smarty

My guess is they looked at all the college towns in Nevada and Arizona and thought Flagstaff was the best choice. For the next umpteen million years they will have kids in college, so it would save them money to live close enough to a college that the kids could live at home and commute (much like the older kids did with UNLV). Then they only have to come up with the tuition money not dorm costs. Still not sure how they chose Flagstaff over Tucson (University of Arizona) or Tempe (Arizona State) but I'm guessing the OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES and TREES won the contest for Flagstaff. And really it is less hot.

Oh I totally agree the timing is tight. But here is what hangs me up on the theory that Dayton chose NAU before they decided to move and that was what prompted the family moving to Flagstaff: NAU isn't that great of a school. Dayton graduated with honors and an advanced degree from high school in Las Vegas. University of Arizona is higher ranked and has a good disabilities support program. Why wouldn't he go there if he was looking at Arizona? What would have drawn him to apply to NAU in the first place and have that be his top choice? For that matter NAU and UNLV are ranked about the same and are about the same size so why NAU over UNLV?

The deadline of March 1 was only for the named scholarships listed on that chart below. The Freshman Merit scholarships are awarded automatically upon admittance. It specifically says under the Freshman Merit based tuition scholarships heading: Eligibility Criteria Students are automatically considered for these scholarships upon admission. A separate application is not required. I agree though --- I don't get the jump from the March speech "we need to move, give me ideas where since I know it can't be Utah" to Robyn Breana and Aurora visiting Flagstaff and loving the trees (note no Dayton on that trip). They left a lot out of the middle there.

The original speech with the white boards that he gave before they went up to Seattle was in March. Christine specifically mentioned it was March. In Meri's Flagstaff visit the realtor noted it was early May so we know the family speech at the end of the last episode was in May.

How does anyone know when Dayton applied to NAU? We know Kody gave the speech about moving in early March. NAU has rolling admissions, which means you can apply any time. Theoretically Dayton could have applied in March/April when they first started talking about Flagstaff. Also, given that NAU is not overly selective (it accepts 81% of applicants) Dayton's high grades would have made him an easy admit. As far as scholarships go, I've surmised all along that the Browns play around with their income to make it look like they don't make that much - hence qualifying for financial aid. He also could have gotten some token amount for being an out of state student. They only said he got a scholarship - they didn't say for what and how much.... I'm not saying that Dayton didn't factor into the decision to move to Flagstaff, I'm just thinking he wasn't the sole reason - like he got into NAU and then Kody decided they needed to move to Flagstaff. Edited to add: looking at NAU's website, based on his grades Dayton would have automatically qualified for the Founders Non-Resident Gold Tuition Scholarship for $5,000 a year. It only requires a 3.5 gpa and 990 SAT score. It's one of those scholarships that are based on a set criteria - if you met the GPA and test score you get it.

Maybe she's being honest, maybe it wasn't her that decided Flagstaff?

The fact that they've gotten multiple mortgages since they moved to Flagstaff (at least 2 or 4 on the land, and one for Christine's new house) makes me think the move from Las Vegas was not due to them being unable to refinance their balloon mortgages. If they could get approved to borrow at least $600,000 for the land and $390,000 for Christine's house they easily could have refinance their interest only loans to 30 year fixed mortgages in Las Vegas. They had almost 80% equity in the Las Vegas house (owed $447K on houses worth $600K). Kody's theory of cashing out the equity and going to a market that isn't as oversold was probably the real driving factor - they just didn't time it right with how long it is taking to sell while paying for rentals.......

Yes, 4 separate plots of land next to each other and then Christine and Kody also bought a house that is about a mile away. That is the house Christine and her girls are living in - all the others are renting.

Maybe Robyn is tired of the people who leave nasty comments on her twitter and her posted quote is in reference to that? If you see what some people post directly to them it is appalling. It's one thing for us to chat about their shows here online amongst ourselves but it is completely rude to go on their twitter or facebook and post nasty things to them.

He's actually only a junior, so it would have been 2 years they needed to cover.

It would be interesting to see how the kids have adjusted, and whether they think it is better in Flagstaff (or not). It sucks that the show is over a year behind. If we knew for certain that Gabe, Gwen and Aurora liked it better in Flagstaff then we could at least say it all worked out in their favor, even if it seemed unfair in the beginning.

Perhaps Gabe has actually settled well into Flagstaff and is no longer bitter? I haven't seen any specific twitter posts but in the couple Gabe has posted on Instagram he looks happy. I'm thinking the kind of kid who was up for captain of the Varsity Wrestling team and ranked 10th out of 850 kids in Las Vegas has the kind of personality and grit it takes to make it work wherever he lands. It may not be BETTER than Las Vegas but he probably is making it a good experience for himself.

Yes, his comments basically dismissing Savannah rubbed me the wrong way as well. He had valid points if he kept it to the hard work he has put in as far as a wrestling scholarship and being ranked 10th out of 850 students in his LV high school. His lack of concern for his sister lost me a little. In the previous episode there was a little back and forth teasing between Garrison and Gabe in a bonus scene and you can tell those kids were raised to be competitive. It's sad that you have to compete with members of your own family.

Maybe Maddie wouldn't have moved if she had Gabe to watch. Also, if the Browns had stayed in Las Vegas I doubt Caleb would have taken a job in NC.

For how "cool" all the sister wives found Mitch's mom, it seems that maybe Mitch and his siblings aren't as close to her. I say this because clearly Mitch's mom doesn't agree with plural marriage yet Mitch's siblings already have plural marriages and Mitch hasn't ruled it out. If you were close to your mom and you saw how plural marriage was bad for her wouldn't you avoid it?

Could the Browns manage to get financial aid for their kids because they have TLC put the income from their show into a corporation/production company set up on their behalf? That company then could pay all their bills without it being "taxable income" to them so when they fill out the FAFSA for college they qualify for grants and subsidized loans. Hence the "scholarships"....

I think Janelle does the accounting/tax work for their production company.

I love his maturity. When he told Janelle he wasn't going to stop talking to her (like Hunter did) he really impressed me. I've gotten the silent treatment from my kids for a lot less!

She talks like she's younger.

Well well well Dayun has accepted his offer to go to NAU

I agree with Robyn on that one - I don't get the cake face smashing thing. Kinda passive aggressive, not unlike a pinata of your spouse to beat on.

That samoa cake did sound delicious

Was that preview just Meri saying she wasn't moving to Flagstaff?

That was what I was thinking too. Perhaps one hard winter (like this year) and they will be rethinking building on those lots. I won't believe they are truly settled there until they break ground.

Which do you think is colder and snowier: Lehi Utah where they came from or Flagstaff AZ? Until they move somewhere they can't sell their house for what they paid