ARLINGTON – The Meadowbrook homeowners are so excited they can hardly wait until Thanksgiving to turn on their Christmas lights.

Some might even sneak them on early a little bit.

“We taunt one another,” Lin Ruchty said with a laugh. “We keep being unable to resist turning them on.”

It’s all in fun and games. The neighborhood of about 12 homes on a cul de sac near Cascade Valley Hospital started an official Christmas light competition last year. Unofficially, Steve Baker and Ruchty started competing about five years ago. Some new people moved in, and then “it got a little crazy,” Ruchty said.

Last year, everyone did it, so they had the owner of Hubbs Pizza judge the competition. Ruchty won the $50 Hubbs Pizza certificate the homeowners association put up as a prize.

Ruchty said she and partner Rita Mangum so have the tallest tree on the block. Previously should stood at the top of a ladder to decorate it, but she rented a boom with a bucket on it this year because the tree is taller, and she didn’t want to risk injury.

Another advantage they have, she said, is they have the biggest yard. She said the blend their lights nicely, and they show movement.

Ruchty said there’s already some trash talking going on, adding one neighbor’s yard looks “like a shooting gallery.”

“We’re going to have a run for our money this year,” she said.

Some of the neighbors already are putting up lights. Others have a strategy of putting them up late all at once.

“Now, nobody will tell you exactly what they are going to do,” she said. “They say it’s none of your business.”

Ruchty said she loves the people in her neighborhood.

“I’ve never lived anywhere like this,” she said. “Neighbors will be talking then suddenly everyone’s congregating in the middle of the street.”

Ruchty said everyone gets along, even though the families ages range from 20s to 80s.

“We watch out for each other,” she said.

The Christmas lights aren’t all they do together. In the summer, they go on camping trips to places like Winthrop in Eastern Washington.

The community seems to know about the competition. Last year, many people visited the street during the holiday. So, the neighbors decided this year to help out the Arlington Food Bank. People that come see the light show are asked to bring food and place them in containers on the street.

Also, on Dec. 13, Santa will visit the neighborhood with the help of the fire department.

If last year is any indication, the food drive should be a success.

“It was a lot of fun, and we had a ton of traffic on our street looking at all the lights,” Ruchty said.