A 100th Birthday and an Ugly Loss

What's up, guys.

As far as Sundays go, this one was pretty busy. Far busier than I prefer considering I have to wake up at 5:30am the next morning.

Things kicked off right out of the gate, as the Hough Family had to scramble around in order to get ready for Church. Usually, Kris is the only that goes to Church on Sundays, and even then it's like an every-other-week sorta thing. Abby goes with her about half the time, while Alayna and I opt not to, but since Abby's been fairly active in Kris' two church Youth Groups over the years (they bounce back and forth between churches these days), and so consequently she sometimes gets roped into participating in regular Sunday services.

Just look at how much fun I'm having sitting at Church this morning. . . 

This was just such a Sunday, where Abby would be doing a bunch of readings from the pulpit, and, as she found out upon arrival, would have to undertake a lot more she wasn't prepared for. Aside from the call-and-response and prayer stuff, she had to ad-lib a bunch of dialogue on the spot, which she totally nailed (so well in fact no one knew she was making it up as she went along.) Girl's gonna excel at public speaking later in life, that's for damn sure. 

Jill, Bryan (who had flown up for the party), with Grandma Jones. . .

After church, we went home and quickly got our crap together in order to head to Clare for our next stop on this Sunday's insane itinerary: Grandma Jones' 100th Birthday Party. Cindy had planned a get-together at Grandma's retirement home from like 2 to 4pm, and had asked family to show up around 1pm in order to get some quality visitation in before all the other guests - mostly fellow old people - showed up. She also asked Yours Truly to bring up my SLR so I could take a bunch of candid pics of the family visiting, along with portraits with Grandma to celebrate her milestone.

Most of us Houghs - at least us, my siblings and their respective families - hung out at the 'party' until 3pm, then quietly Irish Goodbye'd, where some of us rendezvoused at the Whites' house in order to watch the Lions play the Packers.

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking, though - there's a bunch this time. Check it out. . .

Grandma Jones and her three daughters (Sue, Charlene, and Cindy)

Jill talking with Blake and his girlfriend, Gracie.

Rob (Cindy's sister Sue's oldest, who's like two years older than I) and Bryan.

Chris and Dad

Charlene and Grandma Jones

Gracie, Jax and Blake checking out this banner with a bunch of facts about the United States in the year Grandma was born.

Kris, Cindy and Jill (making some dumbass face.)

The Borthers and Dad

Cindy and her mom.

Nicole, Jill and Kris

These two, clearly, were big fans of me walking around with a big-ass camera all afternoon.

Jeff and Carissa

(I didn't eat any of this, but Cindy did a good job making it.)

Grandma sat in this chair most of the time, with empty chairs on either side of her so a never-ending stream of well-wishers could sit and visit with her.

Bryan packed a bunch of his Lions gear for the trip up to Michigan. Not that it helped much this Sunday. . .

Cindy talking with Kevin (Sue's second-oldest, whose my age) and his wife (forget her name.)

Gracie and Blake

Abby

The Cannonball

The girls posing with Grandma Jones.

Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Grandma Jones on her 100th Birthday. . .

Gracie and Blake with Gigi

In lieu of individual gifts and cards, Cindy had everyone sign this giant card instead.

The girls, updating Nana on all their teenage-ness.

Charlene, Kyle (Sue's third son, whose Bryan's age), and Sue

Kevin's wife, Andy (Sue's fourth son, who I believe is Jill's age), and his wife (again, forget her name.)

Chris (mid-sneeze) and Brian

Andy and Blake

Dad and Kyle

Kevin and his wife, and Bryan

Cindy and Sue

My roommates

Rob and Brian (by the looks of things, discussing golf.)

Dad requested we get a non-Funeral siblings picture, so we squared up in formation (as always, oldest to youngest.)

Checking out Jeff's Grindr profile (I assume.)

Jill signs the card.

Jonas and Lola (Kevin's kids), Kevin and Kyle

Brian and Jeff

Nicole, rockin' out at the kid's table (with Nora and Sam.)

Grandma Jones and her three daughters (and some lady someone said was a. . . . cousin?)

Dad, Chuck (Sue's husband), and some guy.

Chuck and Sue, their kids, and Grandma Jones

Kay (an old family friend), Bryan, and Aunt Lucy

While we were hanging out indoors, we spotted a flock (herd?) of wild turkeys moseying around the sidewalk outdoors. Ton of those dudes out there (this was about half of 'em.)

We even managed to get a family pic with her before we made our Irish Goodbye, around 3pm.

Eventually everyone reconvened at Brian and Jill's in order to eat some snacks (and later pizza), drink some beers, and watch the Lions' first game of the season.

Our girls only hung out for a bit, having to return home by 4:30pm so Alayna could change and get ready for her 5pm shift at Taco Bell.

Their cat was PISSED he couldn't come inside.

Blake helps Jax string something-or-other on his new fishing. . . pole. . . thing.

Three Brians, watching the Lions totally eat shit this Sunday afternoon. This game was NOT fun to watch. At. All.

It was like watching a completely different team from last year. Utterly depressing.

After watching the Lions lose to the Packers by, like, twenty points, we tossed in the towel and headed back to Midland, where we wound down and prepared for another week of work, school, and adulting.

- Brian