For the past 22 years, Sandra and John Tyndal’s residence has been known as the “house that decorates” or the “Christmas house” here in Westcreek. Sandra was inspired by her childhood experiences in Utah when her mother would take her to a local park to see the Christmas decorations. Memories of that happy time motivate Sandra to decorate her yard, recreating the displays bit by bit as she adds to the collections.
Her first decorations were the Nativity which was soon followed by the beginning of her collection of snowmen. For this year, the family has added Santa, a snowman and a penguin on a Christmas sled with pulled by a dog in a Santa hat. Sandra is inspired by finding something different for each year’s addition and in creating vignettes, each telling their own story. Visiting her yard, you will find the Nutcracker, Polar Express, the Nativity scene, a variety of Santas, Elf Landing, Snowmen, Christmas Gingerbread men, many penguins, and lots of lights. The fences are decorated as well, with many lights and a poinsettia wall. The process takes weeks to complete and involves her entire family, with her husband John, daughter Tricia, and grandson Micah taking active parts. The neighbors are also involved in wrapping lights, setting out candy canes or offering parts of their yard as the collection expands with animated reindeer.
When asked, Sandra admitted that most of her decorations are outside rather than inside her home. The outside decorations always come first – as her shirt says .’My favorite color is Christmas lights”. As the collection has grown, off season storage has moved from the attic to a larger storage building that also houses the decorations for Halloween, Easter, and the Fourth of July. Each month Sandra has a different wreath representing something special and unique. Her passion and enthusiasm for decorating brings her joy and reminds her of the warm feelings from her childhood.
The decorations this year will stay up a little longer than usual this year to share the joys of the season with our neighborhood. Everyone is invited to stroll through the lights! The Tyndalls ask that you stay on the pathway for your safety and obey their Christmas House Rules of spreading a little Christmas cheer.
Along with the recognition as Yard of the Month, the Tyndall family receives gift certificates from Leaf Landscape, Klingemann’s Car Care Center, D’Lites Ice Cream , and Cypress Grill.
Make sure your tour of the seasonal lights includes this amazing house at 5006 Summerset. You may see the family on the porch greeting friends and neighbors or making sure the elves and snowmen aren’t up to any Christmas mischief!
