am for a 5 am flight. Like WTF - what vacation is worth this?? G&K are there with all their kids who live with them and Trace/Law are featured at the rental house. This very much screams last hurrah bc it was already booked at UPTV rates so we are going to squeeze every last minute of fun out of this bc we likely aren't going to be able to afford a house that IRL rents for $1000/wk ever again. Wonder what other married couples are going - if any. So far none have been pictured. Interesting that Katie and Trav aren't going - no kid responsibilities and bored in their marriage/or awkward - but she has a friend in town all week. And I know the pandemic is fake/is over/blah blah but why does Kelton even bother with a mask? She's posted hundreds of clips of her honey thru the airport/on the flight - mask is below the nose in every single one; he's carrying Willow who is masked properly, he goes ahead and pulls the mask down below her nose. I guess he's keeping up the theater bc you're supposed to in airports/on a flight - whereas asshole Warden, Gil, etc. don't even bother - walking thru the terminal and baggage claim and don't even have one on their chins that they could pull up if needed. Remind us - how many times has your sister gotten covid and how much has it limited her ability to pop out more kids?? Maybe someone should let them know that it's now known that covid affects MALE fertility . . . they've all had covid before, do they want to risk a new variant too??

I came here to say the same thing as @BitterApple - something isn't right with this family. Sure guys play fight etc. but actually hitting each other with belts to the point that it's hurting and then choking your grandson and dad and son wrestling to the point where son starts saying his neck and back hurts and dad still doesn't stop - and btw this was to wish son a happy birthday??? And meanwhile mom was standing by watching the wrestling laughing along - in most families even if guys are rough, a mom would tell the dad to stop when her damn 17 yr old had neck pain??? This family has a meanness to it. I will never be convinced otherwise. Before people jump all over me I am not saying Trav is doing or will do anything physically harmful to Katie, but he is not as nice as his sweet smile and perfect hair and northface indicate. Let's be real the allegations re Trav's dad being physical with his mom came from somewhere and he has seen all of this growing up not only from dad but grandpa. If Katie had an ounce of common sense she'd be watching Trav and his reactions VERY closely. He and his family are all passive aggressive polite but they 100% have decided - it's ok for her to be homesick for x months, let all her friends and family come; but I can see at month 3 or 6, Trav - either on his own or under daddy's direction - says nope your family doesn't need to be here, you're fine, get over it. And then she'll be even more lost. If she had any sense - or if Gil gave a $hit, he doesn't bc he married off another daughter and this one got rich inlaws - screw the sisters or the brothers who won't be around [nothing against Addie/Ellie/Nathan/Jackson but there's nothing they can do for her] -- and have Gil, Zach, and John come out to visit. I don't mean Kelly, Whit, or Alyssa. In a cult where men only respect men, show her freaking inlaws and husband that she has men in her corner who are keeping an eye out for her and her happiness. And I agree Trav right now is ok with visitors weekly - and on any night they don't have visitors they have dinner with his parents, cousins etc., they are hardly ever alone at home together - because he's trying to be sweet with her homesickness AND because this marriage is an awkward 8th grade bf-gf situation. She gives off newlywed Jill Duggar vibes - totally blown out of the water being home alone when he's at school a few hrs a week; but then he comes home and they legit have nothing to say to each other besides talking about the next house project, chores, or the dog. So yeah I think he feels some relief having Addie/Ellie/Nathan/the bridesmaid or whoever else around bc it's someone to occupy her a bit so he doesn't have to talk to her or if he wants to they can have a group conversation. Marriage doesn't magically get easier. If she has an ounce of common sense in her head she should also be trying to develop a marriage with Trav who she is stuck with for life. Bestie is visiting now and then she goes to Tenn in April for Carlin's baby -- why not take those 8-10 wks in between to NOT have visitors and NOT go to his parents' house 4 nights/wk but force yourself to be home alone with each other?? Some of the time will be sex. Some will be talking. Hell you can buy books which have dating conversation starters if it's such a struggle??

