Georgia Gaddis and her 36-year-old daughter, Brittney Blue, have transformed their townhouse in Madison, Wisconsin, into a Christmas grotto more than two months before the big day. The pair spent around £3,800 ($5,000) on the festive overhaul, which has seen tinsel, snowflakes and a range of nutcrackers take over the inside of their home since September.
Four decades of festive decorating
Georgia said she has been transforming her property for more than 40 years. She explained: "For more than four decades, I've been transforming our family home for Christmas, birthdays, and just about every celebration you can imagine. Over the years, our decorations became something the neighbourhood looked forward to. I usually start planning weeks in advance, sometimes while we're still celebrating the previous holiday."
The winter wonderland theme features silver and white colours dominating the rooms. According to Brittney, her mother has been collecting decorations for the last 40 years, with preparations beginning in summer and decorating starting as early as September.
Replacing flood-damaged collection
The pair spent around £3,800 ($5,000) replacing decorations after a flood damaged their previous collection. Brittney said: "We begin in September. My mom has been creating her Winter Wonderland for years, and the snowflakes hanging from the ceiling have been a family tradition for approximately 20 years. The colours and themes may change, but that tradition has remained."
Brittney added: "My mom is a very strategic shopper. She actually starts preparing for the following Christmas right after Christmas ends, taking advantage of clearance sales. We can easily spend $200 (£151) during one shopping trip and barely make a dent in everything we're decorating."
Outside display and family reasons
Georgia said the decorations extend to the outside of their townhouse, which has made them well-known in the area. She said: "The outside of our home celebrates every season, too. Our townhouse is illuminated throughout the year, with lights that change to reflect each holiday and season. People often tell us they don't even need to look at a calendar to know what holiday or season it is. They can simply drive past our house."
Georgia's love for Christmas started in her childhood in Chicago, with bright lights, snow and festive toy shops among her fondest memories. She eventually moved to Wisconsin with her children and husband. Georgia now cares for her autistic son and disabled veteran husband, and shared that the home transformation carried on as her son became increasingly secluded.
She said: "One of our sons has severe autism, and as he grew older, he became increasingly secluded. There were outings and experiences that weren't always easy for our family to enjoy together. I never wanted him to feel excluded, and I never wanted our other children to feel they were missing out because we needed to spend more time at home. So I brought the celebrations to us."
