For landscaper Chris Lambton and his wife, Peyton, decorating for the holidays is serious business. “I feel like I have a little Clark W. Griswold in me,” Cape Cod., Mass-based Chris — who was first introduced to TV viewers on Ali Fedotowsky‘s season of The Bachelorette and now has multiple projects in the works with HGTV — jokes to Us Weekly, referring to Chevy Chase‘s quirky National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation character. “I try to decorate the outside of my house like he would – I love to do the outside lighting.”
Peyton — who appeared on The Bachelor and wed Chris in May 2012 — often leaves the outdoor decor to her husband, but loves to spruce up their home with a real tree and greenery.
“The scent of pine mixed with cinnamon candles and something sweet baking in the kitchen is more than enough to get you in the Christmas spirit,” she tells Us, adding that the couple keep their home decorated for a full month and often open their doors to friends and family to entertain as the holiday season progresses from Thanksgiving through Christmas.
Set to celebrate their second Christmas as husband and wife this year, the Lambtons have already begun to create their own holiday traditions. “Ornaments have always been a big part of Christmas for my family. My grandmother always gave the grandchildren a new ornament each Christmas, so we could build our own trees one day,” explains Peyton, who continues the tradition in her own home by collecting ornaments from the places she and Chris visit together. “It makes decorating the tree so much fun as we relive those memories.”
The reality TV alums — who will cohost HGTV’s Smart Home Giveaway in spring 2014 — travel frequently to reconnect with their extended families, but regardless of their schedule, one thing is always on the holiday itinerary: An early Christmas dinner and Secret Santa gift exchange with Chris’ brothers and their wives before the duo departs for Tennessee.
“We are really lucky we can spend so much time with both sides of the family. I don’t mind traveling for Christmas,” Peyton tells Us. “It gives us something different to do, and it’s something we look forward to every year.”
Agrees her husband: “The most important thing is just to spend the holidays together!”
