Happy New Year!

Wishing you a happy, healthy 2011!

~Lily and Ellie

Jed and Jer are 12!

Happy 12th Birthday, Jedidiah and Jeremiah! 

 

Do you know any twins? How do they celebrate their birthdays?

Jana and John's Mission Trip

Jana and John-David recently returned from a month-long mission trip to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. "It was definitely eye-opening for them,' Michelle told TLC. "I think they came back with a more renewed service heart, looking for ways to reach out."

How did the twins' complementary personalities come out on the trip?

"[John-David] likes to work with his hands, and so, of course, he’s, like, 'We’ll go build them houses and help the ones that we can,'" said Michelle. "And Jana’s like, 'Well, let’s take them in and adopt them.'"

Video no longer available

One-Year Anniversary

Today is the one-year anniversary of the Duggar Family Blog. A big thank you to all of our faithful followers! 

Hope you all had a blessed Christmas!

~Lily and Ellie

Duggars' Christmas Rolls

We tried the Duggars' Homemade Yeast Rolls -- delicious. Definitely serving them for Christmas dinner! We didn't bake them in crescent shapes (we're just not that talented), and we didn't brush the tops with butter (they will be in the freezer until Christmas day), but other than that they are exactly like the Duggars'.
Give them a try!

Duggars' Homemade Yeast Rolls

Makes 16 rolls

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 packages yeast
• 5 cups flour, plus flour for kneading
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups hot water
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Directions:

1. Combine the shortening, sugar, salt, yeast, and 2 cups of the flour in a large bowl and cut with a pastry cutter.
2. Beat 2 eggs in a 2-cup measuring cup, then fill cup to the 2-cup mark with hot water; pour over the dry mixture. Slowly add the remaining 3 cups flour.
3. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for 20 minutes in a warm oven. Then pour the dough onto a floured surface. Knead. Flatten with hands into a large pizza shape.
4. Cut with pizza cutter into 16 triangle-shaped slices. Roll up from the wide end to the point. Place the rolls in two greased 9x13-inch pans, bending into crescent shapes and leaving space for the rolls to double in size.
5. Let rise in a warm (but not hot!) oven at least 20 minutes. Remove from oven.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake the rolls for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how brown you prefer. When done, immediately brush with the melted butter.

*To make this recipe healthier, Michelle Duggar suggests making one of the cups of flour whole wheat.

Have you tried these rolls? If so, what did you think? If not, do you plan on it?

Merry Christmas!

May your Christmas be blessed with the spirit of peace, the gift of hope, and the love of family and friends. 

The Duggars usually have 35-40 guests for Christmas dinner. How many will you be having?

Merry Christmas!

~Lily and Ellie

Jinger Duggar's 17th Birthday!

The Duggars must eat a lot of cake during the month of December because they have FIVE birthdays to celebrate!

Today is Jinger's 17th.  

 

Happy Birthday, Jinger! 

 

Jinger means "pep and liveliness," the perfect name for Jinger Duggar. Have you ever met a Jinger? How about a Ginger? 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Jordyn!

Today is Jordyn-Grace Makiya's 2nd birthday.  

Happy Birthday, Jordyn!  

Duggar Recipe: Homemade Rolls

Can you guess what the Duggars' favorite Christmas recipe is? It's not the mashed potatoes or the turkey. And it's not even the delicious pies they make from scratch every year. 

Any guesses? It's the rolls! And now you can make them for you Christmas dinner, too! 

Homemade Rolls

Combine the following 5 ingredients in large bowl & cut with pastry cutter:

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. sugar
1 t. salt 
2 pkg. yeast
2 c. flour

Beat 2 eggs in 2 c. measuring cup. Fill cup to 2 cup mark with hot water. Pour over dry mixture. 

Slowly add: 3 c. flour

Cover. Let Rise 20 minutes in warm oven. Pour onto floured surface.

Knead. Flatten with hands into large pizza shape. Cut with pizza cutter into16 slices. Roll up from wide end to point. Place in greased pans leaving space for rolls to double in size. (can shape like crescent or lay on side where swirl shows.) Cover. Let rise in warm oven at least 20 min. Remove from oven. Preheat oven to 375F. Bake 20-30 min. depending on how dark you prefer. 

Immediately brush with 1 stick (1/2 c.) melted butter.
 

*Yields 16 Rolls in 2-9”x13” pans

Things to Keep in Mind:

*Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, not sticky. This should take about five to eight minutes, but the longer you knead, the fluffier the buns will be.

*To make this recipe healthier, Michelle Duggar suggests making one of the cups of flour whole wheat.
*Instead of shortening, we used butter. It all depends on your preference.

