I won! I won! I won!

Ooops!  I mean "WE" won! 

Our neighborhood was holding a "Best Decorated House" contest for outdoor Christmas decor.  A challenge I was secretly hoping to win, but not holding my breath. We have 180 homes in this neighborhood!  That's a lot..and we have one house that REALLLLY puts Clarke W. Griswold to shame.  Seriously! 

Plus, Rookie somehow managed to accidentally forget to help me decorate the outside of the house this year, which meant no lights around the upper windows. 

However, the kids helped me and they are TERRIFIC and enthusiastic helpers! 

Truly!!  Pretty soon--they can be the one on the ladder and not me. 

I love Christmas, and take my decorating seriously--I firmly believe it must look good in the light of day and at night!!!  

Anyway--back to my winning.  So, I never heard anything, and based on what I saw around the neighborhood I assumed I'm wasn't going to.  But a week after New Years, I got a knock and the door and a $50.00 gift card to the Home Depot was delivered to me! 

I know!  Wow! Awesome!  Yippee!

 I never really got a good picture of the front of the house, but this is of the porch...and not even very good.  But I do think it looked good.

However, I am going to have to step it up for next year.  The pressure is ON!  And I am determined to stretch my winning streak to two!  However...my stuff is old...I need some added life.....I might have to get ALL NEW STUFF to really wow! 

What'd think honey?  Are you with me?!?!