Quantcast
Channel: Bates Family Blog
Viewing all 2070 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Keilens Celebrate 2 Years

August 15, 2017, 7:34 am
$
0
0
Wishing Michael and Brandon Keilen a very happy two-year wedding anniversary! A few days ago, Brandon went skydiving as an early 28th birthday present. (Michael went skydiving at age 18.)




Photos courtesy of brandonandmichaela.com, UP
↧
Search

Johnny the Dog

August 15, 2017, 1:56 pm
$
0
0

"You can hit a golf ball anywhere on this 25 acres, and he thinks it's fetch time."
-Lawson Bates

Who is Lawson talking about? Johnny, of course! Who is Johnny? He is the Bates' faithful, elderly dog that has been a member of the family for many years. Hear all about him in this Name That Bates video.


And if you want more of Johnny, check out this clip from two years ago.


Photo/videos courtesy of UP
↧
↧

Michaela and Brandon

August 15, 2017, 7:28 pm
$
0
0
In honor of Michael and Brandon Keilen's 2nd wedding anniversary, we wanted to share a couple snapshots from a recent photo shoot with the talented Taryn Yager.

Two months ago, Michael opened up about the struggles she and Brandon are having with infertility. Her words ministered to and struck a chord with many. For those who have asked, the Keilens have not announced a pregnancy, but we know they appreciate prayer as they continue to trust God.

 Michaela and Brandon Keilen

Photos courtesy of TarynYagerPhotography.com
↧

Bates in the Dark

August 16, 2017, 7:03 am
$
0
0

When the power goes out at the Bates home on tomorrow's new episode of Bringing Up Bates, mama Kelly Bates must find a way to keep the kids calm as they wait for the lights to come back on. Check out this sneak peek scene. What is the longest period of time you have gone without power?


Photo/video courtesy of UP
↧

'The Night The Lights Went Out in Tennessee' Recap

August 17, 2017, 6:28 pm
$
0
0
Bringing Up Bates"The Night The Lights Went Out in Tennessee"

  • For the past six months, Nathan has been living in Mississippi and working as a flight instructor. “I really have enjoyed learning how to fly, and I wanted to be able to kind of pass that along,” says Nathan.
  • On tonight’s show, Nathan instructs a man who is working towards his commercial pilot’s license.
  • “There’s no doubt Nathan…has a whole new respect for safety, life, caution, so that is really a mark of maturity up here for such a risk taker as Nathan,” says Gil.
  • Zach, Whitney, Bradley, and Kaci pay a visit to photographer friend Taryn Yager’s in-home studio for Kaci's one-year photo shoot. Bradley does a great job helping make his little sister laugh. When it comes time for the smash cake, Kaci is all smiles.
  • “I cried looking through every picture because [Taryn] seriously captured some of the sweetest pictures that she’s ever gotten,” says Whitney.
  • Nathan returns home and begins putting up the family's new smoke detectors (which are also carbon monoxide detectors). “The fire department showed us where all the fire detectors go, and we were supposed to put them up, and then they went into a box until Nathan got home,” admits Jackson. “He’s got some initiative.”
  • According to Gil, Nathan is an energy giver and a great motivator. He convinces Lawson and some of the other boys to help. While the guys are working, Kelly and the girls clean out the family’s two refrigerators.
  • “Mom is the most thorough refrigerator cleaner-outer, and I just can’t be around when it happens because I hate waste,” says Gil.
  • While one of the boys is up on a ladder and the ladies have food piled up on the kitchen counter, the power goes out. They quickly put the food back in the fridge and grab candles and flashlights. “No lighters for Judson and Jeb!” shouts Lawson.
  • Everyone puts their pajamas on, and Kelly brings out a family favorite game, Surprise Spin. Each person takes turns spinning the rolling pin. Whoever it lands on draws a piece of paper, which either instructs them to do a chore or grants them a fun privilege.
  • Isaiah draws, “Good for $5.” “Daddy’s going to love that we played this game, isn’t he?” remarks Kelly. Lawson is stuck with cleaning out the van and changing all the sheets.
  • The lights come back on, but the kids still want to party, so they grab ice cream from the freezer.
  • “When the power goes out, it goes to simplicity really fast, and having that time to just huddle as a family, play a game, and focus on each other, that was really special,” says Lawson.
↧
↧

