Hoco '25, Pt. I

Hey kids.

Lexi painting Alayna's legs for the big game.

Tonight kicked off Homecoming Weekend '25, which is one of the highlights of the school year. . . for our girls. For us parents? Not nearly as much. Sure, it's fun supporting your kids and helping them prepare for one of the biggest weekends of the year, but it costs a small fortune and sucks up just about every, waking moment of the weekend (not to mention the previous weekends that are eaten up by dress-shopping out of town.)

So both girls had dates this year (their respective boyfriends, who we're both fans of), and friend groups that they had to balance their time between. Alayna got ready at home for the most part, but had her hair done by our friend Danielle (for a couple hours) in the early afternoon. Abby started the getting ready process at home, but after a couple hours was driven over to Juliana's house, where her and all her friends were meeting up for a pre-pictures session of hair and make-up. 

Abby puts on the finishing touches at school before the game. 

I can't even begin to express how grateful I was that someone else volunteered to host this shebang - that ain't my cup of tea.

Eventually, both our kids and their respective parties convened on Midland's Dow Gardens (of course), and both demanded I photograph them and their groups with my SLR. Now, as you'll remember from last year, we are by no means the only people who have the bright idea of taking pictures at this place prior to the dance - the whole f***ing town practically shows up for it. 

Crowds aside, I was going to be hard-pressed squeezing two, full groups of kids into photo sessions simultaneously whilst navigating optimal photo ops amidst hundreds (if not thousands) of other students and parents. Fortunately, Alayna's group showed up about 45 minutes before Abby's did, so I was able to shoot her group first before pivoting and redoing all of the exact, same photo ops with Abby's group.

Alayna and Sebastian, awaiting the start of the Homecoming Parade.

That was a stroke of luck, for sure.

Anyway, all that went down on Saturday, which I'll cover in the next post. This time around, we're covering Friday evening, which centered around the Midland Varsity Football Game (against some team from Traverse City, I forget.) Abby had to stay after school in order to practice with her pom team and take part in some kinda team dinner (which is one of their 'bonding' things they do every home game, I guess), but Alayna had a couple friends over after school to get themselves ready for the game (see the pic of Lexi painting Alayna's legs, above.) 

By the time I got home around 5pm, I only had like 15 minutes at home before Kris rushed me out the door - just enough time to mix up a drink in my Flaskapp contraption and grab my bleacher seat. As more and more folks began to descend to the area(s) surrounding the field for tailgating, we had to leave stupid early in order to find decent parking (always a nightmare on big game nights like this.) After parking across the street at some optometrist's office (our go-to, which is super close, just across Eastlawn), we met up with a few other couples from the Tribe, who had established tailgating headquarters in preparation for the 6pm Homecoming Parade.

So, without further adieu, here's the kick-off to Hoco Weekend '25. Enjoy. . .

The Homecoming Parade begins, turning off Eastlawn onto Washington (from my vantage point across the street from the football field, in front of the old Family Video, where I was having a couple beers with Erik, Tom, Brandon, and some others.)

MHS Varsity Pom was right at the front of the parade, as usual.

Alayna and Sebastian were seated outside the student parking lot, so got a glimpse of Abby (kind of in the middle, farthest from the camera) before they turned onto Washington.

Back of Abby's head, towards the middle of the pack.

Kris was across the street from me, hanging out with Alicia, Susan, Lacy and Stephanie, under some canopy tent they had set up right outside the side entrance to the stadium. So this was her angle (Abby's in there somewhere.)

Not a huge parade by any means. Outside of the varsity Pom team accompanying the MHS Marching Band, they had a few pickup trucks carrying each grade's designated Homecoming representatives, King, and Queen, then the drama club, and then this MHS Cavalry detachment. At least I assume that's what it is, but I didn't see any sabers (probably can't have brandish swords anymore - thanks, Columbine.)

Once the parade had passed, Kris and I jumped into the line to get into the stadium while our friends continued to tailgate. We make it a point to get in so we're in the stands before Kick Off in order to catch the Pom team's opening routine, so our tailgating is pretty minimal. We found some good seats pretty easily, right above the 40-yard line, and shortly after we sat down the Pom team marched around the track and took up their positions.

Kris grabs a selfie (I didn't have time to change out of my work shirt - go Hawks!)

The band takes the field for the opening number (the school Fight Song.)

Abby and her squad assumes their positions.

GO SPORTSBALL.

As the game started, Abby and her teammates took their usual positions along the fence separating the stands from the track surrounding the field. As usual, there was lots of selfie-taking, like this one of her with Brooklyn and Nica.

Kris, Alicia and Mees got a selfie with the Larsons shortly before Halftime, who had volunteered to work the Concessions Stand this evening.

The Band and Pom Team perform at this year's Homecoming Halftime Show. . .

Another mom selfie on the sidelines.

Aaaaand a couple more back in the stands. Kris enjoys her selfies a great deal.

After the game (which Midland again lost - nice job, fellas), Abby got some kinda weird nail pic with one of her coaches (not sure what this was all about.)

An obligatory Sister pic.

Some of Alayna's friends were passing by as Kris was taking these, and three of them - Rita, Cristina, and Toby (the third is hard to spot but you'll see it eventually) photo bombed 'em.

Amelia, the Cannonball, Lexi and Kyle

Emily and Abby

Kids love these post-game pics on the field for some reason. I feel like we get dozens of pics like this after every game.

Abby and her weird-ass Mom (who always wears her custom MHS chucks for these games.)

After the game, our kids took off with their respective friend groups, and Kris and I rendezvoused with some of the Tribe over at the Holty residence for a few drinks around their gas fire pit (which was pretty awesome - no smoke to speak of and so your clothes didn't end up smelling like crap.)

The first chapter of this year's Homecoming saga was thus concluded. Stay tuned for the far-more hectic sequel in the next post. . .

- to be Continued. . .