Vuolos on Duggar Family Relationships

Have you heard the news about Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo's new book? She and Jeremy recently joined Matt and Abby Howard on their podcast, The Unplanned Podcast. For 90 minutes, they discuss a wide variety of topics, including how they live their lives differently than Jim Bob and Michelle and how they navigate making their own decisions while maintaining a good relationship with the Duggars. 

Jinger explains that she desires to preserve family relationships in order to have a positive influence on family members who are still following the IBLP teachings. The Vuolos also talk about their choice not to make money an issue while they were filming for Counting On. And Jeremy shares how he showed respect for Jim Bob and Michelle during his courtship with Jinger.

How do Jinger and Jeremy, who live in Los Angeles, stay in touch with the ever-growing Duggar clan? Jinger says that she talks to various family, including her mom, on a regular basis. There are a number of Duggar family group chats, including one with the sisters, one about working out, and one with the entire family. 

Those are the highlights of the podcast, but we encourage you to listen for yourself. You'll find The Unplanned Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, as well as on YouTube.

Dillards in PEOPLE Magazine and Statement from Jim Bob and Michelle

Ahead of her upcoming book release, Jill (Duggar) Dillard was interviewed by PEOPLE Magazine alongside husband Derick. With Counting the Cost set to hit the shelves in just six days, PEOPLE has published two articles that include snippets from the interview. 

In the first, Jill shares that her anger surrounding the handling of her information as a victim and the court case that she and her sisters lost propelled her to take action and influenced Derick's career choice. The second article addresses Jill and Derick Dillard's relationship with Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and how reality TV impacted the Dillards' marriage and includes a statement from the Duggar parents.\

Jennifer's 13th Birthday Celebration

As we shared yesterday, Jennifer Duggar just turned 13 years old! She is the 17th Duggar child, which means it won't be long before Jim Bob and Michelle only have teenage children and adult children. We think Jennifer looks like Jana in this new photo, taken at her birthday celebration.

Jennifer Duggar

13th birthday celebration

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

The 3 Oldest Grandchildren

Michael Duggar, Mackynzie Duggar, Marcus Duggar

How long have you been following the Duggar family? Do you remember watching the birth of their first grandchild, Mackynzie, in 18 Kids and Counting "First GrandDuggar" in October 2009? In June 2011, Michael's arrival aired in 19 Kids and Counting "First Grandson." Two years later, Marcus' debut was caught on camera in "GrandDuggar Makes 3."

With that backstory, above is a new photo of Jim Bob and Michelle's three oldest grandchildren, ages 10, 8, and 6. It won't be long before they are learning to drive!

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Jason Turns 20

On the premiere date of the Duggars' first reality TV special, "14 Children and Pregnant Again," Jason Duggar was only four years old. Today, he turns 20. Happy birthday to Jim Bob and Michelle's 12th child!

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

Jana and Jim Bob

We wanted to share this new photo of Jim Bob and Jana, who are on a business trip on the East Coast. As the Duggars' show has progressed, viewers have watched the relationships between Jim Bob and Michelle and their older children transform into friendships as the children have entered adulthood. 

Jim Bob Duggar and Jana Duggar

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Duggar Co-Pilot on the Way

John and Abbie Duggar

A Duggar co-pilot is on the way. You can probably guess that that means--John and Abbie Duggar are expecting!

"I'm really looking forward to having a little one around," says John-David Duggar in the couple's TLC announcement video. "I mean, I'm really just thrilled." You can visit the Duggars' website to watch the video and view the announcement photos.

John and Abbie just wrapped up their time in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the EAA AirVenture air show, an event that the Duggars attend annually.

John and Abbie have not yet announced Abbie's due date, but this little Duggar will be Jim Bob and Michelle's 17th grandchild.

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Jim Bob and Felicity

Felicity Vuolo and Jim Bob Duggar

 

This week has been a difficult one for the Duggar family, as they mourn the loss of Grandma Duggar and make funeral preparations. Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo are visiting from Laredo and were able to have breakfast with Jim Bob and Michelle this morning. 

