Duggars Hit Best Seller List

Do we have some exciting news! Since it was released earlier this month, "A Love That Multiplies" has sold more than 22 million copies! And get this: it is currently number 30 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Now that is quite a feat.

What do you think of these statistics?

Duggars' Snow Ice Cream Recipe

As requested, here is the Duggars' recipe for Snow Ice Cream, as seen on Tuesday's episode of "19 Kids and Counting," Duggars Snowed In. Enjoy!

For more delicious Duggar recipes, click here!

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:

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

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

Have you tried snow ice cream?

Duggar Book Blitz!

Searching for a cheap copy of "A Love That Multiplies?" Follow this link to buy it on Amazon for $11.99! But hurry, the Duggar Book Blitz ends tomorrow! After you make your purchase, click here to gain access to dozens of discounts and free downloads!

Have you read "A Love That Multiplies" yet? If so, what did you think? If not, do you plan on reading it soon?

"Duggars Snowed In" Recap

On tonight's episode of "19 Kids and Counting," Duggars Snowed In...

• Jim Bob and the boys prepared for a blizzard by hauling plenty of extra firewood for their wood burning stove, which keeps the family's tile floors nice and toasty in winter. 
• Much to the excitement of the kids, the weatherman's predictions were a little off, and instead of just six-inches of snow, the Duggars woke up to two feet of fresh powder--a new record for northwest Arkansas.
• To lessen the boatload of work left up to the town's single snowplow, Jim Bob used his backhoe to clear the road in front of the family's house. "The backhoe's kind of like a big boy's toy," the father of nineteen explained to younger son Justin. 
• Meanwhile, Grandma and the kids whipped up a Duggar family favorite--snow ice cream! You can make this frozen treat at home--the next time it snows, that is. Click here for the recipe. The kids were quick to remind viewers to use only white snow.
• John-David's towing business sure came in handy during the blizzard! He and Jim Bob spent hours pulling cars (and even semis) out of the ditch.
• Dad and the little kids bundled up and ventured out to play in the winter-wonderland, but it was pretty cold! When the sun came out a few days later, Amy and friend Caleb came over, and the entire family (even Michelle!) had a blast sledding down the Duggars' hill on campaign signs leftover from John-David's run for alderman.

What is your favorite winter activity? Do you enjoy sledding?

Tonight: Duggars Snowed In

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! When northwest Arkansas is hit with a boatload of snow, there's plenty of fun to be had at the Duggar home. But in addition to having snowball fights and eating snow cream, the family makes sure to help out their neighbors. Tune in to TLC tonight at 9PM EST/8PM CST for "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Snowed In.

In your opinion, what's the perfect weather? Cold and snowy? Sunny and warm? Cloudy and rainy?

And the Winners Are...

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! Our latest giveaway has come to an end, and the winners are....(Drum roll, please)....

Melissa D. and Marlo S.

Congratulations! You've each won an autographed copy of "A Love That Multiplies!" Check your inbox for an email from us.

Thanks to everyone who entered! Look for more spectacular giveaways in the near future.

Last Chance to Enter Giveaway!

Giveaway ends in ten hours! Last chance to win an autographed copy of the Duggars' new book! For details and to enter the giveaway, click here.


Have you heard the exciting news? On July 7th, we go LIVE with Michelle and Anna! And we want your help! To read more about the radio show and to submit questions for the Duggars, click here!

"Duggars get Dirty" Recap

Our power is back, so we were finally able to watch Tuesday's episode of "19 Kids and Counting," Duggars get Dirty. Here's the recap:

• Jim Bob took the oldest kids, as well as Jennifer Hartono--a family-friend from Indonesia--over to one of his residential rental properties to do some cleaning. (Click here to learn more about the Duggars' many real estate ventures.) They spent five hours going through junk, pulling up carpet, and hauling three dozen bags of trash out of the house. "This may be one of y'all's houses one of these days," Jim Bob announced to the children as they worked. Joy's eyes grew wide as she quietly shook her head.
• Back home, Jill guided the four youngest in some cleaning of their own. "It takes an army to keep everything going around our house," said Jim Bob. "We know that we're all contributing to our family's finances." 
• The following day, the crew headed over to another rental property to do some painting and tiling. Believe it or not, most of the Duggars, especially the girls, enjoy tiling and are pretty darn good at it. "Those Duggar girls can do anything in a skirt!" said Jim Bob. 
• What do Jim Bob and Michelle hope their kids will learn from these work projects? "A lot of elbow grease will go a long way" (Michelle) and "It's amazing what we can all do when we work together" (Jim Bob).
• After spending two days hard at work, the kids were rewarded with a fun-filled day of sledding and celebrating Joseph's sweet 16. Michelle describes her third oldest son as a "man of few words but a hard worker."

