'One Week, Three Babies?!' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "One Week, Three Babies?!"

• Gil and Kelly are trying to figure out how they can be on hand to meet both new grandbabies (Everly Paine and Zoey Webster) the moment they arrive. "Our life is always crazy and busy, but…this week is probably the biggest dilemma we’ve faced," explains Kelly.
• Lawson and Trace will be leaving for a rodeo that they have been invited to participate in (with trick riding and singing). That will leave Carlin in charge of the kiddos. "This is the only thing I’m torn about," Kelly tells her sons. "Y’all know I’ve always said I will be at every recital, every game, every event. I’m going to miss y’all’s rodeo!"
• Lawson and Trace jump on their horses so Trace can run through his tricks ahead of the rodeo. "Any time anybody in the family is going to do something really cool, Lawson is young, single, and available, and he is going with you," says Zach.
• Jackson has been helping Chad with construction projects. Right now, they are working on a job at Nobel Metals, where Bobby is now working in Chad's place. "I’ve learned that Chad never quits, morning, noon, or night," says Jackson. "And I’m especially learning in the morning."
• "Chad is a very good teacher," says Bobby. "He’s very patient." And Jackson is a hard worker, so the two of them make a good team.
• Just before the two new granddaughters arrive, Zach and Whitney invite all the Tennesseans over for dinner and fellowship. While Bobby prays over the food, he throws in a little announcement: “And, Lord, I do want to thank you, as well, for choosing to bless me and Tori with the opportunity and the privilege to be parents, as well.”
• Everyone is thrilled. "Two babies were not enough this week," says Zach. "Somebody had to throw in a third."
• At this point, Tori is only about six weeks along, and her son is due around November 24^th. "Looking ahead and realizing that within about a year and a half, I’m going to go from college student to husband and then father, it’s a lot," shares Bobby. "And I really don’t think any of it’s going to hit me until it happens."
• In just a few weeks, Tori and Bobby will be relocating to the Nashville area. Although they will only be a few hours away from Rocky Top, the rest of the Bates are still going to miss them terribly. "Here’s the last supper, guys," Zach announces. "Enjoy it, Tori. It’s been great having you as part of the family. We’re going to write you off with them other two girls that left. What’s their names?"

'Just a Little Off the Top...Please' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Just a Little Off the Top...Please"

• Josie loves her new job at Ross the Boss and Co. salon. “A lot of my family actually ended up helping me, which was amazing,” explains Josie, who has recently finished all the models that the salon requires for newbies. “Trace over here, he was like, ‘You ain’t touching my hair.’”
• Trace finally comes in for a haircut, and although he has a lot of opinions to share, he ends up loving the outcome. He also shares an exciting announcement: He has been invited to participate in a weekend rodeo! More on that later. We posted photos back in April if you recall.
• Tori and Bobby meet Gil and Kelly at a restaurant to discuss their plans to move to Nashville. Tori admits that she hates moving.
• As you probably guessed, Gil and Kelly will be sad to see their daughter leave the area. “My dad is very opposed to any of his kids moving away from Knoxville, especially if it’s a girl,” says Tori. But despite the tears that will surely be shed, Gil is thrilled that Tori and Bobby are following God’s call on their lives.
• Bobby has accepted a youth pastor position in Hendersonville, and he will also be chaplain over a Christian school. Tori is about to graduate with her teaching degree and plans to be involved in the school, as well.
• During dinner, the Smiths also have a big announcement to share with Gil and Kelly, and they do it in the most nonchalant way possible. Tori mentions that they will have to find a babysitter when they move to Hendersonville, and Kelly is confused: “Why are we talking about babysitters? For you? Did I miss the announcement?” Tune in next week to see Tori and Bobby reveal their news to the rest of the family.
• At the Paines’ house, Chad comes home early and reads a Bible story to the kids. “Little children are like a big sponge,” explains Gil. “Whatever you teach them, they’re just ready to soak it in.” The four of them pray for Erin’s upcoming delivery and for baby Everly.
• Later, Gil and Kelly and the kids attempt to make their own shuffleboard game on their concrete basketball court. The little ones lose interest, so Trace kicks off a family game of wiffle ball while Gil and Zach finish the project.
• But what about the discs and sticks? Gil grabs push brooms and cuts pieces of tree trunks. “When you don’t have what you need for a game, Dad has always taught us, just improvise,” says Carlin. The redneck shuffleboard works out pretty well. Zach and Trace beat Gil and Warden by a few points.

'Lions, and Tigers, and Bates, Oh My!' Recap

Bringing Up Bates  “Lions, and Tigers, and Bates, Oh My!”

• “One of the most exciting places to visit is Michael and Brandon’s house,” says Nathan during an interview. Ellie, Addee, and Callie arrive in Chicago for a vacation with the Keilens. Their first activity is the Brookfield Zoo.
• “I absolutely love the zoo,” says Michael, who has a membership.
• Through the Animal Ambassador program at the zoo, the Keilens and the three girls are able to see a porcupine, a medium-sized African wildcat, a sloth, and an anteater up close.
• Being near the wildcat has them feeling a bit nervous, but they enjoy feeding the sloth and anteater.
• On another day, Michael teaches the girls to sew. An avid seamstress, Michael learned when she was around their age. “Michael is naturally wonderful with children,” says Zach during an interview.
• The other Bates say they are thrilled for their sister to impart her sewing wisdom on the younger girls. “We’ll have stacks of clothing that need repairs or alterations that get put on hold until Michael arrives,” says Nathan.
• Michael helps the girls make a baby blanket for Zoey.
• Michael and Brandon also take Ellie, Addee, and Callie to Ceramic Art Café in La Grange, Illinois, to paint pottery. The last time Michael and Brandon were at the shop, they were courting and about to be engaged.
• Ellie chooses a horse figurine, Addee paints a jewelry box with unicorns, and Callie selects a coffee cup for Alyssa. “It was just cute watching Callie,” laughs Brandon. “She was very intent...”
• “Every chance I have to spend time with siblings is just so refreshing,” says Michael, sad to see her siblings return home.
• Back in Tennessee, Bobby and Tori arrive at the Bates’ church before sunrise on a Sunday morning to do a thorough clean ahead of service. In May, the Smiths will move to Hendersonville (near Nashville) so Bobby can begin a youth pastor position at a local church.
• Later, while much of the rest of the family is out of the house, Gil, Judson, and Jeb set out to build a seesaw. Although the boys nearly lose interest, Gil is able to keep them on track, and they are thrilled with the outcome.
• “I’d rather buy them tools and things they can do than just toys they just play with,” says Gil.
• Kelly is proud of their handiwork, but when Jeb nearly flies off, she says she is going to print a list of seesaw rules.
• “Anything you buy at the store, you’ll find a little unintended use disclaimer,” says Zach. “We’re the reason for that.”