Photo 1: This was the end product.  It seemed like a lot more when I was out there actually putting them up.  Fortunately for me, we have a tall two story house with zero accessibility to the roof line so I dodge that bullet.  That leaves us two trees in the front, bushes and the front door.  We make due with what we have. 

Photo 2: This is what I started with.  I got lucky in that only one strand had burned out bulbs that I was not able to figure out.  There were two others with the annoying 10 lights in a row burned out but I was able to resuscitate those. 

Photo 3: Kristin - 8 months pregnant on Friday (Nov 27th).  Gosh, we are getting close.