ranchgirl

Can someone remind me what Nurie's two sons are named? I saw Newman in a post above, so I know that is one. Is he the oldest? What about the other one.

This is what popped into my head when this reveal was made. I remember when Jill posted about what Kaylee was praying for and felt sorry for Kaylee. She probably told her mom that in private and wanted it to stay private. It was awkward watching the kids after the reveal and how they just stood there. Finally, one girl went over to Nurie and gave her a side hug. The littles looked like they had just been told there was no more food for their lunch.

And just wait until Travis gets there. Ug.

I saw some clips of her first drive after 1-1/2 years and she was so immature. Jumping around and lots of energy. Doesn't look like Z&W are pushing their friendship away from C&E either. Looks like they got Zach and family to join them at their church last Sunday based on story pictures. Surprised that Evan is willing to hand over the Tesla to Carlin, but if she is going to drive (and with the kids) then it is probably the safest car for her to be in. I still think it is strange how she went from lots of problems in August (or Sept) to being free and clear. I guess that 5-day test that found nothing took away all their SM clout.

Unpopular opinion here, but I am happy for the Balka's. I know they live a strict patriarch religion, but I had a baby girl after having two boys. I was over the moon happy with having a girl, but the goal was always a healthy baby. And I still loved my boys too. I do think it is weird that she wore those curlers in her hair while laboring and then took them down when pushing (with an epidural though, there is time while everything is being set up for the birth to touch up, if the laboring woman wants too) only to post a post-labor pic of herself with the little eye mask on under her eyes saying that she had swelling. I guess even the business of having a baby is a time to shill for these influencers. I do think those curlers kept her hair contained and out of the way and she says they are comfortable to lay on. Her hair in a ponytail could still have gotten in the way or been uncomfortable when reclining. Just some thoughts. She will probably wait with the name until the baby is home and has been introduced to his sisters. I do think this baby was bigger than the girls. I spied some cute little back rolls and he looks very filled out to be 3 weeks early, right? Maybe not 95th% based on all babies, but he definitely looked bigger to me than the girls were. I do hope now that they have a 3 children, they will be content and not put any other baby in risk.

It doesn't matter what the real story is, to Jill, it is Frontiers fault.

I agree with this. I'm thinking there is a lot of trickery with the filming. I guess the girls don't see the farmer much, only when it is time to film. Maybe he is out working all day and the girls just sit around and wait. Just like last season, I don't see any of these working out. I believe everyone, even the farmers, are only on the show for exposure.

I'm extremely disappointed with this news. I do not want to watch the "party party" with Carlin and Katie. And I feel so badly for Hailey. What happens when Katie has her next baby? Does she not remember all the complications she had after she had Hailey? How much help she needed and how Travis' family stepped up to the plate and were there for them. Her mom won't be there to help, her sisters won't be there to help (well, probably Michael will) and she and Travi will have Hailey to deal with next time too. Just not interested in watching their life in TN.

Oh goodness, I forgot all about her turning 4.

Josie posted "last bump photos" yesterday evening so inducement either today or tomorrow perhaps.

For 3 years old, Layla is SM smart. In one of the last stories her mom shared, Layla left her white slippers at the edge of the bounce house. They weren't thrown aside quickly, no no, they were left standing up and at the perfect angle so that followers could see they were bunny slippers. No mention of them in the stories so now followers can send Mama Carlin a DM to inquire after them. Such a subtle way to let viewers know that Valentines is over and it's Easter time now. Maybe there will be a quick shout out to St. Patrick's Day when mom and dad remember it is a thing and they run out to buy L & Z something green to wear.

I love to wear a crossbody. Hands free, worn close to my body and not in the way. The ones I own have a thin strap. But to each their own.

What would happen if Dave came home from this Plexus weekend and tells his wife that the company does not line up with their moral Christan values and she needs to step away. Hmmmm.

I don't understand the one on one gift giving when the 3 oldest are getting the same gift. They should let them open those all at the same time. John still could have passed out his card to each girl one on one. And Alyssa's explanation of why the girls got the crossbody purses, so they could carry their own money with them and buy things they want with their own money. Understandable. But when they are out and the girls want something and don't have their money why not just tell them she'll buy it for them but it will come out of their own money when they get home?

I've never been to Universal but isn't that a place where Carlin would have wanted to take Layla? Interesting choice for a Girl's Trip. Evan has no desire to go back to electrical work. He has said that on their channel. He is now into digital media and from what they have said, if Carlin can get back to driving, he will take on more customers by freelancing himself out. They alluded that he is already doing some things for their church in this area. The real test will come when he does have jobs to go to and leaves Carlin at home with the children and the car keys. Can she handle day to day life without him around all the time? She grew up with a gaggle of siblings to do things with and someone was always around. She's had Evan by her side for two years now. She obviously had a very hard time with him being gone when he was in school and she was in charge of their baby and home. Another thing I wanted to point out. Before Christmas, I posted how Kelly always made an effort to be connected to her children, but Gil was hardly ever seen. Since I made that post, Gil has been around Carlin and her kids A LOT. Over at C&E's home playing with the kids or taking Carlin around to shop etc. He's traveling this weekend to be at Hailey's 1st b-day party. I just find it interesting his sudden involvement in some of kids lives.

