Highlights: Josie Duggar Home At Last!

• The Duggars voiced characters for "Life at the Pond," a radio show that encourages good character and morals. The producer was surprised at how quickly the kids mastered their lines. 
• Jim Bob, Joseph, Josiah, and Joy traveled to Little Rock to pick up what they left at the Cornish house. And they brought Michelle and Josie home with them! 
• "I was so happy to be heading home after seven months of being in Little Rock," said Michelle, who felt nothing but joy. Josie was thrilled as well; she couldn't stop smiling as the kids gave her a tour of her new home.

Have you ever heard of "Life at the Pond?" What shows, if any, do you allow your kids to watch?

Josie Duggar Home At Last!

Tune into TLC tonight at 8PM CST for "19 Kids and Counting" Josie Duggar Home at Last. Jim Bob and the kids have already left for Springdale, and Michelle is ready to leave the peace and quiet of Little Rock and return to the hustle and bustle. Watch as her and Josie make their emotional homecoming. The journey has been long, and the road has been rocky, but this is the moment that the Duggars have looked forward to since the beginning. 

Go, Duggar, Go!

It's hard to imagine that there's a vehicle large enough to transport Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 kids. They own several vans and cars, so on short trips, they might take 2 or 3 "smaller" cars. But we all know that this super-sized family loves to travel. (Who doesn't?) So when they hit the road for a long trip, the Duggars pile into a massive, 15-bed tour bus, purchased from the Port Huron Flags hockey team. Once the Duggars saw this bus advertised in a car magazine, they ran full speed ahead to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime offer. Vehicles with 15 beds are few and far between.
You may be wondering how on Earth the Duggars can afford all these vehicles. "Buy used and save the difference" has been Jim Bob and Michelle's motto for years. From clothing to tour buses, it defines their financial choices.
When you go on road trips, what vehicle(s) does your family take?

Happy Birthday Josiah Duggar!

Happy 14th birthday, Josiah!

Do you know anyone who shares Josiah's birthday?

Discussion Question

When they go on a day trip, the Duggars often dress in the same color. Does your family do this?

Highlights from "Duggars Chicken Out"

• Johannah came down with the chickenpox and infected 11 of her siblings, just as Josie was scheduled to come home from the hospital. To keep their preemie well, Jim Bob and Michelle kept her in Little Rock for a few extra weeks.
• After the Duggars' TLC crew anxiously phoned their mothers to assure they had had the chickenpox, they entered the "chickenpox infested nest" and resumed normal filming.
• Jim Bob distributed medicine and took temperatures by the dozen. Even though taking care of sick kids is not his area of expertise, Jinger commends her dad for a job well done. 
• Jim Bob and the kids passed through Little Rock and visited with Michelle and Josie through a glass door. Josie, born at 25 weeks gestation, has a weak immune system and will have to "live in a bubble," as Michelle puts it, for the first 2 years of her life. 
• Josie went in for a checkup."She looks great, she's tracking me visually, she's interacting well," announced her neonatologist. 
• Josie's doctor shared how he has been blessed by the Duggar family: "They've had to go through quiet a bit. They've always had a smile on their face, and they've always been very, very positive. They've uplifted me when I've been down about things." 
• Grandpa Ruark, Michelle's father, passed away due to congestive heart failure. Garrett Floyde Ruark lived a full life and was blessed with 7 children, 31 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. While a NICU nurse watched Josie, all of the Duggars traveled to Ohio for the funeral. 

Duggars Chicken Out

Tune into TLC tonight at 9/8PM CST for "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Chicken Out.
Having one or two kids with the chickenpox is bad enough, but what happens when twelve develop itchy, red sores at once? Jim Bob Duggar sure had his hands full!
Michelle and Josie were scheduled to return home to Springdale, but the break-out forced them to remain in Little Rock for a few extra weeks.

What is the greatest number of people who have been sick at once in your household? Can you beat twelve??

Very Duggar Recipe: Ice Cream Cake!

Ice cream and summer go hand-in-hand, but ice cream cakes are even better. For birthdays and celebrations, the Duggars love their homemade layered ice cream cake, and now you can make it too!

