Gil and Kelly Bates
Christmas on the farm! Papa Bil and Mama Jane (Gil's parents) hosted Christmas for their three children and many grandchildren at their home in South Carolina. Some of the married couples were with their other families and were unable to make it. Last weekend, Gil and Kelly had all their children over for a Christmas celebration and white elephant gift exchange, so it has been a week of partying for the Bates clan.
Photo courtesy thebatesfamily.com
Merry Christmas to All of the Bates family and kids. I can not wait til you come back on it is my morning routine to watch the show. Love to ALL Happy New Year and may more grand baby's come in 2020......God bless The Holifield family in Michigan
ReplyDeleteThe Duggars and Bates are so blessed! Merry Christmas to you all!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the white elephant gift exchange?
ReplyDeleteI think they're just fun gifts, for laughs and entertainment, not a useful gift.
DeleteIt can be interpreted a few ways, my family (who needs nothing) for years exchanged gift cards decided this was a fun way to celebrate. We change it up with a small dollar amount like $5 but must be crafted or something funny, homemade food gift, or gently used item you’ve owned.
DeleteThe fun part is the exchange! Person one picks a gift, person 2 can take person 1’s gift or a new, person three picks from previous opened or new and so on. Last person had pick if all!
If your gift is taken you pick a new one.
We also set a limit they a gift can be taken 2x.
At a job I had we would “white elephant”
Job tasks, could also do household chores, a service (babysitting) etc..
The point is it should be lighthearted fun, free or not overly expensive, can include everyone regardless of their ability to spend or position at a job or family (i.e possibly a grandparent living on Social Security to grandkids).
Nice change from endless gifts that break the bank or end up in a landfill in a few months.
Happy New Year 🥳
Time 4:23AM Fri 12/27/19
ReplyDeleteAww that's so nice.
Gil looking like an older Nathan and Kelly looking like a Brunette Erin. They look well.
ReplyDeleteJust curious why they exchange white elephant gifts at Christmas? One of the most important days of the year celebrating Christ's Birth. Why do they make valentines day seem more important? Not bashing their decision just a curious question
ReplyDeleteYou can celebrate Christ's birthday without gifts!
DeleteI’m sure it is easier for the entire family to get together on Valentines Day than during Christmas especially when their are obligations to see their in-laws, etc. I know in my family we all can’t get together on Christmas anymore because our family has grown and people need to see their in-laws, etc.
DeleteI think I remember them saying in the past that the kids received so many gifts from extended family for Christmas that they just found it more practical for them to celebrate as an immediate family on Valentine's Day instead.
DeleteKelly Jo looks great! Don’t know if she’s lost weight or not, but she’s aging backward!
ReplyDeleteI personally don’t care for exchanging white elephant gifts. I’ve been in groups that do that and the gifts can get silly, useless, and become a waste of time and money. When I’m part of a group exchanging white elephant gifts, I can’t help but think of those people who, for whatever reason, might not receive any gifts for Christmas. In such a large family, draw names, and if you are not going to buy meaningful gifts for that individual, contribute to that person’s favorite charity.
ReplyDeleteI don’t remember any specific gifts I’ve ever gotten in a family gift exchange, but i remember lots of laughter and fun. It’s not about the gifts at all. White elephant can be fun and meaningful in families that love to laugh and be silly
DeleteI agree! My husband’s family has a gift game and a theme to it! One year something with a light, or something incorporating the color ted( I bought a great baking dish in red), something soft, etc etc. limit $20and should be useful. Oh, one theme was Christmas ornaments. Picked numbers and did like others here said, you could steal a gift but only 3x per gift. We had a raucous time this Christmas. It finished off the night.So fun!!
Delete8:56. Do you realize it’s possible to have fun with family, doing silly white elephant gifts, and give to charity? The Bates are wealthy. I’m sure they can afford to do both.
DeleteI agree with 5:28. The whole point is to have fun with it and, of course, to do it free or cheap. You can certainly give charitably at Christmas too, nothing says you can't do both.
DeleteI personally love white elephant exchanges. They can be a lot of fun and many times one can get a very useful gift. And I agree it's not about the gift but the fun and laughter and having that special time together.
Deletebabies born in 2019
ReplyDeletejosie and kelton:willow
erin and chad:holland
whitney and zack:khole
2020 babies
tori and bobby:kolter
carlin and evan:layla
I am praying that michaela will have kids soon they are the only ones that don’t have kids yet and the same way happened with my aunt she and her husband went through fertilty treatment for a couple years and now they have a beautiful baby girl and she is precious so just give it time and it’s all in the lords hands
I hope alyssa and john will add another baby in 2020 and hopefully a little boy
love y’all family so much merry christmas and happy new years and god bless this family 💖💖
Given Alyssa's 2 heart surgeries, I hope another baby comes after they and her doctor have decided that she has recovered enough for the demands of another pregnancy - if they decide to have any more.
DeleteMaybe it’s not the best option for Alyssa to get pregnant again given her heart condition.
DeleteWhen does the new season start? It usually start the first Thursday in January. I haven't heard anything. Hope we dont have to wait long.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what Papa Bill did(does) for a living? Did Mama Jane ever work outside the home? Same questions about Kelly’s parents.
ReplyDeletePapa Bill owned a convenience store and Mama Jane a retired nurse.
Delete7:30- I am sure you mean well. However, as someone who could never conceive, the last thing I ever wanted to hear was “Just give it time”, when that’s all we’d been doing for many years. It marginalizes the pain and grief and it’s not something you say to anyone experiencing any kind of loss.
ReplyDeleteI love watching your show on Amazon(The United Bates of America). I hope God continues to bless your family!
ReplyDelete