How this mum feeds 34 kids at Christmas

Loving family ... Jeane Briggs (back row, centre) with some of her children at the beach. Picture: Courtesy of Jeane Briggs Source: Supplied

THINK Christmas is busy at your place? Spare a thought for Jeane and Paul Briggs who have 34 children — and two on the way.

Nine bedrooms, three vans, two swimming pools and an incredible $63,500 a year on groceries is what it takes to raise five biological and 29 adopted children.

But the Briggs wouldn't have it any other way.

"Not a lot of people get to do this, and I get offended if people call us an orphanage. We are a home. I take pride in providing a peaceful environment for my family. This is our calling," Mrs Briggs, 58, told News Corp Australia.

"These kids are my heroes. They endure so many health struggles but stay so positive. I want to wake up every morning like that."

Loving family ... the Briggs have adopted 29 children from around the world, with some pictured here. Picture: Courtesy of Jeane Briggs Source: Supplied

The Briggs have been married for 38 years, but together for 43 after meeting at a Christian camp as teenagers.

The deeply religious pair adopted their first child 29 years ago — and have no plans to stop.

Many of the children — aged between four and 35 and from countries such as Mexico, Russia, Ukraine and Ghana — have severe medical or learning disabilities including polio, cancer and autism. Most struggled to find families in their homelands.

With 24 of their children still living at home, the Briggs have the organisational skills of a drill sergeant and the patience of a saint.

Loving couple ... Paul and Jeane Briggs have been married for 43 years. Picture: Courtesy of Jeane Briggs Source: Supplied

The family home has nine bedrooms, five bathrooms, three food pantries and two sets of washers and dryers.

The two-acre property in rural West Virginia boasts two swimming pools, soccer goals, two trampolines and two jungle gyms.

The family gets around in three vans — two 15-seaters and one seven-seater.

Water babies ... in the summer months, the Briggs children spend their days splashing around in the family's two pools. Picture: Courtesy of Jeane Briggs Source: Supplied

Meal times are epic.

The Briggs spend about $US1000 ($1200) on groceries a week. Mrs Briggs divides her children into three teams (A, B and C) who plan the meals and help her shop.

These are some of the things they buy every week:

— 12-14 loaves of bread, 16 if sandwiches are on the menu

— 37 litres of milk

— 27kg of apples

— 6 or 7 bags of bananas

— 2.8kg of tomato sauce for pasta

— 1.88kg of tuna

— 3kg of fruit for jelly

— 9kg of potatoes

— 2.72kg of peanut butter

The children help to cook and plan meals which are served buffet-style and eaten at three huge tables with paper plates.

"We went to paper when we had 12 kids," Mrs Briggs, a grandmother, said.

Time to eat ... the Briggs sit down for three meals a day at the family home. Picture: Courtesy of Jeane Briggs Source: Supplied

The Briggs say they will always open their home to orphans and are in the process of adopting two baby boys from Ghana

"We don't take government money. We don't have savings, but do a have a trust fund for the kids who need care for their rest of their lives. My husband has a great job with excellent insurance," Mrs Briggs said.

"I always knew I wanted to adopt, but I never thought I would adopt this many children."

Loving home ... the Briggs have adopted 29 children. Picture: Courtesy of Jeane Briggs Source: Supplied

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