Layered Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients:

• 24 Ice cream sandwiches
• 8 oz. Cool Whip™
• 1 Hershey’s™ chocolate syrup bottle 
• 1 Smuckers™ caramel syrup bottle
• 2 king size Butterfinger™ candy bars chopped up

Layers:

• 1st layer - 12 ice cream sandwiches
• 2nd – half of whipped cream
• 3rd - half of Butterfinger™ bars, Squeeze 1/2 of caramel & chocolate over that. 
• 4th - rest of ice cream sandwiches
• 5th – Cool Whip™
• 6th - rest of Butterfinger™, caramel & chocolate 

You can freeze this and eat as desired! Yummy! Yummy!

*Makes a 9”x 13” Pan

Review/Variation:

This ice cream cake definitely gets 5 Stars. We made an ice cream cake just today but decided to do something a little different. We did 1 layer of ice cream sandwiches, 1 layer of Breyer's Dark Chocolate ice cream (sooooooo good!), 1 layer of crushed graham crackers, another layer of Breyer's Dark Chocolate, and then 1 layer of Breyer's Reese's Peanut Butter Cups ice cream. That was delicious!

Visit our Recipes page for more delicious Duggar recipes!

Feel free to share comments and critiques. How do you make ice cream cakes? 

The Duggars and Sports

The Duggars do play sports, but not in the conventional way. If their kids were on organized sports teams, Jim Bob and Michelle's lives would be a circus, getting this one to soccer practice and that one to their basketball game. With 19 children, it just simply wouldn't work.

"Our kids don't feel like they're missing out because we have so many activities to keep us busy; I don't know how we'd work something else in," says Jim Bob.

Making life run smoothly in a family the size of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals provides a lesson in teamwork every single day. Each Friday and Saturday evening, the Duggars round up their kids and head off to play broom ball at the local rec center, which teaches them team skills, as well.

"I haven't seen our children get frustrated over losing a game," Jim Bob told TLC. "They've got a very good perspective on sports. Don't take it too serious, but just enjoy playing the game."

And athletics are not just for the guys. The Duggar girls enjoy broom ball, in addition to the sports that the family plays frequently out in their yard. Jinger's favorite is ultimate Frisbee, while Jill prefers kickball.

Did you, or do you, play organized sports?

Curious About the Bates Family?

The Duggars aren't the only super-sized family! Remember Gil and Kelly Bates and their of 17 children? These 2 families may live in different states, but they are friends for life. You can learn more about the Bates brood on their new website!

Does your family have a website and/or blog? If so, post the url as a comment.

Duggar Want a Cracker Highlights

This week on "19 Kids and Counting:"

• While Michelle stayed in Little Rock with Josie, Jim Bob and the kids stopped by to see the Bates in Tennessee. The Duggars dropped in on the Bates at a restuarant, and the 2 families shared a meal to the tune of $400. 
• The Bates took the Duggars to Parrot Mountain, where they fed the birds and watched them perform flips and sing songs. Jackson's favorite part was the bird that shouted "Praise the Lord!"
  
• The Duggars and the Bates have been friends for over 15 years. Kelly Bates, who is pregnant with her 18th, is catching up to Michelle.
  
• Jana and John-David fed an elephant, which can eat the amount of food that the Duggars eat in a week, in just one day. "It's just like a huge mouth that you're putting food into...it's kinda gross," says Jana. John-David did ride an elephant, but when the creatures took their passengers for a dip in a muddy river, he and Jana stayed on the shore to watch.

Have you ever ridden an elephant?

Tune in for "19 Kids and Counting"

The Duggars are of on another adventure, and this time they are bringing the Bates along for the ride. 
The destination is Pigeon Forge, and the highlight of the trip is Parrot Mountain. Life is hectic enough when 2 super-sized families get together, without the fanfare of hundreds of squawking birds. 
Don't miss this unique episode of "19 Kids and Counting," Duggar Want a Cracker. Tune into TLC tonight at 9/8 PM Central. 

