Bates on College

"For us, I think college is important because it broadens the possibilities that open up to you. I've tried to tell the kids, don't ever quit learning."
-Kelly Bates

Gil and Kelly Bates encourage all their children to attend college, but they also know that higher education isn't for everyone. Still, no matter what fields their kids pursue, the parents of 19 want them to be lifelong learners. In this video, filmed in 2015 but still relevant, Tori Bates (now Tori Smith) shares how she went from being unsure about starting college to loving it and earning a bachelor's degree.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Bradley Turns 4

Today, the oldest Bates grandchild is celebrating his 4th birthday. Happy birthday, Bradley!

Whitney Bates, Kaci Bates, Bradley Bates, Zach Bates

Bradley Bates and newborn Kaci Bates

Bradley Bates

Bradley Bates and Allie Webster

Photos courtesy of UPtv, Zach and Whitney Bates, thebatesfamily.com

Wedding and Baby Prep

Kelly Bates and her birthday balloons and treats

This weekend has been a busy one for the Bates clan. Yesterday, Kelly Bates celebrated her 52nd birthday in Nashville. She and some of the kids gathered at Tori and Bobby Smith's apartment to help them decorate the nursery. (Robert Ellis Smith IV, whom the Smiths will call Kade, is due in just four weeks!) The Bringing Up Bates film crew was present, so you will likely be able to watch the action on an upcoming episode.

Meanwhile, Carlin Bates traveled to Arkansas to visit the Duggars. While she was there, she went to David's Bridal with Jana Duggar and best friend Joy Forsyth.

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

Today is the Bates' third of four October birthdays, and it's a very special one. Matriarch Kelly Jo Bates is 52 years old!

Gil and Kelly Bates

Kelly Bates and Brooklyn Paine

Warden Bates, Michael Keilen, Kelly Bates, Alyssa Webster

 

Gil and Kelly Bates' wedding (December 19, 1987)

 

Kelly and Addallee Bates

Lawson Bates and Kelly Bates

Photos courtesy of UPtv, thebatesfamily.com, lawsonbates.com

Hug Like a Bates

Gil Bates: "You're not the touchy-feely type?"
Trace Bates: "NO."

When asked which family member gives the best hugs, the Bates have varying answers (video below). But several agree that one of the younger boys is the the best hugger, and Kelly says that this particular Bates is going to make a stellar husband one day. What is your love language? Do you enjoy giving and receiving hugs?

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Bates at the Pumpkin Patch

Who doesn't love spending an autumn afternoon at a picturesque farm? With so many young children and grandchildren, it's the perfect outing for the Bates. They recently visited Oakes Farm, located in nearby Corryton, Tennessee. The farm offers hayrides, play equipment, a pumpkin patch, a nine-acre corn maze, and lots of delicious food.

These boys are getting so big!
 

Carson Paine, Bradley Bates, Judson Bates

The Bates cousins love spending time together.

Kaci Bates, Carson Paine, Bradley Bates

Photos courtesy of Gil and Kelly Bates/thebatesfamily.com

The 'Maine' Event

A few weeks ago, Evan Stewart proposed to Carlin Bates during a trip to Maine. The proposal took place at Portland Head Light, an iconic, New England lighthouse located near Portland, Maine. Both sets of their parents were with them on the getaway, and the group enjoyed spending time sightseeing while they were in the area.

Gil Bates, the king of "dad" jokes, says Evan chose Maine because the proposal was the "main" event.

And now, wedding planning is in full swing!

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

Photo courtesy of Carlin Bates

Meet Lawson in Mississippi

Calling all residents of Mississippi and Alabama! Lawson Bates is coming to a town near you. On November 30th, he will be in Meridian--located in central Mississippi along the Alabama border--playing a show. Details are below.

Friday, November 30th, 2018
Lawson Bates Performance, 7:30-9pm
NorthPark Church
7770 Highway 39 North
Meridian, MS

Children 10 and under: $10
General Admission: $15
Premium Ticket (meet and greet and photo opportunity--arrive by 6pm): $55
Ultimate VIP Fan Experience (arrive by 5:15pm)**: $80

**Ultimate VIP Fan Experience includes a meet and greet and photo opportunity with Lawson ahead of the show. It also includes a private Q&A session with the band, where you can hear sneak peeks of new songs and possibly get access to exclusive merchandise.

Tickets will benefit the Meridian Classical Center for Learning
Tickets can be purchased on lawsonbates.com and will be delivered via email

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Zoey Nearing 7 Months

In just 10 days, Zoey Webster will be seven months old (and cousin Everly Paine is only two days behind). According to Alyssa, Zoey was crawling at five months and is now attempting to learn to stand by pulling up on things. We think Zoey looks a lot like her aunt Callie (see photos below). What do you think?

Zoey Webster

Callie Bates, 2015

Photos courtesy of Alyssa and John Webster, UPtv

Bates Provide Hurricane Relief in FL

When disaster strikes, the Bates are always ready to lend a helping hand. Over the weekend, Lawson Bates spent time in the Panama City, Florida, area, providing emergency relief following Hurricane Michael. Residents have been able to return to their homes to survey the damage, but many are still without power. The death toll is now over 30 and could continue to rise.

Please keep the hurricane victims in your prayers, and consider donating supplies or funds to a reputable relief organization. (SamaritansPurse.org is a wonderful one.)


Photo courtesy of lawsonbates.com

Bates #14 Turns 14

Happy 14th birthday to Isaiah! In the month of October, the Bates celebrate four birthdays--Katie's on the 5th, Isaiah's on the 16th, Kelly's on the 26th, and Bradley's on the 29th.

