'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Season's Greetings, folks.

So here we are at long last - the pinnacle of the Holiday Season. Technically tomorrow morning is the big event, but since it's basically just two hours of gift-opening followed by a short visit to Mom's, we've always looked at Christmas Eve as a bigger deal. Like I've said before, with our girls being older now, the enjoyment of watching kids tear into a mountain of presents has been replaced with teens patiently opening up a handful of far more expensive gifts in a fraction of the time, then disappearing to their rooms to FaceTime with friends and compare their presents. 

I miss buying, wrapping, and giving out toys so damn much.

As I've stated before, we've been making this Christmas Eve of ours a Laginess extended family event for the last nine or ten years, hosting an informal drop-in and stay however long you want sort of a deal for whomever is around. I cook up a giant turkey, we offer up a table full of sides, desserts and various Holiday booze, and have crafts and activities (like gingerbread house making) for folks. Some years we have a house full of folks, other years it's just one or two relatives, and each year more or less plays out the same.

A morning coffee with Kris and Samson before I had to prep the turkey. . .

This year, neither Kris nor myself were really feeling the whole 'hosting' thing, so we didn't really invite anyone over, aside from Kris' niece, Victoria, who lives in Midland now. This was fine for us, since the turkey that we had - a 12 pound Butterball I had won the month before in a trivia challenge at work - was smaller and wouldn't have been able to feed a dozen or so relatives while still having enough to make the couple leftover meals that I usually make the week after Christmas (Southwestern Turkey Soup, etc.)

As a result, it was a lot more chill this year. I took far fewer pictures than I usually do (hence this being a much shorter post than in previous years), we had more down time in which to focus on other things, and we even managed to squeeze in a traditional church service in the evening after everyone had left.

All in all, it was another solid Christmas Eve for the Houghs, as you can ascertain from the following pictures.

Enjoy. . .

Prepping the turkey with my usual 'Michigander Home style Turkey' recipe. . .

It's on Allrecipes.com, in case you're curious - it's always a hit. I dry-brine the turkey for a few days before doing the actual pre-roasting prep work, which makes the meat super tender and moist.

After a half an hour of prep-work, I threw the turkey in the oven (tented in foil) for three hours. I didn't flip the turkey upside down his year, nor did I remove the foil for the last half hour of roasting in order to brown the skin - the skin was already pulled taught from the dry-brining this year, and I didn't want to risk it splitting.

Our food table, pre-food set up (I was just testing the SLR's settings.)

From left to right: Alayna's, Sebastian's, and Abby's gingerbread houses from the day before.

Some of the cookies and sweets that were given to us from various friends and co-workers over the last week or two.

Some gingerbread mulled wine, all warmed up and ready for mugs.

A classic Holiday offering that folks always forget about, I frickin' love it.

In the late morning, as food was being prepped and folks began getting around for the day, Kris gave the girls a small, combo gift to open. . .

A custom, 520-piece puzzle of our two dogs, hanging out in the Study. Kris figured this would be a fun activity for us to do during the downtime throughout the day.

Opening up some gift cards from Grandma Marcy.

We decided to start the puzzle in the basement shortly after lunch, and, seeing how it was after noon and everything, I deemed it time to crack open one of my all-time favorite Holiday beers.

Hard at work.

Kris and Abby popped in from time to time to help out, but most of this undertaking was tackled by the Cannonball and I.

Around 3pm, I took the turkey out of the oven and prepared to carve it up into white, dark, and leftover meat (for the soup I want to make next week.)

Had this spinning while I was taking care of my turkey duties - hard rock Christmas staple.

The finished product (which Alayna hammered out all by herself in the basement.) The books and cabinets (and dogs) were pretty easy, but the chairs were a pain in the ass.

With the turkey done and the food being set out for guests, we had some more down time, so I had a beer and put on my second favorite Christmas movie (which I prefer to stream off YouTube, which has the full version of the video plus all the commercial breaks with the original 1987 commercials included.)

Rock and roll.

