Topic: Call'em Crazy, They Just Love It

You know the houses..there might be one on your street.

The houses that, around Christmastime, compel passers-by to slow down, mouths agape, and comment on the extravagant holiday display before their eyes. Some call them tasteless or tacky, but there can be no doubt that these people love Christmas. Some even budget for the astronomical bills associated with the thousand-watt displays. Caretakers of the displays in Northern Virginia admit their spectacles might be a little "extravagant," but that doesn't deter their enthusiasm. "We just like Christmas," said Jeff Craddock. "And it's for the kids, and we started making the individual displays, and then one thing led to another. We had the display we have now." The display Craddock speaks of has a lighted reindeer leaping over a driveway, a Santa Claus, carolers and lights everywhere at 7825 Newington Woods Dr., in Newington. Craddock, who builds all his displays himself, said he spends about $600 to $700 in electric bills. Craddock has two children, 10 and 15 years old. "I'm doing this for them," he said. "They love it."

Margie Spory's house, at 8902 Longmead Court in Burke Station, has dozens of mini Christmas trees, a Santa holding teddy bears and a candy cane picket fence. "It just keeps getting bigger and bigger," she said. "My son gets his inspiration from `National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.' He watches it to get in the Christmas spirit. ..People think we're nuts, but we just keep doing it," Spory said.

Article Reference:
Title: Call 'Em Crazy, They Just Love It
Data Source: Online Internet
Article Author: Robert Gehl, Journal Staff Writer (Northern Virginia?)
CD Supplier ID: 4227
Typist Or Article Provider: David Holwick
Record No.: 604796

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