Have you ever been to a parrot sanctuary? I never have, but with a pet cockatiel that squawks more than she eats, our house is like a bird sanctuary :)

Do the Older Duggar Kids Dislike Helping with their Younger Siblings?

Actually, the older ones enjoy being with their younger siblings. "It's kind of cute now that we've got all these drivers," says mother Michelle. "Often, if they're going to run an errand for us in town, they ask, 'Can I take little so-and-so with me?' They really love their siblings." You'd think they would take any alone time that they can get their hands on, but that's just not the case.
Each of the older Duggars has a "buddy," a little one they watch out for. The older one shows the younger one "the ropes" and helps them with school and chores. Led by example, the little ones slowly learn to do more and more, until they can have a buddy of their own -- the day that they all long for.

Do you use the buddy system in your family? Why or why not? 

Discussion Question

Would you consider giving your children names that start with the same letter? If so, what letter would you choose?

Duggars Go Hollywood Highlights

Just got back from a short vacation, so here are the highlights of this week's "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Go Hollywood:

1. Jim Bob and the kids traveled over 20 hours to Albany, Georgia to be on the set of the movie Courageous. When the film rolls into theaters in 2011, watch for the Duggars in the funeral scene and in the father-son 5k race.
2.  Michelle, who is spending 24/7 with Josie in Little Rock, is loving the 1 on 1 time with her baby but is missing the hustle and bustle of a house full of Duggars. This is the longest time Jim Bob and Michelle have been apart since they met almost 30 years ago.
3. Josie continues to thrive 
4. When the Duggars were filmed in the Courageous funeral scene, they discovered that Joy-Anna is a skilled crier; she can turn her tears on and off. Wow! Can you do that?
5. On their life-changing mission trip to Asia, Jana and John-David went through 5 different airports and 4 different countries in only 48 hours. 

Watch "16 Children and Moving In"

Back when the Duggars had just 15 kids and another on the way, they lived in a tiny house that was NOT made for a family of 18. The goal was to move into their 7,000 square foot home before Johannah was born, but it wasn't going to be easy. Tune into TLC on tomorrow at 7:00 AM CST for "16 Children and Moving In."

Have you ever been in the Duggars' situation? Was your home completed on schedule?

If you don't watch TV, why are you on a TV show?

That's a good question, but I must explain why the Duggars watch very little TV in the first place. It all started 26 years ago.....
A marriage counselor advised Jim Bob and Michelle not to have a television for the first year of marriage, so they could have open communication without any distractions.  But right when that year was up, Jim Bob and Michelle got cable TV. "We quickly realized that we were addicted to TV," Jim Bob told CBS news. "We just stared at that TV and didn't talk to each other." So they dumped it. "That was one of the best decisions we ever made for our family," says the father of 19. ( The marriage counselor also advised them not to have a pet for the first year of marriage. When that time was up, they bought a rabbit. But when they tossed the TV, they kept their cuddly friend.)

So if the Duggars don't believe in watching TV, why are they on a TV show?
It took a lot of thought and prayer for Jim Bob and Michelle to allow TLC to film their brood. "We agreed to it as long as they agreed to not edit out our faith," says Jim Bob. Their purpose for "19 Kids and Counting" remains the same as it was for their very first show, "14 Children and Pregnant Again" : To share with the world that children are a blessing from God.
The Duggars have been convinced that agreeing to be on TV was the right choice; they have received countless emails from viewers whose lives have been changed by watching "19 Kids and Counting."

Don't Miss "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Go Hollywood

Tune into TLC tonight at 9/8PM Central for "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Go Hollywood. The Duggars are on the set of the movie Courageous. And watch Michelle learn to take care of Josie at their temporary home in Little Rock, while the rest of the family is in Springdale.
I will be reviewing the show and posting highlights a little late this week.

Are the older Duggar kids in over their heads?

