Hooker Texas Ranger: The Big Reveal: Quigley Side

On Christmas Eve, we traveled from South Dayton to Rochester to stay with my family for a while. Keep in mind that at this point, I had kept the secret from my parents for more than 2 months. I...was...ready...to...burst. I told Lee that we had to figure out a way to have them open their gifts that night because I wasn't going to be able to wait another second. I was going to force it if I had to.

Here was the scenario: Christmas Eve, which means Christmas Eve service at 6 pm. Ben and Jackie may or may not come over before the service. I want to tell them all before because then we can tell people at church that night too, and not have to hold it in until Sunday. My parents are due to arrive home from work sometime around 5. Yes, it was going to be a tight fit...

By some miracle, Ben and Jackie decided to come before service to see us and hang out for a bit (check!). My parents arrived home on time (check!). My dad wanted to leave super early for service but I half-lied and said we had gifts that they could use at the service that night so they had to open them now...which is only a half-lie because technically they could use the information gained from the gifts in conversation with people at church. It took some convincing, but I finally got everyone corralled in the living room downstairs (check!). This time, I had learned from my previous mistake, and I had my phone with me and ready to go (check!). Let the fun begin!

Remember these encoded gifts?

Each was wrapped in the same wrapping paper, and we handed them out all at once. We told them to open them, and then sat back to watch the realization occur. Here's the video, sorry it's so small:

After the video, there was a similar response to what we experienced at the Hooker’s…laughing, hugging, etc. Later on, when we watched the video, we got some insight into their responses.

Dad: He said that when he first saw the Pampered Chef box, he thought the microplane grater on the outside was a cell phone holder for his cell phone while he preached. When he opened it and saw the soap, he realized we were up to something. His comment, “Oh I can use this in church,” he says, was just his way of trying to keep the prank alive so he wouldn’t spoil it for the others. He didn’t actually put it all together until he saw the other gifts.
Jackie: Just happy to be getting hair care products with her name on it, I think. ;)
Mom: Clueless, until my dad blurted out his discovery that we were pregnant. Still clueless as to why she has cookies until the name dawns on her. “Grandma’s cookies. Oh, finally!” As in, “I finally get it.”
Ben: As you can see, he thought we were lying - and probably still does - even though I now have a belly the size of a blue whale.