Tori Bates is Married!

What a lovely afternoon watching Tori Bates become Mrs. Bobby Smith at a beautiful wedding in Knoxville, Tennessee! The purple and silver, alongside white trees, made for a gorgeous, wintry setting. As expected, the wedding party was made up mostly of siblings. The audience laughed and cried as Pastor Gil Bates officiated the ceremony with the perfect combination of tenderness and humor.

Tori was glowing in her stunning Renee Miller wedding gown. (I--Ellie--was invited to join the Bates ladies the day Tori chose her dress.) The lemon-blueberry wedding cake, made by Kelly Bates' sister Kay, was simply divine.

We enjoyed exchanging hugs and hellos with members of both the Bates and Duggar families. The Duggars are close friends of the Bates, and most were in attendance today. We were also thrilled to chat with a few followers of our blogs.

Details of Tori and Bobby's special day can be found at People.com.

'From Friends to Fiancés' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "From Friends to Fiancés"

• The show opens as Bobby is making his first visit to the Bates home to celebrate I Love You Day (aka Valentine’s Day) 2016. “Daddy told Tori, he gave her a warning,” says Kelly. “He said, ‘Whatever you do, Tori, don’t dive in too soon.’ And Tori said, ‘It’s too late.’”
• Ashley, Nathan’s then-girlfriend, is also there. (Update: Nathan and Ashley have remained good friends, but they are not in a relationship.)
• Two months later, the Bates meet Bobby’s parents and siblings (two sisters) while in Florida for Allie’s first birthday.
• “When we were courting, [Tori] was our chaperone a lot,” says Alyssa. “Well, for a little bit, and then I requested a different chaperone. Tori is real strict. She was like, ‘That’s too close. You need to move. You are too close.’ And now, she’s all [cuddly with Bobby].”
• In October 2016, Bobby pops the courtship question during a family vacation in Pensacola, Florida. “I know this is one step along the way, but are you ready to go with me?” he asks her at sunset on the beach. They enjoy a special dinner together in the sand.
• In March 2017, Bobby visits Tennessee to search for a place to live after graduation. A friend from the fire department offers up her camper.
• In May 2017, Tori and the family celebrate Bobby’s college graduation at a party at his home in Florida. The event is also the first time we are introduced to Kelton Balka, Josie’s “special friend.”
• While the entire family (minus Josie and the Websters) is vacationing in West Virginia in June 2017, Bobby pulls Gil aside to ask for his blessing to propose to Tori. “They really are a perfect match,” Gil says after granting permission. 

'Uncharted Waters' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Uncharted Waters"

• The show opens on Evan and Carlin’s courtship conversation with Gil and Kelly. “Of course, Dad always likes to throw in his little nuggets,” says Carlin, annoyed. “If you ever get married, if this ever keeps going, we’ll see, let’s take it slow.”
• Gil and Kelly pray with the couple and then give them the green light to start an official courtship.
• Later, those over 90 pounds and age 10 head to the zip line course. Kelly takes the “middle kids” to the pool.
• Some of the zip lines are short and low, but one is about 90 feet off the ground. “It’s nothing like the little one we have in the backyard,” says Jackson.
• The next day, the plan is to go whitewater rafting. It ends up raining, but that doesn’t stop the Bates. They hire the daughter of a local pastor to babysit the little ones and head out. Because of the weather, they end up having to go on a more difficult course with class four rapids. Even the boys are apprehensive.
• All the married couples get into one boat. “Just think, Mom, if this boat wrecks, you’ve got Lawson and Nathan to raise all the kids from all three of our families,” says Zach.
• The ride is exhilarating, and the ladies scream the whole way, but they all enjoy themselves.
• Later, while everyone else is showering, Bobby pulls Gil aside to chat. “Yesterday it’s Evan, today it’s Bobby,” says Gil. “I’m getting hit from everywhere. Who knows what’s going to be next?”
• “…Before I start planning anything and before I take this next step, what I really want to do is just have your full blessing and be able to ask your permission to marry Tori,” says Bobby.
• “You’re a good guy, Bobby," says Gil, patting Bobby on the back. “I’m glad you finished school, but nope.”
• Bobby’s lip starts quivering, and a look of anguish washes over his face. “I always have a hard time telling when people are joking, and I was thinking, there’s like a one percent chance that he’s serious right now, but what if he is?” says Bobby.
• There is a long pause, and then Gil says, “You’ve got my blessing.” Bobby is extremely relieved and admits that he was about to throw up.
• “I think you and Tori have been good for each other,” says Gil. “But it’s hard to say yah, you know? Because I’m losing these girls one after another.”
• “Now that I have Mr. Bates’ permission to be able to propose, Tori seems to have a theory that October is the magic month because we met in October and we started courting in October, but we’ll just have to see about that,” says Bobby.
• After everyone finishes getting ready, the Bates snap a family photo and then head to dinner.

'Courtship, Kiddos and Future Sons-In-Law' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Courtship, Kiddos and Future Sons-In-Law?"

• The Bates are packing for a four-day trip to Adventures on the Gorge in West Virginia. The Websters won’t be able to make it, and neither will Josie, who is finishing up summer school. “Carlin is really excited about Evan coming,” says Callie.
• As far as Tori knows, Bobby is not able to make it, as he had something come up at work.
• “You know, when the kids were little and there was only one mom and one dad and one car…it was a lot easier,” says Gil. “Now, we’ve got kids everywhere, and we’ve gotta take two cars at two different times because of everybody’s responsibilities.”
• When Evan arrives, Carlin has to fight her dad and the little kids to get the first hug.  Evan’s sister Kailyn comes along, as well.
• When Kelly and the first batch of Bates arrives at the resort, Kelly, Tori, and a few others walk into the lobby to check in. “Tori was a little bit mopey,” says Jackson. “She was probably sad that Bobby wasn’t going to be there.” But Tori's mood is about to change...
• As they enter the lobby, a man at the front desk turns around to help them, and it’s Bobby! Tori is elated and incredibly surprised. “It totally blew her away,” says Kelly. “I knew about it, and I was still impressed.”
• After arriving at their cabins, Kelly and the kids enjoy an outdoor picnic lunch, complete with ice cream. “All of them brought their boyfriends, so I brought mine,” Katie tells Kelly, holding two containers of ice cream.
• The following day, Tori and Bobby volunteer to babysit Judson, energetic Jeb, and the grandkids, while everyone else heads to the ropes course. “If it had been Jeb first, it would have been a one-child family,” says Zach.
• “I’ve been excited about proposing to Tori for a long time,” says Bobby. While babysitting, he and Tori enjoy talking about their future (and the kids that they expect to have sooner rather than later).
• Kelly is quite nervous about the ropes course. “The problem was, I had just enough pride in me that even if I was scared to death, I knew I had to try,” says the mom of 19.
• During the time at the ropes course, Evan pulls Gil, Kelly, and Carlin aside for a courtship conversation. “I’m pretty nervous about talking to Mr. and Mrs. Bates about the courtship because I don’t know what they’re going to say,” admits Evan.
• After they sit down, Evan asks for permission to start making plans to enter an official courtship some time over the summer. Gil and Kelly start by discussing the primary purposes of courtship (keeping God at the center and maintaining purity). “If it doesn’t work out, I want to make sure that both of you can still be friends [and] can leave the relationship with no guilt,” says Gil. “Whoever you’re going to marry is probably out there somewhere. If it’s Carlin, that’s great, but it may not be.”
• “I do like Evan,” Gil tells viewers, “I think he’s a great guy, but I don’t know that Carlin’s grown up enough yet.”

