Keilens on I Love You Day and Upcoming Children's Book

Michaela and Brandon Keilen paused their video creating for the month of January, but they are back. Their latest YouTube video is a Q&A. They discuss I Love You Day, the Bates' annual Valentine's Day party. The family will celebrate later this year, due to Kelly Bates' health scare.  The theme is the '50s. The Keilens also mention the children's book that they are working on, and they provide other updates, too.

Sewing 11 Prairie Dresses

"My mom pours her heart into I Love You Day, and I feel like my siblings do, too. My mom starts planning months in advance."

-Michael Kielen

After seeing all the beautiful costumes that the Bates wore for their Little House on the Prairie themed I Love You Day celebration, many of you have wondered who made them. If you guessed that Michael played a big role, you're correct, but the work was far from drudgery for her. 

In their latest YouTube video, Michael and Brandon Keilen discuss their preparation for the Valentine's Day party. Michael, who loves sewing, says it was "like a dream come true" to have an opportunity to design and create 11 dresses. While she made the outfits, Brandon built a wagon to give the kids rides during the party. 

Still, the Keilens insist that matriarch Kelly Bates is the real MVP when it comes to preparing for I Love You Day. "I am truly amazed at how my mom does this over and over and over again because she thinks of every single person," says Michael.

Bates 'I Love You Day' 2024

If you are a long-time fan of the Bates family, you've likely heard about their annual gathering for Valentine's Day, which they call 'I Love You Day.' Every year, Kelly Bates plans a big costume party for the entire family and a separate dinner for all the couples. For the past several years, they have chosen a theme and have awarded prizes for the best costumes. 

This year, the theme was Little House on the Prairie. The festivities took place this weekend, and Carlin and Evan Stewart have already shared footage of both the costume party and couples dinner on YouTube.

2022: Bible characters

2021: Noah's ark/animals 

2020: Roaring '20s

2019: Chivalry/medieval

2018: Growing Old Together

Papa Bill Meets Mama Jane

Papa Bill and Mama Jane

(Gil's parents from South Carolina)

"Well when you knock 'em down, you take 'em home!"
-Papa Bill

In this scene from a previous 'I Love You Day,' the Bates couples hear the tale of how Papa Bill and Mama Jane met. It's quite amusing, actually. Definitely not your average love story.

Be sure to tune in to UPtv tomorrow (Thursday, February 13th) at 9pm ET/8pm CT for the Bringing Up Bates "I Love You Day Special." The Bates family will show you all the best moments from their past Valentine's Day celebrations and will also give you an extended first look at the upcoming season, which premieres Thursday, March 5th.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Kade Smith at 3 Months Old

Photos of Kade are few and far between, and he has not yet appeared on Bringing Up Bates, so we know you will enjoy this new snapshot of him. He is now three months old.

The Bates are all in Rocky Top this weekend for their annual I Love You Day celebration. Last year the theme was "growing old together," and this year they all dressed in medieval costumes.

Kade Smith and Lawson Bates

Photo courtesy of lawsonbates.com

Couples Dinner 2019

The Bates' annual Valentine's Day (aka I Love You Day) celebration has begun! The family is gathered at the homestead in Rocky Top, Tennessee, and everyone is elated to spend the weekend together. Tonight is the couples' dinner.

Remember last year, when Nathan and Lawson "crashed" the couples' dinner? They said they were bringing dates, but those dates ended up being each other. Well they are joking about bringing dates again this year, but they have made it clear that they aren't in relationships. Stay tuned to find out if they try to play another joke.

Whitney Bates, Carlin Bates, Erin Paine,

Tori Smith, Alyssa Webster

Photo courtesy of Alyssa and John Webster

'Eye Love You Day' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Eye Love You Day"

