Now that there's a break in the schedule, the Johnson families are eager to kick back, relax, and enjoy the holiday season.

Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson will be home in South Florida enjoying a special menu item.

“For Thanksgiving, the Johnsons like to eat steaks instead of turkey,” revealed Julie Johnson, mom to Jorja and JW. “I pick up some really good grass-fed filets from New Zealand at the local butcher, but we make all the other traditional sides.”

What about dessert?

“We always fight over how many pies I’m supposed to make because I don’t want to make more than two. They’re so much work. I make them from scratch, and I don’t like having to make multiple, but everyone has their favorites,” added Julie. “JW likes cherry and apple, Jack likes apple, Jorja likes chocolate and pumpkin, which would be five pies, so I’m making them pick two.”

“My favorite side dish is mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing,” mentioned Jorja. 

“Jorja’s boyfriend, Jonathan Truong, is going to be there, plus my sister and her family, so it’s going to be a full house,” noted Julie.  

Will there be any pickleball on Thanksgiving Day?

“Sometimes we’ve gone in the mornings and played, but I don’t think this year we will,” confirmed Julie. “We’re coming off a three-week stretch and we’re going to enjoy eating all day.”

Jorja shared that the Johnsons like to do a viral Internet challenge to spice things up during the day.

“A year ago, we did the One Chip Challenge that went viral on TikTok where you have to eat this really spicy chip and not drink anything after. JW did it and threw up his entire Thanksgiving dinner,” she said. “We definitely won’t do that again this year. Maybe we’ll keep it easy with a movie or something.” 

Brothers Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson, meanwhile, will be visiting the family lake house on Canyon Lake in Texas with their parents, cousins, and some friends. 

“We’ll go on the boat, maybe do a little surfing, and eat some turkey,” said Jeff Johnson, Hunter and Yates’ dad. “My favorite thanksgiving side has to be the green bean casserole. You can’t beat it. My wife, Dawn, is the chef in the family and she goes all out.”

“The stuffing is my favorite,” stated Yates. “Though we have a running joke in our family because one year my mom forgot about the stuffing and we were so mad. She got everything else right, but she just forgot to make stuffing, so now we tease her about it every year. But I love pumpkin pie.”

Will there be any pickleball during the Thanksgiving celebration?

“Our parents like to play with the cousins and neighbors, but I try to take advantage of the holidays to reset and hit the gym,” mentioned Yates.

Jeff, however, is pretty confident he’ll get them on the court over the holiday.

“We like to play some pickleball, and this year I’m gonna kick their butts and teach them a thing or two,” he said. 

Happy Thanksgiving from Pickleball.com!

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