Go ahead and try this recipe out. We would love to hear your comments! None of the Duggars' Christmas guests leave their house without the recipe...that's how good it is!

Click here to visit our Recipes page.

What is your favorite Christmas dish? 

Link to the Radio Show Recording

Missed the radio show? Click here to listen!

Thanks for Tuning In!

Just got off the air with Nina Frye on her Living the Dream Mom internet radio show. Thanks to our faithful followers who listened, called in, and participated in the online chat! We will post the link to the recording soon.

We also announced the winner of our $35 gift card to CSN stores. It's Taly, a stay-at-home-mom of 6 precious little ones. Congratulations, Taly! You will receive your virtual gift card by email soon.

Look for more giveaways soon!

Radio Show TOMORROW

12 HOURS until radio show!

Tomorrow at 10AM EST (9AM CST), we'll be on Nina Frye's Living the Dream Mom Internet radio show. And this time YOU can call in and chat with us about anything Duggar. Why are you a Duggar fan? How have the Duggars impacted your life? 

To tune in, click here and follow the "Live On Air" link.

The call-in number is 1-877-864-4869. We would love to hear from you!

 

Radio Show Thursday!

Less than three days until we're on the Living the Dream Mom internet radio show with Nina Frye! Tune in this Thursday at 10AM (9:00AM CST).
When you're ready to listen, click here, and select the "Listen on Air" link (top right).

We will be chatting about the Duggars and Season 4 of "19 Kids and Counting," and this time, YOU can call in! Feel free to ask questions and/or share what makes you a Duggar fan. What speaks to you about the Duggars? How has this big family encouraged you? What have you learned from watching their show?

The call in number is 1-877-864-4869
We will be on for 30-40 minutes and would LOVE to hear from you!
If you're radio-shy, post your questions/thoughts as a comment so we can read them on the air.

If YOU Met the Duggars....

If you had 5 minutes with the Duggars, what would you talk about? Would you ask a question? Tell them how they've impacted your life?

Happy First Birthday, Josie Duggar

Happy 1st Birthday, Josie Duggar!

Josie Brooklyn Duggar has come a LONG way since she entered the world last December, weighing only 1 pound 6 ounces. From the hour she was born, this miracle baby has captured the hearts of millions. Let's see how far she has come in just 12 months....
Soon after Josie's emergency C-section, the Duggars relocated to Little Rock, where Jim Bob and Michelle had to balance their days (and nights) between Josie and the rest of their kids. Just before she turned four months, the preemie was sent home, only to be rushed back to the NICU a few days later. In June, the Duggars celebrated Josie's second homecoming, and the entire family was reunited in Springdale just in time for July 4th. When we spoke with Michelle several weeks ago, Josie was THRIVING.

These past 12 months have tested the Duggars' faith like no other situation they have ever walked through, but they never stopped trusting in God.
"We definitely are different people on this side of it than we were when we started," explains Michelle. "We're just thankful to be together again."
Want to see just how far Josie has come? Click here for a picture taken soon after her birth and here for a recent photo of her healthy, adorable smile. 

How has Josie's story impacted you and your family?

Names for Second Grand-Duggar?

Mackynzie's going to be a big sister -- Josh and Anna are expecting their second child in June 2011! (Click here for details.)

What do you think they should name him or her? Should they stick with the M's or go with a different letter? 
Post a comment, and you will be entered into our gift card giveaway! 

MORE Homeschooling Advice from Michelle

Now that we know what the Duggars use to homeschool, let's see how and why they have chosen home education:

What do the Duggars most like about homeschooling?
With 19 kids, homeschooling gives Jim Bob and Michelle great flexibility. They are able to take road trips, attend conferences, and embark on educational field trips. In addition, home education allows their kids to work at their own pace. They can whiz through lessons that they understand or take extra time on the ones that don't come as easily. Some of the Duggars have graduated early and are now taking classes and gaining hands-on experience in the fields that interest them. Jill is considering nursing, Jana is studying under a midwife, Jinger is looking into photography, Jessa loves teaching her younger siblings, and John-David helps Josh at his car lot and ran for Alderman in this month's election (he came VERY close to winning). John, Jana, and Jill recently became First Responders and joined the volunteer fire department.

How does Michelle motivate her kids?
The Duggars are eager to teach their children the value of hard work. When Justin completes a spelling worksheet in record time or Joy-Anna drills James on his math facts, Michelle awards them with a piece of sugarless gum or a small candy. The Duggars are obsessed with pickles -- believe it or not, some prefer a juicy pickle over a handful of mouthwatering Skittles.

How do you motivate your kids?

Homeschooling Advice from Michelle

Homeschooling just one or two kids is no easy task, but can you imagine homeschooling 19? The Duggars have homeschooled each of their kids since Josh was four. Do they have any tips to share? Of course!

