A Showcase of Holiday Spirit

Illuminated snowmen, sleds and Christmas trees on neighbor's lawns and rooftops offer proof winter is here, despite the warmer weather.

Find grazing reindeer and glowing penguins on display at the Fleck's house on Searaven Drive in the Ladera Linda area.  

A few blocks away on Exultant, the Dunn's have a display of lights covering their rooftop that spells 'Believe,' while the walkway leading up to their porch is lined with sparkling candy canes, ornaments, and a large wooden figure of a girl sending Santa mail to the North Pole.  

Doug and Brenda Beatty's home on the 4200 block of Admirable Drive has an impressive display of, well, everything.  

"We go all out for the holidays," Doug said.  

The husband and wife, along with their daughter, Bethany, decorated their lawn with lights, snowmen, life-size wooden figures of Mr. and Mrs. Clause, reindeer, angels, elves, and a nativity scene.  

Mike Castania, 78, of Avenida Feliciano has lived in the same home since 1976, and continues to decorate his entire house, roof and all, ever year, all by himself.  

"My dad is retired now, and decorating the house gives him something to do," Frank Castania, Mike's son, said. "Plus, he takes pride in his house and enjoys that his grandkids get a kick out of the decorations."  

Aside from some space on the rooftop, about every square foot of Castania's house is covered in lights, inflatables, reindeer silhouettes, bright Christmas trees and wooden cut-outs of toy soldiers.  

"He's not done decorating yet," Frank added. "He still has a lot to do. If you think this is good, you should have seen last year."  

In addition to the homes mentioned above, others decked out belong to the Ayrazian's off of Stalwart Drive, the Hughes' located on Redondela and the Olson's on Avenida Del Mesa.