Trace's Career Plans

We have watched Trace Bates graduate high school and complete the Bible program at Crown College, and now he's starting his career. What are his plans? He is following in older brother Zach's footsteps at the sheriff department. Trace will be 22 in February, while Zach tuns 30 today. Stay tuned for more details.

Trace Bates and Zach Bates

Photo courtesy of Trace Bates/thebatesfamily.com

Bates #1 Turns 30

Eleven days after Gil and Kelly Bates' 31st wedding anniversary, it's time to acknowledge the 30th birthday of their first child. Happy birthday, Zach! And since today is December 30th, it's his golden birthday.

On December 14th, Zach and Whitney Bates celebrated their five-year anniversary. In June of this year, the couple renewed their wedding vows in front of family and friends. Today also happens to be Jedidiah and Jeremiah Duggar's 20th birthday.

Zach and Whitney Bates, 2018

Zach and Whitney Bates, 2017

Kaci Bates, Whitney Bates, Zach Bates, Bradley Bates, Easter 2018

Zach Bates, Bradley Bates, Kaci Bates, June 2017

Bradley Bates, Whitney Bates, Zach Bates, Valentine's Day 2016

Zach and Whitney Bates, 2014

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

Season 8 Premiere Preview

It's here! Thirty seconds from the first episode of Bringing Up Bates season eight. Additional footage will be added each day, so keep coming back. The Bates return to UPtv next Thursday at 9pm ET/8pm CT. And as always, you can count on our written recaps after each show.


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

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Bates Season 7 Recap Video

As we look forward to the Bringing Up Bates season eight premiere next Thursday, January 3rd, let's take a look back at season seven. Below is a recap video, so you can revisit the highlights.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Another Bates Christmas in the Books

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration! The Bates sure did. They spent last weekend together in East Tennessee, and then some of the older children went their separate ways to be with other family and friends for the actual holiday.

Now that Christmas is officially over, it's time to look ahead to New Year's and the season eight premiere of Bringing Up Bates. January 3rd is only eight days away.

Evan Stewart and Carlin Bates

Stewart family Christmas

 

Brandon Keilen and Kade Smith

Erin Paine, Carson Paine, Michael Keilen, Callie Bates, Brooklyn Paine

 

Michael Keilen, Alyssa Webster, Lexi Webster

 

Michael Keilen and Everly Paine

Photos courtesy of Carlin Bates/thebatesfamily.com, brandonandmichaela.com

More Bates Christmas 2018 Pics

Yesterday, we shared a photo of Whitney and Kaci Bates that was taken this weekend during the Bates' Christmas extravaganza. We have a few more pictures to share, pasted below, from their family gathering. Everyone had a blast.

Erin Bates Paine, Papa Bill, Tori Bates Smith

 

"Twins" Katie Bates (18) and Erin Bates Paine (27)

Tori Smith, Kelly Bates, Lexi Webster, Erin Paine, Michael Keilen

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

Photos courtesy of chadanderin.com, Katie Bates/thebatesfamily.com

Bates Christmas 2018

This weekend, all the Bates, in-laws, and grandchildren are gathered at the family home in Rocky Top, Tennessee, for the annual Bates Christmas celebration. They have enjoyed making gingerbread houses, eating Christmas cookies, playing games, and opening gifts. They also headed outside to take a new family photo and a picture of the nine grandchildren. The film crew is on hand, so you will likely see the gathering on an upcoming episode of Bringing Up Bates.

This year, there are 36 Bates, plus Evan Stewart, who will officially join the family on May 25th, 2019, when he marries Carlin.

Whitney Bates and Kaci Bates

Photo courtesy of Zach and Whitney Bates

Bates Return in 13 Days

Kelly Jo Bates

Less than two weeks to go until new episodes of Bringing Up Bates return to UPtv! Season eight premieres Thursday, January 3rd, at 9pm ET/8pm CT. In case you haven't had a chance to watch the three promo videos that we have posted, the links are below.

What are you most looking forward to seeing this season? Carlin and Evan's engagement? Josie and Kelton's love story and wedding? The countdown to Kade's arrival? Zach and Whitney's vow renewal? Or the many other big and small Bates moments that will be featured?

