The Mansfields: December 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

It's A Wonderful Life

Christmas eve is my favorite day of the year. Something about the excitement for whats to come and the thankfulness for the past year makes it a recipe for the perfect day.

One of my most favorite Christmas eve traditions is watching my favorite movie...It's A Wonderful Life. We watch it every Christmas eve (just finished watching it) and I go to bed appreciating my wonderful life.

So in honor of my favorite day of the year we are taking a walk down memory lane and a glimpse into Christmas past. Since I am so excited to spend my very first Christmas with Brett tomorrow, here are some snapshots of our Christmas past.

Brett's First Christmas

My First Christmas

Brett and his mommy on Christmas morning

Ken reading to Brett and Meredith

Classic family Christmas portraits!

Playing with new toys...

In Gran's mink coat!

Looking really sweet on Christmas morning!

Hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane! Now I am off to bed! Christmas tomorrow! Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!

Gift Idea - Classic English Toffee

This classic English Toffee recipe is the perfect idea for an easy Christmas gift! The recipe is simple and the result is delicious!

English Toffee

-Recipe from Donna Ralph-

Ingredients:

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

1tsp. salt

¼ cup water

½ cup chopped pecans

¼ cup finely chopped pecans

¾ cup chocolate chips

Step 1: Add 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1tsp. salt, and 1/4 cup water to bowl

*Make sure this is a microwave safe bowl*

Step 2: Put ingredients in microwave for 8 minutes

Step 3: In the meantime butter your baking dish!

Tip: I would recommend a 6x9 baking dish, mixture should be spread relatively thin!

Step 4: Chop pecan in food processor

*They should be about the size of the pecans below*

Step 5: Fill bottom of baking dish with chopped pecans

*Take mixture out of microwave...this is the way it should look when it comes out*

Step 6: Spread toffee mixture over the pecans in the bottom of the baking dish

Step 7: Let toffee cool for about 2 minutes and measure out 3/4 cup chocolate chips

*Spread chocolate chips over toffee mixture and spread once they are beginning to melt*

*This is the way the toffee should look once the chocolate is fully melter*

Step 8: Sprinkle 1/4 cup of finely chopped pecans over toffee

*This is how the toffee should look before broken into pieces*

Step 9: Put toffee in fridge to cool for a minimum of 2 hours or leave overnight

Step 10: Using knife loosen up the toffee in baking dish then break into pieces

Find a nice holiday tin and fill with the toffee!!

ENJOY! (Happy Christmas Eve!)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Our First Christmas--Part One

So this is it! Brett and I are finally spending Christmas at each others houses! Believe it or not this year will be our first to spend Christmas with each others families!

We started out our first round of Christmas celebrations with each others extended families! This past weekend I we went to Lawrenceburg to celebrate with Brett's dad's side of the family!

Tonya's spread of appetizers as always!!

The Mansfield women!! Tonya and Kathy!

Tonya's Christmas tree

Brett posing for the camera!

Excited to start dirty santa!!

MeeMee Brett's grandmother!

Brett's stocking!

Hunter's stocking!

Heath's stocking!

Getting ready to play dirty santa!

MeeMee sitting in her new Christmas gift!

Brett and Ginger!!

Hunter and Kylie!!

Tonya...drew #1 in dirty santa...twice!!

Greg and Heath having too much fun!!

The girls!!

After spending the day with Brett's family we drove up to Nashville to celebrate with my dad's family! As you can see every picture below is of Kelli my cousin....I can't help it...its been way too long since we have had someone this cute in the family! :)

Kelli passing out Christmas gifts!