Friday, October 29, 2021

Bradley Turns 7

Happy 7th birthday to Bradley Bates! Bradley is the eldest of Gil and Kelly Bates' 18 grandchildren. He was born in October 2014, followed by Allie Webster in April 2015 and Carson Paine in May. 

 
Bradley Bates
1st birthday

 
Bradley Bates
2016 photo shoot with Taryn Yager

 
Carson Paine and Bradley Bates 
Bringing Up Bates Season 9

Photos courtesy of UPtv

Thursday, October 28, 2021

An Italian Engagement

If you guessed that Lawson and Tiffany’s trip to Italy would result in an engagement, you were correct! Lawson proposed at the Tenuta Larnianone, an estate and winery located in Siena. People Magazine has the exclusive story and photos. 

 
Lawson Bates and Tiffany Espensen
I Love You Day 2021

 Photo courtesy of UPtv

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Kelly Jo's Birthday

Happy 55th birthday to Kelly Jo Bates! This year, the Bates matriarch is spending her special day in Italy with Lawson, Tiffany, and Tiffany's parents

Gil and Kelly Bates
Bringing Up Bates Season 10

 
Kelly Bates and Gil Bates
2020

Gil and Kelly Bates
Bringing Up Bates Season 4

 
Kelly Bates, Gil Bates, Brandon Keilen, Bradley Bates
Bringing Up Bates Season 1

Photos courtesy of UPtv; thebatesfamily.com

Monday, October 25, 2021

Lawson and Tiffany in Italy

The Bates have gone from one exciting event to another. The entire family gathered in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for Nathan and Esther's wedding on Friday, and then some of the ladies headed to New Jersey for a bridal shower put on by Katie's future in-laws

And now, Lawson, Tiffany, Gil, Kelly, and Tiffany's parents are on a big adventure overseas. They're in Italy!

 
Lawson Bates and Tiffany Espensen

Photo courtesy lawsonbates.com


Sunday, October 24, 2021

Katie's Bridal Shower

One 2021 wedding down, and one more to go! After Nathan and Esther's wedding in Pennsylvania, a number of the Bates drove over to New Jersey to celebrate bride-to-be Katie. Katie had a wedding shower in Tennessee earlier this month, but this was an opportunity to celebrate with her future in-laws, as well as her mom and most of her sisters.

 
Addee Bates, Josie Balka, Hazel Balka, Layla Stewart, Carlin Stewart,
Katie Bates, Whitney Bates, Maci Webster, Alyssa Webster,
Lexi Webster, Allie Webster, Zoey Webster

 Photo courtesy of @kgbates2000

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Nathan’s Fairytale Wedding

As we shared yesterday, Nathan Bates and Esther Keyes were married yesterday afternoon at the Star Barn in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Fox News has the exclusive, as well as a stunning photo of the bride and groom. They each made their own very fitting grand entry to the event, which was attended by approximately 350 friends and family members. 

Friday, October 22, 2021

Nathan Bates Marries Esther Keyes

Another Bates wedding is in the books! Nathan Bates and Esther Keyes became husband and wife this afternoon, during a beautiful ceremony in picturesque Pennsylvania. Gil and Kelly Bates haven't attended a wedding since Carlin married Evan in May 2019, and they haven't watched a son tie the knot since Zach married Whitney in December 2013. 

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Bates! No wedding photos have been released yet, but we will keep you in the loop.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Gender and Name of Baby Paine #5

It's the day before Nathan Bates' wedding, but Erin and Chad Paine took a few minutes out of their busy schedule to share the gender and name of their fifth child with the world. They posted an adorable reveal video to YouTube. Before watching the clip, go ahead and post your guess in the comments section.

Chad Paine and Erin Paine

Photo courtesy of chadanderin.com

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

A New Mrs. Bates

It has been just over nine months since we first posted about Nathan's girlfriend, Esther Keyes. Viewers watched her meet the family on an episode of Bringing Up Bates that aired in April, and the pair was engaged on May 22nd. We shared the video clip from UPtv a month later. 