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Dillards Build a House

Derick Dillard, Israel Dillard, Jill Dillard, Samuel Dillard

Jill and Derick Dillard have just announced some exciting news! They have been living in a rental home but are about to move into a new home that they just built. The house has gone up quickly over the past several months. It's a ranch-style home with a brick front and siding back, located in a subdivision in Lowell, Arkansas, which is only about 20 minutes from Jim Bob and Michelle.

Photo courtesy dillardfamily.com

Felicity and Gideon

Some of the Duggars--including the Forsyths, Jim Bob and Michelle, Jana, and the Seewalds--traveled down to Laredo, Texas, to visit Jinger and Jermey Vuolo. (In case you haven't heard, the Vuolos had their first service at their new church location on Sunday.)

Take a look at this adorable photo of cousins Felicity and Gideon. Do you see the resemblance? The two are five months apart. Gideon turns one in 10 days, while Felicity's birthday is in July.

Felicity Vuolo and Gideon Forsyth

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com/Joy and Austin Forsyth

dUGgarLY Sweater Party Group Photo

On Saturday, we posted a few snapshots from the Duggars' first annual ugly sweater Christmas party (the dUGgarLY Sweater Party). A good number of family members, and even some of the Duggar siblings' in-laws, attended. Jim Bob and Michelle are currently on a mission trip in Central America with Jana and some of the younger children.

Duggar Ugly Sweater Party

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Vuolo, Party of 3

Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo welcomed Felicity Nicole Vuolo on Thursday, and we just can't get over what a beautiful family the three of them make. The new arrival shares her mommy's middle name, and her first name, Felicity, means happiness.

Felicity makes a total of twelve Duggar grandchildren. Nine are boys, and three are girls. How perfect that No. 12 arrived just in time for Jim Bob and Michelle's 34th wedding anniversary!

Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo, Felicity Vuolo, Jeremy Vuolo

Photo is property of jingerandjeremy.com and may not be used without written permission. Visit the Vuolos' website to view the official birth announcement.

Duggar Trivia 12.0

Happy Monday morning. Let's start this week off with a little fun. Below are five Duggar trivia questions for you to try your hand at. You can post your responses as a comment, and we will reveal the answers in the coming days. Ready, set, go!

1. Where did Jim Bob and Michelle go on their honeymoon?

2. Which Duggar children have birthdays in August?

3. How old is Jordyn Duggar?

4. In what year was Jim Bob and Michelle's first child born?

5. Can you name at least two of the early specials that the Duggars appeared in, before the start of 17 Kids and Counting?


If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and BatesFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com/TLC

Duggars and Bates Go Skiing in CO

Jill Duggar and Jessa Duggar skiing in 2011

Do you remember watching 19 Kids and Counting "Duggars Hit the Slopes" back in June 2011? Jim Bob Duggar and Grandma Duggar took the kids skiing for the first time, and the family had a blast. The resort they visited was Granby Ranch in Granby, Colorado.

Seven years later, the Duggars are back on the slopes. Jim Bob and Michelle and many of the kids, along with some of the Bates, are enjoying a vacation at Granby Ranch this week. The film crew is present so perhaps you'll be able to watch their adventure on an upcoming episode of Counting On.

Have you ever been skiing? How about skiing at Granby?






Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Duggar #1 Turns 30

Today is a big milestone for the Duggars. Jim Bob and Michelle’s oldest child is 30 years old! Wishing Josh a happy birthday.

How fitting that Jim Bob and Michelle are celebrating their oldest child's 30th birthday just days after welcoming their 10th grandchild. The Duggar family sure is growing!

 Josh and Anna Dugar

Mackynzie Duggar, Michael Duggar, Marcus Duggar, Meredith Duggar

(before Mason's birth)

Josh and Anna Duggar with Marcus Duggar

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com, Josh and Anna Duggar

Interview with Amy

Most of you are familiar with Amy Duggar King, the Duggars' only cousin on Jim Bob's side of the family. She has appeared on the Duggars' TLC show over the years and has also been featured in spin off specials. Although her lifestyle differs from that of Jim Bob and Michelle's children, she says they were her best friends growing up and that she is still close with them.

