[Josie and Kelton: They Have Employable Skills]

They're definitely having five kids, come hell or high water. Kelton strikes me as someone who came up with a life plan as a teenager, and it's gonna be followed to the letter. 

I'm sorry to hear the baby is having issues. A disorder that gets progressively worse doesn't sound good. Normal people would take that as a sign, but Fundies gonna Fundie. The baby factory ain't getting shut down any time soon. 

[Katie and Travis: Young Love?]

Oh dear God, why?!!!!!!

They're really going to take that little girl away from the grandparents who adore her? And for what? So they can live the sorority girl/frat boy life with Evan and Carlin? Katie's gonna be in for one rude awakening. Kelly is not going to help the way Mrs. Clark does and Josie's had dibs on Michael for a while. Good luck finding a sitter for their thrice weekly date nights. 

[Katie and Travis: Young Love?]

5 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

K&T rented a coffee shop and party decorators for Haley's 1st birthday. Does anyone know if Carlin went? Only saw KJ&G and Addee in the few picks.

The Stews didn't attend. I think Carlin was at the tail end of her Universal trip when the party was held. 

[Josie and Kelton: They Have Employable Skills]

Well, looks like we called it. 

I agree with everyone's comments. Josie and Kelton were so smug and over the top with this pregnancy, I'm surprised they didn't design commemorative plates. Yeah, and they're totally full of crap about not knowing the sex. They weren't doing bi-weekly photo shoots for kicks. They knew they were getting their much desired son and wanted to document everything. 

The girls had a nice run while it lasted, but the attention is definitely going to shift. Expect Kelton to wax poetic about Junior taking over the family business or playing quarterback for the Titans, and Josie  hashtagging every post with #boymom. 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

54 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

 

As for school, they've shown her tracing letters, but are they teaching her the sounds to go with them? Is she still insisting her name is Sissy?

I'm sure Carlin will read here and post a clap back video of Layla working on more advanced material, but as it stands now, I've only seen her trace and color.

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

I think Influencers have a stack of burner accounts they use to ask fake questions. When I see nonsense like, "Do you have a discount code for the Cherry Chapstick you wore yesterday?" I just roll my eyes. 

Speaking of Layla, Carlin and Evan really need to get on the ball with homeschool. Whit posted a video of Khloe teaching letters to Jaden, and I can't believe how much more advanced that girl is even though she's only slightly older. Not only in being able to read, but the way she was able to explain and sound out the letter combinations for her brother. Meanwhile, Layla is coloring pictures, staring at a wall. I'm not making the comparison as a put down towards Layla, but rather the total laziness on behalf of her parents. I have no doubts she'd be further along if E&C prioritized a school routine over their Starbucks runs. 

[Josie and Kelton: They Have Employable Skills]

26 minutes ago, ranchgirl said:

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

Thank God. The amount of bump shoots this woman has done is ridiculous. FWIW, I think #3 is a boy and they've known for a while. Both Josie and Kelton seem way more obsessed with this pregnancy than they were for the first two. 

[Working It: Bates Family Fashion, Frumping Down the Runway]

Oh my gawdddddd, make it stop. I'm all for size inclusivity, but ffs, use age appropriate models. Kelly looks absolutely ridiculous. 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

20 minutes ago, floridamom said:

I watched their most recent YouTube last night. They said that the pool for their backyard is in the works. How can they pay for this? An inground swimming pool should set them back between $30K and 45K. Will they finance this? Are they financing everything? If so, one day "it" will hit the fan. I certainly would like to know how these two are living on 1/2 of the boutique net profits.

They're definitely financing it. I think they do well off their combined streams of income, but they don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars stacked up. Wasn't it not too long ago Evan was bitching about medical bills and Carlin started doing her own nails to save money? They probably have good credit, but they're borrowing within an inch of their lives. 

I'm assuming Zach and Whit have talked about putting in a pool, so now Evan and Carlin need one. Just wait until Josie upgrades to a McMansion. That'll really send Carlin into a tizzy.

[Alyssa and John: Lunch with Lurch]

1 hour ago, Heathen said:

I think it's time to reiterate my wish that Rhett becomes the brattiest brat in the history of brats. At the same time, I hope the girls haul ass as soon as possible and leave their awful parents in the dust. 

