Friendsgiving 2024–Pickleball Men’s Style!

Okay, peeps.

Never had I ever expected to prep an entire Thanksgiving meal to be consumed at 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, but…this morning, it happened! 

All because I love this crazy hubby o’ mine, and, man, was he excited.

Now. To rewind…

My hubby has always been fanatical about athletic pursuits, and in recent years, pickleball has been King for him.

Yes, absolutely, I mock him relentlessly (my wifely job, ha).

And, yes, absolutely, it drives me up a flippin’ wall sometimes to have to support, enable and accommodate his 5-6 mornings a week to go play for two-plus hours—especially when it involves heavier loads on my part, like getting the kiddos ready and to school when he’s already off playing, and dealing with Coda puppy at a ridiculously early time on Saturday mornings because his pickleball alarm wakes her.

OYE.

All that said…it’s hard to argue against the blessings this particular pursuit has brought into his life.

Though we’ve been settled in SA for years, the hubby’s one wish for fuller socialization had always been to connect with a group of guy friends beyond any who were colleagues.

There are neighbors we are friendly with, and people we know and enjoy through our kiddos, but my crazy hubby really longed for a group of rowdy guys to literally play with—something, anything!—since athletics are his thing, and pickleball has truly gifted him those guys, in spades.

When I tell you that he spends more time texting on his group chat than our tween daughter, I’m legit not lying.

It’s a good thing I’ve met these men and know my hubby so well, or I’d worry by the delight on his face that he’s texting a mistress, ha.

I mean, the JOY and the boyishness they get through their trash talking and communication, even when they’re not seeing one another every freaking morning, is hysterical.

It’s been a wonderful (if infuriating) outlet.

So…last week, when the hubby mentioned his guys were trying to organize a Friendsgiving tournament and meal of some sort, I knew it was time for a grand gesture to help him have his dudes over to the house, like he’d been wanting to do for some time. But on my terms, ha.

They planned a whole Thanksgiving theme, the tournament was originally planned for a slightly later start so the food could be timed for a late brunch, and then…they needed to re-book at different courts, the start time bumped up, and…early, early food happened, ha.

On a regular holiday, I find it impossible to prep/cook/bake everything the day of. With a morning feast happening?? Pffft. I legitimately cooked for hours on Thursday and Friday. Cooking, then cleaning and re-setting. Then repeat!

So by this morning, the only thing to officially deal with was the ham—plus re-heating allllllll the sides I’d already made.



It was a funny, funny sight so early in the day, tehe.









But, MAN, can a bunch of grown dudes who just played three hours of pickleball pack it in, no matter the time of day! Second helpings for most of them, and thirds for my hubby, who loves this meal. :)





I’m so, so grateful my dear, insane hubby has found these lovely and crazy men to be athletic buds. Several of them sent such kind messages after the meal. It was the perfect way to kick off this Thanksgiving week of celebrations, and well worth the time and effort! And excellent way to remind us of allllll the blessings in our lives: friends, food, a beautiful family and home to host these occasions. :)

Ready to continue onward with an attitude of gratitude—and to make the hubby do whatever I ask, since I just put in so much work on his behalf! ;)

Happy Weekend, peeps!

Over and out.