4th Radio Show!

Exciting news! In addition to the fact that our power just came back on after a three-day outage (Horay!), we have another reason to celebrate. On Thursday, July 7th, we (Lily and Ellie) will be interviewing Michelle and Anna LIVE on Living the Dream Moms Radio with host Nina Frye!
Do you have any questions for Michelle and Anna? Post them here!

Click here to listen to our February interview with Jim Bob and Michelle.
To listen to our October interview with Michelle, click here.                 
Click here to listen to our December Duggar Hour radio show. 

Happy Birthday, Anna!

Just eight days after the arrival of her second child, Anna Duggar has a special milestone of her own to celebrate. It's her twenty-third birthday! 

 

Happy Birthday, Anna!

If you were Anna, what would you do to celebrate?

Sunday's Episode Now on Amazon

"19 Kids and Counting" First Grandson is now for sale for $1.99 on Amazon! This link will take you right to it. Thanks to one of our loyal readers for the tip!

Have you seen this episode yet?

No Power--Still Posting Duggar Updates

So close! Our power went out just as last night's episode of "19 Kids and Counting" was coming on. When our electricity is restored (hoping that will be sometime soon.) we will immediately watch the show and post a recap. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Can you imagine a power outage in a family the size of the Duggars? Jim Bob and Michelle have been there! In January 2009, they made it through a massive ice storm and nine-day power outage. (Sure hope we don't have to wait that long.) With all the damage that their area suffered, Jim Bob decided to invite Gil and Kelly Bates, owners of a tree-trimming service, and their then seventeen children to camp-out at the Duggar home. You can imagine how hectic things were with over forty people crammed into one house, but the Bates' tree-trimming skills were a blessing to Jim Bob and Michelle, as well as to many others in their area.

Did any of you have bad storms yesterday? What's the longest you have been without power?

Duggars Get Dirty

When the Duggars combine their muscle power, there's no telling what they can accomplish! Tonight on "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Get Dirty, Jim Bob has purchased a few properties that need some work, and his kids are more than happy to help. And after they get cleaned up, it's time to celebrate Joseph's Sweet 16! Tune in to TLC at 9PM EST/8PM CST.

Missed Sunday's hour-long episode? Watch reruns of "19 Kids and Counting" First Grandson tonight at 8PM EST/7PM CST and 11PM EST/10PM CST.

You've Got the Duggars...

The saying "many hands makes light work" is epitomized by the Duggar family. Watch them put their troops to work during a recent trip to New York City's Bowry Mission.

Video no longer available    

What service projects do you and your family enjoy taking part in?

"First Grandson" Recap

On tonight's episode of "19 Kids and Counting," First Grandson...

• Josh and Anna prepared for the arrival of their little one by picking out a crib at Once Upon a Child, cleaning out their second bedroom, and using dolls to teach Mackynzie how to treat a baby. At the ultrasounds, Mackynzie showed her excitement at being a big sister by pointing at all the screen shots and crying, "Baby! Baby! Baby!" 
• For a refresher course on natural childbirth, Josh and Anna attended Bradley classes with their favorite teacher, Ms. Teresa. Josh loves spending the time with his wife but admits that "some of the exercises they do at the birth classes are weird. And no only are they weird, but they have weird names." His advice to first-time parents? "If it looks weird, then you're probably doing it right!" But as odd as the positions look, both Josh and Anna know the benefits. The exercises not only strengthen the mother's muscles, but also help keep the baby in the ideal position for labor and delivery.
• With the due date drawing near, Michelle treated Anna, as well as her own older daughters, to pedicures. The girls loved being pampered at the nail salon, and everyone, even Johannah, came out feeling beautiful.
• Josh and Anna decided to go on the book tour with the rest of the family in early June. Armed with a suitcase of supplies, just in case the baby came on the road, they paid a visit to Anna's family, got soaked at Niagara Falls, and met fans from across the country. 
• Three days after arriving home from the book tour, Anna began having contractions, and she and Josh prepared for a home birth. Fourteen hours into labor, Anna felt the need to push and ended up delivering little Michael James Duggar in the bathroom! He was born at 5:55PM on June 15th, weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. What's the significance of the name Michael James? Anna's father is Michael, and Jim Bob's given name is James.
• Anna shared her heart: "There's nothing I would rather do than spend time with my little ones and...get the house ready for Josh when he gets home....Mackynzie loves little Michael...it's so fun watching them bond and love and enjoy each other...There's nothing more fun than being a mom."

What did you think of the episode? Are you familiar with the Bradley Method for natural childbirth?

*This episode is now for sale on Amazon for $1.99. This link will take you right to it.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Looking for a wholesome show to watch as a family this evening? Tune in to TLC at 8PM EST/7PM CST for "19 Kids and Counting," First Grandson. 

Watch the Duggars wish their father (and Josh) a happy Father's Day here!
Click here for a special message from Josh.  

Sunday Night Special

Tune in to TLC tomorrow (Sunday) evening at 8PM EST/7PM CST for an hour-long special of "19 Kids and Counting," First Grandson! As Anna's due date draws near, watch as she, Josh, and Mackynzie make room for their new addition. And keep your ears open as the proud parents officially announce the name of the second grand-Duggar! For a sneak peak of First Grandson, click here.
Leading up to the new episode, tune in for reruns of A Very Duggar Wedding (5PM EST/4PM CST), First Grand-Duggar (6PM EST/5PM CST), and Grand-Duggar First Birthday (7PM EST/6PM CST).

What other shows do you watch regularly, or is "19 Kids and Counting" the one and only?

Advice for the New Baby

When asked what advice they have for Josh and Anna's new baby, the responses from the Duggars are both comical and insightful. Johannah encourages her nephew to "obey the commandments." Grandma Michelle warns her grandson that he's "in for a ride!" And Josie smiles and blows kisses.

Video no longer available

What advice would you give to a new baby born into your family? What about a baby with eighteen aunts and uncles?

It's Official!

Last night at 5:55PM, Anna gave birth to her second child--a son weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces--during a home birth. 

The birth will be featured this Sunday at 8PM EST/7PM CST on a special TLC episode, "19 Kids and Counting" First Grandson. Although the name "Michael James" has been floating around on Facebook, the new Duggar's name will be officially announced on Sunday's show. Who knows? Josh and Anna might just end up calling him Michael James--we'll just have to wait and see! Until then, feel free to chat on the comments forum or on our Facebook page. What names would you suggest to Josh and Anna?  

Click here to view a sneak peak video filmed during the early hours of Anna's labor.

Josh and Anna seem to enjoy welcoming their children into the world in the comfort of their own home. Has anyone you know ever experienced a home birth?

Welcoming 2nd Grand-Duggar!

The cat is out of the bag--Josh and Anna had their second child! The birth hasn't been officially announced yet, but tune in to the Today Show tomorrow at 7AM for the details!

Extra! Extra!

The Duggars have big news! Tune in to the Today Show tomorrow morning to hear what they have to say!

Will you be tuning in?

Recap: "Kids to the Rescue" and "Duggars Focus on the Family"

Tonight on "19 Kids and Counting" Kids to the Rescue...

• Jim Bob and Michelle, along with Gil and Kelly Bates, headed off to El Salvador. During their trip, the couples met with government officials to advocate for a quicker adoption process for Americans trying to adopt Salvadoran children. 
• To prevent chaos from taking over while Mom and Dad were gone, the older Duggar girls and Anna planned plenty of fun activities for the kids, including go-cart races and homemade ice cream. The latter didn't go so well, but Anna pulled out some store-bought ice cream just before things got ugly.
• While Jim Bob and Michelle were gone, Josie developed a mild fever. One night, the girls woke up to discover that her fever had skyrocketed, causing the preemie to experience seizures. Jill called 911.
• "I was in bed sleeping," explained John-David, a member of the volunteer fire department. "I heard my pager go off, and I thought, 'man, that address sounds so familiar,' and then I remembered, 'oh, that's our address."'
• Paramedics arrived, and John-David and the girls rode with Josie to the hospital. When the preemie was stabilized, Jill called her parents in El Salvador, and Jim Bob and Michelle immediately flew home. When they arrived in Arkansas, Josie was doing very well, and the two were impressed by their kids' maturity in dealing with the situation. 
• Missed the episode? Click here to see a short video of Michelle giving Jim Bob a new do just before departing for El Salvador. "He's my most talkative client...The rest of them just sit there and I do it, but Dad, he likes to give me some instructions," says the mom of 19. Jim Bob was a little shocked at how much Michelle cut off, but when he realized he looked 20 years younger, he was content!

