Duggar Family Blog

New Photos of the Duggars

2012-02-11T15:24:00.002-06:00

Check out these pictures of the Duggars' recent endeavors. Click each photo to view a larger version.

Duggar family with Rick, Elizabeth, and John Santorum

Jedidiah and Joy-Anna at Auntie Anne's

Jinger and Joseph

Jim Bob and Michelle with Johannah and Jackson

Raising money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

Jill and James running the lemonade stand

Jana and Jackson

Jedidiah, Joy-Anna, Josiah, Jeremiah and friends

Jason drumming up business for the lemonade stand

Watch Duggars Perform at Wedding

2012-02-11T10:50:00.002-06:00

Looking for a relaxing Saturday afternoon activity? Watch David Waller and Priscilla Keller Waller tie the knot! Their wedding was last weekend, and we have posted the full recording below. The video opens with a musical performance by the Duggar family. Enjoy!

David Waller's Wedding from Robert Staddon on Vimeo.

Update: Duggars' Political Travels

2012-02-10T13:01:00.002-06:00

The Duggars are continuing to show their support for presidential candidate Rick Santorum. As Jim Bob and Michelle flew out to Washington D.C. to speak at CPAC 2012, their 19 children headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to campaign.

Bates Family on TLC

2012-02-09T21:44:00.001-06:00

When season six of 19 Kids and Counting (premieres Feb. 14th) comes to a close, TLC will introduce another super-sized family. Who could that be? None other than Gil and Kelly Bates and their 19 children!

People Magazine has confirmed that the one-hour special will air on March 27th.

The Duggars and Bates are close friends with similar values. While Jim Bob and Michelle have stayed true to the "J," Gil and Kelly have chosen names from A-Z.

Duggar Family lineup: Josh, 23; Jana, 22; John-David, 22; Jill, 20; Jessa, 19; Jinger, 18; Joseph, 17; Josiah, 15; Joy-Anna, 14; Jedidiah, 13; Jeremiah, 13; Jason, 11; James 10; Justin, 9; Jackson, 7; Johannah, 6; Jennifer, 4; Jordyn-Grace, 3; Josie, 2.

Bates Family lineup: Zach, 23; Michaella, 22; Erin, 20; Lawson, 19; Nathan, 18; Alyssa, 17; Tori,16; Trace, 15; Carlin, 13; Josie, 12; Katie, 11; Jackson, 9; Warden, 8; Isaiah, 7; Addallee, 5; Ellie, 4; Callie, 2; Judson, 1; Jeb, 8 days.

Duggar No-Fail Dinner

2012-02-09T09:33:00.003-06:00

Deciding what to cook for dinner is a task that every mommy is faced with. During our July 2011 interview with Michelle and Anna Duggar, we asked Michelle for one easy, no-fail dinner that she makes often. Her response? Chili Frito Pie (recipe below).

"The children love it, and it's good for you," explains Michelle on Nina Frye's Living the Dream Mom radio show. "The beans and the chilli have the protein...the iron and fiber. Everybody likes it, and it's so fast."

"When you're in a hurry and you don't have anything planned, or if you've got a large number of people coming over, it's very inexpensive. We open up a giant can of the chili beans, throw in some ground beef that's already been cooked and seasoned...It's ready in fifteen minutes."

That's another Duggar tip for quick meals on the go. Prepare ground beef ahead of time, and store it in the freezer for easy access.

Click here to view more delicious Duggar recipes.

Chili Frito Pie

12 (15 oz) cans Mexican style chili beans
2 bags Fritos™
4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
2 small containers sour cream
*Ground beef (optional)

Warm beans in large pot. Serve over Fritos™ with cheese and sour cream. Easy family favorite.

Serves 20.

Two Hours of Duggar!

2012-02-08T17:42:00.006-06:00

The Duggars return to TLC in six days! Season six (click here for video preview) kicks off on Valentine's Day (February 14th).

9PM EST/8PM CST: 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Planning the Future"
In the hour-long season premiere, watch as the Duggars landscape, visit a corn maze, and attend speaking engagements. The entire family is grieved when informed that Michelle's pregnancy has ended in a miscarriage.