Bradley and Sissy

August 18, 2017, 7:18 am
$
0
0

"I'm, when I have kids one day--a long time from now--probably going to have my kids take one-year-old photos, whenever I find out what they really are for."
-Jackson Bates

Jackson may not fully understand the value of baby pictures, but Kelly and the married Bates kids sure do. In this extended scene from last night's episode, Zach and Whitney Bates visit Taryn Yager to have one-year photos taken of Kaci Lynn Bates. Bradley Bates loves making his "sissy" smile during the shoot!


If you enjoy this blog, be sure to check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy of UP
↧

Bates Updates August 2017

August 19, 2017, 12:12 pm
$
0
0

The Bates have had a busy month. Nathan, Lawson, Trace, and Carlin have been on a medical mission trip in the Philippines for the past two weeks. They return home today and have truly had a wonderful time ministering to the people they have crossed paths with.


For those who have been asking about Nathan, he spent six months in Mississippi, but he is now living in Tennessee with the family and doing flight training.

Michael and Brandon Keilen just moved into a new place in Chicago. Kelly and Erin flew up there on Wednesday for a one-night trip to help Michael decorate. The Keilens are still struggling with infertility, but they are learning to trust God in a deeper way.

Josie Bates just started her last semester of cosmetology school. She now has a "special friend," Kelton Balka, and the two are enjoying getting to know each other. Kelton lives nearby.

Alyssa and John Webster are continuing to build their commercial cleaning business, while raising their two little girls. They recently shared that they plan to wait a while before having another baby but that they plan to eventually have six children.

This weekend, Gil and Kelly and the kids are on a camping trip. Kelly's flight from Chicago was delayed, so she was late meeting up with the rest of the family.

Brooklyn Paine, who spent a week in the hospital in late July due to an infection, is doing very well, and her parents are grateful for the prayers lifted up by friends and fans. Brooklyn just celebrated her first birthday.


 Carlin Bates and Lawson Bates in the Philippines


Lawson Bates in the Philippines

↧

Yodeling in the Philippines

August 21, 2017, 8:04 am
$
0
0
As we shared in our recent Bates Updates post, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Trace Bates, and Carlin Bates just returned from a two-week mission trip to the Philippines. They helped with medical missions and shared the Gospel with the adults and children whom them encountered. Some of the local schools even allowed them to speak to large groups of kids.

Scroll down to see a dozen snapshots and a video of Carlin yodeling. 

 Carlin Bates

 Lawson Bates

 Lawson

 Nathan Bates

 Lawson

 Lawson

 Lawson

 Carlin and Lawson

 Lawson

 Lawson

 Carlin

Carlin

And here's that video we mentioned...


Photos/video courtesy of lawsonbates.com, Carlin Bates, thebatesfamily.com
↧
Search

Bates Watch the Solar Eclipse

August 21, 2017, 1:14 pm
$
0
0
This afternoon, the Bates gathered at a friend's pool to watch the solar eclipse. Even Michael and Brandon Keilen drove down from Chicago for the event. The film crew was present, so you can look forward to the festivities on an upcoming episode of Bringing Up Bates.

Were you able to see the eclipse?


Photo courtesy of Carlin Bates/thebatesfamily.com
↧
↧

Driving the Bates

August 22, 2017, 8:33 am
$
0
0

Kelly Bates: "Well I guess you can write yourself. Do you really think you're the best driver?"
Josie Bates: "Oh ya!"

The Bates can't quite come to a consensus on who the best driver in the family is (Kelly says there are no quality Bates drivers). But hey, at least they can almost agree on who takes the title as the worst driver...

Who are the worst/best drivers in your family?


If you enjoy this blog, be sure to check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy of UP
↧

Zach is the Man with a Plan

August 23, 2017, 8:02 am
$
0
0

"As Zach says, 'If you ain't got a plan, make one up.'"
-Jackson Bates

Another week down and another new episode of Bringing Up Bates is coming your way tomorrow. Sometimes we just can't believe how quickly life marches on. Scroll down to read the summary of this week's show and watch a sneak peek scene featuring the boys' camping trip.