'Here's the Scoop' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Here's the Scoop!"

• Erin will be taking her first trip to Michael’s house in Chicago. “She is so excited about you coming,” Kelly tells Erin. “I have never heard her this excited.” Carson, Kelly, and Tori are going along.
• Kelly pulls up the AARP travel site for Chicago to start planning. “We actually are old enough to join, but Gil was putting it off because he didn’t want to admit that he qualifies for being old enough, but I was kind of proud of my age, so I was eager to join,” says the Bates mom, who turned 50 last October.
• Michael says she is adjusting to life in Chicago. “Sometimes I miss home, but I’m definitely falling in love more with it here,” she shares.
• The group arrives in Chicago, reunites with Michael, and heads downtown to Navy Pier. Erin drives, and Kelly is terrified. 
• Their first order of business is to ride the Ferris wheel. “I will say, big city is definitely not my thing,” says Tori.
• Next, they take a boat tour. Carson is beyond excited.
• When they return to Michael’s apartment, Michael and Erin take the opportunity to cook together. Michael says she and Brandon aren’t set on staying in Chicago permanently. “I would love to move somewhere back to the mountains, and I think Brandon would, too,” says Michael.
• Michael tells Erin that she has found a fertility specialist. “Right now, it’s undiagnosed, so that’s hope,” says Michael, nearly in tears. “So there’s a lot of bloodwork and a lot of ultrasounds. It’s something I never thought I’d experience.”
• “I know everybody says they pray for you, but there’s not really something you can say,” Erin tells Michael gently. “You’re doing great. It’s okay. It’s okay to cry.”
• Erin can relate to Michael’s unfulfilled longing for a child, as she suffered multiple miscarriages before Carson came along.
• “There’s days I cry a lot, and then there’s other days I don’t seem to be fazed,” admits Michael. “Someday, maybe, and if not, I’ll adopt me a baby.”
• Brandon returns home and shows Kelly the rough draft of his children's book, which is set in the medieval times and has a strong message of character. His illustrations are beautiful.
• Back at the Bates home, Carlin, Katie, Nathan, and Lawson head up an ice cream making competition. They divide the kids into teams, with older ones as team captains, to see who can make the best flavor of homemade ice cream.
• “This was about having fun with the little guys and keeping them preoccupied, but of course since it had Lawson and Nathan in there, they made it all about the competition,” says Carlin.
• Katie is the judge. Team Carlin makes mint chocolate chip, and the flavor is overpowering. Team Nathan makes mint cookie dough, and Katie says it has the worst flavor she has ever tasted. Team Lawson makes cookie dough, and Katie crowns them the winners.

'The Fabulous Backwoods Bates Boys' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "The Fabulous Backwoods Bates Boys"

• Zach arrives at the Bates house to pick up Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah for an overnight camping trip in nearby Clinch River, Tennessee. “Zach is always trying to think of ways to invest in his little brothers,” says Gil.
• When the guys arrive at the campsite, they decide to test out their skeet shooters, only to find that they are broken. “My inventive mind went to work, and I engineered one of the most powerful skeet throwers ever seen by the world,” says Zach. “Oh good grief, what did you do?” questions Whitney. “I threw the skeet!” replies Zach.
• While putting up the tents and starting a fire, the guys realize that they are missing multiple items. But there’s no need to fear, as Jackson has everything they need in his ginormous backpack. “Jackson’s backpack is like a bottomless bag,” says Isaiah.
• Meanwhile, Kelly, Erin, and Whitney take Ellie, Callie, Judson, Jeb, Bradley, and Carson to a local hotel pool for swimming lessons. Two teachers meet them there. Nathan, who has taught several of the children how to swim, comes along to help.
• All the kids love it, even Bradley and Carson. “I’ve been working with Bradley since then, and he is coming along on the Michael Phelps tradition,” says Zach matter-of-factly.
• Later, Gil and the rest of the guys meet Zach, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah at the campsite. They all head to the river to do some fishing, but they don’t end up catching anything. “There’s two different things: There’s fishing, and then there’s catching,” says Lawson. “Hey, the Bates are amazing at fishing,” adds Trace.
• “If our fishing was our living, we would be lean and mean,” laughs Gil. The crew returns to the campsite to cook hotdogs and hamburgers. Just as they’re getting started, Zach and Bradley have to head out to meet Whitney on the interstate and change her tire.
• Later that night around the campfire, Gil and the boys go around and list things they are thankful for. “Remember, it’s your family that’s going to be there for you,” says the Bates dad. “Family is for the rest of your life.”

'The Night The Lights Went Out in Tennessee' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "The Night The Lights Went Out in Tennessee"