Katie and Travis now have more members to their youtube channel than Carlin and Evan. I wonder how that is settling.

Kelly probably wanted her roots done before Josie has the baby.

Interesting about Evan's brother's divorce. I bet that is why they aren't spending as much time with his family right now. It isn't about them. Carlin said that she got most of her and the kids LHOTP costumes at Goodwill. Amazing how Goodwill had the perfect Nellie and Willy Olsen wigs.

Well, the music is pretty sad, I can understand why it made Gid want to cry.

Jed and Katie seem to have stopped making youtube videos. Wonder why?

Not a book in sight for the "bedtime stories". Layla telling one of her fairy tales is all that Zade gets? Marriage Retreat really means Photo Op Retreat. YaY! Party! Party!

Saw a picture of Joy with the shorter hair and she looks so cute. I'm surprised to hear that her and Austin are taking dance lessons. Good for them.

I watched the video after reading comments in here and agree with much of what has already been discussed. What did y'all think about the kids opening one gift a day leading up to Christmas? I will cut Jessa some credit about managing the present opening. A lot of families open their gifts one at a time so everyone can see what they get. And of course the younger kids were busy playing with their new toy when it was Spurge's turn. I was surprised by what was in their stockings; a lot of candy and those Pringles ... everyone their own flavor. I also think the girls are into dolls and that's why they get them. The boys (and probably Ivy to an extent) are playing lots of games. It was nice that they got a lot of new ones and a good variety. When Spurge opened his "Catan" he said something a long the lines of finally getting it. I really couldn't tell what was going on but it appeared that Spurge made a gift for Ivy and Henry and gave it to them. Anyone else pick up on that? If that is what was going on, then I think that is very sweet. Ivy called him Spurgy when she thanked him. Spurge does seem so laid back. He did show some verbal excitement with some of his and Henry's gifts. He and Henry got some of the same gifts, but they opened them up at different times. A lot of the things that Henry got in the days leading up to Christmas are what Spurge got on Christmas day. I did heard Jessa say, "Now you can whittle" when Henry opened up his knife. Fern is still very into George.

Maybe Kelton and Josie are just more private people and don't like having overnight visitors to their home right now. I certainly know people whose back door is always open and the more the merrier and I know people who are more private and hardly anyone has even been in their home. Has Josie taken down the chairs that hung from in her living room ceiling? Haven't seen them in a while.

I think Kelton and Josie have a very healthy marriage that operates pretty normally. (And I know that everyone's normal is different.) Now that the show is over, the married siblings have started living their own lives, as they should. Obviously, there was a feud of some sorts that but a barrier in some of the sister's relationships, especially with Erin vs. Carlin/Whitney and now with Katie vs. Josie and that is sad. I do respect the way the girls have all handled whatever happened. No rants/gossip etc., at least in the public eye. We can all speculate, but no one really knows except them. Kelton seems to like his in-laws. He's very busy with owning & working his own growing business and has a family of his own. He cooks a lot of his family dinners. That doesn't leave a lot of time for entertaining all the Bates family. Many weekends, he is home with the girls so Josie can work her business. I really don't think that Gil and Kelly have a lot of family time each week that includes all the married couples. I believe it was Carlin who just admitted that she hadn't seem much of her family since TG and then saw them 3 times during the Christmas season. The Christmas party Kelly put together is new. The Bates use to say they didn't do much at Christmas but focused more on "I Love You Day". I think Kelly wants to see all the grands, so she is wanting to do Christmas now, since ILYD is focused more on the married kids. Gil seems to let his kids come to him and he doesn't go out of his way to see them. Kelly does go see her kids, but it is for short visits and never to be of help. I am sad that Josie and Katie don't seem to get along anymore. Mostly because I think Josie would be a better influence on Katie than Carlin is. I also find it curious why Katie and Travis always stay with Carlin and not with her mom and dad. That seems very strange to me. Especially if Katie is so homesick for family. But I guess I'm in the wrong thread for that. I live in a small, rural town in nowhere USA and I go to the same small church as my brother-in-law and his family, but we rarely sit by them in worship and sometimes don't even talk when we are there. The non-church activity with Carlin/Evan and Josie/Kelton doesn't bother me much. It seems Carlin and Evan are more involved in groups at their church. I think Josie and Kelton go to church on Sunday and Wednesday but do not seem to be associated with groups that watch football games together at the church or even have participated in Vacation Bible School. What I came to say was that I don't think Kelton is abusive or limiting what Josie can do. She owns a business that she works, she regularly hosts or goes out for GNO, they do a lot with their girls etc. They are in a busy time of their lives with growing businesses and family, and I think they make decisions on how to best spend their time according to that. If there are issues with Josie's parents/family, I think they handle them pretty well.