Can anyone catch me up on J&D? I feel like leading up to the trial and even during trial she was posting IG videos a lot. Nothing significant but like daily life stuff and now it’s radio silent. Did the trial somehow traumatize her? Bc I expected that more from Joy who looked just broken during trial; I don’t follow Joy but the few times I’ve looked she at least posted Christmas, New Years etc stuff.

So I go on and off following them - is there a sentencing date yet? Or has it happened? Sentencing is the fun part of trials - as a fed atty - bc you’re not debating computer forensics but rather your getting letters/testimony re what a great guy Joshie is or isn’t. Also any truth to the rumors on the Bates Reddit that Anna STILL doesn’t believe it was her dear husband and is accusing anyone who came into the dealership/communicated with the dealership as being the one who downloaded CP - including Carlin/Evan?! There were texts from Evan that went into evidence at Josh’s trial apparently - limited to car questions and nothing else. Reddit is speculating that this caused a blowup btwn Anna and Austin (as his wife and Carlin are besties), which would kind of explain why Austin sat by himself the entire trial as opposed to near Anna to “support” her like Derick.

The Breckinridge trip next week was a family trip - bc Willow was talking about skiing with Jeb last wk and Josie mentioned they were going with her fam. UP did a similar trip to a ski location 1-2 yrs ago to film - so I assume this was the same. The entire trip could be off if it was booked thru UP. But if booked individually (and later comped by UP or using UP’s corporate discounts), IDK I could see G&K going with the kids that live w them just to put on a - nothing to see here, life is the same - show, even though it’d be a dumb use of $$. Then each married couple would decide whether to go or not - and usually when it’s just G&K and living at home siblings, the only couple that tags along is Carlin/Evan - which I could see them doing for new YT content and bc they haven’t yet accepted that the ride is over. Bet Z&W are wishing they hadn’t taken on a bigger home that’s an unliveable gut job at the moment + Z may privately be wishing he’d never left his cop/city job. G is going to reprise the tree biz definitely though not much can be done now given that we’re getting an unusual amount of snow this yr in the south. But come spring guaranteed there will be IG posts from Trace re how #blessed he is to work with the bros 🙄 Have these idiots thought about how they’re getting to Law’s wedding? Are John, Chad and Z really going to buy 5-6 tickets each to Ca?? And have they considered that they aren’t getting a fancy AirBnb via Up to make into their pig sty for a week?? It’ll likely be $99 rooms at a Hampton Inn an hr away or in a sketchy part of town. And yet it’s Law - any sib that opts not to go or goes alone or dumps the kids with inlaws and goes as a couple will be on his $hit list for life as they didn’t show up for HIS day when he showed up for all of them. The only one who could be excused may be Carlin as she will likely have birthed a baby 1-4 wks earlier yet no way her and her fame whore husband are missing out on new YT content.

Guess none of these geniuses has realized yet that the first sibling that comes out and admits/says something/expresses some opinion on the show's cancelation will be the sibling that has some chance of holding onto their social media following [and thus their free goods] for a bit longer. Yet Tiff has been going on and on about the wedding website not working since last night [bc apparently ppl are waiting with baited breath to see a website for a wedding they aren't attending] AND now Law just did his first IG story post cancelation - talking about how he lost his voice but is at some convenient store right now and is totally shook by the fact that there are Reese's cups w/ potato chips in them . . . Uh Law I'm thinking your voice is hoarse bc you spent last night crying and/or on the phone fighting with your siblings/blaming them for the show cancelation right before YOUR wedding . . . .

