December festivities...

This month we've decided to put "X's" on our calendar. An "X" means a free night at home to make plans. Plans to go see the Christmas lights at the Nascar Speedway; plans to bake cookies and go out for breakfast; plans to enjoy grandparents; plans to watch Christmas movies; plans to do absolutely nothing! Those "X's" are few and far between this month, but we are making the most of them. So far we have gone to see the Christmas lights, we have baked cookies, we have gone out for breakfast and we have spent time with grandparents. These have all been family activities together. As for me, I've sang in our Christmas concert at church and tonight will be caroling with our choir at the Billy Graham Library here in Charlotte. They say it is absolutely beautiful this time of year...I cannot wait!

Girls Day (began with breakfast)

Then back to bake cookies (the annual "Mom's the boss" photo. Taylor didn't get that memo :)

My sweet girls! (yes, doing the "Mom" face)

The needed ingredients

The Bakers!

The finished products...YUM!
On our way to the Nascar Speedway!
Traveling around the track (about made me sick to my stomach)
Evening ended with a CookOut milkshake!

Merry Christmas. Goodbye 2011!

I'm not kidding...I think if time flew by any quicker... I don't even know where this year went. It sure has been a great one though!

Scott continues to stay busy in ministry...VERY busy! He's in the midst of his doctorate degree and hopes to complete it December, 2012. I do plan to call him "Dr. Vail" at least one time to see how that sounds :) He has worked so hard...yet still keeps me and his kids priority. Love that man!

Heather is one class away from getting her college degree. She has worked so hard on her studies and has done great. She still works part-time at Carolinas Counseling Center (where I am bookkeeper). I honestly can say I do not know what I would do without her there. She is the biggest help ever and does an amazing job! Heather has a bucket-list and is eagerly fulfilling it. I told her she has done way more than I ever have. She is enjoying life to the fullest.

Lindsay just finished up her first semester as a junior at UNCG! In fact, she just walked in the door a couple of hours ago to begin her Christmas break. She took 18 hours this semester, which she promises she will never do again. She still works at Chick-fil-A (4 years) and babysits alot when she's home. She has been interviewing with Target, here in Charlotte, for an internship program next summer for a managerial position (40 hours/week for 10 weeks). She had countless interviews and just found out last week that she was chosen out of 60 people that interviewed for the job!!!!! She's so excited about that. She and Brad have now been dating 2 1/2 years and we're sure we will see a ring in the next 6 months. We love that boy!

Caleb is a senior in high school and was just accepted to UNCG as well. He's waiting to hear from Appalachian State in Boone, NC and then will make his decision (although I believe he's already decided to go to Greensboro). He's just a few inches shy from his Dad now and just about as big (in the muscles department), although he would say bigger :) He still cheers competitively and works at the gym as well about 15 hours/week. He's been dating a sweet, Christian girl, Taylor, for 6 months now. What a sweetheart she is!

Well, that's about it for now. The update of the Vail's! So thankful this Christmas season for a precious husband and best friend of almost 25 years (in May) and 3 children who love the Lord! I couldn't ask for any better Christmas gift than these 4 blessings God has given me!

I pray you have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Back next year....

A Thanksgiving cruise! It was perfect. We had so much fun. We loaded up the car and headed to Tampa, FL last Wed morning. Traveled all day and arrived around dinner time to the hotel. Thursday morning, we boarded our ship and sailed to Cozumel, Mexico. We arrived there Saturday morning. The weather was beautiful...80's and sunny!

Basically, we ate, relaxed, ate, read, ate, took in all the activities (Scott learned how to fold towels into the shapes of animals; we learned all the moves to Michael Jackson's Thriller, I was the guest chosen to play "Minute to Win It",) oh, and we ate!!! Caleb lived on the room service. Every time we were in the cabins, he made sure to order something. He kept the crew very busy...and loved every minute of it (the girls said it was no different for him at home :)

We laughed, played alot of card games and had total relaxation. It was great and we will return next year...making the plans now. We told the kids that next time we would let them take a friend (probably one of those friends will be a fiancee').

Bon Voyage and a Thanksgiving Praise...

In just a few short minutes, we will load the car and travel to Tampa. We will board a cruise ship tomorrow morning with our kids to spend the Thanksgiving weekend. We will enjoy a 4-day cruise traveling to Cozumel, Mexico. We are just slightly excited!

We also welcomed our newest nephew into the world last night @ 11:22pm. Caleb Micah (named after our son!!) weighed 11 pounds, 6 ounces and 22 1/2" long!!!!! My sister, Kristi, is doing great! Can't weight to meet this "little" guy!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I made it up myself....

Do you have only 10 minutes to prepare dinner, yet an afternoon for it to simmer?

With this cold weather coming, I LOVE to make soups! Could eat them everynight.
One day last week, I had all of about 10 minutes to get dinner together. Craving soup, my desire for that day was Chicken Vegetable (love that). Well, 10 minutes doesn't give you time to boil a chicken for several hours. So here's what I did:

1-48 oz 100% natural Swanson Chicken Broth
1-46 oz V8 Tomato juice (use 1/2)
2 cups water
4 lbs frozen mixed vegetables
2 T italian seasoning (at least that's how much it looked like when I sprinkled it in :)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 Rotisserie chicken (already cooked from grocery store deli)

Bring broth and juice to a boil in a very large soup pot. Add vegetables and seasonings. Cut up chicken and add. Let simmer 3 hours. Voila!!!!!

It is absolutely delicious and super healthy. Okay, I'm sure this recipe is out there somewhere and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out..but hey, I did!!!! And I'm making it again...as we speak!

Courageous...

This Friday it's here! I've been waiting a year for this movie to hit the big screen...
Courageous...