Tonight on "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Focus on Family...   

• Michelle flew out to meet the rest of the family in Colorado Springs, leaving Josie in the hands of a trusted friend. The kids enjoyed Whit's End, an indoor play area modeled after Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey radio show. The best part was the three-story slide!
• The following day, the Duggars encouraged a crowd of 1,800 with Jim Bob and Michelle's testimonies and music from the kids. 
• After the speaking engagement with Focus on the Family, Michelle flew home to Josie, and Jim Bob and the kids, as well as Josh and Anna, headed off to the Royal Gorge canyon. Highlights of their visit included crossing the suspension bridge 956 feet above the Arkansas River, riding the gondola, and braving the Skycoaster.

What did you think of these episodes?

New Episodes Tonight

Tune in to TLC tonight for two, back-to-back episodes of "19 Kids and Counting!"
At 9PM EST/8PM CST, get an up-close view of how the Duggars make it work while Mom and Dad are out of town. But how will the children react when Josie is suddenly rushed to the ER? Watch "19 Kids and Counting" Kids to the Rescue to find out.
Then, at 9:30PM EST/8:30PM CST, gear up for "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Focus on Family. The Duggar clan is off to Focus on the Family's Colorado Springs headquarters to share their testimony with a crowd of 1,800. And of course, what's a trip to Colorado without sightseeing?

Have you ever been to Colorado?

Autographed Book Giveaway!

How would you like to win an autographed copy of the Duggars' new book? You've come to the right place! We are currently giving away two copies of A Love that Multiplies, each signed personally by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar!

Keep reading to find out how to enter this giveaway...
 

TO ENTER

Post a comment answering the following question: How many books have the Duggars written?

For optional extra entries, do one or more of the following. (Each option must be submitted as an individual comment in order to count as an additional entry): 

1. Become a Google Follower of the blog, and leave a comment on the blog letting us know. If you were already a follower, please leave a comment as well.  
2. "Like" the Duggar Family Blog Facebook page, and leave a comment letting us know. If you were already a fan, please leave a comment as well. 
3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a comment letting us know. Must include the URL of your post that advertises our giveaway. 
4. Become a follower of DuggarBlog on Twitter, and leave a comment letting us know. If you are already a follower, please leave a comment as well.  
5. Sign up for email updates, and leave a comment letting us know. If you already receive email updates, please leave a comment as well.    

RULES    

To qualify for the giveaway, you must include your first name and last initial in each comment.

We need a way to contact the winner, so include your email address in each of your comments, or send your email address to DuggarFamilyBlog@gmail.com (along with your first name and last initial). If you are a winner, we will shoot you an email asking for your shipping address.

To qualify, all comments must be posted to this blog. They will not be accepted if they are posted to Facebook or Twitter.

Giveaway ends Monday, June 27th, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM CST.

Ready, Set, GO!

One More Book Signing!

Last week, the Duggars traveled from New York to Arkansas, meeting fans and signing books. On Saturday, June 25th, the family will be signing books at the Fayetteville Sam's Club (3081 North Highway 112, Fayetteville, AR) at 12:00PM!
If you can't make it to this book signing, click here to find out how to order an autographed copy of A Love That Multiplies!

Did you make it to any of the book signings last week? Will you be able to attend this upcoming event in Fayetteville?

Duggar House Guidelines

 If you have seen "19 Kids and Counting," you have probably noticed how kind, gentle, and joyful the Duggar children are. How do Jim Bob and Michelle maintain such a happy home? Besides emphasizing Character Qualities, the couple has implemented a set of household guidelines in order to teach their kids to love God and others by they way they think, speak, and act. For a complete list of the Duggar House Guidelines, click here.

Do you have a set of guidelines in your home?

Book Signing Pictures

Check out these pictures from Patriot News, of the Wednesday book signing at Camp Hill.

For a complete schedule of this week's book tour click here.

St. John's Banana Bread

Looking for a tasty treat that's easy to make and a healthy alternative? Look no further than the Duggars' homemade banana bread! Known as St. John's Banana Bread in the Duggar home, this delicious dessert is sure to get rave reviews from any audience. 


Click here to view more delicious Duggar recipes. 