• For the past six months, Nathan has been living in Mississippi and working as a flight instructor. “I really have enjoyed learning how to fly, and I wanted to be able to kind of pass that along,” says Nathan.
• On tonight’s show, Nathan instructs a man who is working towards his commercial pilot’s license.
• “There’s no doubt Nathan…has a whole new respect for safety, life, caution, so that is really a mark of maturity up here for such a risk taker as Nathan,” says Gil.
• Zach, Whitney, Bradley, and Kaci pay a visit to photographer friend Taryn Yager’s in-home studio for Kaci's one-year photo shoot. Bradley does a great job helping make his little sister laugh. When it comes time for the smash cake, Kaci is all smiles.
• “I cried looking through every picture because [Taryn] seriously captured some of the sweetest pictures that she’s ever gotten,” says Whitney.
• Nathan returns home and begins putting up the family's new smoke detectors (which are also carbon monoxide detectors). “The fire department showed us where all the fire detectors go, and we were supposed to put them up, and then they went into a box until Nathan got home,” admits Jackson. “He’s got some initiative.”
• According to Gil, Nathan is an energy giver and a great motivator. He convinces Lawson and some of the other boys to help. While the guys are working, Kelly and the girls clean out the family’s two refrigerators.
• “Mom is the most thorough refrigerator cleaner-outer, and I just can’t be around when it happens because I hate waste,” says Gil.
• While one of the boys is up on a ladder and the ladies have food piled up on the kitchen counter, the power goes out. They quickly put the food back in the fridge and grab candles and flashlights. “No lighters for Judson and Jeb!” shouts Lawson.
• Everyone puts their pajamas on, and Kelly brings out a family favorite game, Surprise Spin. Each person takes turns spinning the rolling pin. Whoever it lands on draws a piece of paper, which either instructs them to do a chore or grants them a fun privilege.
• Isaiah draws, “Good for $5.” “Daddy’s going to love that we played this game, isn’t he?” remarks Kelly. Lawson is stuck with cleaning out the van and changing all the sheets.
• The lights come back on, but the kids still want to party, so they grab ice cream from the freezer.
• “When the power goes out, it goes to simplicity really fast, and having that time to just huddle as a family, play a game, and focus on each other, that was really special,” says Lawson.

'One Cap, Two Gowns' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "One Cap, Two Gowns?"

• Carlin helps Tori pack for Bobby’s college graduation. She also lends Tori a few articles of clothing. “The people of the same size, they just have this real problem of stealing,” says Lawson. “It’s not stealing,” responds Nathan. “If clothes fit you and they’re in this house, hey, if you want them to be your clothes, you keep them somewhere else. But if you keep them in this house, it’s part of the family closet.”
• “Tori and Nathan are our two that they’re like, ‘Oh it’s in the closet, it grabs for anybody,’” says Kelly.
• Down in Florida, Alyssa and John show us a glimpse of their life with two kids. John works in his family’s air conditioning business, and both of them have a joint cleaning business on the side.
• One particular evening, John comes home to watch the girls for the evening, and Alyssa immediately runs out to clean and doesn’t return home until after 9:00. At that point, John heads out to fix an A/C unit. “We’re going to stay right at two kids for right now,” says Alyssa.
• “I think Alyssa learned a lot from cleaning big messes from this house,” says Judson, matter-of-factly.
• Tori and Josie head down to Florida for the grad party. They kick off the trip with some disk golf. Josie plays on a team with Kelton Balka, a friend of Bobby’s who lives near the Bates and knew them before they knew Bobby.
• “I was super excited to get to go with Tori to the graduation because one of my friends is actually graduating,” says Josie. “Kelton is a guy that I’m kind of talking to and getting to know, and he’s pretty great.”
• “What’s it with all these special friends?” says Gil.
• “We’re going to be seeing lots of Kelton and Bobby,” says Kelly. “Well I like them boys,” responds Gil, with a combined look of stress and joy written on his face.
• The next day, Gil and Kelly and some of the kids show up for the party. “Bobby’s house is a lot different than our house,” comments Jackson. “Theirs is actually clean. I would be surprised if they didn’t mop this house more than once a day.” Bobby’s family lives in Tampa, in a gated community that sits on a lake.
• “You’ve got nice things, we can break them,” quips Nathan.
• Bobby is graduating with a youth ministry degree and will be moving up to Tennessee at the end of the summer. Kelton graduated with a degree in finance and is going to work in his uncle’s plumbing business in Tennessee.
• During the party, Tori sneaks off with Bobby to give him his Bible. He loves it.

'Lawson and Sadie's Big Breakup' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Lawson and Sadie's Big Breakup"

• Lawson shares his music video plans with Nathan. "...The next step, I think, as an artist is getting a single out there to radio," explains Lawson. "And I thought one thing that would really help that is shooting a really high quality music video that would help promote that new single." Lawson says he was looking for a girl to play the girlfriend, and a friend connected him with Sadie Robertson. 
• The big day has arrived. Lawson, Nathan, and some of the other Bates travel to Manchester, Tennessee, to shoot the music video. Sadie Robertson arrives.
• "The storyline of this video has me trying to act like a quarterback with a real high school football team, and I've never done that, so this should be interesting," admits Lawson. "I have a lot more respect for athletes. It's not as easy as you think."
• When it comes time to film the front porch breakup scene, the skies open up, but the crew decides to press onward in the rain. 
• "Sadie, you're amazing!" exclaims Kelly at the end of the scene. "You were so convincing. I'm like, 'Poor thing!'"
• "They really made it look real," Kelly continues after the fact. "As a mom, I'm oozing with pride over here."
• Later that evening, it's time to film the big football game in which Lawson sustains an injury. Lawson is ready to take the hit, but the director doesn't want to risk him actually getting hurt. A junior on the football team (nicknamed "Crazy Robert") volunteers to be Lawson's stunt double. They run the hit scene a few times, but the stunt double doesn't mind at all. In fact, he seems to enjoy it. Nathan jokes that getting a picture with Sadie Robertson softens the blow.
• Back at home, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah tell their mom that they would like to take her out to lunch for Mother's Day. Kelly graciously accepts, but she requests that the boys let her give them a manners refresher course beforehand. "I'm always looking for teachable moments when I'm with the kids," says the mom of 19.
• "Refresher course nothing," comments Nathan. "Them guys need the whole class from start to finish."
• "Good manners are standing up straight and eating your food," says Jeb. "Using your fork and knife instead of your hands," adds Judson.
• After the course, the three middle boys dress up in their Sunday best and take Kelly out to eat at one of her favorite places, McCloud Mountain Restaurant.
• The boys do very well. "Y'all keep that up, and you'll get a girl before Lawson and Nathan does...not that I want you to be looking," says Kelly.

Lawson's music video released today. Click here to watch. 

'More Bloopers, Outtakes and Mishaps, Oh My!' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "More Bloopers, Outtakes and Mishaps, Oh My!"

• "One of the problems we have in our family [is] we have never learned to let one person talk at a time," says Gil. "There's this huge barrage of verbal things coming, and everybody's talking at one time."
• When asked who the best driver in the family is, Lawson responds: "This family lacks good drivers."
• During an interview, the producer asks why there's a rooster crowing at 2:00pm, and Kelly responds, "He's a Bates!"
• Do you remember the Bates' visit to Dollywood? Although Kelly is terrified of heights, she faces her fears and rides a roller coaster, but the Bates mom screams the entire time. 
• Which Bates are the most out of control when they laugh? Tori and Callie. Tori's laugh is a loud cackle, and when Callie gets going, she can't stop.
• What are the Bates' favorite words/phrases? "Awkward," "epic," and "oh my stars."
• Now let's talk about weddings. "The coolest part about going to the Bates weddings are watching the little kids," says Lawson. "They get standing up there on the stage, and they just lose their attention, and they start going crazy."
• And then there's the food fight that breaks out while "Kay Kay" (Kelly's sister Kay) is teaching the kids how to decorate wedding cakes.

