Preparations for Christmas usually begin sometime in October for Kim and Paula Ramshur of Columbia.
The Ramshurs, who live in Lakeview, convert every room of their house into a Christmas extravaganza. Outside, thousands of lights, inflatables and cutouts fill the yard. Inside, hundreds of Santas, snowmen and ornaments adorn the home. There is even a Santa Claus shower curtain in the bathroom.
“I started a little earlier this year because we were taking vacation, so I began in October,” Paula said. “We have themes for every room. I have one room that is a nativity and angel room, so that’s all that we will have in there. The tree is in red and gold.”
The Ramshurs are organized and know what room will have a distinct theme each year.
“I have everything packed away in totes and they are labeled,” Paula said. “It’s easy once we get it out to know what we’re going to be doing. We’ve always decorated, but we do it bigger now. We’re Christmasaholics.”
The display even lived through the tornado that struck just before Christmas in 2014.
“It got a lot of our outside stuff, and actually it blew our front window out and damaged a tree, but the nativity was on the table and it has a light in it that had not worked at all. But after the tornado came, the light was on when I walked in and saw everything demolished. It was still sitting on the table,” Paula said.
Almost everywhere in the house, Santa items are also featured.
“I have actually run out of room to put Santas. I love the Santas, but last year, we had to buy a new rack, a shelf just to put Santas on. We’ve filled every room in the house,” Paula said.
Kim Ramshur said the couple each has different duties.
“She decorates the trees; I just get them out,” he said. “I level them up and put them up. But I generally work outside and put the lights up. I know I have several lights out there.”
Decorations are also meant to entertain in the Ramshur household; their three young grandchildren love playing with the decorations that talk and sing.
“We have special things they can play with when they come over. This Santa plays music; this one rocks,” Paula said.
One tree is a favorite for the couple because of the ornaments.
“We go on a lot of vacations, and I get an ornament everywhere I go,” Paula said. “A friend told me I needed a vacation tree. Now, I’ve got ornaments from everywhere from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, to Niagara Falls … Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Savannah, Georgia … they’re from everywhere.”
And what’s Christmas without sharing with others? The Ramshurs enjoy hosting Christmas parties where others can experience their holiday cheer.
“We have at least two for church here,” Paula said. “We dress up, and we enjoy having them here. We just love Christmas.”
Pictured Above: Kim and Paula Ramshur enjoy decorating each room of their Columbia home for Christmas. The Ramshurs have hundreds of Santas, snowmen and ornaments inside and thousands of lights outside. | Photo by Mark Rogers
