Meeting Santa

Harper was an angel at her first visit with Santa. I wonder if she'll be just as accommodating when I take her to get her picture with Santa for the next 17 years or so!


We waited in a loooong line at Tysons Corner. Well, I suppose I should clarify that Daddy waited in line for us while Harper and I shopped. :)


At first she was a little uncertain about Santa....


...but she took a moment to check him out. The beard fascinated her (which was real, by the way. He was an awesome Santa!)


And then she was all smiles!

Christmas at the White House

One of the great many perks with serving as an appointee in the Bush Administration is the opportunity to visit the White House at Christmas (when it's otherwise impossible to get a tour). We've been privileged to see the White Christmas decorations for the last 4 or 5 years, and it's always such a highlight of the season.

Every year there is a theme and this year's was "A Red, White, and Blue Christmas". I have to say, although it was pretty, it wasn't my favorite year. The decorations were all Americana-inspired and done in patriotic colors. Very elegant, but just didn't feel as Christmasy to me. But as always, we really enjoyed seeing the beautiful decorations. So for those of you that didn't catch the HGTV special hosted by Mrs. Bush which showcases all the decorations, consider this your own personal tour of the White House!




A patriotic Santa greets you as you walk in.


Wreaths hung by American eagles line the hallway looking out onto the Rose Garden.

The Vermeil Room (named so because of the vermeil-plated collection of silver that is showcased in this room, along with some of the First Lady portraits.)

The Library.

The East Room. You can kinda see the White House creche behind me in the picture, to the right of the tree.

The Green Room.

The official 2008 White House Christmas Tree. It's always displayed in the Blue Room and decorated consistent with that year's theme. This year, each state made a series of ornaments depicting the history of that particular state. Very pretty! (Interesting factoid: the chandelier in the Blue Room is temporarily removed during the holidays to accommodate the tree. The tree lights are actually wired through the ceiling where the chandelier hangs... wish I could do that at my house!).

The view of the Truman balcony and the National Mall from the Blue Room.

The Red Room (my personal favorite).

The State Dining Room.

A close-up of the topiaries that decorated the White House... they were very cute!

Each year, the White House pastry chef makes a gingerbread White House. It's always a little different each year, but always equally magnificent.

Standing in Cross Hall under the Presidential Seal.

Several trees and garland decorate Cross Hall.

The stairs up to the First Family's residence.

The White House is actually very "white". The bricks are gleaming literally gleaming white.

Even the Eisenhower Executive Office building where the White House Staff works (and where my old office was) gets decorated. This is such a neat, historic building... only one of a few French 2nd Empire-style buildings in the city.

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Hope you enjoyed your holiday "tour"! Sadly, with the new Administration coming in January, my days of White House tour-giving are over! :(