Friday, March 29, 2013

Fried Scorpion on Snack Street

While on Snack Street in Beijing, the Duggars encounter fried scorpion, and Jim Bob tries to convince Michelle to try some. Would you eat fried scorpion?

Photos: Duggars' Adventures in China


 The Duggars spent a total of three weeks in Asia

 The Duggars continue their tour of Asia with a trip to Tiananmen Square

 Jana Duggar and Josie Duggar at a Chinese orphanage

 Grandma Duggar distributes backpacks at the orphanage
The Duggars have now visited orphanages in North America, Central America, and Asia

 Joy-Anna Duggar at the orphanage

 Snack Street is a popular tourist attraction in Beijing

 The Duggar boys work a water pump

 Josh Duggar tries his hand at carving a Peking duck

 Sharing a family meal in China

 The little Duggar ladies: Jordyn-Grace Duggar, Josie Duggar, and Mackynzie Duggar

 Jessa Duggar, Jinger Duggar, and Jordyn Duggar at the Great Wall

 The Great Wall of China is longer than the distance of the United States coast-to-coast

 Jinger Duggar enjoys the view 

 Jim Bob Duggar gives Grandma Duggar a helping hand during the climb up the wall

 Josiah Duggar and Josie Duggar take a walk up the Great Wall

 Family photo on the wall

 Josie Duggar

 Tiananmen Square

 Jinger Duggar and Joy-Anna Duggar at the orphanage

 Jim Bob Duggar on Snack Street

Taking a walk

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Michelle: "We are open to the idea of adoption"

Jessa Duggar in Central America
The Duggars have been praying about the possibility of adopting a child (or children) and are eager to see what God has in store.

Jim Bob Duggar in Central America
"The kids are definitely pushing towards wanting us to open our home up to another child or more," Michelle Duggar told People Magazine in a recent interview. "They see how much we have been blessed with and how little so many children have and they want to share. We tell our children that would have to be something that is God's will for our family, and we will see if it is. Our children love children, and we all do."

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Peking Duck

While in China, Josh Duggar carves a duck and serves it to his family. (Video below)

Video no longer available

Great Wall Surprise

While visiting the Great Wall of China, the Duggars look on as their tour guide pops the question to his girlfriend. Video below.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Recap: Duggars in Beijing, China

On tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting "Duggars Do Asia"...

  • Jim Bob organizes his family's suitcases to prepare for the three-and-a-half hour flight from Kyoto, Japan, to Beijing, China.
  • While riding the subway to Tiananmen Square, the Duggars rely on "buddy teams on steroids," as Jim Bob calls it. Frank Sun, a member of the film crew, helps the Duggars navigate China.
  • The Duggar dad tells his little ones how to act when the family is approached by fans.  "We're going to be kind of like a tourist attraction," he says.
  • "Always smile," says Michelle. "Be very gracious."
  • The subways in China are much more crowded than the subways in the United States, but they are a whole lot cheaper. Twenty-four tickets cost the Duggars less than $8.
  • "You just squish in, and they make space," says Michelle.
  • "The person that was going to squash me, I was going to squash them back," says Jackson.
  • On day two, the Duggars take a bus to the Great Wall of China. They spend the night in Gubeikou Village, a rural Chinese village. During dinner on the night of their 4th anniversary, Josh and Anna sneak away to take the pregnancy test that Anna purchased in Japan. It comes back negative, and Anna admits that she is a little bummed, but the couple does not regret their decision to trust God with the size of their family.
  • When they return to Beijing, the Duggars find out that Courtney Enlow, coordinating producer of 19 Kids and Counting, is in labor. Jana, studying to be a doula, and Jill, studying to be a midwife, are eager to help.
  • "Jill literally pushed Courtney through the halls of the hospital," says Scott, Courtney's husband and the crew's director of photography.
  • It's a girl! Scott and Courtney get a quick glimpse of Leah Adee Enlow, 5 pounds 10 ounces, but are not reunited with her until three-and-a-half days later.
  • After the baby is born, the Duggars venture out into Beijing once again. The entire family cringes when soundman Jim Goodwin eats a scorpion.
  • Towards the end of the show, the Duggars bring backpacks, shoes, and love to a Chinese orphanage. "I think love is universal, and happiness is universal," says Anna. "It's really special to be here."
  • "Our hearts just really went out to those kids," says Jinger.
  • Would the Duggars consider adopting? "We have been praying about that, and so our hearts are open," says Michelle. Stay tuned!
  • Before they leave China, the adorable Leah Adee Enlow is released from the hospital and introduced to the family.
  • "After three weeks away, we will all be very happy to be home," says Michelle. Two days after returning to Arkansas, Anna's pregnancy test comes back positive! Grand-Duggar #3 is due on June 7th.

