big brother, little brother | november 2015

I think, am sure, a brother's love exceeds all the world's loves in its unworldliness. 

|Robert Browning| 

| boys |

snips and snails, and puppy dog tails,

that's what little boys are made of!

c l e m [p] s o n

that time we went to clemson to spend the evening with carson in the middle of the week. even amos was decked out in his clemson gear. eight years later, the [new] family tradition continues. 

homemade cheesecake

Per Carson's request for his 19th birthday cake:

homemade cheesecake

crust: 

2 cups crushed pretzels

2/3 cup butter (melted)

2 T brown sugar

Directions:
Place crushed pretzels in medium mixing bowl. Add brown sugar and pour in melted butter. Mix together. Once fully incorporated, press into the bottom of the spring form pan. 

*I mashed the pretzels the best I could, then put what I hand mashed (above) in a plastic bag and rolled with a rolling pin

Filling:

24 oz weight cream cheese, softened to room temp

3/4 cup sugar

3 T all purpose flour

3 whole eggs

1 T vanilla 

1 cup sour cream

Directions:

Place cream cheese in large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy.

Combine sugar and flour in a small bowl then add it to the cream cheese mixture and continue to beat until combined. With mixer running, add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated.

Add vanilla and sour cream, beat 2 minutes, scraping down sides and bottom of the bowl if necessary.

Pour the filling over the prepared crust. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until center is set. Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool for 1 hour. Run a knife around edge of cheesecake pan and remove. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. 

[g r a d u a t i o n]

  

Happy graduation day, buddy. I cannot even believe that you're old enough to be graduating! I am so proud of the man you've become. You are smart, handsome, a blast to be around, courageous, adventurous, a man of the Lord, and the list goes on. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you over the next 4 years. The world is at your finger tips -- take advantage of the opportunities before you. Stay up late, do crazy things, invest in friendships, study abroad, road trip, get outside on the weekends, keep loving life and living it to the fullest. I love you to the moon and back a million times, buddy! 

1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, C-L-E-M-S-O-N T-I-G-E-R-S! Fight Tigers! Fight Tigers! Fight! Fight! Fight!!!!