Christmas lights up Ruhenstroth

"I loved it cause it made me feel happy," 7-year-old Emily Carr said of this year's winner of the Christmas lighting contest in the neighborhood. Nine-year-old Hannah Carr and her friend, Hannah Rose Mott, said they "couldn't wait to get to it. It drew us in when we were coming down the street."

Ten-year-old Ethan Rickard liked the flickering lights and his sister, Alyssa, 12, said the decorations are "very colorful and bright with a cool entrance." 

Joe Brower, 10, said the yard was "very bright and colorful and a lot of work went into it." Six-year-old Alyssa Jenkins liked that they had lots of lights.

The judges are all talking about 1994 Mule Lane. Jim and Christine Beard have created a magical lighting display that all the children enjoyed. Some of the decorations have been received as gifts from friends over the years and "we add a few new pieces each year," Christine explains. Jim loves to decorate and has not finished putting everything out this year due to the extremely cold weather.

Second place is a tie between 700 and 701 Pinto Circle. The covered wagon at 700 Pinto Circle was a big hit. Joe Brower called it a Western Christmas house. The decorations at 701 Pinto also caught the children's attention. Brower said the yard "looked like a park with all the trees lit up." Hannah Rose Mott said "they put in a lot of hard work." Hannah and Emily Carr agreed and all like the lights all around the yard.

Hannah Carr also liked 189 Arabian Lane because it looked like a gingerbread house. She wanted to go through it "just like Hansel and Gretel."

A home on Rocking Horse Lane has a rocking horse in the yard and the Carr children and friend, Hannah Rose Mott, liked that they matched the name of the street to the decorations.  

Thank you to the parents for driving our judges around during the worst road conditions and cold temperatures we have had in a while. Thank you, Howie Althouse, for making the plaque honoring the winners. And a special thank you to all the neighbors who have put in a lot of time and effort to brighten our neighborhood with their Christmas spirit.

Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Reach Gail Davis at 265-1947 or RuhenstrothRamblings@yahoo.com