The North Pole

Santa definatly wouldn't miss this house! Taken at the corner of 12 Mile and Washington in Royal Oak, MI. If you haven't seen this house, it's a definate must see. The family goes above and beyond with holiday decorating. You really have to get out of your vehicle to fully enjoy this spectacular display.

70,000-80,000 LIGHTS

The Ungers own two large lots on the corner of Washington and 12 Mile Road, and starting Dec. 1, every last inch of their property is lit up with lights.

There are between 70,000 and 80,000 lights used in their yearly holiday extravaganza. There's a carousel and a Ferris wheel, not to mention a plastic, light-up choir with a small army of singers, one for each of the Ungers' children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"We do this because we enjoy it and we like it," says Ethlyn, who hands out handmade gifts to visitors. "We enjoy Christmas. Christmas is my favorite time of year."

The display is husband John's brainchild. He's built it up year by year, starting with a small manger scene when the family first moved in. He extended the display to two lots about four years ago.

He, some of his sons and his grandson, Jeff, start setting the display up in August every year. Then one of the Unger sons climbs to the top of the more than 20-foot tree in the front yard to place the all-important star at the top. This year, Jeff Unger helped put the star on by climbing a portion of the tree.

"You can't walk away from here feeling the everyday pressures," John says.

No indeed. It seems almost impossible, in fact, not to walk away from the Unger house feeling a dizzying, childlike sense of wonderment and flat-out joy.

John Unger estimates about 4,000 to 5,000 cars drive by or stop in front of the house during the holiday season. "The closer you get to Christmas, the more people seem to come," adds Jackson.

People stopping to admire the display, after all, is the whole point of the display. But the family has had to gate the inner part of the display so that visitors don't trip over wires or trespass too close to the house.

Ethlyn Unger's love of Christmas comes from her childhood when, she says, "If we didn't have anything else, we had Christmas and the fellowship of Christmas. "It's my time of the year."

But wait, what about the question most likely on nearly everyone's minds?

What is the home's electric bill like this time of year?

Ethlyn and John smile and pause for a moment until Ethlyn speaks up.

"High."