About an hour later, Victoria, her boyfriend Stephen, and their respective kids (Julian and Sophia) showed up to hang out for a bit. Kris bought each kid a present so they'd have something to open up while they were over.

Sophia showing Vic her new stuffed animal (that of course talks.)

Since the Johnsons are basically family, we invited them over for a few drinks and snacks. They were in the same boat as us, just killing time before they were heading out to an evening church service (they go to Trinity Lutheran, across town.)

Ella and Abby

Kris got a super awesome deal with our local hockey team, the Saginaw Spirit, during Black Friday. Six tickets for the price of two, something like that. She decided to make it a combo gift so each girl got three tickets, which allows them to go together once, and once each with a boyfriend or something, or any combination thereof, depending on how they want to do it. Both girls are super into hockey, so this was a no-brainer. 

Back upstairs, grazing at the snack table and having some drinks while we killed time before the church services.

Abby keeps the kids from wandering into the Study, where the kids would probably break a bunch of shit (you know, 'cause they're toddlers and toddlers are wild animals.)

Erik, Courtney and Kris.

These two cannot hang out together without regressing to a six-year-old mindset.

The current state of Alayna's walls. She's got a knack for decor, I'll give her that much.

After Vic and her fam took off, and the Johnsons set off for their own church service, it was time for us to load up and drive downtown for the traditional, 7pm service (Abby and Kris both wanted to go to this one this year, and Alayna and I were indifferent as always.)

The candlelight service at First United Methodist. Unlike the half-hour, carol-based services we've gone to in previous years, this was a full, hour-long service, just with more music and no sermon (which I was more than okay with.)

It was packed to the gills inside the sanctuary, so we had to take seats upstairs in the balcony (which we've only done on a handful of occasions in the last decade.)

After the service, I nabbed a pic of Kris and the girls on our way out of the church.

Back home, we had a few more things to knock off the ol' Christmas Eve Check List before turning in for the night. . .

Put this bad boy on as we started off into our end-of-the-day routine. I discovered it a couple years ago, it's phenomenal.

Opening up the traditional Christmas Eve presents (pajamas as always, just like every other family in the United States.)

Kris had these pants custom made on Etsy, featuring Watson's face and his favorite Bark Box toy, St. Pickelous (a pickle with a Santa hat on it, Watson was obsessed with it.)

Kris also threw in matching, black shirts for everyone - just something basic as to not distract from the pants.

I was already wearing a black shirt throughout the day, so we took one with my old first. . . but Kris didn't like it so she forced me to change into a second black shirt (the one she got me when she bought hers and the girls' shirts.) Happy wife, happy life.

The Houghs' annual Christmas Eve pic.

We forced the girls to wind-down and sequester themselves to their bedrooms at 9:30pm so that Kris and I could bring up and set out all the gifts and stockings before turning in ourselves. As tradition dictates, we put on my all-time favorite Christmas movie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, while we set to work.

Wouldn't be Christmas Eve without a Merry Irishman. . .

The gifts all set out under the tree. Didn't take as long this year because, like I explained earlier, there are far fewer gifts now that each of the girls' presents have, like, quadrupled in price (at the very least.)

This feeling perfectly sums up the vibe of Christmas Eve, once everything is finished for the coming morning.

The stage is set for Christmas Morning. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment, gang. . .

- Brian

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve, Everybody.

Guys, this was a really, really weird Holiday Season for Yours Truly. I'm usually a gung-ho Christmas sort of guy, in the vein of Clark Griswold. For nearly two months, I'm on Cloud 9 as our culture becomes enamored with gift-shopping, Christmas music, festive decorations and lights everywhere, and way too much feasting and drinking. Nobody enjoys the Holiday Season more than me.

But alas, that wasn't really the case this time around.

Remnants from the previous evening's ill-planned debauchery with the guys. . . 

I'm not really sure what my deal was, but I never got excited about the Holidays this year. Wasn't feelin' the ol' Christmas spirit, if you will. Kris and I talked about it a few times, because she - uncharacteristically - got super into the Holidays this year, but I theorized my lack of spirit might have be related to a few different factors. 

