High Kick '25: Abby's First Varsity Pom Competition

Hi readers.

The pom team met in the morning at the school to prepare.

Abby and the Midland High Varsity Pom team competed in the annual High Kick competition down in Flint this afternoon, at some random event center that none of us had ever been to before. Kris had already seen the routine performed when the kids held some sorta 'parent preview' dress rehearsal at the school the day before, but I neglected to go to that so that I could watch it for the first time at the event itself. I wasn't able to go last year 'cause I was getting my left arm tattooed, so I wanted to make the most of it this time around.

All in all we were down there for like four hours, which is a hell of a lot better than when Abby was in middle school and we had to be there for the entire morning then stay through the JV and Varsity performances. I won't miss that at all, Jesus Christ. Midland did much better than expected, especially considering that they were bracketed in with a bunch of super-awesome teams from downstate, who regularly annihilate all of the smaller schools in competitions. They ended up placing 5th out of 8 teams in their division, which, when considering some of the schools they were up against, is quite a feat.

So here's some pics and video - a lot taken off Abby's phone, so I'm not entirely sure of the context of some of them, but included them for coverage sake.

Enjoy. . .

I forget this teammate's name, but she's been in pom with Abby for years.

Abby takes after me with documenting major events, that's for damn sure.

Abby and Brooklyn, taking a weird selfie.

Arriving at that aforementioned event center, down in Flint, around noon (Kris and I picked Abby up from the school once the team was done with hair and make-up, and she rode with us down there. . . then Abby split off once we got in and found her team.)

Morale high.

Abby took this in the stands during the competition while the team was awaiting the start of their division bracket, watching the other divisions perform. 

An hour or so later, Abby's team got one group picture backstage before they went on to perform.

Midland High Varsity's High Kick routine.

Following the conclusion of all the teams' performances, there was the usual aimless, mingling about of hundreds of teenage girls while the judges tallied up all their scores. This is always the longest, most agonizing part of the day for us parents, but the kids always enjoy it.

When the judges were ready, the teams assumed the traditional circle as they awaited the judges' results (Abby third from left.)

A look into what it's like inside the circle at this time, showing their reactions at placing 5th.

Another group shot.

Abby and Brooklyn

Showing of their ribbons and award.

These two got to pose with it as well.

Kris wanted to get a pic of Abby (once we found her after the awards, it took like a half an hour to do so.)

During the long process of getting out of the parking lot after the showcase, which took like twenty minutes due to all the Goddamn traffic, I saw a seagull gorging himself on a piece of pizza. It was awesome. Dude was living his best life.

- Brian

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. . .

The Gridiron Proposal

What's up, sports fans.

Today, at long last, we had ourselves our first Home Football Game of the School Year.

. . . not that any of us Houghs really care (at all) about football as a sport - far from it - but Abby, as a Varsity Pommer this year, has to perform at every, Home, Varsity Football game this season.

So, consequently, we Houghs will be attending every, Home, Varsity Football game this season. 'Cause parenting.

When Abby was on JV, she performed at the younger MHS games, but now that she's performing in the big leagues, she's front-and-center during the Halftime Show, the Pre-Game crap, and after every, single, Midland High touchdown. The crowd's bigger, they're performing with the marching band, playing under Friday Night Lights, etc. - the whole (excuse the pun) nine yards.

Earlier in the day, at the school's Pep Assembly (video courtesy of the Cannonball). . .

So now, folks, Kris and I are resigned to our fate of watching a LOT of football over the course of the next couple months. Like, way more than we'd prefer, but whatever - we just had to have kids, so now we get to embrace the consequences.

Check it out. . . .

(Abby screenshot this video off her one of the school's social media thingies.)

MHS Varsity Pom, ready for battle.

Alayna and one of her friends, walking into the game (she drove up separately with some of her crew, who had been getting ready for the evening's theme - red, white and blue - at our house for a couple hours before the game.)

Preparing to kick off the first routine of the game, before Kick-Off. . .

Abby, doing something with poms.

(She's second-from-left, here.)

Lexi and Alayna (who is showcasing her Bloods affiliation.)

Abby isn't in this pic, Kris took this of Alayna and some of her friends (at bottom right, walking along the track.)

Later on in the game, doing the MHS Fight Song routine.)

It was a little chilly out this evening, but not that chilly - like low-60s. Man up, girls.

At Half-Time, trailing by like 20 points (Midland was getting their asses beat by some school from Portage, down by Kalamazoo), the MHS Marching Band took the stage field.

MHS Varsity Pom's Half-Time Routine.

(About the best I could do from our vantage point.)

Stole these from some 'official' photographer's uploads (you're welcome). . . .

After the game (which was ugly as hell, Portage mopped the floor with Midland), Abby and Alayna did the usual post-game thing where they took a bunch of pics with their friends on/near the field. Here's Abby and Brooklyn. . . .

The Cannonball and some of her friends (left to right: Alayna, Bree, Amelia, Kyle and Lexi.)

Abby and Emily

Ella crashes the group pic

The Dynamic Duo

One with their moms (of course.)

So Abby's new boyfriend, Kingston, was there with a bunch of his hockey buddies, and Abby and him posed for a couple pic on the field.  Look at the right side of this pic with the group of boys approaching to Kingston's left. . .

This was pretty smooth, just watch that hand-off - they must have practiced this a couple times. . .

(Another angle someone else got.)

(She obviously said 'yes.')

Not sure how she could be this surprised about this proposal and all, considering they're, you know, DATING and everything. . . 

I'm soooooo glad this 'proposing' trend where boys have to make a grand gesture about asking a girl to a dance wasn't a thing back in the '90s. . . .

So be sure to tune in next time, gang, when we're probably sitting in some stiff-ass bleachers, watching more high school football. Like a couple of assholes. . . 

- Brian