"New Editions" & "Bates Plus 12" Recap!

On tonight's episodes of United Bates of America...

New Editions.

• Being a family of 21 people, Gil is always looking for ways to save money and be frugal. The family decides to get chickens, since they would be able to provide the crew with fresh eggs.
• The Bates had chickens once before, but instead of having a coop, the chickens were free-range...which didn't work out so well. Those chickens liked the front porch better than the backyard, which Kelly & the girls didn't appreciate!
• This time around, the Bates are going to keep the chickens in a coop--but first, they have to build the coop! In order to build the coop where Kelly wants it, the family has to clean out a lot of junk.
• In trying to be resourceful, Gil may have gone a little overboard over the years with saving different things--he himself even admits he could probably be on the show Hoarders!
• The day the chicken coop is being built happens to be Carlin's 14th birthday! Carlin wasn't expecting much of a celebration with everyone being so busy, but they surprise her with cake, balloons, and roses!  Even with so many people in the family, the Bates always make a point to make birthdays special.
• In the Bates home, it's praises before presents on birthdays! They go around in a circle, everyone praising Carlin about something-- her parents praise her for being so generous & always giving of herself, while Zach praises her diligence! 
• The next day, during the building of the chicken coop, the family is reminded that Warden & Isaiah have a dentist appointment! Lawson steps up and offers to take them.
• After a few days of hard work from Gil & the older boys, they finally successfully finish building the chicken coop! They call it the "For Knox" of Chicken Coops.
• Finally they get some chickens to put in the big coop! Gil's friend sets him up with several adult chickens and about 20 chicks!
• The chicks are growing and doing well, and the Bates are definitely enjoying the eggs--the adult chickens yield 2-3 eggs a day!

Bates Plus 12.

• The Paine family of 12 is coming to stay with the Bates, making the total number of people in the house 33! The family decorates the house in order to make the Paine's feel special. 
• The Bates decide to take everyone on a train ride (Kelly's favorite thing to do!) and then do something really exciting-- go white water rafting!
• The group drives the 3 hour drive to Georgia, where they go on a train ride--and with 33 people, they take up a whole train car!
• After their nice & peaceful train ride, the Bates and Paines all don life jackets and helmets (which the girls aren't too thrilled about!) and get ready to go water rafting!
• By wearing leggings under their skirts, the Bates are able to stay modest while water rafting.
• You must be 12 years old to water raft, so since Michaella isn't a big fan of the water, she volunteers herself to watch the 10 children who couldn't go.
• While most of the kids were excited and ready to jump in their rafts, Kelly, Erin, and Josie were all a little scared. Nevertheless, they ended up enjoying it--but not without plenty of screaming (the instructor of 25 years says it's the loudest raft he's ever heard)!
• Back at the Bates home, the 2 large families hang out, playing basketball & cards together.
• The kids do have interests in the opposite sex, and when those interests arise, they pray with Gil and Kelly about the person. If they want to get to know someone, they do it in a family setting, as opposed to traditional one-on-one dating.
• It's a sad farewell when the Paines finally have to head back home, but they look forward to the next time they can be together!

What did you think of tonight's episodes? Have you ever been white water rafting, and if not, would you like to?