VIDEO: 19 Duggar Kids Visited By 17 Bates Kids
April 14 2010, Published 9:35 a.m. ET
The Duggar family may seem unique in their size, but on Tuesday night’s episode of 19 Kids and Counting, the Bates family came to visit and they have 17 children, with an 18th on the way!
Gil and Kelly Bates and their 17 children drove from Lake City, Tennessee to visit the Duggars in their temporary home in Little Rock, where they live while their youngest daughter Josie remains in the hospital – and RadarOnline.com has the clip of the two families meeting.
Mom Michelle said that the Bates’ are “the most like our family,” and when they arrived, at 6 AM, they Duggar children were overjoyed to see their friends.
Jill explained that living three hours away from their friends was hard and they “they don’t get to see them a lot,” so they were excited to have the Bates’ visiting.
Erin Bates said “We have a lot of fun together.” The kids were all playing together, the boys of course having a huge battle in the front yard, with home made swords, helmets and wagons and the girls played together and they all climbed trees.
Johannah cutely said “ Jackson likes playing with Chubby,” and a pop up read Chubby = Trace Bates. Jackson stated matter of factly “I didn’t get to play with Chubby much but I got to play with Jackson Bates.”
The older children were shown hanging out and Michelle said “Any time there’s boys and girls getting together you’re going to have boy/girl feelings going on. Whether or not that’s going to pan out to be a future relationship, we don’t know. But it is good wholesome interaction with our family and their family getting to know each other.”
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Both of the families attended church on Sunday at the Friendly Chapel Fellowship and they took up three rows in the church. Jana said “It is different than what we’re used to but all the people are really nice.” Jim Bob had seen a family praying in the hospital and asked them which church they went to and they introduced him to the Friendly Chapel Fellowship.
Gil and Kelly Bates went with Jim Bob and Michelle to visit little Josie who was still in the hospital. Kelly said Michelle had shown her pictures of Josie on her iPhone, but “Pictures just didn’t do it justice. She’s so tiny; she’s so alive and alert.” Michelle cuddled little Josie and Kelly and Gil watched and she told them “We’re so thankful. We have so much to be grateful for.” The four parents prayed for Josie as they visited her in the hospital.
As the Bates’ prepared to leave a pop up read “After 7 days on the road the Bates family produces over 100 pounds of dirty laundry.”
Michelle spoke fondly of their visit. “It’s hard to say goodbye when you enjoy them so much.”
Gil said the Duggars were wonderful hosts to his family. “They roll out the red carpet like you’re the most important people in the world.”
Next week on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting the Duggar’s cousin Amy comes to visit and the older girls, including Josh’s wife Anna try to knit, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be that successful!