Ultimately the girls will be fine - they've mostly married actual skilled tradesmen; Kelton owns his co and it makes enough money that he'll continue to pay Bobby for his admin job; John likely owns a % of his family's co.; Evan is on his way to being a union electrician by May-June; Trav's family will create a job for him at his college/church. Chad - yeah - he basically is doing odd jobs to put food on the table. He has skills but isn't licensed but even he will be ok bc he hires the brothers WHEN he has big jobs - if/when jobs get tight, he keeps the work for himself AND he and Erin live closest to how they were raised - they can live by stretching a dollar. Don't get me wrong the girls are/will be aggrieved bc this very likely means they aren't getting Sbux every time they step out of the home; aren't getting fast food 4 nights/wk - and will be expected to budget/shop/cook to save money; aren't getting their nails done weekly; aren't flying to Florida every time they find a $99 ticket. as the show income goes away + the adjacent social media income may fall away as over time YT videos that may have gotten 50k views may eventually get 15k views. But the social media income won't go away in a day - it'll dwindle over time hopefully [sorry but there's no reason E&C whining every week should be that important to anyone and if C wants real income - stop hawking cheap clothes and start a business like Josie offering a skill - like doing hair]. ALL the sons OTOH are effed. Sure Trace/Jackson/Warden/Isiah can lay tile or rip up carpet but they all have champagne tastes on a beer budget. If they want a house like John's or to be able to travel all the time, they need to hit up a trade school and get licensed in something which can take several years + cost tuition money -- money which would've been easier to come up with the show. Same with Z - bet he wishes now he hadn't quit [or get kicked out of] the PD where he had a salary + benefits. Whit's clothes selling business may go the way of social media income - dwindling over time. Sure he has contractor skills and can do foundation work, as well as dry wall but excuse me if I have a crack in my foundation, am I really going to hire a hobbyist or a licensed contractor?? I still have the image of Trace from a ski trip - where he had his first gf with him - totally boasting about MY SKI HOUSE. It was in a pricey town like Aspen, ski in/ski out, and he'd return from skiing and chill in the hot tub daily with mountain views; it's the kind of house that goes for $700-1000/night. It was really big talk from a guy who let's be real when the show goes away [and we all knew it eventually would - just not yesterday] would be vacationing like Chad - driving to a random Fla. beach or TN mountain town off season w/ his 5 kids or a really big trip would be 3 days at Niagara Falls. I think that's going to be the biggest adjustment for all of them - the non stop jumping on flights down to Fla; over the top courtship asks or engagements where G&K get to jet off to Italy, Utah, Rhode Island, Key West; weddings that aren't fundie weddings with ice cream in the parking lot; constant hair/nails/Sbux/takeout; 2-3 big trips/yr staying in fancy AirBnbs paid for by UP; huge I Love You Day parties also in a rented AirBnb where they buy out the toy store for all the grandkids+ give all the kids/inlaws lavish presents too; the non stop photo shoots [I know they're done by "sweet friends" but you have to pay them something].

Yeah I'm sure they were making money via YT moreso than the show earnings which are split through like 17 different households. Thing is these shows however lame they are give you the platform. People follow you and watch your YTs and buy your junk bc they liked you when they watched you on TV but with the TV show only being in season for a few months, they're curious what you're doing otherwise. Sure not all the watchers are going to fall off tomorrow but they're going to start dwindling away as 3 or 6 mos from now some people are going to be like - who are these people again, why do I follow them?? There is a LOT of content out there - LOTS of insta and YT influencers to follow and people hardcore follow certain ones for 3-12 mos and then move onto new people unless you can do something to keep them interested. The show was the one "interesting" thing they had. Because let's be honest otherwise Alyssa and Carlin's IG and YT's are -- getting coffee; getting fast food; whining about getting kids out the door to coop; dog issues for Carlin; pregnancy; selling clothes; dressing up their kids to look cute . . . . Guess what there are MILLONS of mommy accounts on IG and YT that have this exact content. With no hook - like a TV show; or doing these mundane things while you live in Paris or whatever - it isn't THAT lucrative. I mean these aren't major celebrities or reality stars on the Bachelor or whatever that people will forever remain interested in - these are a mommy bloggers complaining about daily life. Time will tell. A/o right now: Katie: 185k followers on IG; Alyssa: 346k; Carlin: 363k; Josie: 254k; Whit: 343k; BSB: 210k; Michael: 207k; Erin: 395k; Law: 271k; Tiff: 97k; Nathan: 61k; Esther: 59k. And Law must be LIVID - as this stepped on his wedding date thunder + their wedding website won't go up; newsflash Tiff - who keeps posting non stop tonight promising a website fix - no one cares THAT much?? While Tiff is keeping sweet from her videos she seems like she is FREAKING OUT -- the only "platform" her non talented husband has seems to be disappearing and they can't even drum up business tonight via wedding website.

