1.  Why do you do this?
Some people have a great reason (Religious, family memories, etc).  Our reasons are pretty simple:  Ryan likes doing it all!  It's a fun hobby and something that brings a lot of people joy during the holidays.  Many people come by and see the decorations, and our home has become the "Christmas House" in our neighborhood. 

2.  So Ryan likes it... How about everyone else?
 Our daughters get a kick out of it as well, although our oldest (Kierstin) has decided that it's "a little excessive"... but she's a teenager so we expect that from her!  Everyone likes the display, although they tolerate (at best) Ryan's constant "Christmas talk".  They do get a little tired of watching TIVO'd Christmas HGTV specials, Christmas movies, and listening to Christmas music in the car year-round!

3.  What do your neighbors think?
No complaints so far!  Many come by with kids or grandkids and take pictures with the inflatables or in front of the yard.  They thought enough of the Christmas display to give us first place in the "Fairwood Christmas Decoration Contest" for 2006, 2007, AND 2008!  We did officially "retire" from the decorating contests (starting in 2009) so that others in Fairwood have the opportunity to show their holiday spirit and get some well-deserved recognition.  Ryan might even help with the judging in 2009!

4.  What's in your Christmas display?
In 2007, we had over 30,000 lights, twelve inflatables (ranging from 4 foot to 8 foot), many custom made pieces (Candy Cane elements, lighted arches, North poles, etc).  Ryan makes a lot of stuff, which allows him to keep his "habit" going all year long.  2007 was a very busy year: check out the 2007 Projects Page!

In 2008, we tripled the lights on the brickwork (added green and red strings to the multis), and a few more channels of computer control.  We also did 10 songs this year.  We did not do a Projects Page for 2008, because we just did not have the time!

So far, things are progressing well for 2009. 
Click here to follow us throughout the year as we plan for the big day!

5.  I saw that house dancing to music on the Miller Lite commercial!  Do you use animation in your display?
2007 was our first computer animated year.  We use Light-o-Rama for computer control and a dedicated computer to run it all.  We had 48 channels of computer control in 2007 and 64 channels in 2008.   For the elements we want to add in 2009, we increased our channels to 144!

6.  Your music was on my radio! 
How do you afford your own radio station?
 The music is transmitted to car stereos via a low-power FM transmitter made by Ramsey Electronics (and assembled by the one and only Marty Slack of Christmas Utah.  We broadcast on FM 94.1 (during 2007 & 2008- that could change year-to-year) up to 200 feet from the house.  Our station callsign is 94.1 Comet FM.  Why Comet?  Well, Comet is one of Santa's reindeer as everyone knows, but it also fits for Hayley... Hayley's Comet?  Get it?!  The callsign was recommended by our friends at Demented Elf Productions, who provided our voiceovers for our display.

In 2007 we ran six songs, in 2008 we ran ten songs, and in 2009 we are sequencing FIFTY ONE songs, which is a huge undertaking.

6.  What are you planning for the future?
We want to do a different musical theme each night during 2009, which means A LOT of sequencing for Ryan (don't let him kid you; he loves it!)  Ryan also has some ideas about our roof and yard which should add a lot to the display!  Ryan has wanted to make the display "interactive" (think walk through) for many years and recently had a light bulb go off (no pun intended) on how to do it in a very unique way.  We also purchased another 36,000 lights after Christmas 2008 (Note from Rachel:  Ryan bought them!  I have no idea where they're going or how they'll be used!). 
To see how things are going for 2009, click here!

7.  Where do you get ideas from?
Many of them just pop into Ryan's head.  We also get ideas from when the family loads up the van with blankets and a thermos of hot chocolate and goes out looking at lights (yes, people still do that!).  Ryan also belongs to a number of great Christmas decorating communities.  The best one is called Lone Star Holidays and is a great group of people that share this hobby all year long (and everyone is invited so go check it out!)  It's like AA for Christmas decorators! 

8.  How much does all of this stuff cost?
Honest to God, we have no idea and don't keep a total.  Know why?  First, it would be shocking.  Secondly, it takes the spirit out of it.  And even if we did know we wouldn't tell you... just because you're nosey!

9.  Don't you worry about vandals?
Yes, we do.  A few years back Ryan charged a group of kids down the street on December 23rd because they thought it would be great fun to pop our Frosty inflatable.  Ryan chased those kids to their car, and one of them got his foot run over by his "friends", who were taking off and not at all concerned if he was hurt or not.  If Ryan would have caught those kids they would have had much more to worry about than a foot!  So that got us thinking about security.  Now we use motion activated floodlights, security cameras, and many signs around the edge of the property to keep people out.  We also have great neighbors, who keep an eye out and yell at any kid who happens to stray into the yard.  We have not had one problem since we started taking security more seriously.

On a side note (from Ryan)... why is destroying stuff fun for kids these days?  When I was a kid we "corned" houses at Halloween (you know: throw the corn at the window or door and it makes a big racket, but doesn't break anything). I'll even admit that we would position people's lawn decorations (flamingos, sheep, etc) into less than family-friendly positions.  But we didn't go out to break things.  And we would NEVER have messed with someone's Christmas decorations... that's just bad karma.  That kind of karma could get you on Santa's naughty list... or you could get your foot run over!  (he he!)

10.  Don't you think it's kind of weird
to do Christmas stuff all year long?
Yes it is.  By the way, could you email me your hobby so I can make you feel weird/stupid/etc about it?  Thanks!