Many, many mistakes were made last night. Rest assured.

First, it's been like 50 degrees, rainy, and gross outside for the last few weeks. It's like living in f***ing Seattle. There's nothing 'Christmas' about murky, overcast skies, excessive rain, and absolutely no snow to speak of. Atmosphere counts for a lot, and everybody loves a White Christmas, which - thanks to Global Warming - is a rarity anymore (I think since we've been back in Michigan, we've had one.)

Sleepy, cranky teenagers start moving about when Kris gets breakfast going. 

Secondly, it's not as fun buying gifts for my family anymore. Kris never wants to exchange presents, only wanting to exchange stockings, because she's not a huge gift person and doesn't enjoy buying gifts for folks. Which, you know, is kind of a big part of the Holiday Season. Me, I love buying folks gifts, so usually I get really into buying gifts for my kids. Unfortunately, now that they're teenagers, there's no longer a mountain of toys to get excited about under our Christmas Tree - now each kid opens, like, a dozen or so super-expensive, smaller-size gifts and then disappears back into their bedrooms for the remainder of the day.

Samson attempts to wake up Alayna, who slept in until almost noon.

Yay, Christmas.

So yeah, waking up on Christmas Eve I wasn't as amped as I usually am. Granted, some of that had a lot to do with the previous night's shenanigans with the Inner Five (minus Morgan), but also the aforementioned loss of Holiday Spirit. Nevertheless, Christmas Eve was upon us, and we had a lot of hosting duties to see to.

Like we've done almost every year since moving back to Michigan,

I put the turkey in the oven around 10:30am, after Kris was done using it. 

Kris and I hosted the Laginess branch of her family. Because she wanted to go to the 4pm Family Service at First United Methodist Church (the half-hour service where it's mostly singing Christmas carols and nativity pageant stuff, etc. - no boring sermons or anything like that), Kris invited folks over later in the morning because we'd be kicking everyone out earlier than usual. This meant we still had girls showering for the day when folks began to arrive, but at least we had most of the food out by then.

So check it out, gang - here's another Christmas Eve at the Hough house. Enjoy. . .

The Inner Five families got their own section of our Christmas Card display this year.

This year had the biggest turnout of folks to date: Marcy, Mickey and her husband, Dennis, along with Mickey's daughter, Crystal, and her fiance, Brandon, and with all three of Crystal's kids - Victoria, Scarlett, and Kyan - Scarlett's boyfriend (forget his name), and Victoria's son, Julian.

The first round of food. Kris would eventually make a charcuterie board and some cheesy potatoes, and obviously the turkey (which would be cooking in the oven until 2-3pm-ish.

After everyone had arrived, Marcy broke out all the Christmas Cookie supplies so that folks had to something to do while they ate and hung out. Kris offered to hang on to Julian so Victoria could get a break from parenting and actually visit with people.

(He ate far more than he decorated.)

Alayna finally gets out of the frickin' shower. . .

I did my usual thing where I prepared food in the kitchen all day, and occasionally floated about shoving an SLR into folks' faces. . .

We ran out of chairs, even with all the additional seating.

These were like Christmas Trees. . . I guess?

Scarlett and her boyfriend, Random Guy.

The Cannonball and her go-to camera move these days.

Still decorating.

(Abby isn't following instructions, she's 'making a Starfish.')

Abby, Marcy and Alayna

Samson has to be picked up from time to time for hugs. He's a weird dog.

Made up some mulled wine this year - about two bottles go into a crock pot, but it took forever to warm up. Next year I'll start it a couple hours in advance.

Serving up more cheese and meats while folks continue to decorate cookies.

Victoria, Julian, and decades-old Duplo blocks.

Alayna and her 'Christmas Tree.'

Scarlett and Random Guy's work.

After decorating was all done, folks sat around and played some conspiracy theory card game Kris found at Marshall's one time - one of those laid-back party games you can break out to kill time with.

I offered to keep an eye on Julian while they sat around and played this card game. I'm doing it right, correct?