Damn the plug got pulled. We all knew it wouldn't be forever as much as Carlin, Whit, Law, Katie etc. started to believe they were SOOOOO important. This is definitely in response to something - whether George Floyd; Trace/Law at Jan 6 in DC; or the new documentary. It isn't a random - the station is going in a different direction - decision because they were already filming this season; Josie and Katie have posted videos of doing interviews for the season etc. NOW let's see how much anyone REALLY cares about Bates Sisters Boutique or Josie's barrette co [though I do think she has a good thing going w/ her wedding hair business since that is something for local brides not a product bought by fundie gawkers watching them on TV] or Carlin/Evan's weekly saga. Reality is most/all of the sales/views were coming from fundie/fundie adjacent types who bought a few pieces out of the novelty of having a piece of something from the Bates' family or watched to keep up with what is happening with C&E. I think sales/YouTube views have already been down - bc you buy a few things and then go on to spending money with the millions of other insta influences. Let's see how much people even remember them six mos from now. Bet C&E are now wishing they had been saving that extra ~$300/wk they were making from YouTube videos given that another kid is coming + they still need to buy a house; but nope it was all about the best electronics and all kinds of other online shopping. Also wonder if all the kids don't know yet?? They're posting IG videos like normal tonight of grabbing drive thru dinners or vacation next week or a wedding date for Law etc. Though maybe it's more like, we're already celebs, don't act panicked/depressed and ppl will keep following us.

First time I've watched a C&E video since she posted that George Floyd IG - just haven't been interested in them making $. But teary video this week if anyone is interested. Turns out they were quiet around the holidays bc they were sick. Had booked themselves a 2 day babymoon at a Nashville hotel but ended up returning to Evan's family's house in one night bc they were sick and apparently the whole family was sick and laid around for 7 days. Cue LOTS of tears from Carlin about how hard it's been - she's been sick for Thanksgiving; Christmas; New Years; is back on heparin shots blah blah. Uh she's definitely going to be flirting with post partum depression with kid #2 given how miserable she is now, doesn't feel like getting out of bed, doesn't feel like herself etc. Maybe it's finally occurring to her that with 2 kids - slinging a kid on your hip or dropping them off with Michaela and jetting off to Fla or NJ or wherever ain't happening nearly as much; I mean sure she could have Whit's life where kids are are after thought but she doesn't have a stay home husband for that. Cue LOTS more tears about not getting the house, how it's God's will blah blah. If the housing situation is SUCH a big deal and they clearly are working with a tight budget - unsurprising given that he's just an apprentice - have they heard of renting?? Michael and Brandon live in a rental home so I'm sure C&E could find one too thru a sweet friend or perish the thought there are apartments - prob closer to Knox, as Kelton and Josie lived in a fairly new construction apartment for a while; I'm sure they'd look down on that but a 2 bed apartment gets you more than 600 sqft - I mean usually a 1 bed is more like 800-900 sqft. As for getting sick - uh you've had Covid in 2020; this could have been it again [bc it sounds like Evan's entire family got it and took over a wk to get better - which doesn't scream cold though colds/flus/RSV are going around too]. How many times do you want to catch this - given that you're pregnant, it can have long term effects on the body, and oh yeah your kid has a heart issue?? They didn't clarify if Layla had it - just that she didn't "really get sick." But you're anti vax + anti mask + won't stop going out including to big hotels with people traveling from all over/constant nails/spas/Sbux/indoor dining??

