Check Out Neighbor's Extensive Holiday Lights Display At Corner Of NE 41st Street And 42nd Avenue NE

4103 42nd Avenue NE

            

Don't miss checking out the holiday lights and displays at the corner of of 42nd Avenue NE and NE 41st Street, home of the Rupps.

Jim Rupp was born and raised in Laurelhurst. His parents lived in the neighborhood from 1938 to 1986. Jim bought the house in 1983 and lives there with his wife, Susan.

The Rupps told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff that the work to decorate the house begins around Thanksgiving when Jim starts assembling everything in the garage and testing lights. It takes about three weekends to get everything prepared, up and working.

The display includes: Icicle lights along the gutters, 3 deer, 3 snowmen, two stars, a shooting star, 3 wreaths, 3 Christmas trees, a little moose, 2 polar bears, lighted candy canes, a Santa, a collection of net lights, and lots of other lights.

"Jim stays off the roof, so no decorations there, and we don’t include inflatables," the Rupps said.

The tradition of decorating the house started before  their kids were born, prior to 1996, when they had just a few outdoor lights.

"Then Jim inherited a long ladder from his parents, and in 2000 when we remodeled the house got longer and we added more outdoor outlets and built the raised garden. The display gradually grew and grew," the Rupps said.

The display has evolved over the years and a basic plan is drawn out on a set of house drawings left over from the construction of a new addition.

"Every year the arrangement changes a little, mostly on a whim or because older pieces no longer work. In many years we’ve added a new piece. Last year it was a snowman. This year it’s a new deer. In many cases pieces have been early Christmas gifts from Susan’s mom," the Rupps added.

The Rupps also told the Laurelhurst Blog staff :

People always ask how it affects our electric bill. We don’t pay any attention to that. It would take some of the fun out of it. We enjoy looking out the window and seeing cars slow down as they pass.  

When the kids were young we’d invite a group of friends and their kids over for the first lighting. Jim would turn on the lights, then the kids would all come outside and see them for the first time. Many children remember the display from the year before and can point out what’s new or what we’ve done differently.  

Many times at neighborhood parties when we talk with people we don’t know, they ask where we live. Once we say it’s on the corner at the bottom of the hill, many say, “Oh, you’re the house with the Christmas lights!” At one party a dad called his little boy over to meet Jim. The kid was impressed. It was pretty cute.

The Rupps don't decorate for other holidays "except for a seasonal flag."

The house is located at 4103 42nd Avenue NE.

If you know of other houses in the neighborhood that neighbors would enjoy seeing, please send the information to laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com