Thursday, August 24, 2017
8pm: The Night the Lights Went Out in Tennessee
8:30pm: Don't Worry, We've 'Goat' This!
9pm: The Fabulous Backwoods Bates Boys (NEW)
Since Zach has moved out of the Bates house, he misses spending time with the middle boys, so he organizes a camping trip in hopes of having some bonding moments with his brothers. But in between skeet shooting and fishing, Zach gets a call that might put his overnight camping trip plan on pause. Later, Kelly Jo, Erin and Whitney gather up the younger kiddos for a swimming lesson. But will Kelly's fear of the water cause Callie, Jud, and Jeb to hesitate from diving in? Or will the kids take to the water like a school of fish?
 10pm: The Fabulous Backwoods Bates Boys


Photo/video courtesy of UP
↧

Bates Babies Learn to Swim

August 23, 2017, 12:36 pm
$
0
0

"Mom has always been very overly cautious around water. I think I feel more secure knowing that Carson will know how to swim at a younger age."
-Erin (Bates) Paine

This week on Bringing Up Bates, the Bates babies are learning how to swim! Gil and Kelly's older kids had a difficult time learning because they were always required to wear life jackets (or "floats," as the Bates call them) in water. But that's all about to change for Ellie, Callie, Judson, Jeb, Bradley, and Carson. It's time for swimming lessons!


Photo/video courtesy of UP
↧

Backwoods and Backstrokes

August 24, 2017, 7:11 am
$
0
0
Get your dose of family togetherness tonight on Bringing Up Bates (new episode premieres at 9pm ET/8pm CT on UP).

Since Zach has moved out of the house and started a family of his own, he is not able to spend as much time with his nine younger brothers as he once did. Still eager to invest in their lives, he plans a camping trip. He and Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah leave first, and Gil, Bradley, and most of the other boys meet up with them later that evening to join in on the fun.

The first order of business is fishing...


And then making dinner over an open fire. But wait, why are they cooking hotdogs rather than fish? Well, lets just say that the fishing may or may not have gone as planned.


But hey, at least they have a watermelon and a makeshift cutting board! Unfortunately, Zach receives a call from Whitney and must leave to go rescue her from a sticky situation.


While everyone is gathered around the fire later that evening, Gil seizes the opportunity to talk about the things that really matter in life.


Also on tonight's episode, some of the the youngest Bates kids and the oldest Bates grandkids take swimming lessons at a local hotel pool.


Nathan, who has taught several of the kids how to swim, goes along to help.



Photos courtesy of UP
↧
↧

'The Fabulous Backwoods Bates Boys' Recap

August 24, 2017, 6:27 pm
$
0
0
Bringing Up Bates"The Fabulous Backwoods Bates Boys"

  • Zach arrives at the Bates house to pick up Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah for an overnight camping trip in nearby Clinch River, Tennessee. “Zach is always trying to think of ways to invest in his little brothers,” says Gil.
  • When the guys arrive at the campsite, they decide to test out their skeet shooters, only to find that they are broken. “My inventive mind went to work, and I engineered one of the most powerful skeet throwers ever seen by the world,” says Zach. “Oh good grief, what did you do?” questions Whitney. “I threw the skeet!” replies Zach.
  • While putting up the tents and starting a fire, the guys realize that they are missing multiple items. But there’s no need to fear, as Jackson has everything they need in his ginormous backpack. “Jackson’s backpack is like a bottomless bag,” says Isaiah.
  • Meanwhile, Kelly, Erin, and Whitney take Ellie, Callie, Judson, Jeb, Bradley, and Carson to a local hotel pool for swimming lessons. Two teachers meet them there. Nathan, who has taught several of the children how to swim, comes along to help.
  • All the kids love it, even Bradley and Carson. “I’ve been working with Bradley since then, and he is coming along on the Michael Phelps tradition,” says Zach matter-of-factly.
  • Later, Gil and the rest of the guys meet Zach, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah at the campsite. They all head to the river to do some fishing, but they don’t end up catching anything. “There’s two different things: There’s fishing, and then there’s catching,” says Lawson. “Hey, the Bates are amazing at fishing,” adds Trace.
  • “If our fishing was our living, we would be lean and mean,” laughs Gil. The crew returns to the campsite to cook hotdogs and hamburgers. Just as they’re getting started, Zach and Bradley have to head out to meet Whitney on the interstate and change her tire.
  • Later that night around the campfire, Gil and the boys go around and list things they are thankful for. “Remember, it’s your family that’s going to be there for you,” says the Bates dad. “Family is for the rest of your life.”
↧

