By Jim McGregor/Special to 91原创 Advance Times

Robin Girouard has been decorating his yard for Christmas for more than 20 years.

Why does he do it?

鈥淚 used to help my dad put up Christmas lights when I was a kid,鈥� he explained.

鈥淗e just put lights on the house and his bushes, but that鈥檚 a Christmas memory I have. Now, it鈥檚 go big or go home, I put up a little more each year.鈥�

Girouard and Michele Frenette live at 27079 24A Ave. in Aldergrove, and their yard is the highlight of the street.

鈥淲e came here from the Green Timbers area of Surrey four years ago and always had a big yard display there as well. I had some larger displays there like a nativity scene. But we had to adapt to the smaller yard we have now,鈥� he explained.

鈥淲e like making the neighbours smile and when we first moved here there was hardly anyone doing this. But now, we see a few springing up each year. My next door neighbour says if I have more displays I can use his yard.鈥�

GROWING LIST 鈥� INTERACTIVE MAP: 91原创 is lighting up for the holidays

Girouard estimates he has a little more than 12,000 lights on his lawn and he鈥檚 always looking for more ideas.

鈥淗e never stops looking,鈥� said Frenette. 鈥淲e went out to Chilliwack this year and picked up some snowflakes. And he always slows down to look at other displays to get new ideas and he鈥檚 still got more pieces in the crawl space to go up.鈥�

Girouard doesn鈥檛 buy everything.

鈥淚 have built quite a few of my display pieces. Sometimes I will see something and I know I can build that better and cheaper than I can buy it. As it is, it takes over 40 hours to put it all up and another few hours to replace bulbs and maintain it. But it feels awesome when it鈥檚 all done,鈥� Girouard said.

MORE LIGHT 鈥揤IDEO: Christmas in 91原创鈥檚 Williams Park returns

鈥淭he little boy across the street keeps dragging his dad over here to look at the lights. That feels good.鈥�

It is pretty much a one-man operation.

鈥淚 offer to help each year but he declines,鈥� said Frenette. 鈥淪o my contribution is pulling it all out, putting it together, and then putting it back when the season is done. He knows where it is all supposed to go, so I help by staying out of the way.鈥�

She added with a smile how much she loves to be in on all the appreciation the neighbours show each year.

鈥淭he kids love it.鈥�

For the past two years their display has won runner-up for the Walt Levy Light-Up Aldergrove contest. The late Walt Levy was president of the Aldergrove Fair Society when it was formed in 1984 and was responsible, along with many other notable Aldergrove volunteers, for starting many of these annual events.

The light-up Aldergrove contest was named after him following his passing in 1999.

Girouard is optimistic.

鈥淟ike I always say, 鈥榤aybe next year鈥�.鈥�

LIGHTS RELATED: Cancelled parade will mean more Christmas lights in 91原创 City

But winning first or second, doesn鈥檛 really make a difference to him.

鈥淚鈥檓 just happy to brighten up the season, for everybody who sees our display, and hope I can warm everybody鈥檚 heart during these tough times,鈥� he concluded.

Girouard and Frenette are looking for a name for their display.

Their decorated home will be on the Aldergrove Star鈥檚 list of places to see, and they鈥檙e hoping people will stop by and give them some suggestions.

RELATED: Tree of lights welcomed in Aldergrove public plaza

.