Back to Work - Sort of

Well, I went to work yesterday for the first time since the flood. We were "displaced" and landed out at the Linn County Detention Center with some other "refugees". We were confused, overwhelmed and uncertain about what or how we were supposed to do our jobs. We have approximately 1600 open cases and not one file left. But, as my co-worker Lance said, we have to try and get back to normal. We did manage to have one court hearing yesterday - which is truly amazing!!

It is basically a jumbled mess however. I was told yesterday not to come into work on Tues. by my supervisor. Our office manager stopped by at 9:30 p.m. last night (and Dad startled her) with supplies for me to deliver on Tuesday to work. I just had to laugh. So, I'm going to work today, but don't know how long I'll be a "necessary" employee and needed....

After spending the day at home with Grandpa Mark, Katie was exhausted. She must've played outside the entire day. She did not like some of the things that I had to tell her. I don't remember exactly what made her so mad, but after serving her time on the mat she got up and got busy drawing on her white board. She's slowly learning to express her anger. It made her even more mad when dad and I burst out laughing.

A day on the Greens...

Katie and I just returned from a week away. I had the Spring Iowa County Attorney's Conference at Lake Okoboji and Katie spent the week with Gma and Gpa Simonsen. We both were lucky to be away from all of the devastating flooding in Cedar Rapids!

On Friday the 13th, Katie, Gma Kathy, Uncle Kent and I went golfing in Quimby. Katie was able to get out for a couple of holes as well and play some golf. She played all of hole #6 and despite the photo evidence, she reported her score for that hole as 1... in fact, all her scores for the nine holes were 1... Uncle Kent asked her how come she was beating everyone and she replied, "because I'm better than you!"

We came home Sunday and had no trouble getting to our house. We brought Gpa with us incase there was trouble... Fortunately our house was completely spared. My work office is completely trashed and it will be quite awhile before we get back into the Courthouse. The National Guard is on full alert and are patrolling Cedar Rapids keeping everyone and thing safe. I'll let you know more when I hear more.

From the First to the Last

Hard to believe that on August 21, 2007, Katie woke up and got ready to go for her first day of Kindergarten. Her first day of School!!!

Nine months later, it is time for her Last day of Kindergarten! It was cloudy and rainy here today so she got her umbrella out and headed out for the final day!!

Katie with her friends, Megan Havermann and Hannah Hinkle, saying Goodbye for the year!

Katie and her teacher, Mrs. Whitlow. Mrs. Whitlow was a godsend for Katie this year. She was very patient and really helped Katie learn and grow so much. We are so thankful for her.

My yard!!

Just had to show some pictures of my yard and all my flowers.... I am NOT good at keeping up with the yard and I thought after I spent four hours working on it that I would share the results. As my Dad would say, "I have the best yard in the neighborhood"