11 children
Residence: Quebec (Val-Bélair)
Mother: Marie-Pierre Pelletier (36 years)
Father: Jonathan Anctil (48 years old)
Status: blended family
Children: Xavier (21), Olivier (20), Jacob (19), Marika (17), Laura (15), Charlotte and Maurice (twins 13), Blanche (11), Anthony (10 years) George (9 years) and Richard (3 years)
“We forget the project,” with five and six children respectively, is the little phrase that went through Marie-Pierre Pelletier and Jonathan Anctil’s mind when they fell in love during the pandemic two years ago.
Yet today they live in perfect happiness, despite the many obstacles faced by a restored family of 11 children.
Photo Didier Debusschere
Photo Didier Debusschere
The reality of the Anctil-Pelletier family is very different from other extended families as the 11 children live together bi-weekly.
“It’s a week when it’s crazy and a week when it’s calmer,” says the mother.
With young adults and teenagers at home, it takes 18 liters of milk and 10 bags of bread in a single week to keep everyone happy.
Photo Didier Debusschere
“With the increases, groceries are currently costing up to $1,000 a week. A large breakfast brunch can consist of four pints of milk and two dozen eggs,” explains Jonathan Anctil.
Parents agree that they need to exercise some control over the amounts swallowed. They even came up with an unusual formula.
“We have two refrigerators in the kitchen. You don’t touch the left one, it’s for preparing meals and the right one takes everything you want with you,” says the dad, who says that the reserves were empty too often.
Photo Didier Debusschere
focus on sports
When everyone is at home, there is a whirlwind at the Val-Bélair residence while 8 of the 11 children are still in organized sport.
Practices, competitions and tournaments for hockey, karate, volleyball, soccer and cheerleading are increasing, as is the number of trips to be made.
“It’s like a promise I made to myself, not because I have several children, that they won’t do anything,” notes the father, who had to work hard as an entrepreneur to have the funds for his ambitions.
Photo Didier Debusschere
Compared to other parents, he did not hesitate to send his children to private schools for physical education courses.
“It’s an investment that has allowed me to reclaim a lot of time as exercises and homework are done during school hours. It worked for the older ones and we keep the same recipe for the younger ones,” he explains.
Photo Didier Debusschere
Big Christmas party
Marie-Pierre and Jonathan love it when the house is full. During the holidays, they welcome family and friends to big Christmas parties.
“We are used to having a lot of people. If we don’t have children we invite people over, we have dinner for 15 people. Our kids often invite their friends, blondes, buddies,” they report.
When it comes to gifts, both admit to being a bit over the top. Lots of small gifts, identical Christmas pajamas for everyone, advent calendars. If it’s for one, it’s for 11.
how much per week
1
Peanut Butter Jars
25
toilet paper rolls
Money Saving Tips
Buy meat in bulk
Buy direct from the farm
Buy gifts in advance
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