St. John's Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. butter  
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 eggs  
• 2 c. sifted flour  
• 1 t. salt  
• 1 t. baking soda 
• 3 large bananas  
• 1 c. chopped nuts  
• 1 t. melted butter 
• Cinnamon-sugar mixture

Directions: 

1. Cream butter and sugar. 
2. Beat in eggs, one at a time. 
3. Mix in sifted dry ingredients. 
4. Beat in mashed bananas. Add nuts. 
5. Pour into a greased and floured 9”x5”x3”-pan. 
6. Bake at 350F for 50-60 min. 
7. While bread is still warm brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Deliciously Tasteful! 

*Makes 1 Loaf

Suggestions/Variations:

*If you're a nut lover, add the nuts. If not, we recommend leaving them out.


To make the recipe even healthier, we suggest trying one or more of the following alterations:

*Use 1-1/3 cups white flour and 2/3 cup whole wheat flour.

*Cut down 1/4 cup of sugar.

*Instead of 1/2 cup butter, use 1/4 cup butter and 2 Tablespoon of yogurt.

We though this banana bread was delicious! Let us know what you think!

"Duggars Hit the Slopes" Recap

On tonight's episode of "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars Hit the Slopes...

• Jim Bob and the kids, along with Grandma Duggar, Josh, Anna, and Mackynzie, headed off to Colorado for a nine-day trip. They packed a whopping 200 shirts, 100 pairs of pants, 300 socks, and 56 pairs of shoes.
• Once in the mountains, the gang made a quick stop at a local thrift store, where they saved over $4,000 on ski clothes for the entire family.
• For three days, Jim Bob and the kids, none of whom had ever tried on a pair of skis, took lessons at Granby Ranch's SolVista Basin. "Other than seeing people ski on movies, we know nothing about skiing," Jill explained, just before they headed out for their first day on the slopes. 
• Coming from a family of avid skiers, we were surprised at how quickly the Duggars picked up the sport. Skiing isn't easy, but they all did phenomenally well.
• While the rest of the family skied, Anna, who is pregnant with her second child, and Grandma Duggar, who tried skiing but was injured during the first day, entertained Jennifer, Mackynzie, and Jordyn. 
• Michelle stayed home with Josie to protect the preemie from large crowds and high altitudes. Although the mother of nineteen is athletic and enjoys a challenge, she was quite happy to sit this activity out. "If I had gone skiing, I would probably be hurting and paying for it afterward," said Michelle. "The older we are, the harder it is to learn new things." 
• During their trip, the family received a cooking lesson from a native Swiss chef. The menu? Authentic Italian pizza. Mamma Mia!
• For the grand finale of their incredible ski adventure, the Duggars spent two hours zipping down the tubing hills, some reaching speeds of 20 mph!

What did you think of the episode? If you have never skied, did watching the Duggars make you want to learn?  

Duggars Return in Less Than 8 Hours!

How does a family of twenty-one learn to ski? Find out on tonight's hour-long season premiere of "19 Kids and Counting!"







The Duggars are off to Granby Ranch's SolVista Basin to hit the slopes for the first time--tune in to TLC at 9PM EST/8PM CST to watch them in action.
For a sneak peak of tonight's episode, click here.

How excited are you for the new season? What have you missed most about "19 Kids and Counting?"
  

Duggars on the Today Show!

Eager to find out what's going on in the Duggar home these days? Watch Jim Bob and Michelle and the kids on the Today Show to find out! Grab your morning coffee, and tune in to NBC tomorrow morning at 7:00.

Will you be watching?

In Stores Now!

The Duggars' second book has hit the stores! The original release date for A Love That Multiplies was June 7th, but the publisher decided to put it out early. Interested in purchasing a copy? Call your local bookstore, or log onto Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Christian Book. Amazon and Barnes and Noble currently have it on sale for 30% off, and Christian book has it for 40% off.
If you are attending one of the upcoming book signings, you might be asked to show a receipt to prove that you purchased your book from that store.

How eager are you to read the Duggars' new book?

This Just in: Duggars at Niagara Falls!

Earlier today, the entire Duggar clan, along with the Bontrager family, toured the majestic Niagara Falls. The day's festivities included a wet but thrilling ride on the Maid of the Mist and an even wetter, but just as fascinating, tour of the Cave of the Winds.

The Duggars enjoy field trips, but there was something extra special about this excursion: Josie joined in on the fun! This memorable day at the falls was Josie's first time traveling with the family.

Have you been to Niagara Falls?