Even though I didn't know it at the time but as a child I was destined to be a Christmas enthusiast.  My grandfather always decorated his house with lights in his small town.  My father continued the tradition and to this day decorates his house with lights and displays.  And now I carry on the tradition.  My wife's family also has decorated for Christmas and other holidays so that is why we love what we do.

     We have been decorating our house since 2003.  We started out small but have made it a point to make the dispaly larger each year by adding more lights, displays and music.  It has gotten to the point where we start planning our display in January, and we start getting things ready and lined up around Labor Day.

     Our display really started to take off after stumbling across a website in 2004 named PlanetChristmas.  After discovering this site a whole new world that I never knew existed was opened and our display has not been the same since.  I was no longer content on hanging lights and having a static display.  I became interested in computer controlling and building our display elements including a mega tree, mini trees and flying reindeer.  Last year we included synconized music in with the display with two songs.  This year we will use one of the songs and have added two new songs by Trans Siberian Orchestra and Mulberry Lane.

     In 2007 we attend PLUS (Planet Christmas Light Up Symposium) in Gatlinburg, TN.  It is a three day convention for Christmas Lighting Enthusiasts.  There are seminars on a variety of topics such as inflatables and blowmolds, designing a display, music synchorization and building different elements for your display.  We learned many new techniques and got great ideas.  We had a blast meeting fellow Christmas ethusiasts from around the world!

     We both work on our Christmas display.  I take care of the technical aspects and my wife is the creative designer including the synchonizing of the music.

     I am a Network Engineer for an educational organization and have a degree in Computer Science.  My wife is a Circulation Manager for a local newspaper company and has a degree in English Writing and Advertising.  We have two cats, Rockie and Apollo, who love watching our lights! 

    Christmas this year for Melissa and I has taken on a new meaning.  This past May Melissa and I welcomed our first child into the world.  Anna Elizabeth has given us a completely different outlook on life and brought more joy than we could ever have imagined.  Who knows maybe someday she will carry on the Vanek tradition of Christmas decorating, no pressure though.