Recap: "A Birthday to Remember"

Bringing Up Bates "A Birthday to Remember" (season finale)

• Gil beat his dad at tennis for the first time on his dad's 50th birthday. Now Nathan wants to beat Gil at wrestling on Gil's 50th birthday. Gil and Nathan consider going all out in professional wrestling attire, but they resolve to wear T-shirts and jeans to maintain their standards of modesty. Nathan thinks he is the winner, but the rest of the family says Gil is.
• Next, Lawson challenges Gil, but the Bates dad wins that match pretty easily. "Lawson is the best talker in our family," says Gil.
• Nathan has been planning a surprise 50th birthday party for his dad for several months. Kelly and the older kids meet at Zach and Whitney's to discuss details. "I think he's got an idea that something's going on, but there's no way he knows the magnitude of what we're doing," says Nathan.
• The kids are inviting family members, high school and college wrestling buddies, men Gil has ministered to, and pastors who have impacted Gil's life over the years. 
• "There is no way we can get this done," says Carlin. But Nathan has high hopes.
• "I just want to know how they come up with all them ideas," says Zach after his family leaves. "I couldn't hear myself think." The oldest Bates kid has grown accustomed to his quite life with his wife and infant son.
• Kelly takes Gil out for a romantic, one-night getaway to Maple Grove Inn, a bed and breakfast build in the late 1700s, so the kids can plan.
• "You have been such a good husband because you have made our marriage a priority," Kelly tells Gil that evening.
• "I don't know what's in the future, but I know Who holds the future, and I'm looking forward to what He's going to deliver," says Gil.
• Tori and Carlin go shopping for food. The girls pay with gift cards because Tori says their dad checks his bank balance "like every five minutes."
• Carlin attempts to come up with a few skits highlighting special moments from Gil's life to perform at the party, and Lawson writes a song for his dad.
• The kids finish cleaning and decorating just as guests start arriving from all over the country. Gil and Kelly pull into the driveway, and Kelly blindfolds her husband he can't see all the cars. They walk in the front door, and everyone yells "surprise."
• "Where did y'all come from?" Gil exclaims. He starts tearing up right away.  
• The kids act out Gil and Kelly's first date, which Gil didn't show up to. Zach reads a letter he wrote to his dad, and Lawson performs his song. Gil is touched that his kids and wife planned such a special surprise party and that so many people traveled so far to attend.
• Season two of Bringing Up Bates will premiere in June and run for 13 episodes.

Recap: "All About the Bates"

Bringing Up Bates "All About the Bates"

• The Bates sit down to answer questions submitted by fans.
• Do the kids want more siblings? Yes!
• Do Gil and Kelly want more children? Yes! "We would love more children," says Kelly. "I think that I'm getting a little too old, I guess, because we're trying and nothing's happening."
• How old do the kids have to be to court? Gil and Kelly set an approximate age of 18. "But honestly, for some kids it should be older because they ain't very mature," says Tori.
• The kids all agree that Brandon should propose to Michaella very soon. "I don't care how we get engaged," says Michaella. "As long as we get married, it doesn't matter."
• Will there be a Bates/Duggar wedding? Nathan says: "Absolutely yes." "There has to be out of 19 of them," says Tori.
• Which kids are the most outgoing? Tori and Nathan
• Who has the best style? Josie and Alyssa
• Have Gil and Kelly become less strict in their old age? Everyone says yes. The parents of 19 call it "grandparent syndrome."
• Do the Bates have any tips for disciplining children? Avoid being an angry parent, says Gil. "You may get instant results," explains the dad of 19. "But you are going to create a huge wall between you and your child..." He and Kelly encourage other parents to talk through things with their kids.
• What meal tips does Kelly have to share? She plans meals a week in advance. One of the Bates' favorite recipes is sautéed chicken. They cut boneless chicken breasts into nugget-sized pieces and sauté them in olive oil, chopped onion, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper until golden brown. Then they add honey mustard and spicy mustard and serve with potatoes.
• Can the Bates identify baby pictures of all the children? Nope.
• Do the Bates have any hidden talents? Carlin can yodel.
• Is there anything Chad can't do? Everyone says no. "We are still discovering all the talents of Chad," says Nathan.
• The kids give viewers a tour of the house. On the second floor are the master bedroom, laundry room/family clothes closet, and girls' room. The girls have trundle beds to save space. Inside the girls' room is a tiny alcove that has a bunk bed for Judson and Jeb and an elliptical. The boys live on the third floor.