• Kelly is in bed recovering from vision correction surgery, so Carlin is in charge of homeschooling, and she runs a tight ship. She wakes the kids up earlier than usual, and the ones who won’t get out of bed get water sprinkled on their faces. “Half the time I’m not awake until she dumps the water on me,” admits Jackson.
• Gil loves pampering his wife, saying that he finally has her all to himself. Michael comes down from Chicago to cook and help with the children.
• One week after her surgery, Kelly is back in the swing of things. It’s time to start planning for I Love You Day (Bates Valentine’s Day). The theme is Growing Old Together, and the Bates mom is awarding a monetary prize to those with the best costumes. The goal of the theme is to honor Gil’s parent’s (Papa Bill and Mama Jane) and Kelly’s mom and new stepfather (Meema and Tom), as well as to express a hope that Gil and Kelly have for their married children. “That was all in fun, but at the same time, my prayer is [that] they will be able to grow old together,” says Kelly.
• Kelly and some of the kids go to Karm Thrift Store to find outfits for the party. “It was neat to see how everybody kind of envisioned what an older person dresses like,” says Erin.
• While searching for a costume, Kelly ends up finding something that she wants to wear on a regular day. Her kids poke fun at her, but she doesn't mind. “I am older,” says Kelly, laughing. “I’m not going to apologize.”
• “This is our biggest family holiday,” says Erin. The Websters arrive, and the older girls help the little kids make gifts, like bath scrub and body wash, to give to family members (in addition to the big gift exchange). While they work, Erin and Alyssa discuss their pregnancies. Erin says she “feels so successful” to be in her third trimester, while Alyssa says she is “so done.”
• The topic turns to Carlin’s relationship and possible engagement. She and Evan have been talking about timing. “As an older sister, it’s just really sweet to watch your younger sister go through a relationship,” says Erin.
• “Don’t talk about getting married,” cautions Gil. “We done got enough people married.” “Dad, you shouldn’t have had so many girls!” replies Alyssa.
• “I tell you, I can’t give away the boys, but everybody wants to get the girls,” says Gil.
• The night before the big celebration, the Websters and Paines decorate a big table at a local lakeside restaurant before the couples (both married and courting, including the grandparents), arrive. “This is not just any old date at the fast food,” says Kelly. “This is special.”
• “They’re excluding us from a lot of good fun and food,” says Lawson. “So this must change.” He arrives at the dinner in a suit, and Kelly tells him he is only welcome if he has “got a girl.”
• “Well I actually did bring somebody special here that I wanted to introduce you all too,” says Lawson. “You did what?!” exclaims Gil.
• Out comes Nathan, wearing a nightgown, curlers, and a gray wig. The room erupts in laughter. “Those two boys, it’s amazing what they’ll do to come to a good dinner,” says Gil, chuckling. “If he was dating somebody, this mama would know it,” states Kelly.
• During dinner, everyone shares their first impression of their significant other. Kelly was attracted to Gil’s athleticism and his “strut.” “Let’s just say he strutted his feathers, and this bird came running,” says Kelly.
• “I remember thinking, the guy that gets to marry [Michael] is going to be a very blessed guy, and I didn’t think I had a chance, but I’m the blessed guy,” shares Brandon.
• The next day, everyone arrives at the big house for the main celebration. Erin, Chad, Carlin, and Evan go all out. For contrast, the grandparents come dressed like young people.
• The winners of the costume contest are Evan (best adult male costume), Carlin (best adult female costume), Erin and Chad (best dressed couple), and Judson (best child costume).
• After a few games, it’s time for the gift exchange. “Honestly, the best thing about I Love You Day…is watching the other people open the gifts that you got them,” says Tori.
• Jackson’s gift for Katie is a pizza (delivered during the gift exchange), Ramen noodles, and a pair of shoes. Katie is thrilled, although she is only able to eat one piece of pizza before her siblings devour the rest.

Bates' Farm-Themed Games

Did you catch last night's season finale episode? (Click here to read our recap.) The Bates' I Love You Day games sure were a hoot! Watch the highlights in the clip of deleted scenes below.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Season 5 Finale Tonight

Tonight is the night of the Bringing Up Bates season five finale! Rest assured that this is not the end. Season six premieres June 1st, and UP has six specials in store for viewers in the weeks ahead. (See our Showtimes page for more information.) Be sure to come back to the blog after the show for our recap.

Thursday, April 13, 2017
8pm: Working Up An Appetite
8:30pm: The 'Cubs' Land in Chicago
9pm: A New Baby Born and Love All Around (Season Finale)
Love is the air for Bates Family! Gil, Kelly Jo and the kids head to Florida to await the arrival of Alyssa and John's second child, Lexi Mae. Counting down the days to her delivery, Alyssa checks in at the birthing center for a checkup, but will complications with the baby's heartbeat delay her delivery? Before the big I Love You Day celebration, the Bates sisters come together for a spa day and dish about Carlin's new boyfriend. Later, it's a 'Down on the Farm' theme for this year's I Love You Day celebration, where the entire Bates family honors Mama Jane during the festivities.