'Stop, Drop and Wash' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Stop, Drop and Wash"

• The Bates still look back on their November 2016 house fire as one of the most frightening ordeals their family has walked through. The fire department comes over to give the kids fire safety lessons and help Gil and Kelly place their new smoke detectors.
• To give back to the community and help fund the volunteer fire department, the Bates are planning a benefit car wash.
• The day before the car wash, Zach, who has plenty of practice washing his police car, comes over to show the family how to wash a car. “We’ve never washed our cars at our house,” says Josie. “We let the rain wash them.”
• “My goal was to come over and get everybody assigned a specific dob,” says Zach. “In real life, everybody doing their own thing all on the same car, I felt like we were never going to get finished.”
• It doesn’t take long before chaos breaks loose. Gil asks for water, and Zach gives it to him…with a hose…all over his clothes.
• “When everybody starts getting wet, I thought, You know what, I’ll jump in my parents’ car because Dad will surely tell them, ‘Don’t get the inside of my car wet,’” says Zach. “Then I forget, oh wait, it’s my family’s car. They don’t care!”
• Zach’s next idea t is to grab the water hose, thinking it will give him an advantage, but when the little kids purposely put a kink in it, he is left with no way to defend himself.
• Meanwhile, Erin and Chad are searching for a permanent home for their little family. When they moved into their rental cottage, they knew it would only be temporary.
• They are looking for an old fixer-upper with land and charm. “We are open to the option of buying something very soon or waiting even several years,” says Chad. He and Erin drive by two beautiful country homes that they both really like.
• On the day of the car wash, it’s pouring. “God’s wetting all the cars!” says Gil. The family is bummed, but Jeb suggests they pray. Before long, the rain stops!
• In the middle of the car wash, Carlin’s boyfriend, Evan Stewart, shows up, and Carlin is ecstatic.
• The car wash is a huge success. Even some of the volunteer firefighters come out to help. “I’m amazed that as the car wash rolled on, I think we really got the hang of it,” says Gil. Even little Bradley gets in on the action!

'Don't Worry, We've 'Goat' This!' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Don't Worry, We've 'Goat' This!"

• As they show opens, some of the younger children are over at Erin and Chad’s house playing with the goats. “I think it was a great idea to get two kid goats,” says Chad. “And I think they bring a lot of smiles to Carson’s face.”
• Gil joins them to help paint the goat shed. Chad lets the kids help cover it in a white water-based paint, with plans to finish it off with a black oil-based paint later. “I think they did awesome,” says Chad. “It was a lot of fun.”
• Later, Gil and the boys redo the zip line that Nathan connected to the unstable shed. Isaiah tries to help, but it is a little difficult with his arm in a cast. While playing softball, he tripped over a bush and broke two bones.
• When the zip line is finished, Trace is the first to try it out. Everyone is nervous that the trial is going to add badly, but it doesn’t. The family is thrilled about the new outdoor activity.
• In celebration of Chad’s 30^th birthday, Erin plans a getaway to Hot Springs, North Carolina. Granny and Grandpa watch Carson and Brooklyn.
• “Of course we love getting to babysit, but it’s even more special when we’re babysitting and we know that it’s helping…one of the couples go out and spend quality time together,” says Kelly.
• When Erin and Chad arrive at Mountain Magnolia Inn, built in 1868 by a Civil War colonel, Erin asks Chad to go check in. While the hostess gives Chad a detailed tour of the building, Erin slips away to decorate their cottage. “I knew he was so polite and so gentlemanly that he would probably sit there and just nod his head and say yes for as long as she talked to him,” laughs Erin.
• Erin puts up fishing poles and fishing-themed banners with cute phrases, such as “Old but still a catch,” “I can’t believe I reeled you in,” and “You took my Bate bait.”
• “You really think I’m old?” laughs Chad. “You really do think I’m old, don’t you? Just you wait. When you turn 30, you’ll wish you never turned 30.”
• The next day, Erin takes Chad fishing in the rain.
• “I think after I get married and have a lot of kids, I’ll like fishing, too,” says Tori. “You’ll like anything away from your kids,” adds Carlin.
• Later, Erin and Chad relax in a hot tub filled with natural mineral water from the hot springs.
• Back home, Gil and the kids go over to Erin and Chad’s house to check on Max, Bubby, and Sissy. A pet sitter comes by to show the Bates how to feed the goats. “Erin lived at our house for many, many years, and Erin did not trust us to take care of her animals,” says Jackson. “It’s funny that Erin trusts us to take care of her kids but not her ‘kids.’”

'Newlywed Edition' Recap

Bringing Up Bates “Newlywed Edition”

In today’s newlywed edition, the Bates couples play a light-hearted guessing game to see how well they know their spouses. 

Tori and Carlin lead the game as lively hosts to quiz Zach and Whitney, Michael and Brandon, Erin and Chad, and Alyssa and John. 

The categories are: Bad Habits, Favorite Candies, Places to Vacation, Favorite Type of Shoes, Best Gifts, Closest Bates Member, Splurge Item, Number of Children, and Dream Job. 

When Michael and Brandon can’t find any faults with each other, Tori quips, “They still have on rose colored glasses.” 

On the question of the best gift Zach has given, Whitney answers, “His heart, my ring, Pandora Charms, Hawaii trip….there are too many to count.” 

When answering about what item Erin would splurge on, Carlin says about the couple, “I think he’s more right, he knows you better than you know yourself!” 

John tells Alyssa, “How ever many (children) you want to have is how many I want to have.”
Talking about the number of children they want, Erin declares, “Not 19, not 18, not even 17 or 16! No teens!”

'He Said, She Shed' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "He Said, She Shed"

• During family Bible time, Gil announces that he is going to need help with the dreaded task of cleaning out the shed. “Nasty and trash and metal junk and dirty stuff,” is Judson’s [very accurate] description of the shed.
• “Dad’s pretty good about go with the flow, unless it comes to where he has to get rid of some of his stuff,” says Carlin.
• “I can see value in things that nobody else can see,” responds Gil.
• Trace, who is currently putting the Dixie Stampede on hold and attending college, announces that he plans to try out for the Crown basketball team, and his family is thrilled.
• Partway through the shed project, Nathan finds the wire from the zip line the Bates had at their old house, and he starts to put it up for the little kids, but Gil puts that project on hold until the shed is finished.
• When Kelly calls Carlin over to help sweep, the boys take the opportunity to scare her with a huge, remote-controlled spider. She decides to spend her day painting lines on the basketball court so Trace can practice.
• “Can you believe the Bates are getting two things done at once?!” exclaims Trace.
• By the end of the day, the shed looks great, and Kelly is thrilled. “I have to admit,” she tells Gil. “Stepping back and looking at the finished project—don’t take this the wrong way—but I did not know you had it in you.”
• After the court is painted, Trace brings some of the basketball team members over to play a game. Lawson joins in.
• “Listen, me and Lawson get along in every aspect, except sports,” says Trace. “The problem is, he wants to be the star, and I just want the ball any time.”
• “I think going to Crown has really helped me get out of my box a lot,” says Trace. “Man, over there now, I ain’t that shy no more.” “We can’t get him to shut up,” says Nathan, smiling.

'Sibling Revelry' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Sibling Revelry"

• Gil decides to teach the new drivers some basic car mechanics. “Bates cars break down a lot,” says Nathan.
• “I’m pretty sure with everything, my mom and dad teach the first few kids, and then they feel like they’ve taught all of us, but they forget that they have 19,” says Tori.
• “It was great for all of us to learn some of the things that Dad told us, but really in all reality, we’re going to call Dad if our car breaks down because that’s what he’s there for,” says Carlin, laughing.
• Later, Erin, Whitney, Tori, Carlin, Josie, and Katie visit the jiu-jitsu instructor to learn self-defense, but they are caught off-guard when he has them warm up with jogging and pushups.
• They jog across the room, and both Carlin and Whitney fall into the wall at the end. Carlin makes two holes with her knees, on either side of a stud.  
• “Here we are with this little group of homeschool girls,” laughs Erin. “I mean, it hadn’t been five minutes, and we had already put a hole in the wall.”
• After the instructor makes sure everyone is okay, he teaches the girls how to block a punch, take someone down, and choke them until they pas out.
• On another day that week, Zach, Whitney, Erin, and Chad meet at The Cutting Edge Classroom for a cooking class. When the instructor announces that they will be making bruschetta with basil and mozzarella, as well as chicken piccata, Zach jokes that he should have taken an Italian language class before coming. They end up loving the meal. 
• “It’s always good to remember that no matter the amount of time that’s been by, no matter the hard things that you’ve been through, the good things that you’ve been through, you can always, always enjoy good food,” says Zach, sentimentally.

'Bobby's Movin' In' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Bobby's Movin' In"

• Tori and Josie return from spending their spring break in Florida with Bobby, and Bobby comes back with them to start looking for a job in Tennessee. Gil and Kelly are eager to help, but they might have ulterior motives.
• “My parents…if they sense the tiniest opportunity that they can keep their daughter here and add you, they go in full-on salesman mode, and they can make this area sound a lot like heaven, maybe even a little bit better,” says Zach.
• Later, Kelly and Katie take Judson and Jeb to a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class so they can learn how to rough-house safely.
• “Me and Jeb were a little nervous about fighting,” says Judson. “I wasn’t,” retorts Jeb. “You don’t know what nervous means,” Judson responds. 
• Meanwhile, Gil takes Bobby to the new church building, which is still under construction. “Planting a church a few years ago was an endeavor we never anticipated,” says Gil. He offers Bobby, who will graduate in two months with a ministry degree, a position helping at the church.
• Gil also sits Bobby down and asks what his plans are for his relationship with Tori. They both agree that an engagement conversation will happen soon. “I just cleaned my shotgun real nice,” Gil jokes.
• That evening, Gil and Kelly take Tori and Bobby out on a double date. “I can picture them being a happily married couple one day,” says Kelly. “It’s hard for Daddy to picture only because he doesn’t want to do the parting thing.”
• “His dad jokes make him unintimidating because he’s just…corny,” Tori says of her father. 
• Bobby shares that some folks at the fire department have offered up their camper as an apartment for him. Kelly jumps on that opportunity and lines up a meeting.
• The camper is beautiful, and everyone, especially Tori, is thrilled that it’s looking like Bobby is going to be moving to Tennessee.    

'Road Trip Romance' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Road Trip Romance"

• Carlin drives more than three hours to visit boyfriend Evan Stewart just outside Nashville, Tennessee. Katie goes along as a chaperone. “I picked Katie to come with me because she’s really bubbly, and it was a chance for us to get to hang out, since I’m always at school,” says Carlin.
• After dinner with his family, Evan takes Carlin and Katie to his older sister Ashley’s house. She and husband Daniel are pregnant with their second child. (Evan has four sisters and one brother.)
• Daniel plays piano while Evan and Carlin sing a duet to a song Evan wrote about loving again after your heart has been broken. Carlin says she can relate to the song, although she is a bit nervous to sing in front of Evan’s family, who have a little family gospel group.
• Evan takes Carlin, Josie, and two of his siblings to Rocketown in downtown Nashville to take skateboarding lessons.
• Katie decides to sit on the sidelines and be entertained, but she is soon joined by Carlin, who has twisted her ankle. “If you get joy out of watching people fall, this is the best sport ever,” says Carlin.
• “To sum it all up, they all should have listened to the wise Katie,” announces Katie.
• Later, Carlin and Katie join in on a birthday celebration with Evan’s family at another sister’s house.
• Evan’s parents, Paul and Denese Stewart, sit down with them and ask about their relationship. “I really care about Carlin more than I’ve ever cared about any other girl in the world,” says Evan. “So I’m just anxious to see what the Lord does.”
• “I think it’s going great,” says Denese. “I know they’re taking it slow, and we’re just praying that it will continue to grow. And they might marry one day. We’ll just see.”
• Back in Rocky Top, Zach, Whitney, Warden, and Lawson take Jackson driving. “Jackson had called me and wanted me to take him driving, which was super special to me, just the special bond that we’ve had growing up together,” says Zach.
• Jackson has done some driving on the family’s property, so he turned out to be a smooth driver. “I’m super proud of Jackson, just watching him mature and grow up,” says Zach.

