If y’all are anything like us, and I’m willing to bet that you are, you’ll spend the days between Christmas and the New Year cruising local neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights.

We get lots of inspiration this way.

In fact, Jamie’s been on a vintage blow mold collecting kick the past couple years, I think he has about 9.

Now Wayne Smith, on Southwestern Blvd in University Park, has a few more than that.(142 Santas, 22 toy soldiers, and 67 snowmen……plus a couple hundred more figures. At his last count) In fact his electric bill skyrockets every December when Wayne brings them all into his front yard, and along his roof line, for the neighborhood to enjoy along with him. He scours flea markets all year-long to add to the assortment. The crowning jewel? Well that would have to be the severed head of Big Tex, our State Fair of Texas mascot, that he scored at an auction in 1992. It rests directly over his front door in a custom Santa hat.

We stopped by the other night, like we do every year, to gawk at Wayne’s massive collection….

How great is this shot through Jamie’s crystal ball?

And that electric bill? Wayne says that it’s worth it to see everyone, especially the kids, sharing in his joy.

Ya gotta admit, the joy is kinda infectious.