After their game, they requested the usual group pic, so Kris had me set up my camera in The Study.

Some folks always ask for additional pics (since I have a nice camera), so here's Mickey and Dennis (and their dog that they brought along with them.)

The twins, Mickey and Marcy.

Kris' cousin, Crystal, with her fiance, Brandon.

Kris and Marcy.

Abby is a bizarre child. . .

We were constantly shutting doors behind this kid so he didn't wander off.

Can't say I remember a lot of Christmas Eve's where the Detroit Lions were playing. Let alone winning.

Dennis and I, watching the game.

Ol' Crazy Eyes Kris.

After three hours, I took off the aluminum foil in order to bronze the skin a bit, give it that nice golden finish. Let that for another 30-40 minutes before taking it out of the oven to sit for ten minutes.

Like last year, I cooked the turkey upside down (this time on purpose), which allowed the juices to seep down into the breast meat more. This year's turkey might be my best ever, even better than last year's.

Just straight-up crushing it in the kitchen this year. . .

While I began the long, arduous process of carving the turkey, Kris had the girls give Marcy her Christmas present in the living room. . .

A photo frame collage with all her grandkids.

Mickey and Julian, abusing Abby's old Star Wars toys. . .

I made to-go tupperwares of turkey for everyone, but still had a shit-load leftover - more than we can possibly finish off ourselves - separated into white and dark meats.

Folks get ready to head out, as it gets closer to the time when we have to go leave for church.

Once everyone left and we got to the church, I began doodling in the pews. I drew a pic of a dude playing guitar and when the girls asked me why I was drawing something like that, Kris responded sarcastically that he was clearly 'rocking out for Jesus.' 'Cause, you know, that's something people do.

A short time later, we were back home. I forgot to get a proper pic of the girls' Christmas Trees earlier (I think.)

Time for the annual opening of Christmas Eve presents (which Kris once again picked out.)

Simple, fleece pajama pants this year - nothing fancy.

Not sure what the hell's going on with Abby's face, here. . .

Oh, and they got weird pajama shirts, too.

With everyone decked out in new pajamas, it was time once again for the annual Hough Family Christmas Eve Portrait.  Here's one of the many throw-away pics I took while getting the camera settings adjusted.

The Houghs, 2023.

Next up in our annual Christmas Eve tradition marathon was the opening of Marcy's presents for the girls. She got them each gift certificates to the Midland Cinemas, along with a ton of candy that they can sneak in whenever they decide to go.

She also got them giant, refillable popcorn buckets - like you can take this thing to the theater and fill it for $4, which is an insane deal.

Another installment in this year's Twelve Milkshake Stouts of Christmas.  This one was meh.

The Study - arguably the most festive room in the House.

Kris' coworker, Kim, made everyone in their office one of these wooden, Christmas trees with their last names on it. Stands about 30" tall, pretty nice piece of Christmas decor.

Samson is not amused.

Houghs on phones.

Kris bought her and Abby matching New York City pajama pants (you know, 'cause they went on that trip last Spring Break.)

Kris enjoys herself a sangria out of some glass she got from. . . somewhere.

Houghs. In full-blown couch mode.

We returned to tradition and had Yours Truly read through the two-page poem, The Night Before Christmas (or whatever the hell it's called - it's long.)

The girls both retired to their rooms for the night around 8:30pm - we had them do so a half-hour earlier than usual because Kris and I were both exhausted from the previous twenty-four hours. It only took us, like, twenty minutes to set up the stockings and presents - putting bows on everything and arranging it under the tree. And, as always, we put on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation in the background - my all-time favorite Christmas movie.

Years ago, this used to take us an hour to set up everything, but that was back when the girls had far more presents under the tree since everything they were getting for Christmas was cheaper (toys, crafts, games, etc.) 

We paused the movie at this part, right before Cousin Eddy arrives for the second half of the movie. Kris and I were falling asleep on the couch, so we shut everything down and turned in for the night. At 10:30pm.  Because we're old.

- Brian