Recap: 'Summer of Love"

Bringing Up Bates Season 6 Premiere "Summer of Love"

• Erin takes Carlin, Tori, and Katie out to ice cream to catch up.
• Kelly gives an updates on the relationships. Tori and Bobby are courting and growing closer to each other. Carlin and Evan are not yet courting, but things could be heading that way soon.
• “Josie’s just a year behind Carlin,” says the mom of 19. It won’t be long before she’s trying to set her eyes on some fella. You better get your shotgun ready, Dad.”
• According to Erin, her brothers are picky when it comes to choosing girls. Nathan has been away at flight school, and he says he is still single but has female friends who may be prospects.  “I’m kind of scared he’s going to bring a wife back in that plane one day,” jokes Lawson.
• “Lawson, I think…he needs to wait like five or six more years,” says Erin. “He’ll be 29. That’s a good age. I think that’s good for him.”
• “I am really 100% focused on my music…but that could change any time…” responds Lawson.
• Trace is in college and is planning to attend Bible classes for one year, but he is still single. 
• Erin and Chad make a big announcement. They are having twins…twin goats! They purchase twin miniature goats for Carson to play with. 
• The Bates head to Clayton, North Carolina, for a wedding that no one saw coming. Kelly’s mom, Betty Jo (known as Meema), is getting married to a man named Tom! “This the happiest that I have seen Meema in, probably, I don’t even know how many years,” says Kelly.
• Kelly’s parents divorced when she was young, and Meema remarried, but her husband passed away.
• “I think it’s good to know that, at any age, no matter how old you are, you can still find love,” says Erin.
• Tori and Bobby will be singing "Red River Valley," a love song duet. They decide on the song at the rehearsal.
• On the day of the wedding, Meema is stunning in her glitzy blue dress. “It’s fun for me to see her that happy, especially knowing all the sorrow that she’s been through recently,” says Kelly. She and her sisters pray over their mom.
• Meema is smiling as she walks down the aisle. “It tickled us all when Meema kind of jumped the moment and kissed him before time, but it was just cute, you know, you want to see a couple in love,” says Kelly.
• When they are pronounced husband and wife, Tom and Betty Jo's kiss is long and affectionate. "I think it was so cute," says Kelly. "You want to see them a little bit frisky. That lets you know there's some affection." Gil laughs and says, "No problem there!"
• “I don’t think I can ever remember seeing my grandmother that happy,” says Erin.

'A New Baby Born and Love All Around' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A New Baby Born and Love All Around"

• Kelly and the five youngest boys arrive at Alyssa and John’s house in Clermont, Florida. “My family’s very last minute,” says Alyssa. “I didn’t find out who all was coming until literally the day before they came.”
• The following day, Kelly takes Alyssa out for some mother-daughter time. Alyssa explains that she doesn’t want a bunch of people in the room during her labor. Kelly says she was the same way and that she and Gil will wait in the reception area.
• Kelly accompanies Alyssa to her midwife appointment at The Birth Place (a birthing center). Alyssa is hooked up to a monitor for a short while after the midwife hears an irregularity in Lexi’s heartbeat, but she is relieved to find out that everything is fine.
• Gil and the rest of the family arrives, and he and Lawson lead the kids in a nerf gun war at their rental house. In the middle of the game, Kelly receives a call from John that causes her and Gil to rush over to the birthing center. Lexi Mae Webster arrives just over one hour later.
• “It doesn’t matter how many grandkids we have,” says Kelly. “They’re all special. They’re all different.”
• Alyssa is discharged just a few hours after the birth, and her siblings are thrilled to come visit, both at the birthing center that evening and at her house the next day.
• Back in Tennessee, the Bates are planning their annual I Love You Day celebration, which will be coupled with Mama Jane’s birthday party. The theme is “down on the farm.”
• When everyone arrives for the festivities, the older sisters go out for pedicures and girl talk. Erin and Carlin tell the story of how Erin set Carlin and Evan up. It’s actually quite simple. Kelly was speaking at a banquet, and Evan was sitting at a table with Carlin and Erin. Carlin explains what happened: “[Erin] is like, ‘So, you know, I really would like you to be my brother-in-law. I mean, Carlin’s single. Are you single?’”
• “Evan is perfect for Carlin,” says Alyssa. “He is so patient with her.”
• Tori drops a bombshell: She’s getting married in May! Her sisters are shocked, but then she clarifies....next May, after she finishes school.
• “I’m not planning my wedding,” says Tori. “I’ll pick my colors, and then everyone else plans it.” What if everyone disagrees? “Then I say y’all fight it out,” says the bride-to-be. “I ain’t doing it.”
• The night before I Love You Day, all the couples have a steak dinner at the rental cabin where the out-of-town guests are staying. Nathan delivers Tori and Bobby but is quickly asked to leave. “Come back when you’ve got a girl,” says Kelly.
• When I Love You Day finally rolls around, Mama Jane is shocked when Gil and Kelly present her with a new rocking chair, made by Chad, that has everyone’s signatures shellacked on it.
• “Oh my gosh!” exclaims Mama Jane. “You children are way too much! I don’t want to ever die.”
• Kelly leads the clan in a bunch of fun, farm-themed games, including a pig calling contest.
• Later, Zach, Chad, and John take Bobby and Evan shooting. They also share relationship advice. “Our boys are very protective of their sisters, and no guy is good enough,” says Kelly.
• Opening gifts takes more than an hour with so many people. Michael causes tears to flow when she passes out heart key chains with Kelly’s father’s handwriting on them. They say “I love you. In His grace, Granddad Callaham. Psalm 56:3.”

'The 'Cubs' Land in Chicago' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "The 'Cubs' Land in Chicago"

• It’s January, and the five youngest Bates boys are staying with Michael and Brandon in Chicago while Gil, Kelly, and Carlin are in Australia and New Zealand for speaking engagements. “Mom said she was leaving the country, and I said, ‘Can I have all the little kids?’” shares Michael. “And she said I could have half of them.”
• It takes the boys a few days to adjust to the Keilens’ house rules. They aren’t used to going to bed at 9:30 and waking up at 7:30, nor are they used to healthier food choices.
• Jackson’s reaction to Michael and Brandon’s breakfast crepes is priceless: “Michaela fed us pancake looking things, like a taco pancake with fruit in it.”
• Michael bakes gingerbread and leads the boys in a gingerbread house decorating contest. She makes a rule that they can’t eat any candy while they are working, which is a difficult concept for her brothers to grasp. “At our house, when you’re making the gingerbread house, you can eat the candy as you’re making it,” says Jackson. “Here…if you eat the candy, you lose the privilege of eating the gingerbread house.”
• Michael and Brandon also tell the boys the medieval story that they wrote and are in the process of turning into a picture book. Later, they take the boys to Medieval Times, a medieval-themed dinner theater that features a jousting performance.
• Although her brothers have tested her patience, Michael has had a blast and says she will cry when they leave. “They’ve been so fun, but it’s like having a full-fledged family, suddenly,” says Brandon. “They’ve been a lot of fun, but I’m not going to lie, I’m going to have a sigh of relief.”
• Back in Tennessee, Josie takes the film crew to her cosmetology school. “…It’s a very practical thing,” she says. “I could use it after I got married and do it from my home.”
• “…Being homeschooled and then going to college is a world of difference,” says Josie. “The social aspect is very different…and I guess being by myself was very different…” Courtney Green, a family-friend of the Bates, is also in cosmetology school with Josie.
• Later, Josie styles Carlin’s hair at home. Tori comes in with a bob cut died black and freaks Carlin out. It turns out to be a wig.

