Update on Bates Grandkids!

We just wanted to give you all an update on all the Bates Grandkids!


Bradley Gilvin Bates~ Baby Bradley is 8 months old! He is growing super fast and is happy and healthy! He is the most precious and adorable baby boy!

 

 

 

Allie Jane Webster~ Allie is almost 3 months old! She looks more like her Momma everyday! She is such a happy, cute and loving baby!

 



 

 

 

Charles Stephen Paine IV (Carson)~ Carson is almost 2 months old! He is truly a miracle! Praise the Lord for a sweet and healthy baby!

 

Tori and Carlin Bates

We just wanted to focus on two beautiful and wonderful young ladies...Tori and Carlin Bates today!

Tori Layne Bates

Tori is 19 years old! Tori doesn't like fancy restaurants and hates being alone!

Tori enjoys playing violin! Tori's two favorite songs are: "As the Deer" and "In Christ Alone"

 

 

Carlin Breanne Bates

Carlin is 17! She is an amazing yodeler! Carlin's favorite bible verses are: "Matthew 6:19-21!"

She enjoys Mexican and Japanese!



 

 

Here is a picture of them together!

 

Josie and Katie Bates

We just wanted to focus on these two sweet Bates Girls...Josie and Katie!

Josie Kellyn Bates

Josie is 15 years old! Her favorite Bible verse is: 1 Corinthians 10:31!

Josie is the only Bates with curly hair, and her favorite drink is Root Beer!

 

 

 

Katie Grace Bates

Katie is 14! She was born on October 5th, at 5:55, her 3 names have 5 letters each! "5"

is the number of grace in the Bible! Her favorite activity is deer hunting!

 

 

 

Here is a photo of them together!

 

John and Alyssa Webster Reunited With Bates Family!

John, Alyssa and Baby Allie recently went and visited The Bates Family! Here are a few photos of their visit!

Recap: "Back Together Again!"

"Bringing Up Bates"

Alyssa and John arrive from Florida. Alyssa is only several weeks away from her due date.

The entire Bates family gathers to celebrate "I Love You Day" (aka Valentine's Day), which many of the kids say is their favorite holiday. Brandon Keilen, Michaella's boyfriend, flies in to join the celebration.

"I hope this is the last Valentine's Day before I get married, says Michaella."But if it's not, we'll have another one to celebrate together." (Update: Brandon and Michaella got engaged in April and have set their wedding date for August 15th.)

Gil and Kelly gather everyone in the living room for a family meeting. Four older men dressed in matching suits stop by to surprise Whitney. They hand her a card and a rose from Zach and sing two love songs.

"It was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen," says Whitney. "I was proud of myself," says Zach.

"Gil has always been very thoughtful," says Kelly. "And I think growing up, all of the boys in the family saw it was worth spending your time, your money, your effort on making your marriage fresh and alive."

Gil and Kelly take all four couples (Zach & Whitney, Erin & Chad, Alyssa & John, and Michaella & Brandon) on a date to a Japanese restaurant. The chef cooks the food in front of them and provides entertainment, as well.

To celebrate "I Love You Day," the Bates family draws names for a gift exchange. Gil and Kelly encourage the kids to focus on what they will give, rather than on what they will receive. Each family member spends about $25. 

Later, Gil and Kelly and the younger kids go shopping for gifts. "Whenever we go to any store, my dad starts sweating like crazy," says Lawson. To cut down on costs, Gil goes through the gifts and takes out a few knick knacks that he doesn't think his kids need.

Back at home, everyone helps prepare for the big Valentine's dinner. As usual, there are a lot of opinions flying around. According to Kelly, the only thing the entire family ever agrees on is to have more kids.

Lawson and Nathan work out a plan to hang a piñata in the house. They back a crane up to the door and extend the arm through the doorway. "Y'all make the simplest things so complicated!" says Carlin.

Everyone dresses up in their fanciest clothing and gathers for dinner. Then they distribute gifts, one at a time.

The kids clap and cheer when Gil receives a new pair of jeans from his "special pal." "We have tried for a very long time to get my dad jeans that actually look good," says Tori.

Brandon and Michaella unveil a big surprise for the family: a 3-D Bates family tree with a picture of each family member.

The following day is Alyssa's baby shower, so Kelly makes a midnight grocery store run to buy food.

The whole family attends the shower. Alyssa & John, Gil & Kelly, Papa Bill & Mama Jane (Gil's parents), Jenny & Greg (Gill's sister and brother), and Meema (Kelly's mom) & Nathan compete against each other to see who can correctly match price tags with baby supplies. The teams tie.

"My family did a great job," says Alyssa. "People were so generous and thoughtful," says John.

"I have the greatest life of everybody I know," says Gil.

At the end of the shower, Gil and Brandon plan a meeting with Brandon's parents to discuss his relationship with Michaella.

Alyssa and John arrive from Florida. Alyssa is only several weeks away from her due date.

The entire Bates family gathers to celebrate "I Love You Day" (aka Valentine's Day), which many of the kids say is their favorite holiday. Brandon Keilen, Michaella's boyfriend, flies in to join the celebration.

"I hope this is the last Valentine's Day before I get married, says Michaella."But if it's not, we'll have another one to celebrate together." (Update: Brandon and Michaella got engaged in April and have set their wedding date for August 15th.)

Gil and Kelly gather everyone in the living room for a family meeting. Four older men dressed in matching suits stop by to surprise Whitney. They hand her a card and a rose from Zach and sing two love songs.

"It was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen," says Whitney. "I was proud of myself," says Zach.

"Gil has always been very thoughtful," says Kelly. "And I think growing up, all of the boys in the family saw it was worth spending your time, your money, your effort on making your marriage fresh and alive."

Gil and Kelly take all four couples (Zach & Whitney, Erin & Chad, Alyssa & John, and Michaella & Brandon) on a date to a Japanese restaurant. The chef cooks the food in front of them and provides entertainment, as well.

To celebrate "I Love You Day," the Bates family draws names for a gift exchange. Gil and Kelly encourage the kids to focus on what they will give, rather than on what they will receive. Each family member spends about $25. 

Later, Gil and Kelly and the younger kids go shopping for gifts. "Whenever we go to any store, my dad starts sweating like crazy," says Lawson. To cut down on costs, Gil goes through the gifts and takes out a few knick knacks that he doesn't think his kids need.

Back at home, everyone helps prepare for the big Valentine's dinner. As usual, there are a lot of opinions flying around. According to Kelly, the only thing the entire family ever agrees on is to have more kids.

Lawson and Nathan work out a plan to hang a piñata in the house. They back a crane up to the door and extend the arm through the doorway. "Y'all make the simplest things so complicated!" says Carlin.

Everyone dresses up in their fanciest clothing and gathers for dinner. Then they distribute gifts, one at a time.

The kids clap and cheer when Gil receives a new pair of jeans from his "special pal." "We have tried for a very long time to get my dad jeans that actually look good," says Tori.

Brandon and Michaella unveil a big surprise for the family: a 3-D Bates family tree with a picture of each family member.

The following day is Alyssa's baby shower, so Kelly makes a midnight grocery store run to buy food.

The whole family attends the shower. Alyssa & John, Gil & Kelly, Papa Bill & Mama Jane (Gil's parents), Jenny & Greg (Gill's sister and brother), and Meema (Kelly's mom) & Nathan compete against each other to see who can correctly match price tags with baby supplies. The teams tie.

"My family did a great job," says Alyssa. "People were so generous and thoughtful," says John.

"I have the greatest life of everybody I know," says Gil.

At the end of the shower, Gil and Brandon plan a meeting with Brandon's parents to discuss his relationship with Michaella.