good morning. mad dash, less than 24 hours to go, christmas shoppers rush stores for last-minute gifts, which as riots fight pepper spray and gunfire. presidential push, president obama scores a win for some 160 million workers as congress passes a measure to extend the payroll tax cuts through february, with ending the year on a high note as the commander and chief looks ahead on his re-election campaign. this comes as newt gingerich and rick perry don't make the cut in virginia. and hospitalized, as he prepares to celebrate krimz with

the royal family, prince phillip, queen elizabeth's husband, is rushed to the hospital and undergoes heart surgery. today is saturday, december surgery. today is saturday, december 24th, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good morning, everyone. welcome to constituteo 1a on a saturday morning. i'm lester holt. >> and i'm amy robach. it's safe to say, it's christmas eve and if you haven't bought any of your christmas gifts, it's time to head to the store. i was going to say, this time last week, you hadn't bought anything. >> for those of you who won't get anything tomorrow, sorry, i've been busy. >> there's always the new year's gift. >> i think you still have that window legally between christmas and new year's to get something.

>> how about your wife? >> oh, no, she's good. she's taken care of. i'm not an idiot. and speaking of gifts and hot gifts, do you remember the air jordans t, the neekers from the 90s, it's sneakers similar to these that is all the hit in stores. >> retroair jordan was released friday night. it caused stampedes, scuffles. it was a mess. >> did you see the poor little girl? >> i know. it's like merry christmas, wow. >> then we're going to talk politics just before president obama left for hawaii. he signed the tax break extension into law. the white house may have ended the year with a political victory, but, of course, 2012 is a few days away, so what happens next? meanwhile, newt gingerich and rick perry both failed to make the ballot in virginia. this comes as the iowa caucuses

are less than two weeks away. how is all this going to play out? >> then the desperate search begins in maine. it's been a week since 20-month-old ayla reynolds disappeared from his father's home. we'll have the latest. >> and it's a tradition for millions of families each year. the christmas cards drn i haven't done those, either, by the way. >> neither have i. >> but one family's tradition has taken it to a whole new level. now this family's card is the must-have card of the season. but first, retailers are going into zoefr drive trying to entice people into their stores with deep discounts. kerry sanders joins us live from miami with more. kerry, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. i'm at the mall and the mall has been open now for about three minutes. i don't think i've ever seen this. there's not a line in the apple store. anyway, the retailers are thrilled with this year because of a few things. first of all, it appears that

consumer confidence is up and there is also this really sort of unusual event. the last time we saw it it was 2005. the calendar is working in retailers' favor. because christmas falls on sunday which means folks have all day on saturday to go shopping and the most sought after gift this year? these. sneakers. they camped out for days outside stores across the country in california, in maryland, and in washington state. >> i've been out here for about 27 hours now. >> timely, friday crowds ran in for the so-called gift to get, the air jordan concord 11. jordan, as in the legend michael jordan. he hasn't played with the nba in more than eight years, but that doesn't deter his fans. >> it's just -- they're good looking shoes. got my js, feel good. whew! >> mission accomplished. >> in some shopping centers, things got tense. in richmond, california, someone

in line fired shots. in indianapolis, buyers were trampled and no one was serio seriously injured. manufacturer nike issued this statement, we encourage anyone trying to purchase our product to do so in a respectful and safe manner. store owners hope the shoes encourage shoppers to open their wallets for more than just shoes. the national retail federation has increased its spending forecast to almost $460 billion. up almost 4% over last year. shoppers are buying smart this year, bargain shopping from the palm of their hand. >> they're using all the mobile technology, all the web technology that they have at their fingertips to -- whether it's research products, compare products, look at pricing. >> the search for good prices motivated some to wait before buying. >> you get more deals if you shop late. >> more americans delayed their gift buying this year as