Evan Turns 22

August 25, 2017, 7:38 am
$
0
0
Wishing Evan Stewart a very happy 22nd birthday (one day late). For those who didn't know, Evan is Carlin's boyfriend. They have not yet announced an official courtship, but stay tuned!

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com
↧
Search

Just Like Zach

August 25, 2017, 4:45 pm
$
0
0

"You want to see what Zach was like when he was 15, you look at Jackson. You want to see what Jackson is going to probably be like when he's 27, 28, just look at Zach."
-Gil Bates

It is a widely known fact among the Bates family that 15-year-old Jackson Bates is the mini-me to 28-year-old Zach Bates. Although there are 13 years (and 10 Bates siblings) separating them, they go together like two peas in a pod, right down to the way they dress and what they enjoy talking about. Do you have a min-me? Or maybe you are someone's min-me.




Photo/video courtesy of UP
↧

More Philippines Photos

August 26, 2017, 6:00 am
$
0
0
Happy weekend, blog readers! A few days ago, we posted photos from the recent medical missions trip that Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Trace Bates, and Carlin Bates took to the Philippines. They just sent us a bunch more, so here's another batch. Enjoy.

 Nathan Bates


 Speaking to a group of kids


 Carlin Bates

 Nathan Bates



 Lawson Bates

 Nathan Bates



 Trace Bates

 Sharing music with kids

Carlin Bates and Trace Bates

Photos courtesy of lawsonbates.com
↧
↧

An Engagement and A Courtship?

August 28, 2017, 12:49 pm
$
0
0
 Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart have "large talk" with Gil and Kelly Bates

Before too long, Gil and Kelly Bates could be giving away three more daughters in marriage! Tori Bates, Carlin Bates, and Josie Bates are all in serious, marriage-minded relationships. In fact, they gathered their guys for a triple date in Downtown Knoxville this weekend.

The last official word was that Tori and Bobby were courting, Carlin and Evan were boyfriend and girlfriend, and Josie and Kelton were "special friends," but stay tuned for some exciting announcements!

Looking ahead to next Thursday's episode of Bringing Up Bates, Evan and Carlin will sit down with Gil and Kelly for a "large talk" to discuss entering an official courtship.

Tori and Bobby have said many times that their original plan was to tie the knot next May but that they could see themselves moving that day even closer. Also on next week's episode, Bobby will ask Gil a very important question.

Josie has just started her final semester of cosmetology school, and Kelton is already a college graduate.

If you had to guess, when do you think each of these Bates weddings will be? 

Photo courtesy of UP
↧

Bates in the Big City

August 29, 2017, 7:41 am
$
0
0

Kelly Bates: "Thinking of traffic in downtown Chicago, that just terrifies me."
Gil Bates: "No, that is not your cup of tea."

It's no secret that the Bates are small town folks, but with Michael and Brandon Keilen living in Chicago, they now make frequent trips to the area. Sometimes, they even venture downtown. In this preview of Thursday's new episode of Bringing Up Bates, Kelly, Michael, Erin, Tori, and Carson take on the Windy City.


Photo/video courtesy of UP
↧

Nathan Spends Birthday in Texas

August 29, 2017, 7:49 am
$
0
0
Wishing Kenneth Nathaniel Bates (aka Nathan Bates or "Kenny") a very happy 24th birthday!

Nathan recently spent six months living in Mississippi doing flight training, but he is back in Tennessee now, still doing flight training.

Rather than using his special day to focus on himself, Nathan is en route to Texas to help hurricane victims. He has emergency medical training and has previously worked as a volunteer fire fighter and as an EMT.

Nathan Bates

Photo courtesy of UP
↧
Viewing all 2070 articles
Browse latest View live
Search
<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>