HOME AGLOW: MAN HELPS ILLUMNATE THE SEASON

Most people who take a week off head for an exotic island or a comfortable chair. Kevin Groves just spent his vacation decorating his house for Christmas.

These aren't any old decorations at 1852 Rampart St.

Groves has concocted a holiday world of child-size dolls inner-tubing down a lawn of cascading white lights, wooden Rudolphs with blinking red noses, Mickey and Minnie Mouse wishing onlookers "Merry Christmas," a Christmas tree made entirely of lights, an electrical Nativity scene, a squadron of elves, a small forest of candy canes and more than 4,000 lights.

There are two Santas a mechanical one waving from the roof, and another arriving on the backyard gazebo. And a kiddie-size, battery-operated train runs through one part of the large yard.

Just turning it all on, which Groves did for the first time on Friday, takes five minutes.

The display is a lot of work, and incalculably expensive. "I'd almost be afraid to know," he said. But, he explains, "I enjoy seeing the creations I think of come alive in the yard."

When it comes to Christmas decorations, Groves' imagination seems to be limited only by the number of electrical outlets available.

He is thankful for an electrically adept neighbor who last year installed 10 outlets for him.

The 29-year-old Groves, a sales representative for a food company, said holiday decorating isn't a Groves family tradition he's upholding.

"I think he's over-compensating because he didn't do it (as a child)," his wife, Kim, said.

It also isn't necessarily done for their sons Kameron, 3, and Kollin, 5 months.

Groves decorates the yard on Halloween, too, and on the Fourth of July.

Right now, his piece de resistance is the inner-tube rider who has smashed into a tree. Groves said one of the riders was stolen last year, the closest thing to vandalism that has befallen the display.

"It was on Christmas Eve," he said. "I figured the person who took it probably gave it to a child. They probably needed it more than I did."

Last year, the Groves' house was one of the winning houses in the Holiday of Lights contest. It is on the tour, which will be conducted Dec. 10-12, again this year.

In the three years the Groves have lived in the house, the decorations have made the house something of a landmark. One babysitter who'd never met them still knew where they lived.

And Groves said there's never any fear the pizza delivery person will not be able to find their house this time of year.

"The pizza people know, `It's the one all lit up,'" he said.

Rampart Street is accessible from Kingshighway via Kurre Lane, or by the newly opened part of Lexington Avenue. The lights go out about 10 p.m.