Encouragement for Moms

The Duggar family, including Josh and Anna, spent last week at the ATI homeschool conference in Big Sandy, Texas. Anna enjoyed catching up with her sister Priscilla Waller, who has one child and is expecting her second. Here's a YouTube video the women made to encourage other moms:

And here's a video of the grand-Duggars playing in the sand...in Big Sandy:

Recap: Duggars Reunited

Tonight on 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Reunited"...

• For eight days of every year, Jordyn, Mackynzie, and Josie are all the same age. How does that work? Jordyn was born on December 18th, 2008, and Mackynzie, the first grand-Duggar, arrived on October 8th, 2009. Josie, who was born at 25 weeks, was delivered via emergency C-section on December 10th, 2009.
• To celebrate the girls' birthdays, Michelle and Anna take Johannah, Jennifer, Jorydn, Mackynzie, and Josie to The Sugar Cube to make candy. 
• Everyone has a blast, but it ends up being a messy birthday. "The energy levels were very high," says Anna.
• "It tasted really yummy," says Josie.
• Can you believe it has been four years since Josie was born? The Duggars still remember the months they spent in the Arkansas Children's Hospital NICU, watching Josie fight for her life and praying she would survive.
• "Today, looking at her, you would never know that she started out so tiny," says Michelle. "She's a miracle."
• Are Jim Bob and Michelle hoping to give Josie a younger sibling? Michelle says they are enjoying this season of life but "would welcome another baby if God saw fit..."
• Before Josh's family returns to Arkansas, he takes them skating...on a plastic ice rink. It doesn't take long for the kids to discover that building up speed is a bit of a challenge.
• Josh and Anna admit that living 1,200 miles (18 hours by car) from the rest of the Duggar clan can be lonely, and saying goodbye is always hard. "Jordyn, please stay forever and ever and ever with us!" Mackynzie tells her aunt.  

Due to technology issues, we were unable to recap the first 15 minutes of the episode. To help those who couldn't tune in, feel free to post your own recaps in the comments forum.

A Duggar Sugar High

On tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting, Michelle and Anna take the five youngest Duggar girls to a candy shop to celebrate Jordyn, Mackynzie, and Josie's birthdays. The show starts at 9PM EST/8PM CST on TLC. Here's a video preview:

Duggars in a Pickle

Watch Jill Duggar and her buddy team make homemade pickles in the following TLC webisode. When the can of peppercorns won't open, Joy-Anna Duggar finds an unconventional solution and becomes the hero of the day.

Duggars in Big Sandy [Photos]

The Duggars are in Big Sandy, Texas, for the annual ATI homeschool conference. Here are some snapshots from the past few days:

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar spend time with

daughter Josie Duggar and grandson Michael Duggar

 Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and Jason Duggar, 

who celebrated his 14th birthday on Monday

Jessa Duggar keeps up with boyfriend Ben Seewald via FaceTime

 Jason Duggar

 Jill Duggar and Jessa Duggar enjoy a snack of pickles, a Duggar family favorite

 Jordyn Duggar and Jennifer Duggar

 Jordyn Duggar and Josie Duggar

 Joy-Anna Duggar and Carlin Bates

 Michael Duggar boards a plane on the way to Big Sandy

 Josh and Anna Duggar and the kiddos head down to Texas

 Trace Bates and Jeremiah Duggar

And here are some random pictures of the Duggar clan:

 Jill Duggar and fiance Derick Dillard reenact their engagement

 Derick Dillard and Jill Duggar

 Jackson Duggar

 James Duggar

 Jana Duggar, Jill Duggar, and Joy-Anna Duggar

 Jedidiah Duggar and Josie Duggar

 Jeremiah Duggar

Duggar wedding planning!

 Jessa Duggar (new hairdo!) and Ben Seewald

 Jill Duggar

 Jinger Duggar and Joy-Anna Duggar

Joseph Duggar

Twins John-David Duggar and Jana Duggar

 Jordyn Duggar and Josie Duggar

 Joseph Duggar

Joy-Anna Duggar and Mackynzie Duggar

Photos from Josiah's Grad Party

Yesterday's new episode of 19 Kids and Counting featured Josiah's high school graduation. Here are some snapshots from the event, which, according to Jim Bob, was the biggest Duggar party ever.

 Jordyn Duggar

 Jinger Duggar and Jana Duggar

 Joy-Anna Duggar

 Jennifer Duggar

 Josiah Duggar's super-sized graduation cake

 Ben Seewald and Jessa Duggar

 Josiah Duggar, age 17

 Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar show a slideshow in honor of Josiah

 The Duggar kids perform music at Josiah's graduation

Jana Duggar and Jinger Duggar entertain the crowd

 A Duggar-sized orchestra

 Joy-Anna and several of the Duggar kids watch the ceremony

from the balcony overlooking the living room

Josiah sent out 300 invitations, and 400 guests showed up

 Jim Bob and Michelle share memories from Josiah's early years

Jana Duggar prepares to serve the guests

Recap: "Graduation & A Surprise"

On tonight's new episode of 19 Kids and Counting, "Graduation & A Surprise"...

• The Duggars are preparing to celebrate Josiah's high school graduation...with 400 guests. "He is such a people person," says Michelle, who admits she is not surprised by the number of friends and family members who are coming to help celebrate. Josiah sent out 300 invitations. According to Jim Bob, it will be the biggest Duggar party ever.
• At age 17, Josiah is the 8th Duggar to graduate from high school.
• What does the rest of the Duggar clan have to say about Josiah?  "He has a really giving spirit," says Jason.
• "I like Josiah because he gives me lots of candy," says James. Jessa agrees. And if you have been a longtime viewer, you know that Josiah is a practical joker.
• In Washington D.C., Anna and the kids head to the grocery store to purchase ingredients for a holiday meal for the entire Duggar family. She is able to feed everyone for under $4 a person.
• When Josh gets home, Anna asks for his help preparing for the family's visit. She hopes to have the basement bedroom cleared out and painted for Josh's parents. Then Anna gets a call from Jim Bob, who says they drove through the night to avoid bad weather and will be arriving in five hours, a day earlier than expected.
• Josh and a friend are hard at work fixing up the basement bedroom, while Anna is scrambling to get the food ready on time. "I can rarely remember my family being early to anything," says Josh, but he admits it usually involves food.
• As the family rings the doorbell, smoke is pouring out of the oven, and the smoke detector is screeching. Watch next week's episode to find out how it all turns out!

Tonight on TLC

On tonight's new episode of 19 Kids and Counting, the Duggars celebrate Josiah's high school graduation with a few friends (only 400...no big deal). Then, the family heads to Washington D.C. to visit Josh and Anna and the grand-Duggars. 19 Kids and Counting "Graduation & A Surprise" starts at 9PM EST/8PM CST and runs 30 minutes (video preview below).

Duggar #12 Turns 14

Wishing Jason Duggar a

Happy 14th Birthday!