Isaiah Bates, 2016

Isaiah Bates and Kaci Bates, April 2018

Jackson Bates, Gil Bates, Isaiah Bates

Season 6

 

Kelly Bates, Isaiah Bates, Carlin Bates

Basketball camp, season 4

 

Jackson Bates, Kelly Bates, Isaiah Bates, Warden Bates

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, UPtv

Josie and Kelton's Honeymoon

Where did Josie and Kelton Balka travel for their honeymoon? In addition to spending time in Asheville, North Carolina, they also visited the Bahamas. Below are two snapshots of the couple on Eleuthera Island. For fun, we have listed the honeymoon destinations of Josie's five married siblings.

Tori and Bobby Smith: California Coast/Yosemite
Michael and Brandon Keilen: Wyoming and Montana
Alyssa and John Webster: Lake Tahoe
Zach and Whitney Bates: Kauai, Hawaii
Erin and Chad Paine: Ireland

Josie and Kelton Balka

Josie (Bates) Balka

Photos courtesy of Josie Balka

The Balka Newlyweds

Josie and Kelton Balka have been married for 10 days. Here they are at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. Don't they just look thrilled to be husband and wife? For those wondering, Kelton is 23 and works as a plumber, and 19-year-old Josie is a hair stylist.

Kelton Balka and Josie (Bates) Balka

Photo courtesy of Josie Balka

The Candy-Loving Bates

"Everything...smells like I want to eat it."
-Gil Bates

Flashback to the day when Josie Bates and Kelton Balka started courting. While walking around Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with their parents, they walk into a candy shop to pick up some "souvenirs" for the Bates kids back home and to watch some of the demonstrations. Josie and Kelly are especially entertained by the taffy machine.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Carson and Brookie

Carson and Brooklyn have to be one of the cutest brother-sister duos that we have ever seen. These two love spending time together, and Erin and Chad have said that Carson has doted on Brooklyn since the day she was born. At only 15 months apart, they are sure to be friends for life.

Brooklyn Paine and Carson Paine

Brooklyn and Carson

Photos courtesy of chadanderin.com

Wedding Weekend Activities

Gil and Kelly Bates' children, children-in-law, and grandchildren came together for Josie and Kelton's wedding on Friday. After the wedding festivities were over and the newlyweds were gone, the rest of the Bates clan enjoyed spending the weekend together, which included a baby shower for Tori.

Lawson Bates and Lexi Webster

Brandon Keilen and Allie Webster

Michael Keilen and Lexi Webster

Carlin Bates, Michael Keilen, Whitney Bates, Tori Smith, Alyssa Webster, 

Erin Paine, Kaci Bates--Tori's baby shower

Photos courtesy of lawsonbates.com, brandonandmichaela.com, Zach and Whitney Bates

More Bates/Balka Wedding Photos

Don't you just love weddings? Josie Bates was a beautiful bride, and she chose classy outfits and decor. Below are a few more snapshots from the day, including photos of both Gil and Kelly, as requested by our readers.

Josie (Bates) Balka and Trace Bates

 

Carlin Bates (soon to be Carlin Stewart) and Evan Stewart

 

Kelly Bates and Evan Stewart

 

Josie (Bates) Balka and Gil Bates

Photos courtesy of Trace Bates, Carlin Bates, UPtv

Videos from the Bates Siblings

Have you been following our wedding coverage?

Yesterday, we shared a photo of two bridesmaids and flower girls getting ready for the ceremony. This morning, we posted snapshots of Bradley Bates (ring bearer), Carson Paine (ring bearer), and Kaci Bates (flower girl). Allie Webster was also a flower girl, as was a member of the Balka family, and Judson Bates was the third ring bearer. This afternoon, we released a batch of stunning wedding photos. Below are videos from some of the Bates siblings, filmed right after the Josie and Kelton departed from the reception.

Tori and Bobby Smith

Trace Bates and Jackson Bates

Photo/videos courtesy of UPtv

Bates/Balka Wedding Photos

Josie's dream of a fall wedding has been fulfilled. She and Kelton tied the knot yesterday afternoon at Cove Lake State Park near Knoxville, Tennessee. The backdrop for the ceremony was a lake and the Smoky Mountains.

Many of the Bates siblings were part of the wedding party. Tori Bates Smith played violin, Erin Bates Paine played keyboard, and Lawson Bates performed an original song called "Crazy Love." The ceremony lasted 30 minutes and opened with a prayer by Kelton's father, who has faithfully prayed for Kelton every night.

The wedding colors were burgundy and "blush," according to Erin. Approximately 500 guests attended. The couple's getaway car was a Lexus GX470 SUV. Below are a handful of photos from their special day.

 Wedding flowers

The Bates siblings

Bates/Balka wedding party

 Josie and Kelton's guestbook

Josie Bates and Kelton Balka wedding

Josie and Kelton Balka

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

For photos of the ring bearers and flower girls, check out our post from earlier today. More wedding photos can be found on the UPtv website.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Moser Photography; UPtv

Ring Bearers and Flower Girls

Another Bates wedding is in the books! Josie Bates and Kelton Balka are now Mr. and Mrs. Josie and Kelton Balka. Us Weekly has the exclusive story, so we can't spill any beans, but we can share a couple unofficial snapshots of the cutest members of the wedding party. Ring bearers Bradley Bates and Carson Paine, dressed like mini groomsmen, and flower girl Kaci Bates in her white gown really stole the show.

 Lawson Bates and Carson Paine

Bradley Bates and Kaci Lynn Bates

Photos courtesy of lawsonbates.com, Zach and Whitney Bates