Auld Lang Syne

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S (EVE), AMERICA!!

Well, this year was definitely random, but it ended up being one of the more entertaining New Year's Eves we've ever had. 

Waking up in the morning, we weren't sure what the plan was for this evening - no one had anything 'official' in the books, and we'd only informally batted around a few ideas when we hung out with folks over at the Larson's the day before (when we watched the Lions get f***ing robbed.) Later on in the morning, we started talking on our Inner Five text thread, folks trying to figure out what the plan was going to be, and ultimately - by lunch time - the Larsons offered to have everyone over again. For the second night in a row.

Abby, Lexi and Alayna spent most of the day in the bathroom.

We figured this was going to be a pretty low key affair, but in the back-and-forth with trying to determine food and activities and what-not, it somehow was brought up that it'd be cool for folks to dress up for this. While only some of the adults decided to entertain this notion, the kids went all in on it. Alayna invited her friend Lexi along, and for about three hours in the afternoon/evening (not even joking) the three girls 'got ready' for their super-formal New Year's Eve.

So here you go, folks - ringing in the New Year, Hough-style. 

Enjoy.

We got to the Larsons around 6pm, and took a few pics of folks before the night got too crazy. Here's our kids (and Lexi) along with the Larsons (Jackson and Sophie.)

The Houghs.

The Larsons.

Morgan helps Alayna pin a strap (or something.)

The adults hung out in the back room while the kids hung out at the kitchen table and played whatever this game is called (I forget, but I'm really good at it.)

Yes, you read that correctly. And yes, that was Abby.

Morgan and Danielle wanted to play this Catan game that they had been sitting on and wanted to try. The instructions were super-confusing but after awhile you got the hang of it.

Couple other folks showed up as we were playing through the game. From left to right: Mitch, Kelli, Danielle, Morgan, Kris, Yours Truly, Erik and Courtney.

(Kris was not great at this game.)

Ultimately, I would end up winning this game (I'm the blue player.) Not bad for my first time.

Following Catan, we switched over to some drinking games, starting with the recently-discovered Slap Cup. The ladies did not fare well in this one - they end up drinking a ton.

Back in the kitchen, the kids were still playing through this game. . .

Jackson, Ella, Abby, Sophie, Lexi, and the Cannonball.

(. . . aaaaand one with the Bos girls, Audrey and Maddie.)

This game is probably more entertaining than beer pong, but you have to be good at pouncing a ping pong ball, otherwise you can get into a ton of trouble.

Kris points at all the cups of seltzer she has to drink (there's only a couple of ounces at the bottom of each cup, but still - that's probably an entire cup's worth right there.) She's not awesome at this game, either.

Taking a break from the game (not sure what I'm looking at, here.)

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

A lot of dessert was consumed this evening.

(Minus Collier.)

We took over this game from the kids and played a few rounds. I ended up winning these games, too - I was definitely on a roll tonight.

(99% of the pics we get off Abby's phone look like this.)

As we inched closer to midnight, folks started congregating in the living room, with sparkling grape juice and champagne at the ready.

The whole squad, assembled.

Getting closer. . . 

(Alayna takes selfies like this on her phone, too. . . just not as much as her sister.)

The Countdown. . .

Afterwards, we resumed our games in the back room, where my domination of all things entertainment continued.

I'm literally #1.

Kris and Morgan

(Not sure what's happening here.)

If it's terrible music, there's a solid chance Abby and Ella are really into it.

And that's how we rang in the New Year, America. So begins 2024. . .

- Brian