Duggars' Asian Adventure Ends Tonight

Watch the last part of the Duggars' overseas expedition, tonight on TLC. 

19 KIDS AND COUNTING: DUGGARS DO ASIA (Beijing, China)
9PM EST/PST (8PM CST) 

The Duggars are off to Beijing, China. The family of 25 struggles to navigate the city’s subway system and make it to Tiananmen Square, where they become a tourist attraction themselves. A trip to the Great Wall of China and a local village give the Duggars a traditional Chinese experience and a chance for Jim Bob to show off his haggling skills as the family collects souvenirs. And no trip to China is complete without experiencing some traditional foods, including Peking duck and the more exotic, scorpion! At the end of the trip, Jana and Jill put their midwifery training to work when a member of the television crew suddenly goes into labor. And the family has one final stop – a visit to an orphanage, which is sure to be remembered.

Why do you think that the Duggars' trip to the orphanage "is sure to be remembered?"

Monday, March 25, 2013

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Ice Cream in Tokyo

Watch the Duggar girls attempt to order cones for their little sisters and niece from an ice cream shop in Tokyo:

Clarification: The Duggars will be on Anderson Live tomorrow (Monday). We scheduled the post one day early.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Experiencing Kyoto (Photos)

After visiting Tokyo, the Duggars took a bullet train to Kyoto, where they further experienced Japanese culture.

 Johannah Duggar tries out a capsule in a Japanese capsule hotel

 There are 25 pods per floor in this capsule hotel,
 just enough to accommodate every Duggar.

 Josie Duggar enjoys some quiet time in her capsule

Jinger Duggar gets made-up in Kyoto, Japan
 Grandma Duggar and Michelle Duggar get prepared

 Jessa Duggar, Grandma Duggar, Joy-Anna Duggar, Jana Duggar
Michelle Duggar, Jill Duggar, Jinger Duggar, Anna Duggar

 Grandma, Jill, Jinger, Anna, Joy-Anna, Jessa, Jana, Michelle
Jennifer, Johannah, Mackynzie, Josie, Jordyn

 Anna Duggar

 Grandma Duggar

Traditional Japanese makeup came about because 
the white makes a woman’s face radiant in candlelight.
Jim Bob Duggar puts on a traditional Japanese kimono
 Did you know that "kimono" translates to "thing to wear" in English?

 The Duggar learn to fight like samurai 

 Jason Duggar practices a defensive pose

 Jedidiah Duggar and John-David Duggar

 Practicing a samurai stance

 Jackson Duggar

 Jim Bob Duggar shows off his samurai moves

On the set of a Japanese morning show

Michelle Duggar introduces the family
The Duggars say hello to Japan

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar on Japanese TV

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Which Duggar is Which?

In last night's show, the Duggar women dressed up in traditional Japanese kimonos. Can you tell who's who? (Click on the photo to expand.)


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Recap: Duggars in Kyoto, Japan


On tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Do Asia"...
  • Fuji TV invites the Duggars to be guests on its live morning show. Minutes before the start of the show, Jackson announces that he has to use the bathroom. With the help of a member of the Japanese film crew, who gathers Jackson in his arms and runs him to the washroom, Duggar #15 makes it back to the set just in time.
  • The Duggars tour Tokyo with Unbelievable, a Japanese TV show that introduces the family to Japan's oddities.
  • When the family watches the sectioning of a tuna fish, Josie covers her ears and refuses to sample it.
  • The Duggars attend a carnival set up by Unbelievable, where the highlight is a goldfish catching contest. The Duggars compete against and catch eight more fish than Master Lida, the Japanese champion in goldfish catching. "We did have like 25 people versus one, but we still won," says John-David.
  • The Duggars travel from Tokyo to Kyoto on a Japanese bullet train, which reaches speeds of 190 miles per hour.
  • Jim Bob, a man who is not afraid to ask for directions, successfully gets his family from the train station to the hotel but uses the wrong language to thank passersby.  "So once again my dad was trying to use his Spanish," says Jessa. "He'd be like 'gracias, gracias."'
  • Jim Bob encourages all the men out there not to hesitate to ask for directions.   
  • The Duggar women (Grandma, Michelle, Anna, Jana, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, and Joy) dress up like Japanese geishas, complete with kimonos and traditional hairdos and makeup.
  • They bring in the little girls (Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn, Mackynzie, and Josie) to see their costumes. Johannah is confident that she can identify everyone but encourages her little sisters and niece to guess. The four youngest are a little freaked out, but after the tears are dried, the little girls happily try on their own kimonos.
  • At first, Jinger wants no part in dressing up, but her sisters talk her into it. All the Duggar women learn how difficult it is to put on the many layers of a kimono. "You can't put one of those things on by yourself," says Jana.
  • Meanwhile, the guys, including Michael, don kimonos of their own and learn Samurai fighting. They enjoy acting out dramatic fake deaths and performing a Hollywood fight scene. At the end of the skit, one of the Samurais jokingly asks Jim Bob for permission to court his daughters. Jim Bob's reaction is to draw the Samurais sword, catching him off-guard.
  • After an eventful day, the Duggars take a nap in a Japanese capsule hotel. Although the hotel separates men and women by floor, they make an exception for the Duggars. The children are so intrigued by the capsules that they don't end up taking naps.   
  • When asked if they enjoy taking naps, both Jordyn and Josie response with a "no."
  • Jim Bob gets a snooze in, but Michelle and the kids play games. "We heard you, though," says Michelle to Jim Bob, laughing. "We knew you were taking a nap."
  • Anna sneaks off to purchase a pregnancy test but waits until her anniversary to take it. See the results on next week's show!
  • Later in the day, the Duggars, who are pickle fanatics, visit a pickle restaurant. Kyoto is known for its pickles. "Our family has a thing for pickles," says Josh. "And when I say a thing, I mean a thing." Everyone but Jim Bob, the only non-pickle-lover, enjoys tasting the restaurant's 25 pickle dishes. (Six "pickles" in three lines of text, not bad!)

Duggars vs. Samurai: Sneak Peek Video

Tonight on 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Do Asia"...

Tonight: Duggars Visit Kyoto, Japan

Tonight at 9PM EST/8PM CST on TLC, the Duggars continue their trip to Japan in the second of three 19 Kids and Counting "Duggars Do Asia" specials. They wrap up their last day in Tokyo appearing as guests on a Japanese morning show and, later, are challenged to a goldfish catching competition. Then it's off to Kyoto, where the boys learn to be samurais and the girls try on kimonos.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Duggar Fun Facts

Did you Know...
  • Reading is one of the Duggars' favorite travel activities. Each of the younger children has an older reading buddy to learn from. For example, seven-year-old Johannah teams up with five-year-old Jennifer. 
  • The Dr. Oz Show is one of Grandma Duggar's favorite programs. 
  • Jim Bob and Michelle love having their little ones join them in bed at night to cuddle.
  • According to the Duggars:
    • Josiah is the funniest kid
    • Jennifer is the drama queen
    • Johannah is the pickiest eater
    • Jackson is the troublemaker
*Priscilla Waller (Anna's sister) and her husband, David, welcomed their first child early Saturday morning. Paul William weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces at birth, and both he and Priscilla are healthy and happy. Visit the family's website to view photos.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Duggars in Tokyo: More Photos

Enjoy these photos from the Duggars' journey overseas.

  Ready to take on Tokyo!

 The Duggars enjoy a traditional Japanese breakfast

Jim Bob Duggar looks his breakfast in the eye

 A green tea birthday cake for Michelle Duggar

 The birthday girl blows out her candles

 Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar lead the way via rickshaw

The boys see the sights of Tokyo while riding in a Rickshaw
Josiah Duggar, Jackson Duggar, Jason Duggar

 Jinger Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Jill Duggar
Enjoying a Rickshaw ride

 Exploring the streets of Tokyo 

  Jordyn Duggar enjoys a cool treat-some things in Japan aren't all that different

 Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar browse the Tokyo street markets

 Josie Duggar gets a lift from big brother Josiah Duggar

 Touring Tokyo

 The Duggars show that you're never too young to try something new

 Jackson Duggar learns now to make sushi from a pro

 Celebrating success at sushi school
Tokyo Sushi Academy

Sushi making, Duggar-style

*Photo credits: DCL