We have one of those tonight, although it hardly worked out as expected for a well-meaning family in Santa Rosa.
[Ads /]
Imagine the Christmas spirit, deflated, with decorations stolen and a mess left behind.
It is not how Alden Dolcini's yard on Cody Court in Santa Rosa looked before their nightmare, two weeks before Christmas.
RELATED: 'Grinch' steals fake Christmas presents from police station tree, friend returns them
"It's one of those things. I wish people were better but the people who did this? Rude for sure," said Alden.
He is an Iraq veteran now with CAL FIRE, one of those people on the front lines.
His wife Cristie, works at Kaiser.
This year, they finally reached their goal of making it onto a list of the best holiday houses in Santa Rosa. They're two local heroes who got this.
[Ads /]
"When did it happen?" ABC7's Wayne Freedman asked Alden.
"The day after that list came out," Alden said.
RELATED: Steph and Ayesha Curry surprise 2,000 people with holiday activities as The Grinch, Cindy Lou Who in Oakland
"We definitely got Grinched," Cristie said.
"We got Grinched and he stole a part of Christmas for us," added Alden.
It happened Sunday night between 11 p.m. and midnight. Nobody saw the vandals, but the next morning, they found all of the damage.
"I've had a lot of faith in people being nice," said Alden. "It's Christmas. We're all supposed to be together."
RELATED: Hercules family's incredible holiday light display wins $10,000 in photo contest
[Ads /]
"Well our youngest is five," said Cristie. "He's having more trouble. When we come home he has to open the drapes to the driveway so he can watch out for thieves in the front yard."
On Wednesday, Santa Rosa police looked around. The Dolcini family did not have a working camera in their yard, but other neighbors do, so there is some hope of finding the people who did this.
"What would you say to them," Freedman asked Alden.
"I would like to ask why, and if they really needed it, just ask me," he said.
It is the season of giving, after all.
Those bad guys took the decorations, but can't touch the spirit.
VIDEO: Tracy man revives masterful Christmas light show display with new meaning for 2020
Bay Area man revives masterful Christmas light show display