consumer reports says 25% started their shopping this week, up 17% from last year. >> 54% of those we surveyed here, the reason why they procrastina procrastinated, they just don't have enough money. >> sheila says she waits until this late to shop every year to get into the christmas spirits. >> i have to buy clothes for the kids, gifts for the kids, santa will bring the rest. >> most malls across the country closed at 6:00. . lester, i know you're getting ready to start your holiday shopping. you have a little time left. the question is, when you get out there, will you find the gift you want and if you do, will you have to compromise a little bit? these are very small. >> i think i want the stuff in the store behind you. kerry, thank you very much. on this christmas eve, many americans are trying to get somewhere or waiting for families and friends to come to them. a third of the population will

be traveling at some point this holiday season and most of them are hitting the roads. tom costello has the story. snr from snowy maine to new mexico to southern california where if the car radio isn't tuned to jingle bells, it may sound more like this -- >> slowing in the northbound 15. >> nothing is going to keep me from being in my family. i'm looking forward to it. >> of the 90 million people traveling, nearly 84 million of us have traveling. that's a big drop of 10% last year. at $210, the lowest round trip airfare on average is about $34 higher than last year and you'll probably still have to pay pore your bags. meanwhile, airlines aren't flying as many planes. >> and that means they're trying to get a person in every seat on every plane. so there are no receipts. >> but that isn't stop the farr family from flying all the way

to ecuador this christmas. >> it's a whirl wind event. everything is going up-and-up and up. >> we have to make a sacrifice. >> a lot of americans are sacrificing this year. in the grocery aisle, food prices are up 4% to 5% this year. >> meanwhile, at $3.20 a gallon, regular unleaded is 20 cents higher than last christmas with forecasts it could be headed to $4 a gallon later in the you this year. >> if you put it altogether, i think the holidays are a bit more expensive this year, especially when you consider wages have not gone up. so people are still being asked to do more with less. >> and with so many americans driving over the holidays, the nation's transportation chief with a fresh warning about his top concern, distracted driving. people need to take it upon themselves to put their cell phone and texting device in the glove compartment when they get in a car. you can't drive safely when you have a cell phone up to your ear. >> for "today" tom costello, nbc news, washington. sgliets now eight minutes after the hour.

here is amy. >> lester, thank you. good news for 160 million americans facing a potential tax hike on friday come the new year. friday, congress approved a re n renew al. amy has the details. >> before his holiday getaway, the president signed the tax break extension into law and gave credit to those who e-mailed and tweeted to pressure congress. >> and i promise you, the american people, your voices made a difference on this debate. >> reporter: for two extra months, the unemployed hold on to their benefits and 160 million workers keep their payroll tax break. >> that translate into an extra $40 or so in every paycheck. >> reporter: a political win for the president and delighted democrats in congress. >> a beg cheer to barack obama. >> but house speaker john boehner had legal to celebrate

as he left capitol hill. after days of drama where boehner and house republicans are demanded the white house work out a longer tax break extension right away. >> i need the president to help out, all right? >> reporter: but house republicans lost the public relations fight, accused of blocking the tax break and that made some fellow republicans call out boehner to accept the two-month deal. >> it may not have been politically the smartest thing in the world. but let me tell you what, i think our members waged a good fight. >> reporter: after the holidays, they will go another round when congress works to make that payroll tax break last for the whole year. for "today," kelly o'donnell, nbc news, the capital. the two-month extension of the payroll tax cut is a win for the white house and comes as the president is looking ahead at his re-election campaign. kristin welker is traveling with the president and joins us live from honolulu where the first family will be spending the

holidays. kristin, good morning. >> good morning to you, amy. president obama arrived here on friday evening. his vacation was delayed for about a week because of that fight over the payroll tax cut. but when he got off the plane in honolulu, he looked quite relaxed, stopped to speak to a few of the local officials as well as a few of the locals who came to the air force base to say aloha to the president. this is being seen as a political win for president obama. in the past, some of his supporters have criticized him, saying that he has compromised too much, given in too much to republicans. well, in this case, it was quite different. in this case, it was republicans who gave in to president obama and congressional democrats. so it is on that note that he will begin this vacation as well as a tough re-election battle in the new year. now, as for this trip, this is the fourth time the obamas will have spent their christmas vacation here in honolulu since the president was elected back

