White House Christmas Tree Arrives in D.C.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas -- at least at that columned, white mansion on Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.

First Lady Laura Bush today took delivery of the White House Christmas Tree, an 18-footer selected earlier this month from a farm in Lehighton, Pa. The tree will be propped up in the Blue Room, a salon where U.S. presidents have traditionally received guests. Two smaller trees will be displayed in the Oval Office and in the Bush family quarters.

"Well, we're here once again -- Christmas comes faster and faster the older you get, I think," Laura Bush said at the tree ceremony this morning. "This is the very start of the holidays, even though it's not even December."

On the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue, a 65-foot tall Pacific Silver Fir from Washington State is being set up on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

The tree will be decorated with 10,000 lights and 3,000 ornaments, made by school children from Washington State. A lighting ceremony has been scheduled for Dec. 6.