'A Latte Love' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Latte Love"

• “When we drove away together and we were by [ourselves], I literally felt like, ‘What just happened?’” says Josie. After their wedding, Josie and Kelton spend a couple nights in a rental home in Asheville, North Carolina. “It is so incredible to wake up next to my best friend…” says Kelton.
• On the first day, they take an espresso class at Summit Coffee Co. Although Josie is a coffee fanatic, she discovers that she is not a huge fan of espresso. She prefers espresso plus milk, which is a latte. She and Kelton practice latte art, the term for the designs you can make when you pour the milk into the espresso. The newlyweds also tour a chocolate factory.
• They next day, they hike up to chimney rock, which offers a breathtaking view. “Asheville is such a romantic location, and it was the perfect place to kind of break in being alone, being together,” says Kelton.
• Meanwhile, since the Keilens, Smiths, and Websters are in town, everyone gathers to throw a shower for Tori and Bobby. They decorate the tables with items that Tori can use, like shampoo bottles and diaper cakes. Bobby kicks off the shower with a prayer, and then the guests are able to eat.
• “The boys do not like to go to showers and stuff,” says Judson. “We’d rather be doing something like basketball, football, jumping off Mt. Everest with wingsuits.”
• The shower is attended by lots of family members and friends. As one of the games, they compete to draw the cutest baby, which turns out to be very entertaining. Carlin is the winner.
• Tori and Bobby also attempt to guess what goes in a diaper bag. “There’s two kinds of diaper bags,” says Zach. “What would you put in a diaper bag if you were packing it to be a new mom, or what would you put in a diaper bag for your second kid.”
• It turns out to be an Erin bag. All the other moms laugh when she claims that you need lotion so you can rub it on your baby after they spit up so they don’t smell bad.
• “Honestly, it was so amazing, literally the most adorable baby shower ever,” says Tori. “Everybody was there. They worked their tails off to get it set up.”

A Shower and a Honeymoon

Josie and Kelton Balka, honeymoon in the Smokies

 

After Josie and Kelton's wedding, the couple embarked on their honeymoon, which they spent both in the Smoky Mountains and the Bahamas. Meanwhile, the rest of the Bates spent the rest of the weekend together before the Websters returned to Florida and the Keilens went home to Chicago.

Included in the weekend festivities was a baby shower for Tori Bates Smith. Both the honeymoon and the shower will be part of tomorrow's new episode of Bringing Up Bates. To get you pumped for the show, here are a few snapshots.

Josie and Kelton

Josie (Bates) Balka and Kelton Balka

 

Carlin Bates, Michael Bates Keilen, Whitney Bates, Kaci Bates

Tori Bates Smith, Alyssa Bates Webster, Erin Bates Paine

The Websters

Tori Smith and Carson Paine

 

Kelly Bates and Erin Paine

 

Photos courtesy of UPtv

Baby Shower or Mt. Everest?

Judson Bates and Jeb Bates

"The boys do not like to go to showers and stuff. We'd rather be doing something like basketball, football, jumping off Mt. Everest with wingsuits."
-Judson Bates

Well at least he's honest! The baby shower for Tori ends up being mostly ladies, but some of the women drag their guys along. If you watch the episode this week, you'll laugh when Erin heads up one of the games and Chad shares his opinion on it. In the video below, Whitney Bates introduces a game.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Josie's Tiny Baby Bump

Josie Bates Balka, 17 weeks pregnant

Josie Balka is 18 weeks pregnant, which means that Baby Balka is due in late July 2019. Like her sisters, Josie is a petite woman and has a petite baby bump. For reference, we have included photos of Alyssa and Erin's bumps.

Josie and Kelton announced the gender of their baby to the family last weekend but have not shared it with the public.

Alyssa Bates Webster, 28 weeks pregnant with Allie Webster

Erin Bates Paine, 23 weeks pregnant with Everly Paine

Photos courtesy of Josie and Kelton Balka, Alyssa and John Webster, chadanderin.com

Next Stop: Honeymoon!

Now that we have seen Josie and Kelton Balka's fairy tale wedding, it's time to watch them embark on their honeymoon. Before heading to the Bahamas, they spend time in Asheville, North Carolina, and the nearby Smoky Mountains (promo video below). Also on this week's episode, the Bates throw a baby shower for Tori Smith.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Erin's Upcoming CD

The Bates are back in the studio! Between Lawson and Erin, the family has produced a lot of music. This week, Kelly Bates, Carlin Bates, Chad Paine, Everly Paine, Lawson Bates, and Isaiah Bates traveled to Nashville to support Erin as she recorded a CD of hymns on piano. Tori and Kade Smith, who live just outside Music City, also joined in on the fun. They recorded at Beech Creek Studios.

Even though Kelly has 19 children, she purposes to support each one in their endeavors. If you have been following the show and our blog, you have probably noticed that it is not uncommon for her to travel to Nashville to be in the studio while Erin and Lawson's CDs are recorded. Among other big moments, Kelly Jo has also supported the younger boys at basketball camp, her daughters and daughter-in-law during labor, and Trace while he was pursuing trick riding.