No kidding. Let Rhett support Alyssa and John in their old age with his future MLB salary (insert eye-roll). 

 

55 minutes ago, AstridM said:

Are they calling fanny packs “crossbody purses” now? 😆😆😆

Yeah, crossbody is the modern description. I'm an 80s kid, so I always revert to calling them fanny packs. 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

They took Layla to Disney when they were in town for Jackson's wedding, and I don't think it went too well. She looked cranky and exhausted in most of the videos. Of course, she was probably up until 2 a.m. the night before and didn't have the energy for a long day at a theme park. 

 

[Alyssa and John: Lunch with Lurch]

In the latest installment of "Allie Webster Has A Horrible Life," Alyssa released her latest YouTube video. It's Valentine's Day and the girls are opening gifts. 

It starts with John and Alyssa gushing over Rhett, per usual. They decided Alyssa would be Rhett's Valentine and John would be the girls'. Alyssa claims John spoils the girls rotten, which is about to be really funny when it comes to the actual gift giving. Rhett gets two toys, Maci gets a Stanley Cup and a toy, and the three older girls get cheap, flimsy fanny packs that looked like they came off Amazon for $10. They each got a card with a cute message, which was nice. 

What stood out to me though was Allie going last like always, and Lexi even predicted she'd get the exact same thing. There's really no fun or anticipation when you know what's coming.

Also, towards the end, Zoey gives John and Alyssa cards. They make a huge deal over it and give her tons of praise. Shortly after, John is filming Rhett and Alyssa, and Allie walks into the frame. She proudly says, "It's done!," to which Alyssa replies, "What's done?." Allie says, "I made Mommy a present!", and get this: they cut the camera away and end the vlog! What the heck, they can't give this poor kid ten seconds of shine? Maybe it's on whoever does their editing, but it's John's and Alyssa's channel. They're the ones telling the editor what to include and what to leave out. They did the same thing with the Christmas video. Spent lots of time on the other kids, but rushed through Allie's gift opening and kept turning the camera to Rhett. 

What's crazier to me is all the glowing comments about how perfect their family is and how John and Alyssa are such amaaayzinggg parents. There's never anything slightly critical about the obvious favoritism. 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

11 hours ago, Dimi1 said:

maybe the trauma and neglect she experienced is so bad  she is looking for a mother figure. and the gals she is with know this and are actually helping her and loving her...that is a possibility. 

That's an interesting take, I never considered that. Several posters have noted that Carlin spoiling Layla with candy and fast food is her way of making up for the treats she never got in childhood. It's entirely plausible she's gravitating towards older women to experience the nurturing Kelly didn't (and still doesn't) provide. Also notable that the stuff she does with them, i.e., baseball games and theme parks, are the kinds of activities common for kids to do with their parents. 

3 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

Her visits with Katie and her in-laws have suddenly got really short. 

I'm really curious as to what's going on with the in-laws. Carlin and Evan were going to Nashville at least two weekends a month, and their 'weekends' were 5-6 day stays. Maybe Evan's brother had to move back in temporarily due to his divorce, and it's a little strained. It surely isn't so Carlin can be more present at the Boutique. Aside from dropping in once a month for photo shoots, she's never there. I'm assuming they'll be going to NJ for Hailey's fancy birthday party, but it'll be interesting to see how long they crash at Katie's. 

[Alyssa and John: Lunch with Lurch]

It's unfortunate Taliban Dan has an obsession with homeschooling, because I think putting the girls in public school would change Alyssa's life. Sure, she'd bitch about having to get everyone up and out the door, but once she got used to it she'd love being down three kids for the bulk of the day. 

She mentioned in a previous video that it's hard to take the kids places, which I found odd. Is she just lazy or is her brood so under-stimulated that they go nuts on the rare occasion they leave the house? Five children is larger than the typical American family, but it's not unheard of. Even before Rhett was born, she never took the girls anywhere or did anything with them, so I'm not buying that it's a numbers issue. 

 

[Josie and Kelton: They Have Employable Skills]

Kelly's roots must've been out of control if Josie insisted on dyeing her hair before they went out to dinner. 