'Working Up An Appetite' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Working Up An Appetite"

• On a previous episode, the Bates men poured concrete for their basketball court, but they haven’t yet put up the basketball goal. Lawson hollers out instructions as everyone attempts to put the goal together.The project takes them two days to complete.
• “The good thing is about Lawson’s leadership,” Zach states. “He never really messes that much up because even though he’s telling everybody all the wrong things to do, nobody pays him any attention.”
• On another day, Gil and Kelly take Carlin and Josie to have their wisdom teeth extracted. Carlin’s reaction to the anesthesia is very entertaining. “[Carlin] was like Miss Invincible,” says Gil.
• “My head was so mis-combobulated up there,” says Carlin. “I couldn’t think straight.” Carlin is very much “out of it” and won’t stop talking, so Gil firmly tells her to settle down. She breaks down crying.
• Josie, on the other hand, is very tired and in a lot of pain. “Josie, if you said anything to her, she would just bust out crying, and Carlin, if you didn’t want to have a party with her, she would bust out crying,” says Katie. “But they both did amazing.”
• At the end of the episode, Kelly, Lawson, Trace, Tori, and Carlin head over to Cracker Barrel to pick up dinner for the entire family. The Paines and little Bates family also come over. “Enjoy this roast while you can because mine don’t taste this good,” Kelly jokingly tells the family.
• Gil and Kelly are headed to Australia and have plans to divide up the little kids among the older married ones while they are gone.
• “I think it’s really a special time any time the family gets together and just sits at the table and has dinner together,” says Erin.

'Mass-a-somethin'" Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Mass-a-something'"

• At a condo at Massanutten Resort in Virginia, the Bates are rushing to get ready for their ski lessons. Gil is the only family member who has been skiing, so the rest of the clan is in for an adventure.
• Kelly insists that the little kids wear multiple layers under their snowsuits. “You’re going to be hot as a firecracker on July the 4^th,” Gil tells Jeb.
• Just before everyone heads out the door, Kelly receives a text from Michael informing her that a mother and her daughter had fallen off a chairlift and died the week before. The mom of 19 is very nervous for her children’s safety.
• Renting skis and snowboards takes close to an hour. Most of the family takes ski lessons, but the older boys elect to try snowboarding.
• Tori’s boyfriend, Bobby Smith, joins the family on the slopes, as does Carlin’s “special friend,” Evan. Carlin met Evan and his family about five years ago, but it has only been a few months since the pair really started talking. (They reconnected at a ladies banquet, where Evan was serving.)  “Yes we like each other,” says Carlin. “We’re trying to get to know each other, but there’s no official thing right now.”
• Trace’s friend, Campbell Roberts, also comes along. At the end of the trip, she insists that Trace did great.
• When it comes time for everyone to ride the chairlift, Kelly is a nervous Nelly. They all make it out alive, although Kelly has the attendant at the top stop the lift so she can get off slowly.
• Nathan arrives that evening. He has been at flight school in Mississippi, taking tests to earn his commercial pilot’s license.
• The next morning, the family goes tubing, another great adventure. “I hurt my heinie” says Judson.
• That afternoon, Kelly teaches Nathan everything she learned in ski school. “If you think you’re going to hit somebody, fall,” she tells her son. “I got a lot of practice doing that yesterday.”
• Nathan picks it up quickly. “She’s actually an incredible teacher,” he says. “A mother that has spent her entire life teaching children things. I would rather have nobody else give me a lesson than my mom.”
• Everyone is sad when it comes time to head home.  “I think skiing is a great family experience,” says Erin.
• “I’m really impressed,” says Gil. “My wife was the funnest and the funniest and the most heroic. She didn’t give up. She didn’t quit. She even taught lessons.”
• “I think we’re going back,” says Gil. “Massanutten is going to get a mass-a-Bates.”

'Bike Racks, Barbers & Big Duets' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Bike Racks, Barbers & Big Duets!"

• Lawson and Nathan head to Mount Airy, North Carolina, to prepare for Lawson’s show. Mount Airy is Andy Griffith’s hometown and considered to be the inspiration for the Mayberry of The Andy Griffith Show.
• Lawson is invited to be a guest on a local radio program. “Live anything is really something I’ve really been trying to adjust to and get better at,” he admits. “When it’s life…you can’t take it back. You can’t hit the edit button.”
• Nathan and Lawson take a tour of the town in an old squad car. They also visit a replica of Andy Griffith’s office.
• Back at home, Gil and the other boys set out to turn a big log into a bike rack. Bikes are constantly left out in the Bates’ yard, and they are often run over.
• Everyone is extremely impressed by the finished product, and they are equally as impressed that the Bates started and finished a project in the same day.
• “That was the most genius thing I have ever seen,” says Tori.
• When the rest of the family makes it to Mount Airy, it’s crunch time. Emily Ann Roberts arrives, and the sound check begins. Fans begin lining up outside the historic Earle Theatre.
• “I think Lawson’s stage presence has just improved so much,” says Nathan. “It’s remarkable how much better Lawson has become.
• Lawson is pleased with the way the evening turns out. “Overall, I think the concert was a blast,” he says.

'Loads of Laundry and Lots of Lessons' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Loads of Laundry and Lots of Lessons"