The following Tuesday (February 21st), tune in for another hour of Duggar:

9PM EST/8PM CST: 19 Kids and Counting, "Josh & Anna Check-in"
Mackynzie has her hair cut for the first time, and Josh and Anna update the world on Michael's milestones.

9:30PM EST/8:30PM CST: 19 Kids and Counting, "40 Kids, Oh My!"
While Jim Bob and the kids enjoy a visit from the Vanderhoffs (a family of 23), Michelle catches up with a childhood friend and shares her heart at a mothers' convention.

Introducing...Jeb Colton Bates!

2012-02-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

On February 1st, Kelly Bates gave birth to a baby boy, weighing a healthy 7 pounds, 8 ounces. After several days of discussion, the family has chosen the name Jeb Colton.

Jeb has spent the first week of his life in the NICU, but doctors expect that he should be headed home to meet all 18 of his eager siblings soon.

"Due to an excessive amount of amniotic fluid and a very quick descent through the birth canal, he ingested a lot of fluid," writes Kelly on the Bates family website.

Gil and Kelly Bates now have 19 children (10 girls and 9 boys). Combined with Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 10 sons and 9 daughters, that is a grand total of 38 kids (and counting)!

Visit the Bates' website to see photos.

Woman Arrested for Blackmailing Duggars

2012-02-06T11:07:00.000-06:00

An Iowa resident by the name of Teresa Hunt has been arrested for blackmailing the Duggar family. The case is being reviewed by the FBI.

In a letter to Discovery Communications, Inc., Teresa demanded that the network cancel TLC's 19 Kids and Counting or pay her $10,000, according to the Quad City Times. If they did not comply, she threatened to release "intimate" photos of a member of the Duggar family.

The Des Moines Register has since confirmed that the cast member of which Teresa claimed to have revealing photos is cousin Amy Duggar. The pictures apparently show Amy with a 56-year-old musician.

In response to the accusation, Amy affirms that the man is simply a family friend who has been supporting her music career.

For more information, visit the Quad City Times and the Des Moines Register.

"19 Kids and Counting" Season 6 Preview

2012-02-04T22:27:00.002-06:00

Season 6 of 19 Kids and Counting premiers in ten days! (Click here for details.) Thanks to one of our loyal readers for sharing this preview:

Duggar Returning February 14!

2012-02-03T09:18:00.000-06:00

Guess what?! It looks like the Duggars are returning on February 14th! The episode subject has not yet been released, but we will keep you posted! The time will be 9PM EST/8PM CST.

Watch Priscilla Keller's Wedding

2012-02-03T06:30:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, watch Priscilla Keller (Anna's sister) tie the knot with David Waller. You might even catch a glimpse of the Duggars! Live streaming starts at 1:30 PM EST on the couple's website, DavidLovesPriscilla.com.

*New episodes of 19 Kids and Counting return to TLC on February 14th at 9PM EST/8PM CST. Click here for details.

Around the House with Michelle Duggar

2012-02-02T22:29:00.001-06:00

Take an extensive tour of the Duggar home with Michelle!

Upcoming Duggar Appearances

2012-02-01T22:03:00.005-06:00

The Duggars have a busy February and March planned! They will start off in Washington D.C., pass through Virginia, head over to Illinois, and travel back to Arkansas.

Friday, February 10, 2012

At 3:25 PM, Michelle Duggar will speak at CPAC 2012 (Conservative Political Action Conference). The conference runs from February 9th-12th and will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington DC. The topic of the speech will be "The 'Right' View."

Click here for a copy of the agenda.

Visit the CPAC website for ticket information.

* Schedule subject to change.

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar will speak at the Love for Life Conference in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Click here to register.

Cost:
$69 for couples and $39 for individuals (if registered by February 9)
$99 for couples and $59 for individuals (when registering at the door)
$10 for full-time students

March 16-17, 2012
Michelle will speak at the Hearts at Home National Conference in Normal, Illinois. The conference will be held at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center (100 North University Street).
Click here to register. (Register by February 15th and save.)

