My "Devil" Did It......

In the immortal words of....well, I don't know whose words these are at the moment, but just go with me here.

"Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we're free at last."  And by "we" I mean Jere, and by free I mean....deeply in school loan debt, but at least DONE with a bachelors degree.

On Wednesday Jere graduated from ASU (Gooooo Devils) with a degree in Theatre with an emphasis on directing.  This is a HUGE accomplishment and one that I am very, very proud of him for.  As he likes to say....."I didn't graduate from highschool, so this is BIG." Not to mention, he is the ONLY person in his family to go to college.  Yeah, it's true, Jer got his GED, and that was because I told him I wouldn't be marrying anyone that didn't at least have THAT under their belt.  Listen people, there are REASONS it took us three years of dating before we made it to the alter.  He had crap to take care of. hahahahaha  But, I'm totally off subject here.  We are talking about the fact that my man is now a college graduate!  WOO HOO!  He will begin his Masters program in August, but having accomplished graduation once....we know this masters is totally doable.  Two more years, we've GOT this.

This degree was a culmination of many years of stops and starts with school.  A lot of blood, sweat and TEARS!  A lot of encouraging, prodding, plodding and plain sleeplessness. Ultimately, even with me full of reservation and fear, Jere threw down and said "I'm DOING this, I'm going back to school and getting THIS degree."  I am so very, very proud of him for fighting through, never giving up and working hard to accomplish this dream.  In the course of the last 3 years he has become a really great director, he has learned much and I can't wait to see what the next 2 years bring.

Sidenote that has nothing to do with anything:  My kids are out front planting apple seeds because Maggie is SURE that if she plants these seeds and waters them she will grow and apple tree.  Ah kids and their unblemished view of life.  So sweet, so innocent.  At this age I myself was sure that if I swallowed apple seeds a tree would grow in my stomach.  Therefore, I was quite careful not to swallow seeds.

Back to graduation....I give you pictures.

 Outside the arena, just before he went to line up.  No, don't anyone mention the short sleeves he's sporting.  He had the gown for over a month, tried it on when it came in and never thought that perhaps something was amiss, UNTIL he put it on for the ceremony.  Silly boy!

We had most excellent seats....me, Julie his sister and Blaine our friend.  Don't think Jer was excited do ya?

 How cute is he, all smiles and excitement.

 I took a pic of him getting his diploma on the jumbotron, because 1.  he was too far away and I was looking at him walk AWAY from me, and 2. my camera is the suck and makes everything look black when the flash goes off in there.  UGH!

After the ceremony.  Which, for the record was about the most boring 2 hours of name reading EVER!  BUT, we do these things to show our love and support for the awesomeness of graduating!  Anyway, this is Jers Mom and sister Julie.

 Woo freaking HOO!  He finally got that ellusive piece of paper!!

 Isn't he cute?  I k now......he is!

A shot of the whole fam in front of my parentals.  They kindly watched the kids so we could "enjoy" graduation on our own.  And if by enjoy you mean sitting in wee seats that my extra wide, post baby hips barely fit in and my long legs did NOT fit in as they were hitting the guy in front of me the whole time, then yes....enjoy we did!

Couldn't be prouder of this guy!

Congrats Jer Bear!

I sure love you!

Bring on the Masters!