in 2008. the first lady and the first daughters have been here already for about a week. of course, privacy is of the utmost importance. the obamas will be staying in a fairly is lyly exclude seclude residence pb officials always make the case that the office of the presidency travels with president obama on vacation, so there will be some work mixed in. amy, joining us now with more political insight, richard wolfe. good morning. >> good morning, lester. >> in the past, we've seen the president blink. how did he turn the tables? >> he had public support and he had republican support with him. you saw a full-court press from the white house using campaign tactics. they got on facebook and twitter and rallied their troops. they pressed this hard through

the media and all channels. so there was really nowhere for the house to go especially as they accepted this deal and then had to back tram track. >> at the end of the celebration, they were looking at only two months, heading into 2012, an election year. what is to say this gets done two months from now? >> not much, lester. this is going to be more so and worse, frankly. what we saw from the summer, remember the whole debt ceiling debacle was a fundamental dispute between republicans and democrats about how to balance the budget, how to pay for things or even whether to pay for things like a tax cut. republicans before said tax cuts didn't need to be offset or paid for. democrats wanted to have this tax on the super wealthy. they cannot agree on the principles of moving forward. that's why we had a two-month deal in the first place. there is really very little chance for the environment to be better. it's going to be much worse. >> i want to turn to the

republican primary if i can. we got news overnight that newt gingerich and rick perry won't be allowed on the virginia primary ballot. they dent get the necessary 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot. how does that happen? what does that say about the state of their respective organizations? it's shockingly bad. it tells you maybe newt gingerich didn't have the money, didn't have the resources. rick perry, on the other hand, had resources early on. he could have been organized to do this. this is a lack of foresight and planning. to be fair, we saw a lack of foresight and planning even for a candidate named hillary clinton. so it's possible for people to trip up, but virginia is not a small state. these should be should have been organized and that speaks to the strength of people like mitt romney, who has been more than capable of getting his name on the ballot. >> i wish we had a nickel for every time we've said front-runner in the gop race.

ron paul suddenly leads in iowa. has this truly been a slow and steady rise for him and not a surprise? >> he's had a very consistent level of support, which is now bumped up as newt gingerich has declined. he's been organized on the ground. he competed there last time in iowa. the problem for ron paul is sustaining it. there have been other people who have won in iowa and have not managed to capitalize in the later states. ask mike huckabee how his presidential campaign went and where he is four years later. it's one thing to win in iowa and another thing to build on that going forward through super tuesday. >> thanks so much. >> thanks, lester. now we turn to veronica de la cruz at the news desk. >> good morning, everyone. breaking news about the royal family, queen elizabeth's husband, prince phillip, is in the hospital after suffering chest pains on friday. duncan is outside the royal palace with more.

good morning, duncan. >> good morning, remember von ka. despite the crowds here, the royal family is actually at the queen's estate for the holidays. it came as something of a surprise like night that prince phillip had been rushed to the hospital after having chest pains. he underwent minor cardiac surgery where a balloon is inserted into the artery to remove any blockages. this morning, the palace said he has had a good night. and around an hour ago, we saw the queen and prince edward arriving at the hospital to visit him. what's important to remember is prince phillip is actually 90 years old, but has only slowed down just a little bit with age. in the last year alone, he's undertaken a grueling 11-day -- in australia with the queen. the immediate concern is whether he's home with his family for the holidays. veronica. >> duncan, thank you.

