Bright lights

I snapped these photos in Eastborough on my way home from Operation Holiday. It's one of my favorite homes to see this time of year.

Tonight Brian and I ordered up a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha, put Dakota and Lilly in the truck and went in search of beautiful Christmas lights.

A few others worth checking out on the west side of town: Candy Cane Lane on Azure Circle and the homes in Mere Ridge, Sterling Farms and Reflection Ridge. We want to check out more in other parts of town, with the help of The Eagle's interactive map.

Brian has a hilarious rating system that he gives homes, on a scale of one to 10. Homes earn points for precision, continuity of theme, effort and classic decor. And they get negative points for yard art, inflatables (barf!) and sloppy stringing jobs. He rates most homes in the four to six range. Our favorites get eight and nine. Tens are rare. (We didn't award a single perfect score tonight.) It makes me laugh listening to his commentary as we drive and gawk. Good times, good times.