CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids couple says this Christmas was challenging. The weekend snow storm left a few marks, and we're talking about more than snow. A Cedar Rapids couple says during the storm, someone spray-painted racist remarks on their house.

Police are calling the graffiti a possible hate crime. The homeowners say it's a wake-up call.

"We came to this neighborhood because we thought it was a good neighborhood and that was one of the sellers of the house, because there are not many good neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids anymore," said Robyn Ross, homeowner.

Robyn and Tim Ross still believe their home on Mallory Street south west is in a good neighborhood, it just doesn't look like that right now. Someone wrote racist graffiti on their brick home, everything from KKK, to the words, "leave now."

"The swastika on my window is tough to deal with because I sleep on that side of the bed and it happens that they were writing it while I was sleeping, and if my covers were open, I could have looked them right in the face, so that's just frightening," said Tim Ross, homeowner.

The vandals did the work either Saturday night or Sunday morning. Police say it's a possible hate crime, and considering what was written, investigators say there's no other way to interpret it.

"I'm not some great person or some Doctor King or anything. I'm just an average guy trying to provide for his family, so to target me is tougher. It's tough to go through that," said Tim Ross.

Making things worse, their insurance company didn't want the writings removed until they could take pictures.

"We have to leave it up there and then we had all our family come over for Christmas and everybody has to see it," said Robyn Ross.

Even worse, the Ross's say they don't even know how to get it off. Meanwhile, they're staying strong.

"I am not afraid, I'm not leaving. I bought this house for a reason, because I love Cedar Rapids and I love the neighborhood, and I'm not intimidated. You picked the wrong guy," said Tim Ross.

Now, the Ross's say they're going to buy some more security systems to prevent more graffiti.

Crime Stoppers is offering a possible reward for information on the case. You can call them at 1-800-CR-CRIME.

Email Reporter Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@KCRG.com.