Collierpalooza

Welcome back, readers

Today we attended what, in years past, has been the biggest party of the year for everyone in our Tribe: Collierpalooza.

The last few years, this annual Memorial Day Party, heralding the Dawn of Summer, has grown in size to eclipse all other parties this local friend group of ours throws. Even larger, traditional parties - like our Halloween parties and the Sheahan Christmas parties - pale in comparison. Collier goes all-in on these annual bashes of his, operating multiple grills, ordering a bounce house for kids, hiring living entertainment, facilitating multiple yard games (Cornhole, Jenga, etc.), and putting out a spread of food that could feed a small town.

The diciest element to this yearly tradition is the weather. Late May is a toss-up - some years we've been blessed with July-like weather, where it's sunny in the high 70s or low 80s and everyone is soaking up the sun in shorts. Other years, the colder weather of late April or early May requires everyone to walk around in jeans and hoodies. Then there's the on-again/off-again rain you have to contend with, as this time of year is notorious for raining for weeks without letting up. 

Great for one's grass, sure, but not ideal for an outdoor party.

This year, unfortunately, we were hit with absolutely horrendous weather. It started to rain in the late morning and didn't let up until about twenty minutes before the party started. This brought the temperature down into the low/mid-60s, and everything was wet. A couple of the guys went over to Collier's in the late afternoon as the rain was letting up to help him set everything up quickly at the last minute, and fortunately by the time the party officially started at 5pm Collier's backyard was ready to go.

Still, on account of the far-from-ideal weather, turnout for this year's annual bash was considerably lower than usual. Lots of folks were out of town, and others just didn't turn out due to the lackluster conditions outside. Everyone still had a good time, sure, but it was definitely a more laid-back, low-key vibe this year compared to previous years. As such, and which you'll see you for yourself here in a sec, there's a lot less pics and video to show off this time around.

So I leave you now with what ended up being Collierpalooza '26. Enjoy. . .

As folks began to roll in around 5pm, the initial food spread was laid out on the Colliers' back deck and the man himself was manning two grills (hotdogs and brats on the Weber and burgers on the Blackstone.)

Folks loading up plates.

As always, Collier had set up multiple tables and canopies along the side of the deck so folks had a place to eat.

Women and children prefer to eat at tables, while the dads just kinda hover around the food table eating where they stand.

As the first round of plates were finished off, folks migrated into the backyard to start off a series of Cornhole games.

Tom and Mitch (probably talking about golf.)

Abby, Ella and Logan showed up about a half an hour later (once they had finished getting ready, of course.)

The canopy in the far back there was the christened 'man hangout area,' equipped with a kegorator full of Miller Lite and a few standing tables.

The view from the man tent.

The stage, board, and fire pit area.

The previous artists that Collier had reserved in the previous years were all booked (or otherwise declined the offer to return, not sure why - I think we're a fun bunch.) He ended up booking a duo of female singers that perform with guitars, but one of them had to cancel at the last minute. This left us with one chick who performed angry lesbian music from the 90s all night - far from ideal.

Cornhole continues. . .

The older kids here at this table were playing some sorta game (I didn't walk over there to check it out, though - sorry.)

Collier's kegorator is unfortunately a bust - after multiple attempts to dial it in over the course of half a dozen parties since last summer, he's never been able to get the temperature cool enough, so he's going to end up junking it. Cory offered to bring his over instead (shown here) which worked flawlessly throughout the course of the evening. . . until we polished the quarter-barrel off.

Collier and Erik

Once the adults had finished their initial games, the Hough girls teamed up against their respective boyfriends in a game. . .

Logan tosses a bag.

They need some practice. It's inexcusable they're not better at this, considering we have boards at home they can practice on.

Some of the spread (in hindsight I should have removed the foil off these dishes so you can see everything, but I didn't feel like putting that much effort into this.)

More of the spread.

The battle rages on.

Mitch stands by, giving pointers ('cause it's Mitch.)

Big E, The Pro, and The Colonel.

The angry lesbian music continues as Collier lights the fire for the evening.

Hanging out with Mitch and Tom in the dude tent.

As the evening dragged on, and the temperature started to drop, folks began to gravitate around the fire.