What curricula do the Duggars recommend?
Once her kids learn basic phonics skills with programs like "Sing, Spell, Read, and Write," "Typing Tutor," "ACE," and "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons," Michelle sets them to work at the computer with Alpha Omega's "Switched-On Schoolhouse." They especially love this curriculum (for grades three through twelve) because it weaves in Biblical principles and uses a mixture of text, colorful pictures, and fun videos.

What subjects do the Duggar kids learn?
In addition to the core subjects, the Duggar kids study law, medicine, and Spanish and practice character qualities. Many of the children play multiple instruments, such as the piano, violin, harp, guitar, or cello.

Final word of advice?
In an interview with Alpha Omega Publications, Michelle Duggar said that the most important tip she can give is to "have fun and just enjoy the gift of your children and the process of learning together...Not everything is going to go as planned, and you're going to keep learning a better way to do things as time goes on." As a new homeschooler, I change my routine more often than I change my socks because I am constantly discovering more efficient ways to get things done. It's good to hear a homeschool veteran say the same thing.

Come back on Monday for more homeschooling tips from Michelle Duggar!

Do you homeschool? Why or why not?

Everyone Loves a GIVEAWAY!

Everyone loves free stuff! Keep reading to find out how YOU can win a $35 gift card to CSN stores.

CSN is a chain of over 200 websites that sells everything you could possibly imagine: children's backpacks, futons, atomic clocks, waterbeds, cookware, exercise equipment, and so much more!

To Enter:

Comment anywhere on this blog. You may enter once a day -- each comment counts as one entry. Your comment(s) can either be about the Duggars or about what you would buy with your $35 gift card to CSN. All comments must include your first name and last initial or a Blogger username/pen name.

Optional Extra Entries: 

1. 1 extra entry: Become a follower of the blog, and leave a comment letting us know. If you are already a follower, please leave a comment as well.  
2. 1 extra entry: "Like" the Duggar Family Blog Facebook page, and leave a comment on this blog letting us know. If you are already a fan, please leave a comment as well. 
3.  2 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a comment on our blog, including the URL of your post.
4. 1 extra entry: Become a follower of DuggarBlog on Twitter, and leave a comment on our blog letting us know. If you are already a follower, please leave a comment as well. 

*Include your email address in your first comment, or shoot us an email (DuggarFamilyBlog@gmail.com) signed with the name you post your comments under.

The winner will be emailed a $35 virtual gift card valid on any of CSN's websites.

CSN only ships to the US and Canada, and international shipping charges might apply to Canadian addresses.     

Contest ends Wednesday, December 15th at 10PM CST (11 PM EST).  
We will announce the winner on the Living the Dream Mom Internet Radio Show on December 16th.

Ready, Set, Go! 

"Duggars Speak Out" Recap

On last night's episode of 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Speak Out"...

• Michelle flew to meet the family in Louisville, Kentucky for a speaking engagement, leaving Josie in the trusted hands of a family-friend/nurse. Armed with a motion sickness band ("they are worth every penny") the mama of 19 boarded the plane, ordered a tomato juice (her favorite), and enjoyed some peace and quiet....until she the plane landed and she was reunited with her family.
• After arriving at Louisville's Southeast Christian Church, the Duggars were shocked to discover that they would be speaking to 4,700 people, their biggest crowd yet! And we understand that a few of you were there!
• Jim Bob was relieved to have Michelle by his side. "I don't think I could do it without her," he told TLC. Despite having 19 kids and starring in a reality TV show, he admits that he's not into public speaking. Good thing Michelle is! 
• After Mom and Dad's speech, the Duggar family orchestra played a beautiful rendition of "Onward Christian Soldiers," and the younger kids sang a jaw-dropping "I've Been Redeemed." The family then met the throngs of people in the lobby for a book-signing. Everyone, even little Jordyn and the camera crew, gave autographs.
• Being surrounded by thousands of people who would just love to stop and chat with you might be overwhelming for the regular Joe, but not for Michelle Duggar. She says that the most difficult part of book-signing is not being able to sit down and talk with each person she meets. "I like to connect one-on-one with people," says the mom of 19. "I just live for that."
• The Duggars reflect on 2010, a year of faith-testing challenges and exponential personal growth for the entire family. "We definitely are different people on this side of it than we were when we started," explains Michelle. "We're just thankful to be together again."

A brand new season of "19 Kids and Counting" will air in February, but until then, keep visiting our blog for regular posts about the Duggar family! Click here to enter our giveaway!

Do YOU enjoy public speaking? Are you more like Jim Bob or Michelle when it comes to crowds of people?