three u.s. citizens are among those killed when gun men attacked buses on thursday, killing some passengers and robbing others. thousands of people in the syrian capital are taking part in funerals for the 44 people killed in twin suicide bombings. dozens of other people were wounded in the attacks on friday. there has been no claims of responsibilities. russia's opposition forces are mounting a new wave of protection today against election fraud. good morning to you, jim. >> good morning, veronica. it's critical for anti-putin protesters here to show their movement has not petered out, despite recent promises of political reform coming from the kremlin in these subfreezing temperatures. today, numbers do appear to be in the tens of thousands. it's hard for us to judge just how many. we're hearing something between 60 and 120,000 have turned out

today. now, the named events are still to null the december 4th parliamentary election which were apparently and massively marched by fraud and to have new, free and fair parliamentary elections. now, the kremlin has said there will be no repeat of those elections. so the protesters and the powers that be seem to be on a collision course. these protesters, however, are well educated, they're well off, disciplined, middle class, russian who once really made up putin's power base and they're equally determined to keep this atmosphere positive, to keep it festive. they say they don't want revolution but simply that their voices be heard. veronica, back to you. >> jim, thank you. from the arab spring to the occupy wall street movement, the legalization of gay marriage 20121 gained many memorable

moments. the "new york times" has attempted to capture those in . as santa and his reindeer race across the world this christmas eve delivering toys and goodies, they can track santa's journey by going to norad's website. norad will continue to provide updates and key pictures on santa's stop. now that's the news. guys, it looks like santa has officially been cleared forteoff. >> veronica, that's really good news for all the good girls .boys out there. >> and that was like a spotli t spotlight. impressive the. good morning, guys. weatherwise, it was great for travel yesterday. as we go through wrought the day today, it looks no problems at all. the only minor issue is a little snow in west texas, a little

rain there in areas of texas . . good morning, cold outside. 20s, livermore, gilmore, san francisco, down to 22. 33, san jose. mainly clear skies. a little bit of patchy fog towards sal lan know county. despite this very cold start, we should see numbers rebounding almost 30 degrees by the afternoon. 50s to low 60s. christmas day also looks dry. finally, a chance of maybe seeing some rain dropping in our way wednesday afternoon into thursday morning. amy. >> all right, bill, thank you. christmas is the top card sending holiday in the u.s., according to industry insiders. 1.5 billion christmas cards are sent out each year. for one minnesota family, the annual christmas card tradition may have gotten a bit of of control. kevin tibbles has the story.

>> perched by her sewing machine, sue johnson is revealing her secret. >> how do you come up with the ideas each year? >> sometimes they come to me in dreams. or my husband refers to them as nightmares. >> for nearly two decade webs sue has handmade the costumes for christmas cards that take the elaborate into the extreme. >> there was the choir year, the elf year, the toy soldier year. friends now clamor for them. even friends of friends want to know what she comes up with. and no one knows before the white envelope drops into the mailbox. >> we complain, but the reality of it is when we get together to do it, we all really have a good time doing it together as a family. >> but wait, there's more. the christmas bulb year, the

poinsettia year, the gingerbread year. >> it is what it is. there's not really any getting out of it. if you're in this family, you're in the christmas card. our family is -- it maintains a closeness. it's a wonderful tradition. >> you better watch out. >> and now sue boasts of two son-in-laws. andy, who apparently can be bribed. >> as long as i get the hersheys kiss with a couple of cold beers, i'll dress up. >> and newcomer mike who sue has plans for. >> i do feel very, very special in this family. >> viola, a sneak preview of this year's masterpiece. sue and rob johnson as mrs. claus and san the a and all the kids as reindeer. mike, the newby, is rudolph. >> okay. are you ready? >> i was never ready for this. >> at least you didn't have to wear makeup. >> this is a close second. >> are you already thinking

about next year? >> oh, yes. >> what is it going to be? >> nope. can't tell you. >> whisper it. >> no, can't tell you. >> such a welcoming family, even allowing a complete stranger to put on the hooves, an interloper and anteloper. >> where in the world is matt lauer while i'm doing this? >> kevin tibbles, taking one for the team. [ female announcer ] help i need a holiday party idea.