Broke out my newly-acquired Rancid hoodie for this evening (the skull on the back is from their 1998 album, Life Won't Wait.)

At this point, as it started to get darker out, kids either zeroed in on the bounce house or else went indoors, leaving the adults to hang out around the fire.

Folks kept piling wood on this thing, so we had a solid funeral pyre going for like three hours or so.

Sebastian and the Cannonball.

Cory had wasted an entire case of Miller Lite, dumping it all out and not drinking any of it (not sure why) in order to create 'cups' for Collier's keg. This little gadget here open the top of a standard beer can without creating sharp edges (I'm guessing due to those little doo-hickies in the center), so you can drink keg Miller Lite out of a Miller Lite can. Kind of a cool, little toy.

Ella definitely being a Fifth Wheel, here.

Mees gets a couples pic of ours kids and their respective male counterparts.

Cannonball group selfie.

Later on in the evening, this is how we closed out the night for the last couple hours.

Adding even more wood to the fire (Collier was starting to get nervous we'd go through his entire reserve of firewood this evening, and the way Cory kept adding wood to this thing you'd think that was the plan all along.)

Overseeing fire safety protocols.

Took a pic of this rager to send to Morgan, who, by far, builds the biggest fires of this group (they decided to stay back this evening and hang out around the house, so they didn't turn out this year.)

Sebastian grills up some more brats over the fire (this kid ate, like, eight dinners and was still hungry - I don't know how his parents keep him and his twin brother fed.)

So there you go, gang - that's this year's Collierpaooza. Kris and I took off around 11:30pm or so, seeing how I had to be up somewhat early the next morning for the Midland Memorial Day Parade, which Erik and I would once again be marching in a long with the Midland Freemasons. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment. . .

- Brian

Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year's Eve, America!

Mitch, overseeing the finish touches on the evening spread in his kitchen.

Tonight marks the end of the Holiday Season (at least for us, not sure how the rest of the world sees it.) Since being back in Michigan, we've made a conscious effort to celebrate the last holiday of the year with friends: the first several years we kept things low key with our old college friends, Smitty and Rita, then slowly built it up to a larger affair involving our local friends as well. The last time we hosted a New Year's Eve party was 2022, and since then - following a one-off hosting by the Larsons in 2023 - the Bos family has taken over (just like they did with St. Patrick's Day) as we took a step back on hosting huge parties at our house (the lone exception, of course, being our Halloween parties.)

The snack/dessert offerings on the Bos kitchen island - perfect for grazing. 

This year played out the same as the year before, with folks rolling in around 7pm and leaving about an hour after the Ball Drop. We got stuck playing Mind the Gap until about five minutes before midnight this time around, and consequently ran out of time getting the champagne toast together. Most of us missed the Countdown - as you can see from the video I got at the end of the night, we weren't even in the room to document it at all - but whatever, we'll make a point of being more on top of it next year.

The usual suspects were all on hand tonight, the exception being the Sheahans (who are usually out of town with their extended family for this holiday) and the MacLeods, who were racked with Covid this year. The rest of the tribe turned out in full force, though, and as always we had more than enough food (and drink) on hand to keep everybody thoroughly satisfied.

So here's 2025's last hurrah with the Houghs, folks - enjoy. . .

Mitch went with a Taco Bar again for this year's New Year's Eve bash, with beef, pork, and chicken options.

Multiple chips and dips, most of which were brought by other families as they arrived.

Bacon wrapped elk and other random meats, courtesy of Erik. We can't cook like this so, for the second year in a row, we donated the midnight toast for the party, bringing multiple bottles of champagne (for the adults) and a variety of sparkling grape juice (for the minors.)

Still chugging away at this 12 Milkshake Stouts of Christmas. I was saving this bad boy for a special occasion, and it did not disappoint.

We were the first couple to arrive this evening, getting there right at 7pm (we were ready to rock and roll at like 4pm, having nothing else going on during earlier in the day), but everyone else showed up over the course of the next 20-30 minutes.

This was the first year Alayna opted to go celebrate the holiday with her friends instead of her family, heading over to Lexi's house where they were having a small party with girls from school. I have no idea who this dog is, but he/she apparently enjoyed Alayna's company.