Meeting Lexi Mae Webster...

Girl time over I Love You Day weekend (Tori drops a bombshell)...

Couple's steak dinner the night before I Love You Day (for couples only, as Nathan quickly finds out)...

Celebrating I Love You Day and Mama Jane's birthday (pig calling contest, anyone?)...

Kelly reacts to a sentimental gift from Michael...

A special present for Mama Jane...

If you enjoy this blog, check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photos courtesy of UP

Heartbeat Complications

This week's episode is the Bringing Up Bates season five finale! But don't worry, UP has several specials scheduled as you wait for the season six premiere.

The Bates have a lot in store for viewers on Thursday's hour-long episode. As Lexi Mae Webster's birth approaches, Alyssa Webster is told that the baby's heartbeat is skipping (seen in the video below). Will these complications impact the delivery? Following Lexi's arrival, the Websters join the entire Bates clan in East Tennessee for a "down on the farm" themed I Love You Day celebration.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

'I Love You' Day 2017

Over the weekend, the entire Bates family gathered in East Tennessee to celebrate I Love You Day (the Bates' version of Valentine's Day). The married couples came in for a visit, as did Gil's two siblings and their families and his parents, who live in South Carolina.

The Bates clan takes I Love You Day very seriously. (Click here to view photos from last year's celebration.) Rather than do a big family gift exchange at Christmastime when the married kids have other obligations, they decided several years ago to draw names and buy gifts for each other in February.

Check out these snapshots from this weekend's festivities:

 Allie Jane Webster

 Zach Bates gives daughter Kaci Lynn Bates her first valentine

 Lawson Bates and niece Kaci Bates

 Josie Bates, Lawson Bates, and Carlin Bates enjoy the warm weekend weather

 John Webster, Lexi Mae Webster, Papa Bil, Mama Jane, 

Alyssa Webster, and Allie Jane Webster

Whitney Bates and Kaci Bates

And these are photos that were taken last week by Lawson Bates: 

Zach and Whitney Bates

 Zach and Whitney Bates

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, lawsonbates.com, Zach and Whitney Bates, John and Alyssa Webster

Carson Reaches 9-Month Milestone

Over the weekend, the Bates clan gathered together in Tennessee for their annual Valentine's Day (aka "I Love You Day") dinner.

The family had another reason, as February 14th was also Carson Paine's nine-month milestone. Take a look at this collage to see how much Carson has grown since his birth in May 2015.

Photos courtesy of Chad and Erin Paine

Bates Family Holiday Traditions

 The Bates family celebrates "I Love You Day" 2015

Kelly Bates recently sat down with International Business Times to discuss her family's Christmas traditions.

During the weekend before Christmas, the entire Bates brood gathered in Tennessee for a holiday meal of roast beef.

While Gil and Kelly always strive to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with as many family members as possible, they recognize that their married children have other obligations. Several years ago, Alyssa suggested that the Bates set aside Valentine's Day, or "I Love You Day," as their family's main holiday.

As featured on season two of Bringing Up Bates (click here to read the recap), the family celebrates February 14th with a fancy meal and a gift exchange.

At Christmastime, the Bates swap gifts with extended relatives. They focus on serving others by singing Christmas carols at local nursing homes and hospitals.

Kelly shares a tidbit of wisdom with fans: “Aim for quality time, and let your family know by both your words and actions that you not only love them immensely, but also that you are incredibly proud of them. Nothing builds stability and bonding like admiration and love. Don’t get so busy or so stressed that we lose what makes us feel so blessed."

Read the full interview on ibtimes.com, and hear more about the Bates' Valentine's Day celebration in the video below, which features Trace Bates, Tori Bates, Lawson Bates, and Katie Bates:




Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, video courtesy of UP

Bates Fam Celebrates Love

For Gil and Kelly Bates and their kids, Valentine's Day (aka I Love You Day) is a family affair. The entire family dressed in their fanciest clothes and gathered to exchange gifts. All the married couples were present (Zach and Whitney and Bradley, Erin and Chad, and Alyssa and John), as well as Michaella and her boyfriend, Brandon.

The Bates family celebrates Valentine's Day

Kelly Jo's Favorites

In honor of Valentine's Day, known as I Love You Day in the Bates household, Tori Bates hosts a special edition of Name That Bates (video below). See how well Gil knows Kelly!