PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Every year at the Klein house, each black bag is like opening a surprise gift to see which light decoration is inside.  

"No he's the dinosaur."

This Christmas dinosaur is just of the many lights that glow brightly on Cari and Perry's house.

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"We have a lot of animals, that's what I like the best,” said Cari Klein.

You could call this a house divided. Cari grew up celebrating Christmas, but Perry is Jewish. Surprisingly, the genesis of Cari's animal collection started with Perry's mom when she called one day to ask her a question.

"Do we like Christmas giraffes? And I said we love them! And then that was my first animal so then I try to get another animal every year," said Cari Klein.

Every year the Klein's have been decorating their home that sits on a secluded bluff in the Palisades. But for Perry it wasn't always jolly.

"I was just thinking about that movie with Chevy Chase where his meter keeps going in a circle so I was concerned about the power bill," said Perry Klein.

But for Cari the lights are worth every penny and she is hopeful to add a cow to her menagerie this year.

"I don't have the cow yet, but I will have the cow by the end of the day," said Cari Klein.

With the help of her long-time installer every light is sorted and then the magic begins. Lights are placed on every nook and cranny of their residence including the front lawn, the house's exterior, and up on the roof.

Later that day Cari's wish came true and she got her Christmas cow.

"It'll be kind of fun to mix the cow in with the deer," said Cari Klein.

 

 

 

The work is a two-day job, but it's worth it to keep the tradition going as it is the only house on the block to go this big.

"Our neighbors always joke, we should just donate to you because you do it for the whole street," said Cari Klein.

As day turns into night the lights shine brightly and put a spotlight on the entire neighborhood. Everywhere you turn there's something else to look at.

The vibrancy of the colors, and the cheerful vibe of the animals. That vibe has rubbed off on Perry when he received feedback from a woman and her young daughter.

"The little kid said ‘thank you,’ and it like melts your heart you know," said Perry Kline.

Brightening spirits with colorful lights each and Christmas season.