Collier, Lonnie Big Balls, Big E and Baby Driver, standing around the island in the kitchen (our usual hangout spot when the weather isn't ideal for hanging out back under the gazebo.)

A variety of booze on hand for folks to play around with (I attempted to be responsible and stuck to just beer this evening.)

Another tribe party, another chance for Collier's much-loved kegorator to shine. Mitch bought a quarter barrel of Short's Local Light (their light beer), and it lasted all night (with folks drinking other stuff it didn't get as much use as it had at previous parties.)

Meanwhile, over at Lexi's, the girls got a few pics in (not much, as Alayna doesn't take as many pics as Abby and I do, but I included what I found in her photo gallery.)

Sure sure where those fishnet gloves came from, but whatever.

Abby took forever getting around for the evening, and was getting a ride from Ella to the Bos' house. Before she left the house, Kris made her take a picture proving that she had remembered to unplug all of her hair accessories before she left the house. She's left them plugged in before after assuring us she'd unplugged everything, and we really, really don't want our house to burn down.

Collier, Holty, and Lonnie, filling up plates in the kitchen.

Mitch and Morgan

Decisions, decisions.

The dinner rush in full swing, with multiple groups of teenagers finally rolling in.

The Gruesome Twosome

Post-dinner, before anyone started getting into activities and/or games, just sitting around and catching up.

Kelli decided to break out some liqueur shot with a cream topping that was supposed to look like little beers (which they did.)

My wife is a special woman.

With the kitchen and dining room packed with people, some of us ventured into the living room where the Dick Clark Rockin' New Year's Eve thing was streaming on the TV. I made sure to notify the moms when this legendary boy band popped up on the TV, which they were super excited about.

Singing along to 4 Non Blondes, another mom favorite.

Another girl pic over at Lexi's.

Erik, his cousin and her husband, and Kelli.

A couple card games broke out, which usually happens with this group.

Erik peeks into the TV room to see what everyone else is up to.

Danielle and Kris, deep in convo.

Mitch brought up a card table to accommodate a second game of Euchre (right in the middle of the entryway.)

Collier, Morgan and Kelli

Someone was decapitated at the Nativity. I smell foul play.

Larsons vs. Boses

Erik, Courtney, Mees and Erik's cousin (I always forget her name.)

Collier, Brandon and Lonnie

Once the card games wrapped up, everyone assembled in the dining room for another wives vs. husbands match of Mind the Gap. . .

Brandon reads the womenfolk their next trivia question.

Like I've said before, multiple times: the Kings of the Hill always win this game.

Yours Truly was tasked with a Challenge Card at one point, and had to impersonate Mick Jagger for my team. . .

We got it.

The women take their next question.

Kris' turn to tackle a Challenge Card. She was supposed to do the Hustle dance (which, I guess, is a real thing - I didn't know it, either.)

Mitch, who had been steadily drinking bourbon for the last couple hours, was starting to fade at this point. . .

Kris starts distributing sparkling grape juice to kids.

Gathering up champagne for the Countdown (which, as stated before, we totally missed.)

About the best we got this year. Oh well.

Post- Ball Drop

Some wives get a group pic in the kitchen

The Houghs

Not sure what's happening here. . . maybe they're feeling her sweater?

Folks beginning to head out at the end of the night.

Mees was getting tired at the end of the night (according to her, the pinot grigio she always drinks makes her tired), so she decided to just lie down right there on the kitchen floor.

It was the perfect opportunity to break out my old wrestling moves.

Collier, walking around with one of the Bos family's dogs, Penny. For whatever reason.

Hanging out in the dining room at the end of the night.

Collier, Erik and I went upstairs to check on Mitch at the end of the night - he had inexplicably disappeared and no one knew where he was.

So no late-night tri-tip for folks to enjoy. Not that anyone had any space left in their guts at this point anyway.

I guess Mitch slept like this in this chair in his bedroom 'til like 5am (which couldn't have been comfortable), then moved to his bed. Thus concludes another New Year's Eve, and another year, with the Tribe. Here's to 2026, and hopefully a ton of awesomeness for our future. . .

- Brian