March 23-25, 2012
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar will speak at the Fort Rock Marriage Retreat at Fort Rock Family Camp in Combs, Arkansas.
Cost: $275
Click here to register.

Giveaway Winner: Take Two

2012-02-01T18:37:00.001-06:00

The original winner of our Life at the Pond giveaway did not respond.

The new winner is...

Jennifer Y.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

Let it Snow: Duggar Style (Part 2)

2012-01-31T00:00:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, we posted photos of the Duggars' epic, February 2011 snow day. After an exhausting afternoon of sledding and igloo building, the Duggars head inside for...more snow?

Snow ice cream is a Duggar family tradition. (Almost as popular as tater tot casserole!) With a reputation like that, it has to be good!

Snow Ice Cream

Ingredients: 

1-1/2 to 2 cups sugar, to taste
1 teaspoon imitation vanilla or 1/2 teaspoon real vanilla
1 quart heavy whipping cream or half-and-half
6 quarts clean, fresh snow (fluffy, not packed)

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, vanilla, and whipping cream.
Add snow, 2 cups at a time.
Stir until mixture is ice cream consistency.

*This recipe is found on page 160 of the Duggars' first book, "20 and Counting."

Find more delicious Duggar recipes on our Recipes page!  

Let it Snow: Duggar Style (Part 1)

2012-01-30T00:01:00.009-06:00

(Winters in Northwest Arkansas are moderate, so you can imagine the Duggars' surprise when they woke up to two feet of snow last February. Yes, you read that right. Not two centimeters or two inches, but a whopping two feet of fluffy, white snow.

"We normally only get about, at the most, like two or three inches," Jim Bob Duggar told us during our live interview the following day.

In the spirit of the season, we thought it would be fun to share pictures from their snow day. Come back tomorrow for the Duggars' Snow Ice Cream recipe!

Josiah

Jason

James

Joy-Anna and friend Alaythia Wissmann (building an igloo)

Justin

Jinger

Jill

Jennifer Hartono (foreign exchange student)

Sledding with Jason, Jill, and Joy

James, Justin, and friend Nathanael Wissmann

Enjoying refreshments before heading back outside

How common is snow in your area?

Update from TLC: Duggars Returning?

2012-01-28T13:00:00.001-06:00

We already know that the Duggars will not be returning in January. How about February?

Here's the latest: TLC has informed us that the "19 Kids and Counting" TV schedule has not been finalized. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

Hoping for late February,
Lily and Ellie

"Life at the Pond" Giveaway Winner

2012-01-28T11:07:00.001-06:00

The Life at the Pond giveaway ended last night, and we have a winner!

Congratulations to...

Angie S!

Thanks to all who entered. Look for more Duggar Family Blog giveaways in the near future.

If Angie does not respond to our email within 72 hours, we will choose another winner.

Quiet and Still: Teaching Self-Control

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

To instill self-control in her children--especially her energetic little boys--Michelle uses a process that she calls Quite and Still (similar to Blanket Training, but without the toy). From the time they are young, the mother of many teaches her kids to sit quietly and slowly increases the length of time.

"It's not waiting until they do something wrong to correct them, but actually taking moments to train them," explains Michelle in our July 2011 interview. She recommends starting with increments of five minutes.

Here's how it works:

"I'll sit him in a chair, and I'll say, 'Okay, Mommy's going to sit beside you, and you're going to practice being still and quiet...yes ma'am?'...We may do that two or three times a day for about a week, and usually they catch it."

"What they're learning is self-control. (Click here for the Duggars' list of character qualities)...They're learning to obey Mommy's voice." One of Michelle's favorite mantras is "The first time I say it, you obey it."

"Then it can be transferred to when you're in the grocery store and they're sitting in the cart....They can learn to do that wherever they are because it's trained in their little hearts."

Michelle also stresses the importance of pouring out the praise. She and Jim Bob believe that one of the most vital parenting tips is to "praise your children ten times more than you correct them."

