SUN CITY – When they said “Deck the Halls,” Dave Mathis and his wife took the saying very seriously.
Dave and his wife live in Neighborhood 11, and it’s unlikely you’d have a problem finding their home. It’s “decked out” in some 7000 LED lights with numerous holiday characters set up all over the lawns and framing the home. They have continued this tradition for the past thirty years. However, last year, when they took their granddaughter to Disneyland, the neighbors wondered what happened to them, as they hadn’t put up their lights then.
7,000 LEDs light up the Mathis family home this holiday season. And there is more inside! (Photos by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
Dave and his wife have lived in the Sun City community since 2001. Prior to that, they “lit up” St. Charles for about ten years, and prior to that, Elgin for ten years.
When asked if they continue to purchase Christmas items for their collection, Dave said, “We’ve maxed out.”
Through the years, they’ve inspired their neighbors, but Dave assured that, “They won’t catch up to us.” Up until about four years ago, they had used the regular light bulbs in their decorations, and the electric bill was high. But now he has replaced his lighting with LED lights, which are much cooler and safer, and there’s only about a fifty dollar difference in the bill now. He ordered his LED lights from China, but now he can find them in local stores. The regular lighting was too expensive and they would often pop due to the moisture and temperature.
“The inside of the house has just as many lights,” Dave added. “It’s like a paradise, and with animated snowmen who talk and play the piano. We have one seven-foot tree and six other trees in the house. One tree has Barbie dolls who are animated also.” There’s a small six-footer that his only granddaughter gets to decorate. Dave’s wife also has a collection of about fifty Santa Clauses.
“This year I wanted to put up laser beams, but the FAA regulations wouldn’t allow it, due to the airplanes.”
In preparation for this colossal decorating feat, Dave starts November 1st, depending on the weather, and begins with the roof and then goes on from there. The assembled decorations are hung from the garage ceiling while the others are taken apart and put in ten or twelve bins and stored. “We decorate for Halloween also, but with not nearly as much as for Christmas.”
When it comes to taking it all down, they bring the lawn decorations into the garage, close the door, box them up, put them away, and then collect another bunch of decorations and repeat the process. “It comes down quicker than it goes up,” remarked Dave.
Dave said they turn on the lights at 4:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and the lighting begins December 1 and continues through January 2. Take a break from your gift wrapping, and check them out.
