'Mass-a-somethin'" Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Mass-a-something'"

• At a condo at Massanutten Resort in Virginia, the Bates are rushing to get ready for their ski lessons. Gil is the only family member who has been skiing, so the rest of the clan is in for an adventure.
• Kelly insists that the little kids wear multiple layers under their snowsuits. “You’re going to be hot as a firecracker on July the 4^th,” Gil tells Jeb.
• Just before everyone heads out the door, Kelly receives a text from Michael informing her that a mother and her daughter had fallen off a chairlift and died the week before. The mom of 19 is very nervous for her children’s safety.
• Renting skis and snowboards takes close to an hour. Most of the family takes ski lessons, but the older boys elect to try snowboarding.
• Tori’s boyfriend, Bobby Smith, joins the family on the slopes, as does Carlin’s “special friend,” Evan. Carlin met Evan and his family about five years ago, but it has only been a few months since the pair really started talking. (They reconnected at a ladies banquet, where Evan was serving.)  “Yes we like each other,” says Carlin. “We’re trying to get to know each other, but there’s no official thing right now.”
• Trace’s friend, Campbell Roberts, also comes along. At the end of the trip, she insists that Trace did great.
• When it comes time for everyone to ride the chairlift, Kelly is a nervous Nelly. They all make it out alive, although Kelly has the attendant at the top stop the lift so she can get off slowly.
• Nathan arrives that evening. He has been at flight school in Mississippi, taking tests to earn his commercial pilot’s license.
• The next morning, the family goes tubing, another great adventure. “I hurt my heinie” says Judson.
• That afternoon, Kelly teaches Nathan everything she learned in ski school. “If you think you’re going to hit somebody, fall,” she tells her son. “I got a lot of practice doing that yesterday.”
• Nathan picks it up quickly. “She’s actually an incredible teacher,” he says. “A mother that has spent her entire life teaching children things. I would rather have nobody else give me a lesson than my mom.”
• Everyone is sad when it comes time to head home.  “I think skiing is a great family experience,” says Erin.
• “I’m really impressed,” says Gil. “My wife was the funnest and the funniest and the most heroic. She didn’t give up. She didn’t quit. She even taught lessons.”
• “I think we’re going back,” says Gil. “Massanutten is going to get a mass-a-Bates.”