Duggar Name Meanings

2012-01-25T14:13:00.006-06:00

Just because you are one of twenty-one doesn't mean that you aren't unique. Each of the Duggar children has a name with a distinct meaning (who knew there were so many "J" names out there?). Take a look at the list below, and get an idea of what Jim Bob and Michelle were thinking when they welcomed each of their blessings into the world.
*Why so many "J" names? Click here to find out!

Joshua: God is salvation

Jana: God is gracious

John-David: God’s Grace

Jill: Youthful

Jessa: God beholds

Jinger: Pep; liveliness

Joseph: The Lord’s addition (to the family)

Josiah: Jehovah helps

Joy-Anna: Rejoicing; jubilation

Jedidiah: Friend of God; loved by God

Jeremiah: Exalted by God

Jason: Healer

James: Supplant; replace

Justin: Just; fair

Jackson: God’s grace

Johannah: God is gracious

Jennifer: Pure and yielding

Jordyn-Grace: Jordyn: flowing down; Grace: God’s favor

Josie: God will add

Caleb: Whole hearted
Jubilee Shalom: Joyful celebration of peace

Jim-Bob (James): Supplant; replace

Michelle: Who resembles God

Anna: Favored grace

Mackynzie: Fair; favored one

Michael: Who resembles God

What does your name mean?

Video: Michelle on Healthy Marriage

2012-01-24T13:16:00.002-06:00

Another fabulous video interview with Michelle Duggar! This time, hear the mom of many share how she and Jim Bob maintain a healthy marriage.
Visit our "Photos & Videos" page for more.

Duggar Update

2012-01-23T20:19:00.000-06:00

The Duggars are still hard at work on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, Jim Bob took twelve of the children to Iowa to show their support for Santorum. He and Michelle then drove down to South Carolina with John-David, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger and were met by Josh and Anna (along with Mackynzie and Michael). The family is currently campaigning in Florida, where they are enjoying sun and temperatures in the low 80s.

“We’ve been spending a lot of time on the bus,” Jim Bob tells Politico in a recent interview. The Duggars are also in constant communication with their younger children, who are at home with Grandma and Jana. They have also flown back and forth from Springdale, Arkansas, multiple times.

Bates and Duggars Play Bluegrass

2012-01-21T20:40:00.001-06:00

The Bates family met the Duggars in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Listen to the older children perform bluegrass.

Day in the Life of a Duggar

2012-01-20T22:27:00.002-06:00

With so many little ones, the Duggar home is bustling. The family does their best to stick to a schedule, but that does not always happen.

"We have goals, but then we have reality!" explain the Duggars on their website. We are learning to practice flexibility...We try to make each day fun."

Duggar Daily Schedule

7:30: Get up/Dress
8:00: Breakfast (cereal or something simple)
         Bible time (Proverbs)
8:30: Jurisdictions (Chores)
9:00: Music practice and individual studies
Grades 3 and up: Switched On Schoolhouse and Teaching Textbooks (for higher mathematics). Younger children: Sing, Spell, Read & Write, ACE paces, and "Bible Copy" (writing out passages of scripture)
12:00: Lunch (Prepared by one of the older children; everyone helps clean up)
1:30: Children under four: Naptime
         Older kids: Scripture and Character Qualities memorization (with hand motions). Wisdom Booklet group studies (science, history, law, and medicine) with Mom.
3:00: Free time (after music practice and individual studies are completed)
6:00: Dinner (Prepared by one of the older children; everyone helps clean up)
         Free time
         Baths for the little ones
9:00: Bible time (study scripture, recap the day, share prayer requests, make announcements)
The older children often congregate into our room after Bibletime, and sometimes we’ll stay up for hours talking! I know we will one day look back on these nights as some of our most precious times together.

Each child also has an individual daily checklist, allowing Jim Bob and Michelle to award their children for responsibility.

Duggar Trivia Answers

2012-01-20T14:23:00.002-06:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's Duggar trivia questions:

Were Jim Bob and Michelle homeschooled as children? No. Both attended traditional, brick-and-mortar schools.
Name at least one country that the Duggars visited on their World Tour. England, Ireland, Israel, and Scotland.
Where were Mackynzie and Michael born? Both were home births.
How many of the Duggar kids are adults (eighteen or older)? Six (Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger)