Auld Lang Syne

Here we go again.

Mitch and Erik check in on the meat as folks begin to roll in for the evening.

New Years Eve has become a mandatory event for our Tribe in recent years. Years ago folks were busy with other plans, out of town, or hosting family for the big night, but the last few years we've made a concentrated effort to get everyone together in order to ring in the New Year. We ourselves started it, in 2021, inviting whoever was around to swing by for a low-key evening and chug some champagne at midnight with us. The following year it turned into more of a party, with the Larsons picking it up the year after us. 

Various types of meat off the grill. I ate this shit like finger food all night.

This year, Mitch offered to host (I'd say the Boses, but Kelli never plans anything.) Seeing how it's Mitch, the meal was very, very grill-heavy, with several different types of meat offered kabob/skewer -style (steak, chicken, elk, you name it.) The entire group couldn't make it, seeing how it's still technically the Holidays and a lot of folks had family obligations, but most of the usual suspects were on hand - us, the Boses (well, at least Mitch - Kelli was upstairs with a headache all evening), the Johnsons, and the Colliers, along with the Griffins and Rob.

For the most part it was a super chill evening, playing games, grazing on a shit-load of food, and having some drinks - three things our group excels at. A super fun way to ring in the New Year, for sure.

Behold. . .

As usual, us dudes stood around the kitchen and bullshitted while grazing non-stop.

Meanwhile, back at our house, Alayna and her friends were still getting ready. We had cleared it with Mitch first, just to make sure it was cool, but Alayna planned on rolling in to the Bos party with like six or seven kids this year. All they were all dressing up.

We played this super-easy - but entertaining - dice game called Left, Right, Center for most of the night. Just something to do with your hands while you're sitting around having a few drinks and talking. I'm giving Collier some stink eye here because he kept taking my quarters.

Essentially you roll special dice at the start of your turn, one for each quarter you have in front of you. If you roll an L, you pass a quarter to the person to your left. Same goes for R, respectively. If it's C, you put a quarter in the cup at the center of the table, and whoever has the last quarter at the end of the game gets the cup of quarters. That's it. 

The ladies whip up some fancy Christmas cocktails (I forget what all was in them.)

Kris, Courtney, Mees and Stephanie.

The basement was taken over by teens and tweens, with Alayna's group - augmented by Abby and Ella - outnumbering the usual crowd of Bos, Collier, and Griffin children.

The ladies got a huge chuckle out of this: apparently Kelli just throws whatever bulbs are around the house into her dining room chandelier, so there's some cool tones and some warm tones on display right now. Rookie move, Bos.

Weirdos in the basement.

We played a few rounds of this, with Courtney winning once, Kris winning once, aaaaand I forget who won the last one.

That's actually not a blunt, I was just pretending it was. Actually it was once of those chocolate wafers thingies that you eat alongside a coffee or hot chocolate or the like.

After awhile of Left, Right, Center, Mitch broke out Mind the Gap - one of our favorite trivia games in this group. Everyone made a big stink about Erik and I - hands down the two best trivia players in our tribe - being on the same team, so they split us up. We split the table down the middle, with Stephanie, Yours Truly, Kris, Mitch and Lonnie on a team against the other side of the table.

Kris and Mees square off. They had to continually list different forms of communication, with the last one being able to name something getting a point for their team.

These phone filters are gross.

The full group assembled in the basement. Kyle, Lexi, Bree, Amelia, forget her name, Alayna, Ella and Abby.

Doing some Crown Royal Blackberry shots as we edge closer to midnight.

I spearheaded the pouring out of champagne as we closed in on midnight. Not being grill-masters ourselves, we instead rolled in with The Toast - about six bottles of champagne and four bottles of sparkling grape juice for the kids.

Courtney and Kris keep track of the time.

Teens watching Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve in the living room.

Primed and ready.

LJ and Myles, standing around drinkin'.

Getting ready. . .

IT'S THE FINAL COUNT-DOWWWN. . . 

Happy New Year.

Mitch works on troubleshooting his bluetooth speaker, following the ringing in of 2025.

Why are Abby and Ella hiding under the dining room table? Who knows . . .

The evening wind-down begins. Once the Ball drops it's a decline at that point. . .

Mees and Stephanie attempted - multiple times - to emulate something they had seen on Tik Tok.

This champagne got everywhere.

Totally cool to shampoo one's hair with bubbly.

And that's New Year's Eve '24, children - banger way to ring in the new year, for sure.

- Brian

The End of 2024: The Slow Year

'Sup, Homies.

Abby and her friends went ice skating at the Midland Ice Arena the first week.

Here we are at last, the end of 2024. This year was probably the slowest (in terms of social events) that we've had in a long, long time. As folks' kids - including our own - grow older, they have more after-school and weekend bullshit going on that prohibits us from doing as much as we have the last few years.

Abby, Ella, Nica and Nica's boyfriend pose for a pic out on the ice. . .

There was no Florida this year (though that will be coming up again in Summer of 2025), no Jellystone, no Michigan adventuring with Rita and Smitty, no St.Patrick's Day party, no Cancer Soiree, and due to lackluster weather we didn't even make it out to Eight Point as often as we usually do. Our weekend tribal hangouts weren't as frequent either, which meant a lot more chill time around the house in order to catch up on rest and side projects (and I do love me some side projects.)

No Hough ice skates well. Abby definitely comes by it naturally.

Alayna got a car and started driving this year, Abby and her Pom teams (Northeast and then Midland JV) turned into a powerhouse, Yours Truly finally got his left arm sleeve started, and Kris. . . well, Kris was probably at work.

December was super busy, but as the heavyweight of the Holiday Season that should come as no surprise, honestly. We performed the Greatest Hits of a Hough Christmas - the Sheahan Christmas Party, Christmas (at our House and Mom's), Christmas in Clare, etc. The other usual December nonsense - orchestra concerts, pom performances, weekend hangouts with the usual suspects, etc. - are chronicled in this monthly wrap-up of pics and video that you've all come to love.

So sit back, grab a drink, and enjoy one more month of All Things Hough for 2024.

Enjoy. . .

Group feet pics are all the rage these days.

Alayna and her fit for a Taco Bell Christmas Party.

Samson begs for human food. The dude has no chill.

Abby and the Midland JV Pom Team performing a routine during practice one evening. They practice like two hours a day, five days a week (and usually more - they're workhorses.)

For a couple weeks towards the end of Novemeber/beginning of December this exchange student from Brazil had the hots for Alayna (Abby and Ella took this while their class was in the library and Alayna and this kid happened to be in there 'studying.') She entertained the notino for awhile but eventually lost interest in him. Sorry bro.

Alayna's end-of-year summary, courtesy of Spotify.

Abby's summary on Amazon Music (Abby and I use Amazon Music, while Alayna prefers Spotify.)

Abby's listening habits have totally skewed our Amazon summary. You can see here that the top three spots on hers, while mine come in at #4 and #5.

Tom used A.I. to create pics of some of the Kings of Hill and shared it in our group thread one day towards the beginning of the month. He modeled himself as 'Stabby Tom,' after an incident that occured on a Shepler's ferry during our Brocation '22 adventure on Mackinac Island.

Mitch the Grill Chef

The Colonel - the group's Swordmaster

Collier the Gym Bro

Our first snow of the year. This winter we're supposed to see more snow than we have in previous years, which - fortunately - meant a White Christmas this year.

Our calendar would eventually get more filled in, but this is how things were looking towards the beginning of the month.

(I can't help myself.)

We actually had a Snow Day the first week of December, if you can believe that. I haven't had a snow day in December since like 2016.

Later that evening, I went out with the guys to Diamond Jim's for a Thursday football game, some food, and some much-needed beers.

I love this season for craft beer. This one was pretty good.

Samson gets very defensive over his bones.

