The National Christmas tree is seen in The Ellipse in front of the White House after the annual tree lighting ceremony in Washington Dec. 2, 2004.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush arrive on stage for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree during the Pageant of Peace ceremony at the Ellipse Dec. 2, 2004 in Washington.
At The White House
The White House is decked out for the holidays, and first lady Laura Bush showed off the decorations to the media on Dec. 2, 2004.
Mrs. Bush and new White House executive pastry chef Thaddeus DuBois look over the gingerbread house he created. The first lady described the house as "really magnificent."
A close-up of the gingerbread house created by White House executive pastry chef Thaddeus DuBois. The White House chefs will be making around 24,000 cookies this holiday season.
The first lady stands next to the White House Christmas tree. The Noble fir tree is 18-and-a-half feet tall and came from Washington state.
This year the White House Christmas tree is adorned with decorations in the shapes of musical instruments, in celebration of beloved Christmas songs. Tambourines, guitars, drums, bells and many other instruments were painted by the Decorative Arts Society of the United States. The Bushes singled out "Frosty the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" as family favorites.
Mrs. Bush points out an ornament on the White House Christmas tree.
Among the holiday decorations at the White House this year are these "snow-capped" trees located in one of the dining rooms. The trees in the White House have been decorated with a total of 150,000 lights.
Mrs. Bush answers questions from the media after giving her tour, in the East Room of the White House, Dec. 2, 2004.
The 2004 White House Christmas card features the Red Room, decorated for the holidays with a cranberry topiary and a glowing fireplace. The original oil on canvas painting is by Cindi Holt of Fort Worth, Texas.
Mrs. Bush, center, watches the White House Christmas tree arrive at the White House on a horse-drawn wagon, Nov. 29, 2004. The tree is a 18-1/2 foot Noble fir from Washington state, donated by John and Carol Tillman, left, from Rochester, Wash.
The Capitol Tree
Workers guide the Capitol Christmas tree into position after its arrival in Washington, Nov. 29, 2004. For the first time, a tree from Virginia is the official symbol of the season on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. It's a 70-foot red spruce cut down in its prime in the George Washington National Forest in Highland County, Va.
Lynne Cheney, center, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, waves with Peter Nostrand, president of Christmas Pageant of Peace, Inc., right, and her grandchildren, from left to right: Elizabeth Perry, 7; Grace Perry, 4; Kate Perry, 10; after they placed the star on the 2004 National Christmas Tree, Nov. 23, 2004, in Washington.