Bates Family Sleepover

With only three children under the age of 18, Gil and Kelly Bates have a much quieter home than they did when they had 19 children living under their roof. To help their parents relive their glory days, some of the Bates siblings "crashed" the big house for a surprise sleepover. A handful of the ones who live locally, along with their kids and spouses, showed up on Gil and Kelly's front door for a night of food, board games, a lot of laughter, and only a little bit of sleep. Carlin and Evan Stewart documented the evening and uploaded a video to YouTube. 

Henry Paine’s Birth Story Part 1

Henry Paine is almost 7 weeks old. Erin Paine took to YouTube to share the first part of Henry’s birth story. Her labor was long and brutal, and at the end of it, the medical team discovered that the cord had been wrapped around Henry’s neck twice. The video ends with Henry’s joyous arrival, and Erin plans to upload a second video that shares the complications that followed. 

Bates Sisters Boutique Closing

In April 2019, Whitney Bates, Carlin Stewart, and Erin Paine launched the Bates Sisters Boutique. Two and a half years later, Erin announced that she was leaving the boutique and that Kelly would be stepping into some of her roles. Today, the Bates shared that they are closing the boutique in November. Their lives have gotten busier as their families have expanded, and they have decided they it’s time to end this chapter. They are offering a 20% off sale on their website. 

Erin’s First Steps

As most of you know, Erin Paine has not had function in her right leg since the seizure she experienced while in the hospital. She has been home for a couple weeks and has worked with physical therapists, but the problem has continued to persist. Then yesterday, she was suddenly able to move her leg and take some wobbly steps. Praise God for his healing work over Erin! 

Another Family of 8?

Two of Gil and Kelly Bates' adult children are preparing to welcome their sixth babies. Just a few days after Zach and Whitney Bates revealed that they are expecting their sixth child in spring 2026, Tori and Bobby Smith announced that they will also be a family of eight. Tori is due in march 2026. Their oldest, Kade Smith, turns seven in November, and Kolter Smith is five-and-a-half. Charlotte Smith turned four in June, Cambree Smith turned three in August, and Slade Smith celebrated his first birthday in May.