Stay tuned for details on the CD's release date. 

Photo courtesy chadanderin.com

Wedding Dress Shopping with Carlin

Katie Bates, Brittany Randolph, Kelly Bates, Josie Bates Balka,

Whitney Bates, Carlin Bates, Erin Bates Paine, Everly Paine

Ashley Sparkman, Tori Bates Smith, Kade Smith, Meagan Stewart, Denese Stewart

Missing: Evan's sister Kailyn, who was sick

Carlin has her wedding dress! She and Evan are counting down the days until their May 25th nuptials, and they just checked a big item off the to-do list. Carlin gathered at The Bride Room in Nashville with her female relatives and relatives-to-be to choose her gown, which is from the Italian designer Nicole Spose. When it comes to wedding dresses, the Bates sisters all have their own unique styles. What type of gown do you think Carlin has chosen?

While they were in Nashville, the group also enjoyed some time at Top Golf with Lawson and Evan.

Photo courtesy of Carlin Bates/thebatesfamily.com

'Newlyweds: Rookies vs. Pros' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Newlyweds: Rookies vs. Pros"

• In this episode, the married Bates couples compete to see how well they know their spouse.
• Which of your spouse’s habits drives you a little, or a lot, crazy? When Kelton’s alarm goes off in the morning, he jumps up and is ready for the day. Josie, on the other hand, gets annoyed at this because she is not a morning person.
• Brandon says he thinks Michael would like to get rid of the big chair in his study, but Michael corrects him and says she loves the chair but that it is her family that wants to get rid of it.
• Zach and Whitney both say they have nothing that either person wants to get rid of. “We’ve been married for five years,” says Zach. “We’re too broke…” “Everything we have is essential,” adds Whitney.
• Whitney’s favorite snack is Reese’s. Michael’s is veggies. Brandon’s is pretzels and soft cheese. Chad’s favorite snack is trail mix. Erin’s favorite snack changes if she’s pregnant.
• Zach loves Chicken in a Biscuit with Nutter Butter and Easy Cheese. “Snacks are moody,” he says. “Snacks change all the time.”
• Now here’s an odd question: What animal would your spouse choose to be? Erin says she wants to be a tiger. “If I’m a tiger, you’re going to want to be a tiger too, a man tiger,” she tells Chad. Carlin thinks her sister is more of a gerbil than a tiger.
• Zach says his spirit animal is Pooh Bear, while Whitney thinks he would want to be a tiger.
• How about worst fears? Some of Tori’s are storms, car wrecks, being outside in the dark, being alone, tornadoes, and action movies.
• And now for the question that is arguably the most important out of all of them: How many children do the newlyweds want to have?
• Tori and Bobby always say they want to have a house full, but Bobby admits they don’t really know. “We’re basically saying, till we give up,” he says.
• Kelton says: “Let’s see how Josie feels after the first.” Josie agrees, although she predicts they will have five or six kids.
• What sweet things have the married Bates done for their spouses recently? Erin recovered Chad’s Bible. Brandon recently went on a seven-mile walk with Michael and gave her a love letter.

Josie on Being Home Alone

Josie Bates Balka, Lawson Bates, Kelton Balka

Josie admits that she has a lot of fears, and husband Kelton knows exactly what they are. One of them involves being home alone, which makes sense, considering that she comes from a house full of people where alone time is rare. The video below will give you an idea of the format for tomorrow's new episode. You'll watch the married Bates, both the "newlyweds" and "oldly-weds," compete to see how well they know their spouses.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Scruff or No Scruff?

"When he went off to the barber shop, I actually had no clue whether he was going to keep the scruff or get rid of it."
-Tori Smith

When Kelton Balka and his groomsmen are presented with the opportunity to have their facial hair professionally shaved, best man Bobby must decide what he wants to do about his scruff. He makes the decision to shave it off, and Tori loves how smooth it is. What is your opinion? Do you think he looks better with or without the scruff? We are curious to hear from all the ladies out there and whether they prefer clean shaven men or men with facial hair.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

House of Bates

Erin Paine, Everly Paine, Brooklyn Paine, Chad Paine, Carson Paine

The Bates just wrapped up their annual I Love You Day celebration, and this year's festivities may have just been some of the most unique ones yet. (Anyone for a game of knock-the-apple-off-your-spouse's-head-with-a-bow-and-arrow?) You'll see all the action on an upcoming episode of Bringing Up Bates, but since Taryn Yager, the family's talented photographer friend, was on hand to capture the event, we thought we would share a few previews. The banner in the background of the photos reads "House of Bates." The theme was Renaissance/Medieval/Chivalry.

Also this weekend, the family gathered for a gender reveal party for Josie and Kelton Balka. So at this point, the Bates and Balkas all know the gender of Baby Balka, but they haven't yet shared the news. Josie is 17 weeks pregnant.

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

Michael and Brandon Keilen

Gil Bates, Carlin Bates, Kelly Bates

Lexi Webster, John Webster, Zoey Webster, Alyssa Webster, Allie Webster

Josie Balka and Alyssa Webster

Photos courtesy of Taryn Yager Photography