One short of a football game and maybe two crayons short of a box

I went to NYC for work a few years back to help raise brand awareness for one of our clients through the use of guerilla marketing tactics. No, we weren't dressed up like apes, but we did walk around with orange t-shirts, hats (mine got "lost in my luggage") and carried clipboards asking people to give us 5 minutes of their time for $5. We were glorified door-to-door vacuum salesmen, but it worked and the client had huge success. Go figure. As part of our plan for unpaid attention and coverage, we all got up at 3 am to go stand outside the The Today Show in that crowd of people that towers over Al Roker. I don't really do early morning risers, and was less than pleased to be there at 5 am, waiting to wave my hand at the crowds of millions tuning in from home to see me wearing an oversized orange t-shirt and sporting a greasy ponytail. Nonetheless, it happened. And, of course, my dad made a few DVD copies for prosperity. Lovely.

But, the upside to all this was the guest stars of our episode...The Duggars! I love the Duggars. I think it's because they make a dish called tater tot casserole (check out some other favorite Duggar recipes). Or that all their children have names that start with J. Or that they're just so insane for having so many kids that they're interesting. The point of all that is to say I love the Duggars in a big kind of way. And with as many of them as there is, that's a lot of love to go around.

They started their brood in 1988 with the birth of their first child. After an attempt to add one additional head to the Duggar clan, Michelle suffered a miscarriage. Believing that her use of the birth control pill led to her pregnancy and ultimate miscarriage, Michelle and Jim Bob asked God for their forgiveness, pledging to love and care for as many children as God intended for them to, leaving their future in His hands. And, 22 years they are the proud parents of 19 children. Now, I think it's a tad crazy, but no matter what I think or you think, they completely support and care for their children without the help of any taxpayer money or support from the government aka our paychecks. We aren't talking Octomom here people. So, if they want to and God-willing, Birth on Duggars!

Recently, the oldest Duggar boy (after having his wedding broadcast to the masses) introduced his first daughter. Wait for it....and it doesn't start with a J! (Probably because mom and dad took all the J names for their own brood.) Two months later and over three and half months early, mom and dad Duggar introduced the latest of their family, Josie Brooklyn. At 1 lb. 6 oz. I think it's a miracle that baby Josie survived, and appears to be doing as well as she is. In a People exclusive, Michelle and Jim Bob revealed their newest bundle of pink joy to the world. Personally, I think the tater tot casserole might be bigger than the new bundle, but I wish the whole family my best wishes as they go into the new year, a year I hope is much easier than 2009 was for them. Baby J's birth will be showcased on the newest, 19 Kids and Counting airing Jan. 31 on none-other-than TLC. Their new show season starts in February. One short of football game and two crayons short of a box, the Duggars continue to amaze and facinate me.

Oh, and check out the photos of their house! It's incredible. And, they serve the dinner family style on a real life Golden Corral buffet-style serving line! It just doesn't get better than that. Unless perhaps they name their next baby Duggar girl, Jan-Elizabeth after yours truly.

Tater Tot Casserole (courtesy of the Duggars)

2lb ground turkey cooked, seasoned, drained

3 2lb bags tater tots 2 cans cream of mushroom

2 cans evaporated milk

2 cans cream of chicken

Brown meat & place in large cass. dish. Cover with tater tots. Mix soup & milk together.Pour over top. Bake at 350 for 1 Hour.(One of Daddy’s Favorites!) Makes 2- 9”X13” pans