[Alyssa and John: Lunch with Lurch]

23 minutes ago, Dimi1 said:

Alyssa is on IG while the kids are in school..She is asking her followers what they want to see ..IE: content for youtube...she is out of ideas....ummmm let's see...how about we see allie take some ballet lessons...and the kid that likes tools take a class at home depot. Maybe they could enroll the girls in sports??? anyone else have any ideas..and I think she is not going around her family ...because no way her girls need to find out the girl cousins ( josies girls and layla) are doing everything her girls want to do...

The Home Depot workshops are a great idea. They're free and whenever I've seen one at my local store, the kids always look like they're having a blast. 

Alyssa's between a rock and a hard place. She needs the money so she can't quit YT, but to be successful in any social media, you have to hustle and come up with creative content. I think she's too exhausted and run down to put much effort into it and it shows. 

[Josie and Kelton: They Have Employable Skills]

5 hours ago, 3 is enough said:

 I do wonder if she will have a harder time getting back to her pre-baby weight, and if it will bother her. They all seem to bounce back really quickly.

 

She's very vain, it'll definitely bother her. The Bates girls bounce back fast, but they've got youth on their side. My mom had her first kid at 19 and was in her regular clothes within a month. She used to joke it didn't all go to shit until she had her last at 32 (which coincidentally was me, lol). 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

59 minutes ago, ranchgirl said:

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.  

Lulz! Carlin managed to find prairie-style clothing in perfect condition and the right sizes for four people at Goodwill?! She's so full of crap. She probably feels stupid for spending a gob of money on costumes when most of the adults didn't bother. 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

31 minutes ago, Heathen said:

Worse than Evan? 

He's a gun nut, extreme right wing red piller. Oh, and he's also a cop. 

I'm truly sorry for any woman who miscarries, but getting away from that psycho was the best thing the wife could've possibly done. 

[Working It: Bates Family Fashion, Frumping Down the Runway]

1 hour ago, Dimi1 said:

.and what is interesting...C and E posted the video of the costumes etc pretty much the next day...but the rest of the bates are crickets on SM...makes me wonder if some are moving away from the bates family and brand...

It definitely feels like ILYD is losing its' shine. I imagine it was much more fun when UP was paying for the travel, food and costumes. Family members would post a flood of videos and pictures all weekend. I'm assuming those with YouTube channels are saving the content for their biggest moneymaker, but it still feels like the enthusiasm just isn't there anymore. 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

41 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

She has a reel in her stories. Those costumes look very expensive. Maybe they were able to rent them from some place? 

I'm wondering that too. Those costumes were nice. They definitely weren't cobbled together from the thrift store. Zade looked so cute in the wig. 

Couple of random thoughts:

Kelly's dropped a lot of weight. 

I think Tiffany is pregnant. 

No John and Alyssa? They were the only ones I didn't spot in the crowd. 

[Working It: Bates Family Fashion, Frumping Down the Runway]

1 hour ago, floridamom said:

Is it me? I have noticed that 75% of the BSB dress styles are cut from the same pattern. They use different material  but those "tiered-sewn together" bottoms are the same style for most of their cheaply made stuff? I hope this post makes sense...I just woke up.

I've noticed it too! They sell the same basic style in different colors/patterns. I guess it must be profitable but I've never actually seen anyone wearing it in the wild. 

 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

1 hour ago, AgathaC said:

Same here. Mine just told me to do something with a tone and attitude that said they just assumed that was enough and that I would comply. They were right. But my parents aren’t emotionally stunted morons.

Lol, and I'm assuming your family's income didn't depend on your willingness to preen for a camera. 

[Carlin and Evan: But Mostly Carlin!]

In the latest installment of Stellar Parenting, the kids had teeth cleanings. Layla is in the waiting room with an unopened lollipop clutched in her fist. Only Carlin would bribe her kid with sugar at a freaking dentist appointment. The irony is off the charts. 

I get that sometimes parents just want to get through a stressful situation. If a bag of Cheetos prevents your kid from having a meltdown on a flight or a piece of candy gets them through a blood draw, by all means, do what you have to do. However I've noticed a pattern with Layla where she can't/won't do the most basic of things without sweets, snacks or promise of a toy. I'm sure 99% of this is because Carlin needs her cooperative for filming, but they're establishing a lot of really bad habits. 

[Working It: Bates Family Fashion, Frumping Down the Runway]

31 minutes ago, zenme said:

The style of the dress and the look she's "trying" to convey don't match up.  

Right? What vibe is she going for? Cottage Core Vixen? 🤣🤣🤣