• The Bates are staying at a local hotel while their house is aired out. They have two, two-bedroom suites. “I think the initial thought of staying at a hotel was, ‘This is going to be fun,’” says Gil. “But about 48 hours into it, this is not the vacation we were thinking about.”
• Managing laundry and meals while living in a hotel proves to be a difficult task for the super-sized Bates family, but they are grateful that the damage to their house was minor and that no lives were lost.
• “In the long run, life could have been a whole lot harder,” says Gil. “You know, like the fires in Gatlinburg. Our little problems were really nothing compared to what other people were facing.”
• As they continue to teach Judson and Jeb about the dangers of fire, Gil and Kelly, along with Lawson, take the boys up to Gatlinburg to see the shell of a home that was destroyed in the Gatlinburg forest fire, which happened at the same time as the Bates’ house fire. “I want that to be a picture that you guys remember every time you’re tempted to disobey,” Kelly tells her two youngest sons as they stand there looking at the house.
• The Gatlinburg fire, believed to be started by two juveniles, killed 14 people, injured approximately 150 individuals, and destroyed more than 1,700 structures.
• Gil, Kelly, Lawson, Judson, and Jeb bring gifts to a family that lost everything in the Gatlinburg fire. “We went there to teach our children a lesson, thinking we’re going to be a blessing," shares Gil. “...I wasn’t just Jud and Jeb that learned a lesson. I think more than them, me and Kelly learned a lesson. And that family was a great testimony of going through difficult times, staying close as a family, and having the right perspective.”
• Later, Gil and the boys head over to the newly purchased church building to make plans for construction. “It’s really little, and it needs a lot of work,” says Trace, “But it’s just so awesome, now we’ve actually got our own church building.”
• Back at their house, the Bates accept a delivery of their emergency clothes that had been professionally cleaned. They walk through the second floor, sniffing everything, to make sure the smoke odor has left. The plan is to redo the sheetrock, floor, and paint in the laundry room.
• To get their mind off the fire, Gil and Kelly take the family to the ARK Encounter in Kentucky. For those who haven’t heard about the ARK Encounter, it’s a full-size replica of Noah’s Ark that opened in 2016. Inside the structure is a museum.
• With a bunch of little kids in tow, Gil doesn’t have time to read all the displays, so he takes pictures of just about every single one of them so he can look back at them later.
• Between the fire, the new church building, and the tree service, the Bates have a lot on their plate. “I don’t know how [my parents] do it,” says Lawson. “They’re like super people.”

'Fire Trucks and Diaper Dumps' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Fire Trucks and Diaper Dumps"

• Gil and Kelly plan a “diaper pounding,” a small baby shower where guests bring diapers rather than traditional baby gifts, for Alyssa. “Because Alyssa lives so far away, I feel like I don’t get to be involved and do as much for her as I do the other married couples, so I really wanted to give her a shower or do something just to show her how excited we were,” says Kelly.
• After Thanksgiving, some of the younger kids visit the married couples. Back home, the Bates’ laundry room catches on fire. Lawson and Trace panic when Judson is nowhere to be found, but they end up finding him and are able to get everyone out of the house.
• Zach, a cop, is on patrol when the fire breaks out and is called to the scene. Gil and some of the boys are on a tree job when they hear what has happened, so they rush home. “I just didn’t know what to expect when we came down the driveway,” says Gil.
• “It’s unbelievable how fast fire can spread, especially in a room with tons of fuel, which would be clothes,” says Zach. “It could have ended much differently, and it’s a miracle from God that my family didn’t lose much more.”
• After the firefighters put the flames out, Gil goes into the laundry room to assess the damage. The fire has burned holes in the walls and blackened almost every surface According to the firefighters, had the door of the laundry room not been closed, the fire could have easily burned the entire house down.
• Judson and Jeb come clean: They accidentally started the fire while secretly playing with a lighter in the laundry room. “We’ve talked about ‘don’t play with fire,’” says Gil. “You think…everybody’s got it, but I guess they really didn’t get the seriousness of it.” The father of 19 has a serious talk with his two youngest children about the dangers of fire and plans to have more conversations with them in the coming days.
• The next day, a crew comes by to pick up all the clothing items that need to be cleaned. “About the 70^th bag, and I realized we have too many clothes,” says Gil.
• Meanwhile, Kelly, Katie, and Emily Raynes (a family-friend who played at Michael’s wedding) are in Chicago visiting Michael and Brandon. Kelly is thrilled to be visiting her daughter, but she is anxious to return home to find out more about the fire.
• After spending a short time in Chicago, Kelly, Katie, and Michael head down to Florida for Alyssa’s diaper pounding. Rather than a women-only shower, this event is a fellowship for both guys and gals at a local park. Brandon is able to join them.
• “Me and Michael are really close, and it’s been really hard, telling her that I’m pregnant and talking about my pregnancy…and her wanting so bad to have a big family and have a child," shares Alyssa. “It’s a really delicate topic, and it’s just hard to watch because she would be such an amazing mother.”
• “There’s a little bit of sadness in all of our hearts because we all pictured that by this time that Michael would get to be holding a baby, and I know that’s her heart’s desire,” adds Kelly.
• Michael is “absolutely thrilled” for Alyssa, but she admits that she still feels a longing to have a child of her own. “Every time I hear of a pregnancy announcement, it is hard, but it doesn’t at all take away from the excitement of hearing about new life and a new baby.”
• Although taxing, Kelly says that the events of the week have brought the family closer together.

'Sweet Home Spartanburg' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Sweet Home Spartanburg"

• As part of her 50th birthday celebration, Kelly takes the family to her hometown--Spartanburg, South Carolina. They meet up with Kelly's mom (Meema) Kelly's sisters (Kay and Kim) and Gwen, a gal who lived with Kelly's family, and are able to walk through the house where Kelly and her siblings grew up. (The couple that lives there now had agreed to give them a tour.) Kelly also had a brother, Chip, who passed away.
• Kelly admits she was the "tattletale," "brat," and "baby" of the family and that she used to sit up in a tree by the road and take detailed notes on the things she heard her siblings say and do so she could report back to her mom. She says she especially enjoyed listening in on Chip's conversations with girls that he brought home. 
• The mom of 19 also used to sneak into the bathroom through a closet while one of her siblings was showering and dump cold water onto them.
• After the tour, the Bates rake leaves for the couple to thank them for opening their home. They all enjoy jumping in the leaves, even Kelly and her sisters. "I think that gave us kids the first clue that they were really going back to their childhood," says Erin. The four girls also pray together.
• Kelly was in third grade when her parents got divorced. She stayed with her mom in South Carolina, and her siblings moved to Tennessee with her dad. "It was a very difficult thing to go through, but it also made me who I am today," shares Kelly. "I think we took something that was hard, and I think all of us, children and parents, tried to learn from it and turn it into something positive."
• After her parents' divorce, Kelly says she poured herself into her studies. She takes the family to her high school and introduces them to her two favorite teachers. "[My mom's teachers] helped develop in my mom such a love for education and learning...so to meet those people who gave her that love for learning...[we are] grateful for them because it has definitely played a role in all of our lives," says Michael.
• One of Kelly's science teachers takes the family into a science classroom to do an experiment. 
• "[My kids] are homeschooled, and the ones that haven't gone to college yet, they've never really sat in an actual classroom at desk, where the teacher is up front drawing on the board, so I think they were curious and interested," says Kelly. 
• Later, the Bates head to an iconic local restaurant, The Beacon, to meet up with Kelly's childhood friends. Her best friend, whose name is also Kelly, had called a bunch of their classmates to invite them, and quite a few showed up. Kelly has tears in her eyes as she shares the impact that each of her friends had on her life.
• Down in Florida, Alyssa and John Webster are looking forward to the arrival of Lexi Mae.