Season 8 Sizzle Reel
Bates "Then and Now" Video
Zach's Promo Clip

Bradley Bates, Carson Paine, Brooklyn Paine, Kaci Bates

Photos courtesy of UPtv

Bates #7 Turns 23

Between Christmas, New Year's, two birthdays, and three anniversaries, December is a busy month for the Bates family. And surprisingly, the December birthdays (Zach and Tori), as well as Gil's on January 1st, occur within three weeks of the birthday person's wedding anniversary.

Tori and Bobby Smith celebrated one year of marriage on the 16th, and today is Tori's 23rd birthday. Happy birthday, Tori!

Tori Smith and Kade Smith, November 2018

Tori Bates and Bobby Smith, 2017

Gil Bates and Tori Bates, 2017

Michael Keilen and Tori Bates, 2017

 

 

Tori Bates, 2016 

Carlin Bates and Tori Bates, 2015

Tori Bates and Addallee Bates, 2007

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, UPtv.com

Bates Celebrate 31 Years

Happy 31st wedding anniversary to Gil and Kelly Bates!

Gil and Kelly Bates, October 2018

 

Gil and Kelly Bates, October 2017

 

 Gil and Kelly Bates, November 2017

Gil and Kelly Bates, wedding 1987

 

Gil and Kelly Bates, wedding 1987

Gil and Kelly Bates throwback

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, UPtv

Baking with the Paines

Carson Paine, Brooklyn Paine, Everly Paine

If you are a long-time Bates fan, you probably know about the major transformation that Erin Paine went through soon after she married Chad. When she lived at home, Erin was known for having zero culinary skills to speak of, and she struggled to prepare basic meals. Now, she is a regular Rachael Ray who loves being in the kitchen, and the Bates family can't get enough of her cooking.

In the photo above, Erin and her three babies are baking Christmas cookies. (The recipe wasn't the greatest, so Erin says she isn't going to share it.)

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

Photo courtesy of chadanderin.com

Smiths Celebrate 1 Year

Wishing Tori and Bobby a blessed one-year wedding anniversary! This couple has had a busy year full of adventures and milestones. Below are photos from some of their biggest moments.

Tori and Bobby Smith welcome son Kade Smith

 

Tori Smith college graduation

 

Tori and Bobby Smith honeymoon

Tori Bates and Bobby Smith wedding

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

Bates Season 8 Sizzle Reel

Zach and Whitney Bates' vow renewal, Carlin Bates' engagement, Josie Bates' wedding, and plenty of other big (and small) achievements, events, and everyday activities...season eight of Bringing Up Bates promises to be entertaining, touching, and a whole lot of fun! Check out this upbeat promo from UPtv. New episodes start January 3rd, 2019.

Photos/video courtesy of UPtv

Zach and Whitney Celebrate 5 Years

Wishing Zach and Whitney Bates a very happy five-year wedding anniversary!

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

Kade's Newborn Photos

Bobby Smith, Tori Bates Smith, Kade Smith

 

Kade Smith was born on November 9th, which means he will be five weeks old tomorrow. Two weeks after he arrived, Taryn Yager traveled to Tori and Bobby's apartment home in Nashville to take photos of the family of three.

Taryn is a Knoxville-based photographer who specializes in newborns, children, families, and baby bumps. She is a friend of the Bates and has been featured on Bringing Up Bates.

Bobby Smith (Robert Ellis Smith III) and Kade Smith (Robert Ellis Smith IV)

 

Kade Smith

Photos courtesy of TarynYagerPhotography.com

Whitney Visits NYC

Whitney Bates with the Grinch and Spider-Man

 

Whitney Bates just returned from New York City, and the reason she went is sure to make you smile. Her mom has always wanted to visit during the Christmas season, so Whitney surprised her with a trip. The ladies had a blast walking around the city and gazing at all the holiday decor. Have you ever been to the Big Apple in December? According to Whitney, it's absolutely beautiful.

Whitney Bates and her mom

Photos courtesy of Zach and Whitney Bates