When Jeni first met her husband Ray, she was certain of one thing — she didn’t want to have kids. “Ray dreamed of having at least four kids. I thought that was wild. Seriously, who has that many kids?” Jeni shared with Mamamia.
Fast forward more than thirty years, and now, Jeni and Ray are the proud parents of 16 children, a far cry from her initial stance on parenting.
A Family Like No Other
The Bonell family is a sight to behold, especially for those who live in Australia. Hailing from Queensland’s Toowoomba, Jeni and Ray Bonell manage a large family of 16 kids. Far from the norm, they’ve managed to adapt to their extraordinary lifestyle while keeping things light-hearted and fun.
Their kids range in age from Jesse, 35, to Katelyn, 10. The list includes nine boys and seven girls: Jesse, 35; Brooke, 34; Claire, 31; Natalie, 30; Karl, 28; Samuel, 26; Cameron, 25; Sabrina, 24; Tim, 22; Brandon, 20; Eve, 19; Nate, 17; Rachel, 16; Eric, 15; Damian, 14; and Katelyn, 10.As comedian Jim Gaffigan once joked, having a fourth child is like “drowning, then someone hands you a baby.” So, what’s it like for the Bonells with 16 kids?
Grocery Bills That Keep Growing
Jeni’s grocery bills are nothing short of astonishing. She spends $600 a week on food to keep the kitchen stocked — and that’s just for the eight kids still living at home. With prices rising, Jeni’s weekly bill has increased by $50. Feeding a family of 18 is no small feat!
The Bonells’ grocery list includes:
17 three-litre bottles of milk
14 boxes of cereal
45 tubs of yogurt
Four dozen eggs
“We go through 50 litres of milk each week, and one to two loaves of bread every day,” Jeni explains.
Capturing the Chaos
With such a large family, even something as simple as taking a family photo becomes a challenge. “Getting a nice family picture is tough,” Jeni says with a chuckle. “You need a super wide lens, and there’s always someone not looking, making a silly face, or with their eyes shut. But we love those little moments in the photos. They might not be perfect, but that’s what makes it fun.”
Life in the Bonell household is a constant whirlwind. From managing three different schools, sports practices, part-time jobs, and homework, Jeni and Ray have become experts at juggling responsibilities. “Life is super busy — but it’s great,” Jeni shares.
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