Last week, Amy did an interview with a woman named Kate Casey, who hosts an internet radio program called Reality Life. If you are interested in hearing from Amy, you can visit Kate's playlist and click on Episode 85. Amy's portion starts at the seven-minute mark.

Please be advised that the interview contains a couple profanities and is not suitable for children. We have only listened to Amy's segment, so we cannot speak to the content in the rest of the interview.

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Details of Duggars' Trip to Australia

 Duggar kids in Australia

Now that the IBLP Australia Family Conference is over, Jim Bob and Michelle and the kids will be speaking at a similar conference in New Zealand that is going on from now until Monday. We have enjoyed hearing from those of you who have been able to meet the Duggars during their time Down Under.

One of our readers who attended the conference in Australia shared a few details:  

The Duggars who went to the conference were Jim Bob, Michelle, Jana, Josiah, Josiah’s special friend Lauren, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn, Josie, Tyler (nephew), and family-friend Laura.

The Duggar children all worked as leaders to various children’s groups throughout the week, sat on the children’s panel answering questions, and gave family singing performances. Some sang in the youth choir. They gave out a copy of their book to each family and would sign if asked.

Michelle and Jim Bob gave "scream sermons" (exact term used by the reader who attended the conference) and panel sessions, and both ran separate mothers, fathers, and couples prayer sessions in that mornings and had one-on-one time with everyone, giving advice, guidance, and prayer!

They were such a blessing!

*If you have met the Duggars in Australia or New Zealand and wish to share about it, post a comment or email us at duggarfamilyblog@gmail.com.


Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Duggar Christmas Travels

This morning, we shared photos from Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo's Christmas celebration in Philadelphia, and earlier this week, we posted snapshots from the Duggar Christmas extravaganza that took place at Jim Bob and Michelle's house on Christmas Day.

After the holiday, several of the Duggar siblings--including Joseph and Kendra--flew out to Massanutten, Virginia, for a little vacation. Cousin Amy (Duggar) King and Dillon also went along. The boys have been skiing, while the ladies have been tubing and shopping. If you follow our Bates blog, you may remember the Bates' trip ski trip to Massanutten a year ago.

For those wondering where Josh and Anna Duggar and their five children (Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, and Mason) spent Christmas, they went down to Florida to be with Anna's family.

Josh and Anna Duggar

Mackynzie Duggar, Michael Duggar, Marcus Duggar,
Meredith Duggar, Mason Duggar

Photo courtesy Josh and Anna Duggar/duggarfamily.com

Schoolhouse Little Rock

Following Josie Duggar's premature birth (eight year ago, as of yesterday) the Duggar family relocated to Little Rock to be near the hospital. You may remember that the home they leased, called the Cornish House, and the ironic history behind it.

While living in Little Rock, Jim Bob and Michelle and their older children worked hard to maintain a sense of normality for the younger ones. In this video, filmed in spring 2010, 19-year-old Jill Duggar works with four-year-old Johannah Duggar and two-year-old Jennifer Duggar on reading, shapes, and colors. The cameras also show the makeshift school room set up for the older ones.

Photo/video courtesy of TLC

A Birthday and An Anniversary

Two days ago, Jim Bob Duggar celebrated his 52nd birthday, and Michelle Duggar shared 100 things she loves about her husband. These are just a few examples of what she wrote:

You help around the house.
You encourage me to draw closer to Jesus.
You are slow to anger.
You affirm me, and that means the world to me.
You are a thoughtful man.
You care about how I feel.
You show me respect.
You admit when you are wrong.
You have a learning spirit.
You read the Bible with your family.
You have encouraged our kids to be entrepreneurs.
You have bought & changed hundreds of diapers!
You have helped us learn from our mistakes or bad choices.
You still make my heart flutter when you greet me with a hug and kiss at the end of the day!

Tomorrow, Jim Bob and Michelle will celebrate 33 years of marriage! (Fun fact: their wedding anniversary falls exactly one month after Jill and Derick Dillard's.) Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo took to YouTube to share a combined birthday and anniversary message:

Photo/video courtesy duggarfamily.com