Christmas spirit just keeps growing

[scamper]

I am only now beginning to realise just what the Christmas spirit is all about.
This only being my second year at synchronised lights. And up until now I have just put up lights just for the pretty colours... I have always just thrown lights around willy nilly and looked like any other person gooing and gahing over all the flashing lights.
After last year, I was determined to make this something special, and eventually my wife came along for the ride.
Well this weekend has escalated into something I didn't expect.
Friday night started with my farther coming down (he lives 200km away as we live in a small country town) to have a look at our display, after discussing the display in great depth, we decided to go for a drive and check out some of the towns lights.
My wife hurt her knee a few months ago and decided to stay at home.
It was only when I received a text message from a customer saying how great our display was, that I realised there were a few more people driving via our house.
When we got home a couple hours later, my wife was sitting on the front patio and looked exhausted. She informed us that not long after we left, there was a constant stream of people stopping and coming up to the house to look at all of the decorations, lights and virtual santa.
We were not home on Saturday night, but the stream of cars did not subside according to neighbours.
Tonight, being a Sunday, I assumed it would be quiet. Boy was I wrong.
It started with a few cars driving by, then I looked into the security camera to see half a dozen cars parked out the front and music blaring as they had tuned into the radio and were sitting listening and watching.
I went out to hand out some candy canes and then as soon as I did, the people started hopping out of their cars and coming up for a closer look.
All of the remarks were how wonderful the display was and how they were telling everyone they know and coming back again.
I have seen all of the photos and heard all of the stories on here about the masses of traffic everyone has at there displays, but for a small town, I never expected this.
I can only imagine what Christmas eve is going to be like.

 

[lizardking]

great work Scamper i had sort of the same thing a young family turned up the night i got my snow machine the two boys hid behind mum for a while and they stood out of the way for about 10 mins i had turned the snow machine on a few times and other kids were playing in the snow my wife went out and offered the boys a few lollies and the mother said "oh no we couldnt " the wife told her it' ok we have plenty , the wife talked to the mum for a while and convinced the boys to go and play in the snow so i left it on for ages , they were covered in snow and laughed with the other kids .That bit made me smile then the mum came and said thank you for making her boys happy and smile i said photos and she said "NO" then i realised there was a problem there we gave the boys a drink each and they left , They came back the next night and played again and we were having a sausage sizzle i Gave the boys a sausage and a drink (no charge) when they were leaving the mother came and gave me a hug "infront of the wife lol' and said thanks for giving her back the christmas spirit as the boys father had never let them celebrate Christmas .It makes you wonder what sort of person would do that to their own kids and make you realise why we do this well now i know

 

[fasteddy]

If you build it they will come................and some times too many come

Its great to able to create memories for a life time

 

[scamper]

.It makes you wonder what sort of person would do that to their own kids and make you realise why we do this well now i know

I am only grasping at straws but I know that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate.

Either way, that is a great thing and I am loving it.
I am sure I will be in 2 minds when it is over, somewhat exhausted and relieved and also disappointed that we have to wait another 12months to do it all again.

 

[Jamie]

Great to hear of your increasing attendance. Year to year you will love seeing the families return children growing up and stories to be told... Enjoy and Merry Christmas...

 

[David_AVD]

We seem to be getting more traffic (cars, busses and people on foot) this year.

Having 7 out of 10 houses in the street with lights up has also meant more people are parking and walking around.

It is nice to hear positive comments from adults along with oohs, ahhs and squeals from the kids.

 

[MarcD]

This is the quietest year we've had so far. People are still coming, but not in the numbers they have in the past. Still, we're yet to come across anyone from two to 72 who doesn't love the sleigh. Unfortunately, you can't see the dashboard from the street, so we're constantly waving at people in cars to get them to come in.

A surprising number of parents tell their kids not to get to close/go in the sleigh. Hello! There's a huge set of steps beside it. When they do get in, the parents say don't touch anything. To which we reply, No, touch everything. Sometimes we start pushing buttons for them so they get the idea.

We've had a few screamers. Sometimes because they don't want siblings pressing the buttons. Often because they don't want to leave. We tell parents we have sleeping bags available. The other night, I overheard this kid about 15 say to his mum, this is the best Christmas ever.