Eden goes to college, & her Daddy gets a Ph.D.!

Tuesday, July 2nd ... Eden's first day on the Purdue campus - oh yeah, and I successfully defended my dissertation. The Mastercard commercial might read as follows:

Printing, Binding and Distribution of the Dissertation: $250

Food and Beverages for the Defense: $15

Making all your friends call you Doctor: Priceless!

Ashley, Eden and I left the house at 10 a.m. and headed to Subway for a few sandwiches for my committee during the meeting. We arrived on campus around 10:20. I got ready for the defense, and Ashley and Eden headed off to take care of some things around campus (Ashley's official name with Purdue is now "Ashley Jones-Bodie" ... back to the story).

At 11, the committee was set and the questions came flying.
At 1:45 we were done, the papers were signed, and congratulatory handshakes and hugs were given.
At 1:45 and 30 seconds, Eden stole the spotlight.
That's right. As soon as the door opened, Ashley and Eden were there to give their congratulations ... as soon as the committee saw that cute little face (Eden's not Ashley's), she stole the show ... upstaged at my own defense. Suppose I should get used to that.

Ashley reports that Eden was the hit of the office while I was in my defense meeting. Here are some pics of Eden's big day on campus.

That afternoon our good friend Jennie and her best friend came over to watch Eden so that I could get started on the revisions the committee suggested and Ashley could work on her dissertation. But, after all the excitement, Eden was a fussy-pants. Even being next to her "Aunt" Jennie who normally can work magic with Eden wouldn't calm her.

The only thing that would calm her down was being close to Ashley ... which made them both feel good ...


... and sure made for one heck of a photograph.