Of course the older ones are able to do more around the house than the younger ones (that’s just how it works), but they don't despise having to help out. Jill loves children, so she enjoys watching her younger siblings. Jessa likes to teach and is thrilled to have the opportunity to help homeschool the little ones.
The Duggar kids know that everything runs smoother when everyone pitches in. “They all feel like they are a very important part of life,” says Michelle, “and that teaches responsibility.”
With such a large family, it would be impossible for mom and dad to do everything, and the kids are learning important life skills as they help out.

Do your kids enjoy helping out at home? Did you (or do you) mind helping your parents?

Is Anna Duggar Expecting?

Fans have been wondering if Anna Duggar is pregnant again. According to Amy Duggar, the answer is no. Someone on Facebook is pretending to be Anna Duggar and is saying that she and Josh are expecting again. "We've tried to get rid of these Facebook accounts," says Amy. "There is a fake Amy Duggar too!! It's the weirdest thing!"
So as of now, Josh and Anna are not expecting another child, but who knows what the future might bring... 

Duggars Would Welcome 20th Child

We could be watching "20 Kids and Counting" in the near future. Just yesterday, the Duggars told the Today Show that they would welcome baby number 20. Josie is now 11 pounds and 6 ounces, and she is thriving. And the doctors' predictions are very positive. "They say that by the time she's 2 years old, she should catch up with someone developmentally who's 2 years old" said Jim Bob.

So why would they want another child after all they went through with Josie? To them, it's simple.....

"Even knowing that we went through the challenge that we did, we would do it again" Michelle announced.
“The precious life that we see here is not a coincidence,” she continued. “I just know that it is a miracle. I don’t take that for granted. I know that God is the one who gives life, and I’m just so grateful and thankful. We would welcome another if He saw fit, but we’ll wait and see.”

"19 Kids and Counting" Highlights

The first new episodes of "19 Kids and Counting" in over 2 months! What did you think?
Here are some highlights from the shows (Duggar Dilemmas and Digesting Duggars):

• The doctors finally solved Josie Duggars's digestive issues after discovering that she was simply lactose intolerant. They put her on lactose-free formula, and within 24 hours she was a new baby. 
• Johannah climbed a tree and sneakily plucked an egg from a birds nest.
• Jim Bob and the kids headed home to Springdale, Arkansas. Can you guess how much stuff they had to move? The word "lots" doesn't even begin to describe the 1500 shirts, 500 pairs of pants, and 2 tons of furniture that they carted back to Northwest Arkansas. Yes, you read those numbers right!
• Jordyn-Grace is now running! When they moved to Little Rock in December, she was only crawling. 
• Josh and Anna expanded their business -- they now have 2 car lots.
• The Duggars shipped Jana and John-David off on a month-long mission trip to Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia)
• John-David, a volunteer fireman, was sent on a call just 1 hour before he and Jana needed to leave for the airport. Good thing it was a false alarm! 
• Jill turned 19!

It's Been a Long Time!

We can hardly wait for tomorrow evening, and we bet you know why! TLC will be showing not one, but two new episodes of "19 Kids and Counting!" You know where we will be at 9/8PM CST tomorrow -- at our TV with a big bowl of popcorn. Life is so busy that watching TV is a rarity in our house, but we always make time for the Duggars every Tuesday on TLC.

A lot has happened to Jim Bob and Michelle and their brood of 19 kids since we last saw them. The Doctors solved Josie's digestive issues, and mommy and baby were finally able to join the rest of the family at home in Springdale. And then Jana and John-David traveled across the globe for their much anticipated mission trip to Asia.

Tune in at 9/8PM CST for "19 Kids and Counting" Duggar Dilemmas, and then at 9:30/8:30PM CST for "19 Kids and Counting" Digesting Duggars.

And don't forget; starting at 3/2PM CST tomorrow, there will be back-to-back reruns of "19 Kids and Counting," leading up to the new episodes.   

Have you ever been on a mission trip? Where to? 

Jessa Duggar's Graduation

With 19 Kids, the Duggars have a lot of high school graduations to look forward to! Just this past weekend, 17-year-old Jessa celebrated her graduation. Now Jim Bob and Michelle only have 14 (and counting!) more to go.

Congratulations Jessa!

Do you remember your high school graduation (or are you still waiting for it)?