Recap: "The Bates Go to Florida"

Here is the recap of last night's show. We usually post our recaps immediately after each episode airs, but we were delayed this week due to technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience. :)

Bringing Up Bates "The Bates Go to Florida"

• The Bates clan arrives at Alyssa and John's home near Orlando. They newlywed couple has a small house that they keep very clean. "It was like somebody opened the floodgate..." said Gil, looking back on the family's visit.
• Kelly tells the kids to mind their manners while they are at Alyssa's. "We listen to the rules, but I don't know if we fully obey them," says Carlin.
• Alyssa is expecting a baby girl, Allie Jane, on April 10th. The Bates can't wait to welcome another grandchild.
• "Having a granddaughter is going to be exciting," says Kelly. "I know at the same time it is going to be really, really hard because I can't just go down the street and see her and hold her anytime I want to."
• John says he wants to wait about a month after the baby is born for Alyssa's 18 siblings to come visit. The kids aren't too happy about that.
• Gil brings his tree trimming supplies to clip a few branches for his daughter. Meanwhile, Kelly and Alyssa cook dinner. "It's definitely different cooking for 21 again," says Alyssa.
• "Alyssa's all about presentation," says Kelly. "She makes it look good."
• The entire family heads to Clearwater to go to the beach for the first time in seven years.
• "We like beaches, and we like people," says Gil. "We just like people to have all their clothes on at the beaches."
• Several of the kids wear swimsuits, which means WholesomeWear for the girls and swim trunks and shirts for the boys. The others wear regular clothes, but that doesn't stop their dad and siblings from throwing them in the ocean.
• Next, the family goes to the Clearwater Aquarium, where they have the privilege of feeding Winter, a dolphin with a prosthetic tale who stars in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2.
• "It was pretty cool getting to pet a movie star dolphin...says " Katie.
• At Showcase of Citrus, the Bates pick fresh oranges. Then, they take a ride on one of the world's largest monster trucks. "I don't' think you could have picked a better way to end the trip," says Lawson.

Recap: "A Big Bates Thanksgiving"

Bringing Up Bates "A Big Bates Thanksgiving"

• Erin visits her doctor to determine the gender of her baby. The results are written on a piece of paper and sealed in an envelope, which Erin will give to her cousin Katherine so she can bake a cake with either pink or blue inside. "I am a super curious person, especially when it comes to what my baby is," says Erin.
• The family packs up and heads to Gil's parents' farm in Honea Path, South Carolina. Mama Jane and Papa Bill prepare to feed a few dozen family members for Thanksgiving Dinner.
• Gil's parents have owned their farm since they moved to the area when Gil was in third grade. Now, his brother and sister each own a house and several acres of land on the property. Gil and Kelly also own several acres.
• The entire family gathers together, including Michaella's boyfriend, Brandon, as well as Alyssa and John who have driven up from Florida.
• On Thanksgiving Day, Callie accidentally slams Jeb's finger in a door. Later, during the annual family football game (married guys versus single guys) Zach injures his knee. But no one ends up in the emergency room, so the Bates consider it a good day.
• Growing up, Gil spent a lot of time playing sports. His parents say he had a hard time balancing athletics with other priorities. Now that he has kids, he encourages them to put Christ first, which means they don't play organized sports.
• The Bates put on their matching outfits (purples, blues, and grays) and take family photos. Chad the photographer organizes the pictures.
• Bill and Jane rent a tent for Thanksgiving Dinner because their house isn't big enough to accommodate their growing family. After the meal, the Bates move inside and reflect on what they are thankful for. "There was probably not a dry eye in the place," says Gil.
• Kelly's response is the most touching: "I'm really thankful that y'all are so forgiving because I know as parents, we have let you down so many times. There have been times that we were upset with y'all that we shouldn't have been, or that we should have cut you slack and we didn't, or that we were impatient. And y'all have put up and endured and even encouraged us along and are so forgiving. And many times we look back and we feel like failures as parents, and we feel like we've let y'all down in so many ways. And y'all are the greatest kids in the world. Y'all encourage us so much. I just love every one of you.
• Gil says he is thankful that his wife had the idea of leaving the size of their family up to God. He thought it was crazy at first, but looking back, he says it was one of the best decisions he has ever made.
• Everyone gathers around as Erin cuts into the cake baked by her cousin. The inside is blue, which means she and Chad are having a boy!
• To end the night, Lawson plays piano while Papa Bill and Mama Jane dance. Mama Jane tries to teach Nathan. "Nathan cannot dance," says Michaella.
• The following day, the Bates (everyone but Michaella, who is returning home to Tennessee to work, and Brandon, who is flying back to Michigan) gather up their belongings to head down to Alyssa's house.
• The family talks about how different Thanksgiving will be in 2015. "Bradley might have a girl in his life...a sister," says Zach. "Zach, be serious!" responds Whitney.
• "There might be a couple more wives, or girlfriends," says Nathan. "I am not getting married before next Thanksgiving," confirms Lawson.