Watson's an idiot.

The first Saturday of the month, Erik and I attended our Lodge's Installation of Officers for 2025. Freemasons rotate officer positions on an annual basis, which perpetuates our belief in equality among brothers.

Installation took about two hours, and was open to the public (hence my posting pics online.)

Checking off a classic off our mandatory Christmas movie viewing.

Abby participated in Kris' church's Youth Service the next morning. All these pics are courtesy of Alayna, who couldn't be bothered to put her phone away (she was sitting with other kids across the room from us, otherwise we wouldn't have allowed this.) 

Reading a scripture (I think.)

Super excited that her sister is taking pictures of her in church.

Napping on the couch with Samson later that evening.

Abby and the other Pommers have to submit pom videos to their coaches on a weekly basis in order to get pointers and feedback outside of practice.

The next night, the Midland High Orchestras - Concert (shown here, which Abby is in), Symphonic and Honors (which Alayna is in.)

Cello Shots.

Again, you'll have to make due with just pics 'cause the video files were too large to upload here.

Abby, as lead cello, had a solo in one of their numbers.

Honors Orchestra - the cream of the crop.

Alayna isn't as much into orchestra as she was last year, but is still really good on her instrument.

The Symphonic Orchestra (which includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion alongside the strings.)

(Again, sorry for the lack of videos.)

Weird selfies following the performances.

Amelia, Alayna, and Lexi

The Hough Girls pose for our annual in-front-of-the-Christmas-Tree pic.

And of course one with Ella, who might as well be a member of this family at this point.

The Terrible Twosome.

And one with the parents, per Kris' request.

Contemplative.

And a couple with the orchestra teacher, Mrs. Mammassian

Alayna and Erica on the way to the monthly Korean Club meeting (yes, that's a thing.)

Big Brain energy at Midland High.

The JV team performed a pom routine at halftime during a Boys JV Basketball game one Friday about half way through the month.

Abby, front and center (as one of the squad's best performers, they usually stick her up front.)

(Santa hats 'cause Christmas is in like twelve days.)

The JV Team (Abby at far left in the back row.)

Boom. The video.

Abby got temporary custody of the team mascot (I guess) following the game due to her performance.

Enjoying a milkshake.

Wouldn't be a proper Christmas Season without watching Scrooged at some point (probably my third-favorite Holiday movie.)

Samson keeps Alayna company while she chips away at her homework one afternoon.

Abby takes a lot of bizarre selfies on her phone. . .

This one wasn't as good as I had hoped. I think they dropped the ball on the whole 'toffee' thing, it tasted weird.

Alayna had a Christmas-themed karaoke party for about two dozen orchestra kids in our basement, with food, a gift exchange, and everything. The dogs spent most of the evening down there, making friends.

Meanwhile, Abby went over to Taylor's house for a pom 'teambuilding' sleepover. At some point in time the girls took pics of themselves hiding behind. . . a water heater?

The dogs kept Kris and I company on the couch on and off throughout the night (when they weren't downstairs trying to mooch food off teenagers.)

Kris and the Moms had a gift exchange/Lions game hangout the following afternoon over at Alicia's house. From Left to Right: Nagatha Christie, Danielle, Kelli, Stephanie, Courtney, Susan, Amy, Lacy, Mees, and Alicia.

Look, the wives like football, too.

My borther Jeff recently got back this dagger from his ex-wife, the Dark Lord Sauron, after she had claimed that she had acquired it on a 'missionary trip' to Africa (that she never went on.) In truth, I had purchased about seven or eight of these for my future groomsmen while adventuring through Niger during the last months of my Peace Corps service in Ghana. I picked up a ton of Tuareg artifacts - swords, daggers, jewelry, leather goods, etc. - in my travels, but I wish I would've gotten even more.

Alayna and Ella, on their way to school one morning.

Abby and her friends met up for an exam studying session out at the Chippewa Nature Center one evening, for whatever reason. . . and found the time out of their busy studying to take a couple super-weird pics while they were there.

