Holli turned twenty-nine this year but keeps as busy as a teacher half her age. Holli is in her fourth year at New Tech High School and spent most of the summer planning for new classes, like a brand new one she's developed for her students called Advanced Graphics. One highlight came last spring when Ian was a community partner for her Animation Design class and came to New Tech for the day to test out students' animated games. She enjoyed visiting long-time friends every few months as much-needed sanity boosts. And, just in time for winter, Holli got a remote starter installed in the van, which has brought her more joy than her husband ever has.
Holli maintained her dedication to health and fitness with a thirteen-month streak of exercising every day, despite travel, illness and children endlessly fascinated with the process. Usually waking up at 4:30 AM, she developed a habit of fitness as a part of her daily life. It hasn't gone unnoticed. Ian and Ainsley can frequently be observed "playing exercise." Ainsley is known to put her baby doll down for a nap "so mommy can exercise."
The family returned to Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp (where Holli worked and volunteered in the summers as a high school and college student). The camp put on a special weekend in October for their 100 year celebration and we were, literally, the first to sign up. We reunited with friends, explored what's changed at the camp and picked up where we left off. Ian was eager to volunteer for kitchen duty, so Holli taught him how to be on "clean duty" for putting the washed dishes away. It was a lot of hand-washing after every single nose scratch, but his heart was so happy to serve. Holli all but melted when Ian told her that he's going to work at the camp when he grows up. It was a wonderful weekend full of canoeing, archery, wagon riding, rock wall climbing, campfiring, and hot chocolating. The kids are looking forward to returning there soon.
The Gregg family rented a bed and breakfast for a fun weekend this summer at The Barn on the Bluff in Elkader, IA. The kids always love an opportunity to play with their cousins, Jackson and Lauren, and this bed and breakfast was a beautiful backdrop for the memories. It was a relaxing (and quite humid) weekend of games, puzzles, s'mores, exploring the local area and, of course, breakfast.