Nice to see Alyssa has made the switch back from "we're DONE - no more kids, that's it" to "we haven't completely decided" in today's IG. LOL. Shocking. No way she isn't trying for a boy - even moreso now with Carlin and Whit both having boys. Plus Allie's sister mom skills are coming along nicely and given that she'd be closer to 8 before any kid showed up, she'd be plenty able to take care of her 2 to 6 year old sisters and cook and clean more so Alyssa can carry a new kid around like a Gucci bag. And Addie and Ellie are likely done "school" being 15 and 16 now. I mean isn't that what they said about Jackson around that age - oh he was doing school night and day a year ago so he'd finish early bc he just wanted to be done so he could start working for Chad; and for the boys it actually matters that they know how to measure and do basic math. So yeah for girls that age, they're done. Reality is G&K probably WANT Addie and Ellie spending more time with John and Travis' families to see if they can line up husbands for themselves. When they were starting to marry off their girls they were much more nervous about it and thus much more involved in fundie world -- they'd go to all sort of conventions and bigass fundie weddings where there are open invites and appear at other churches etc. to meet fundie families for their girls. That's how Chad, John, Brandon, and even Evan were found. Josie it just worked out that creepy Kelton had had an eye on her since she was in 8th grade and Tori while they don't admit it, I'm positive that was just Kelton introducing his best friend to an available sister. Katie and Trav I have no idea how they met. But now G&K don't do - and don't seem to want to do - those things and are over the fuddy duddy fundie families. They'd rather use their comps from the show for actual fun stuff like ski trips, last minute trips to Fla, Italy, and 1000s of parties. It's possible their kids don't want to do that stuff either now as they likely consider themselves a cut above the rest - and for every one Chad Paine like hottie you could meet at those events, you're taking to 100 others that probably more like single John David Duggars or like Anna Keller's family and these kids just don't have as much in common with anymore. Yet Addie and Ellie need to meet someone . . . . Sure they'll probably enroll in Crown which ups the chances that they make a "sweet friend" and marry her brother, but in case they don't why not have them go to John and Travis too. Sure they don't socialize a ton when they're with Alyssa and Katie but they do go to church there and could catch someone's eye; plus John has said he has 18ish yr old nephews . . . .

I think they're both ridiculously fundie -much like Erin and Chad and Tori [IDK about Bobby being fundie but I do think he is very conservative/religious and traditional]. So yeah it's one thing for your wife to go to school for a helping profession like nursing or teaching but working outside the home in that profession - uh no; she can use her profession to help her family - when they eventually have a kid she can tend to scrape knees and colds; she could've helped Gil after his shoulder surgery or Kelly after her recent surgery had she been a nurse then etc.; and then of course "grandparents" - even though they live hundreds of miles away, sounds so sweet. Plus how would it work in nursing - I'm sure M had visions of holding cute babies and helping laboring moms but both labor/delivery and NICU are way more specialized - she'd need more education and experience. She'd start in general hospital nursing - uh she'd have to deal with men . . . in hospital gowns; often seeing all the junk. Uh pretty sure that ain't allowed. And given what we've learned of Michael's self esteem lately, you know she 100% thinks she's a bad wife bc she hasn't made Brandon a dad and considers herself soooo blessed that he's standing by her and still treating her well. Now if she's not even around to get a home cooked dinner on the table at 6 pm [not to mention lunch as well bc he's full time work from home - even before the pandemic]??? I mean in her head - her wife credentials would just be revoked at that point if poor Brandon had to microwave something she made earlier in the day and eat it alone and put the dish in the dishwasher after. Yet nurses just starting out work a lot of night shifts/have minimal schedule control so she couldn't be on just 9-5 bc . . . dinner. That being said they're being dumb financially. There's $$$ needed for who knows how many rounds of fertility treatment, maybe adoption, and unlike most of her siblings they also don't own a house and will eventually need to buy something. Why not bring in some money beyond whatever extra comes from the baby blanket business?? Sure she can't do hospital nursing but demand EVERYWHERE is thru the roof right now. Why not try to get in with a doctor's office?? Much more likely to be 9-5 and really patient care is blood pressure, giving shots, the occasional EKG. Sure maybe that's more medical assistant work but given the shortages of employees right now I'm willing to be she could get hired; hell even being a medical receptionist answering phones at one of those offices could be an option bc they're so short handed they likely won't even care that you're a nurse willing to answer phones.