Honor Begins at Home
Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.
While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.
When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God ... and to their children?
Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Riveted moviegoers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.
Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That's courageous.

This Friday, I will get to watch this movie with my husband, Heather, Lindsay, Brad, Caleb and Taylor. I know that my 3 kids and myself will walk away from that movie with something in common: being thankful that God has given us a husband and a Dad that loves the Lord with all his heart. A husband and a Dad who makes us his priority. A husband and a Dad that has the most integrity of any man I know. A husband and a Dad who loves us more than his own life; a man who not only definitely gives his best in his ministry but gives us his best also. We are so blessed and I will once again be reminded of that this Friday night!

Deeee-lish!

Okay, people, you have GOT to try this recipe. If you love mexican as much as we do, this will most definitely be a hit for your family! AND it is super easy to fix.
The thing I love about it...besides the awesome taste...it that it makes 2-13x9" recipes; one for now and one you will freeze for later. Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas:

1 rotisserie chicken (or 1 bag frozen chicken breasts, cooked)
2 cans (14-1/2 oz each) Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. dried oregano
1-8 oz pkg cream cheese, cubed
20 medium-size flour tortillas, warmed
4 cups shredded Mexican cheese

Shred chicken and set aside. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, soups, milk and seasonings. Transfer 3-1/2 cups to another bowl; add the chicken and cream cheese.

Spread 1/4 cup soup mixture into each of two greased 13x9" baking dishes. Place 1/3 cup chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in baking dishes. Pour remaining soup mixture over tops; sprinkle with cheese.

Bake one casserole, uncovered, at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Cover and freeze remaining casserole for up to 3 months.

To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Last "First Day of School"...

Well, I knew this day was going to come sooner or later. Guess I was just hoping for "later".
Caleb headed off this morning to begin his Senior year of high school. He wasn't excited for school to begin, but was ecstatic that it's his last (well, until next year when college begins)...
We plan to visit several colleges this fall. He's looking in to NC State, Appalachian State, Univ of S. Carolina, and one other school I hate to even mention (UNC Chapel Hill)...yuck - cannot even imagine having to cheer on a tarheel! Oh well, we'll cross that bridge when it comes!
Lindsay began her junior year of college this past Monday and Heather is coming to the end of getting her associates degree (one class remains after this online semester)!!!
Thanking God today for the blessings He has given to Scott and me! We are a blessed Mom and Dad!!!!!

(Grandparent alert: Lots of pictures.....)

Enjoy our "first days of school"

Heather's first day of Kindergarten

Heather 1st grade; Lindsay - Kindergarten

Heather 2nd grade; Lindsay 1st grade

Heather 3rd grade; Lindsay 2nd
Caleb's first day of K4

Heather 4th grade; Lindsay 3rd; Caleb - Kindergarten
Heather 5th grade; Lindsay 4th; Caleb 1st
Heather 6th grade; Lindsay 5th; Caleb 2nd
Heather 7th grade; Lindsay 6th; Caleb 3rd
Heather 8th grade; Lindsay 7th; Caleb 4th
Heather 9th grade; Lindsay 8th; Caleb 5th
Heather 10th grade; Lindsay 9th; Caleb 6th
Heather 11th grade; Lindsay 10th; Caleb 7th
Heather 12th grade; Lindsay 11th; Caleb 8th
Lindsay 12th grade; Caleb 9th
Caleb 10th grade (smiles were not cool this year :)
Caleb 11th grade

The Countdown begins...

Heather, Brad, and Taylor are heading back to college today. This is Taylor's first year, Brad's third, and in just 4 more classes, Heather will be done! That will be a day to celebrate! She cannot wait to be done. They attend college here in Charlotte.

Lindsay is gearing up this week to head back to UNCG this Saturday. We will load up cars and make the trip to move her into her first apartment. She is "slightly" excited (about the apartment, not school :)
And then, of course, Caleb, heads back to high school next Thursday to begin his senior year!

Last night we had a "back to school" dinner with everyone here (even Brad's dogs). We enjoyed tacos and one of my homemade cookie cakes with icecream, hot fudge, and whipped cream! Okay, I will say that was AMAZING!!!


Scott then led us in a devotional on I Corinthians 13....Love is patient, Love is kind, Love does not envy, Love does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS!
Ok, we all know that verse. But is that truly how we act. More importantly, is that truly how we treat each other...our siblings, our husband/wife. He made it personal and very interactive. He asked us to look at each other and apply it. "Is that how you treat your brother and sister? Is that how you treat your boyfriend/girlfriend? Is that how mom and I treat each other?"
It was great and a very special time. Then we all went around the table and prayed for each other. What a great way to spend an evening.
We ended the evening playing cards and pictionary. Man, I cannot draw!!!! Every animal I draw looks like a dog and I have no idea where 40 of the 50 states are to draw on a map. Oh well, it was still so much fun!!!!!



PS Saturday night, we went bowling and to Krispy Kreme. I was doing some amazing bowling, if I should say so myself. I'll let the scores do the talkin'! :)
PSS Scott learned that a bad back and knee are not good for bowling!!!

End of summer....

Well, for us, it feels like the end of summer. We wrapped up our vacations this afternoon...so sad! All good things must come to an end. Tomorrow everything returns to normal. The kids go back to working everyday until school is back in swing. Hard to believe Lindsay will return to UNCG in just 3 weeks, Caleb will begin his senior year in less than 4 weeks and Heather is 3 classes away from receiving her associates degree from college. Didn't summer just begin? We did our vacations back-to-back this year, and they were great! We went to the beach for 6 days and hated to see that end. We returned for 3 days of work and then this past weekend headed to the lake. We had a blast at both! We played tons of games, soaked up lots of sun (well they did), and ate alot of food. Goodbye summer! I'm sure gonna miss you....

Beach vacation:

Lake vacation: