Keilens Travel to Israel

After having two previously scheduled trips fall through, Michaela and Brandon Keilen were finally able to travel to Israel. It really was the trip of a lifetime. They were sad to leave their foster sons, but the government workers in charge of the boys' case encouraged them to go. Brandon's sister babysat for the week that Michaela and Brandon were away. The Keilens share highlights from their trip in their latest YouTube video. 

Theodore Bates

Lawson and Tiffany Bates are due to welcome their second son this month. They just shared the name they have chosen: Theodore Bates. To hear how they made their decision, watch their newest YouTube video. 

House Hunting with the Bates

How are Trace and Lydia Bates doing? Kaia is six months old, and Ryker is two. Trace and Lydia just uploaded a new YouTube video that features a few different story lines. They are outgrowing their two-bedroom home and are looking for more space, so they are on the hunt for a new house. In the video, you’ll see them tour some potentials, and you’ll see Trace and the kids spend time at “the big house.” Later, Lydia, heads to the hospital to support Josie Balka as she delivers her fourth baby.

Introducing Brooks Hallum Balka

Josie and Kelton Balka shared the name of their fourth baby: Brooks Hallum Balka. They chose Hallum in honor of Kelly’s grandfather, Basil Hallum Callaham Jr, who was born in 1900 and passed away in 1975. 

Brooks weighed 7 lbs 1 oz at birth. Willow Kristy Balka was 6 lbs 10 oz, Hazel Sloane Balka was 6 lbs 3 oz, and Miles Kelton Balka was 7 lbs 10 oz. 

Baby Brooks is currently in the NICU but is improving daily. 

Baby Balka No. 4 is a Boy!

Josie and Kelton Balka just welcomed their fourth baby. They waited until the birth to find out the gender and just announced that it's a boy! This little guy joins two older sisters and one older brother. Willow Balka is almost six-and-a-half, Hazel Balka is almost four-and-a-half, and Miles Balka turns two in February. 

Question and Answer with Kelly Bates

Interviews featuring Kelly Bates are few and far between. After all, life is busy when you have 19 children and 37 grandchildren (No. 37 just arrived this week). Still, Kelly always seems to find time to support the ventures that her family members are involved in. For Zach Bates, that venture is his cooking show, Bates Kitchen. 

Kelly has been a guest on the show a few times since it started in April 2024. She appeared in one of the earliest episodes to share her chicken salad recipe and discuss Callaham family history, and she joined her oldest son earlier this year for a question and answer session. If you enjoyed those segments, you will want to tune in to the latest episode of Bates Kitchen for another interview with Kelly Bates. Some of the questions revolve around food, and others are about life in general. 

Baby Balka’s Arrival

Josie Balka was induced and gave birth to her fourth child. She and Kelton waited until delivery to find out the baby’s gender, and they haven’t yet announced. Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?

Tour the Stewarts' Mansion

Carlin and Evan Stewart purchased their dream home about a month ago. Fans have been asking for a full house tour, so they put one together and uploaded it to YouTube. It is a beautiful place with lots of rooms and features, including a study, a game room, a butler's pantry, a balcony, a huge outdoor pool, an outdoor kitchen, a pool house, and a separate little house that they plan to build out. What do you think?