Now, Nathan and Esther are just a few days away from their wedding! Nathan will be the second Bates son to enter into marriage, which means that Gil and Kelly Bates will have two daughters-in-law and six (soon to be seven) sons-in-law.

 
Esther meets the Bates family

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Saturday, October 16, 2021

A Wedding and a Birthday

Nathan Bates and Esther Keyes will be husband and wife in less than one week! The Bates clan and many others will be on their way to Esther's home state of Pennsylvania to watch the couple exchange their vows next weekend. Esther also celebrated her 24th birthday yesterday. 

 
Nathan's proposal to Esther

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Friday, October 15, 2021

Erin on a Podcast

 
Erin Paine

Erin Paine was a recent guest on the podcast No Higher Calling. She joined host Brettnay Brazzell to share how she saturates her home, marriage, and motherhood with the Word of God. Erin also introduced the ABC Memory Cards that she created to help children memorize Scripture, which can be purchased on her website. To listen to the Podcast, search "No Higher Calling" in your podcasts app, or visit the link below.

No Higher Calling Episode 46: Saturating Our Homes with God's Word with Erin Bates Paine

Photo courtesy of chadanderin.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Kelly Likes it SWEET

 
Kelly Bates and Gil Bates
Key West, Florida

Gil Bates: "My wife, this is her thing: Sweet. I mean...make it really sweet."

Kelly Bates: "Nobody does sweet like Tennessee."

This video might just tell you something about Kelly Jo that you didn't know. She likes her drinks sweet. And when she says sweet, she means it. Wholeheartedly. While in Key West, Florida, for Katie and Travis' engagement trip, the future bride and groom and their parents visit Cuban Coffee Queen. Kelly wants to make sure that the barista knows just how sweet she wants her drink.


Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Bates Fall Travels

The Bates have been making the most of fall break. A small group convened down in Florida at Alyssa and John's house for a short celebration of Katie's birthday, as well as a trip to the dress shop to pick up her wedding dress. That was followed by a 48-hour girls getaway in Miami for Alyssa and Katie. While there, they did some bridal shopping and hung out with a friend.

Meanwhile, Josie and Kelton Balka took Willow and Hazel to the beach for a little vacation. And now, Carlin and Evan Stewart are in Missouri for their annual trip with Evan's family.

 
Katie Bates and Alyssa Webster

Photo courtesy of @websterforever

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Smith Family Photo

With the arrival of Charlotte in June, the Smiths became a family of five. Until Kade turns three next month, Tori and Bobby will be the busy parents of three children ages two and under. Tori and Bobby might just be following in Gil and Kelly's footsteps, although their little ones aren't quite as close in age as Zach, Michael, and Erin. We just love this shot by Taryn Yager.

 
Bobby Smith, Tori Smith, Kolter Smith, Charlotte Smith, Kade Smith

Photo courtesy of @bobby_torilayne_smith; tarynyagerphotography.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Balkas Celebrate 3 Years

In addition to Katie's birthday, the Bates have another milestone to celebrate today. Happy 3rd wedding anniversary to Josie and Kelton Balka!

 
Josie Bates and Kelton Balka
Pre-engagement

 
Josie and Kelton Balka
Honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains

Photos courtesy of UPtv
 

Katie Turns 21

Happy birthday to Katie Bates! Not only is it her 21st, but it's also her last birthday as a Bates, as she will become Katie Clark when she marries Travis on December 3rd. Today is also Josie and Kelton's 3rd wedding anniversary.


 
Katie Bates and Travis Clark
Engagement

 
Lawson Bates and Katie Bates
Early season of Bringing Up Bates

Photos courtesy of UPtv

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Wedding Shower for Katie

When you are a member of the Bates family, attending showers is a regular activity. It seems like someone is always having a baby or preparing for a wedding. Yesterday, the ladies gathered to celebrate Katie's upcoming marriage to Travis Clark (on December 3rd). They hosted the shower at the Bates Sisters Boutique.

 
Kelly Bates, Whitney Bates, Addallee Bates, Katie Bates, Carlin Stewart,
Tori Smith, Charlotte Smith, Ellie Bates

 Photo courtesy of @kgbates2000