Hanging out on Abby's bed.

Recording performance videos for their orchestra exams. . .

Dry-Brining the Christmas Eve Turkey, about three or four days before throwing it in the oven. 

I use kosher salt and a bunch of different herbs and spices in the process, which pulls out juices from the meat and then re-releases them into the meat (which sounds super weird but totally works.)

And every year I have to re-read the instructions because I forget how to do it over the course of the next twelve months until I have to do it again.

The process paired nicely with this seasonal gem.

Abby, back at the Midland Ice Arena. Her and her pom friends enjoy watching local Midland High and Dow High hockey games on an almost weekly basis. She says it's because they enjoy watching the sport itself, but Kris and I both know it's because they enjoy watching the teenage hockey players.

I stocked up on Holiday treats for our Christmas Eve spread (and the subsequent days where we'll be loafing around the house surrounded by Holiday gift debris, not having to go to work or school.) My roommates are huge fans of Ghiradelli chocolates.

These, too - whatever they're called.

Kris hates it when I buy these, because the girls mow 'em down in a day or two. Oh well, that's what they're for, right?

See what I mean?

On Sunday the 22nd, the Inner Five families headed out to Stardust Lanes in Saginaw to visit with the Shepherds, who had made the trip out from their home in New Jersey to visit with the tribe. Courtney was still a little 'under the weather' from the Sheahan's Christmas Party.

Grazing on bowling lane food (pretty much everything's fried, just in case you were curious.)

Drew, Jackson, Ella and Abby at the kid's table.

Kris has some laundry to fold and put away. . .

Monday the 23rd. The calm before the storm.

A rare White Christmas (thank God.)

Southern Tier (unsurprisingly) knocked it out of the park with this imperial stout.

At their annual vet visit, it turns out both dogs had fleas. Not bad, but enough where we freaked out and dropped a bunch of money on collars and shampoos. Took a week, but we got rid of it (after washing and vacuuming everything multiple times a day for a week. . . which is just as much fun as it sounds.) 

Alayna (and, to a lesser extent, Abby) dog-sat (-sitted?) once again for the Angelotti's next door for the Holidays, as they were down in Texas spending Christmas with Sherri's daughter, Abby. This is Alayna with their not-at-all-social dog, Smooshie, the day after Christmas in Clare.

Abby had her friend, Kiersten, spending the night, so they popped over to check on the dogs at some point in the evening.

BP got me to try World of Warcraft one afternoon, and we played online for a couple hours. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but it was fun playing online games with folks again (we haven't done so in a few years, since I used to play Elder Scrolls Online with BP, Kimmel, Sean and Scrunge.)

That evening, Kris, Abby and I went out to Midland Cinemas to watch A Complete Unknown (the new Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothy Chalemet as Dylan.)

It was awesome - check it out if you're even remotely a fan of Dylan's work.

Alayna and the dogs, lounging around like a bunch of lazy-asses.

Abby is far more into vinyl - and older rock/pop music of the '60s and '70s - than her sister, so one afternoon I took her out to Radio Wasteland. I dropped off a stack of used vinyl and used the proceeds to purchase myself a couple albums as well as grab Abby a stack of used albums to help her better acquaint herself with the classics.

I have a serious storage issue with my collection, so I spent a few days going through and purging albums in order to free up more space (Kris says I can't buy anymore cabinets, so I have to get rid of albums now every time I buy new ones - not fun.) I mostly purged from my Classical, Historical, and World Music genres - about fifty in total.

In the next room, Kris and the girls (and the mutts) hung out playing cards and coloring.

They only stop to nap.

Another Winter Break evening spent watching movies on the projector.

Alayna got this mirror (which looks like something you'd see in a convenient store in order to deter shoplifting) for 'aesthetics.' I guess it's something teens use for social media pics.

So there you have it, folks. The End of 2024. We'll see you cuties next year in 2025.

- Brian