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still to come, where is baby ayla? the 20-month-old missing from his family's home a week ago. plus the power of a song a

good morning. 5: 26. >> the numbers on this map are a little shocking.24 , fairfield, 29, concord. 27, livermore. 33, san jose. 22, gilroy. that's the cold spot. san francisco, 44. oakland. clear skies, dry air. in between now and 7:23 this

morning. when the sun comes up, pretty nice day this afternoon. dry weekend ahead. tomorrow morning, another chilly start. pretty pleasant finish to the weekend. wednesday to thursday, finally a chance of seeing showers around the bay area and much-needed snow middle part of the week. no problems for holiday travelers this weekend. thanks, rob. what started out as a report of a cash crash quickly became a stabbing investigation in ville ho. police officers responded to a call yesterday evening on monterrey near carolina. the victim drove his black pickup truck through a fence and on top of a trash can in the middle of a residential neighborhood. the driver had been stabbed multiple times. he is now in the hospital while investigators try to determine

how he was stabbed and why. scary moments for shoppers at a popular mall, oak ridge mall was evacuated. dozens of firefighters and haz malt crews responded after a man complained his eyes and throat were irritated. it turns out the problem stemmed from a bathroom where someone washing the floors used too much cleaner. the man was treated and released. this mother, pete's coffee is ponying up for a good cause. miniature horses are there to spread holiday cheer and raise funds. pete's will match donated funs for the equestrian foundation which helps raise money for children in hospice care and special needs schools and camps. the event is happening today

from 11:00 this morning until 1:00. this is at the peet's coffee in danville. coming up this morning on "today in the bay," global concern over breast implants. why thousands of women are being urged to get them removed. we will have another news update coming up in about 30 minutes. we'll see you again at 5:56.

we are back on this saturday morning, december 24th, 2011. look at that. we have an excited holiday crowd out on the plaza getting ready to celebrate christmas with their family and friends. we're going to reach out to say happy holidays, merry christmas in just a few minutes. back inside studio 1a, i'm amy robach along with lester holt. coming up, the latest on prince phillip's heart condition. the 90-year-old was getting ready to experience christmas with the royal family where he started to experience chest

point. he was rushed to the hospital and surgery was performed on a blocked injury. then we're going to, of course, talk about christmas shopping. i'm not quite there yet. we'll talk about other people, as well. >> you just want to deflect. if you're still waking up and you're one of those people, we've assembled a panel of experts to help you get those last-minute gifts. we'll get the 411 on what to buy today and where. >> any chance i can give them the list? also, later, we're introduce you to a special girl's choir. they've settled in maine and are trying to spread an important message this holiday season. jenna bush hagar catches up with them to find out why their voice matters so much. first, baby ayla reynolds, with missing from his father's home more than a week ago.

good morning to you, amy. as you can tell by the white canvas behind me, the this city is blanketed with snow. police are still calling this a missing person' investigation. meantime, the little girl's mother says she still has hope. amid a sea of candles, a message from a mother for her little girl. >> just pray with us every day until she comes home and every night from here on out i will light a candle. at a time we lit one tonight. you all can just light that candle until she returns. >> surrounded by friends, family and strangers wearing green ribbons for her daughter, kristin and her parents held a virgil for 20-month-old ayla, the toddler she calls love bug. >> her father put her to bed wearing green polka dot pjs

bearing the words daddy's princess. the next morning, she was gone. and whoever has my granddaughter out there, whoever knows something, bring her home. >> police says an early morning snowfall slowed down their search efforts friday. while later in the day, an evidence van pulled into the driveway of the home where ayla was last seen. thursday, it was busier at the hot house. investigators called top investigators and set up a demand post. >> this is still a missing child investigation. that home was the last place ayla was reported to be. >> reporter: police have no suspects and say both parents have cooperated with the investigation. depietro hasn't been seen publicly since his daughter's disappearance, but he released a statement saying, i have no idea what happened to ayla o.

one day before her disappearance, reynolds went to court to file for full custody. >> i just want it all to end, all of it. i want this nightmare to be done and over with. >> police say that they have received close to 200 tip calls from the members of the public. they say they they are following up on each one. amy. >> aditi roy, thanks so much. time now for a check off your christmas eve forecast with bill. good morning, bill. >> good morning, with amy. who is this good looking man in uniform? >> my brother, adam, in ft. campbell, kentucky. >> and you are? >> i'm his mom. >> you guys could be sisters. ic like that. in west texas, it looks pretty out the window from lubbock to west texas. east coast, you look fine for

travel, but doesn't feel too much like winter. still pretty mild air out there. on christmas day, cold air in the northern plains, but it's pretty mild around the country. not many areas will wake up to a white christmas. maybe snow showers in north texas. that will be about it. hoping for a couple snowflakes around here is a live look at some very chilly drivers going across the golden gate bridge. no fog. it is really cold outside. san francisco, one of the more mild spots. we are seeing 44 degrees. across marin county up into the north bay, 20s out to solano county. 27, livermore. 33, san jose. by 3:00 and 4:00, we are going to have a chilly winter sunshine. 50s to low 60. a decent finish to the day. the rest of the weekend looks fine. it is going to be dry with chilly mornings. chance of rain comes back by wednesday. irchlt, new orleans, you're one of the spots that has to deal with rain. you still have a good time,

anyway. you're smart being here instead. if you want your hour by hour forecast for anywhere that has bad weather over this holiday weekend, get more at weather.com. >> bill, thank you. still to come, heaven is for real. we're going to meet the young boy who made an astounding trip to heavy and back, he says. his story, coming up. plus, this girl's choir is singing a message of hope this holiday season. but first, these messages. keurig has a wide variety of gourmet coffee and tea to choose from. keurig is the way to brew fresh, delicious coffee in under a minute. way to brew. so with keurig, every cup tastes like it's brewed just for you. because it is. bisquick makes amazing pancakes...

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are much smaller than many others. it's part of a whole new line of supplements. there's probiotic and fruit & veggie too. new pronutrients from centrum helps make nutrition possible. along with visiting countless countries as a reporter, martin fletcher has found time to author two nonfiction books. now he's tried his hand at something new, fiction. jenna recently sat down with the award winning journalist to talk about his new book, "the list." the. >> so your first fiction novel and it's a relatively hefty topic. you write about the holocaushol. >> my parents were refugees and living in london. they were trying to find out

what happened to their families in the holocaust. it's a hefty subject and it's a difficult one. >> the title of the book refers to a very specific list. tell me a little bit about it. >> it's a piece of paper i found in my father's bedroom after he died. and it was a list that he had began in 1945 and i found it in 2002. and that list was a -- on one side of the piece of paper was all of his family members who were taken to concentration camps. on the other side of the list was all of my mother's family. the idea was to tick off those who died and those two came back. on our list, everybody was crossed off. i thought, that must be incredible, what was it like to cross out all your mothers, brothers, sisters. >> so was it difficult, where to add historical truths and the

fiction? >> the martin fletcher touch. it was very difficult. on the one hand, i wanted to make this as accurate as possible because it reflect aes very important time in the period of many people. but i also wanted to tell a story to make it so interesting. and i did so much research, i found out other things about which i had no idea. there was a petition in london in 1945, five months after the end of world war ii to throw the injuryish of of new england. i didn't know that. so i put it altogether. what i wanted to where he was an emotional roller coaster. >> so with so many books already written about this topic, about the holocaust, is that what you

wanted readers to take away? >> the book is about what happened immediately after the holocaust. and there's very little written about this particular subject. i couldn't find hardly anything about the question of the transition, coming to terms with having lost your family and having a baby and beginning your new life. >> this list is a fascinating story. we thank you so much. martin fletcher, appreciate your insight and you being here. >> thank you. ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] big mac and mac snack wrap. the simple joy of one-of-a-kind flavor. [ male announcer ] big mac and mac snack wrap. ♪

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[ cat yodeling ] kids! [ cat yodeling ] sing, larry, sing! [ cat yodeling ] we should have got a cat. [ male announcer ] get low prices on gifts to stay connected. order your last-minute gifts at walmart-dot-com and get free same-day pickup on select items. save money. live better. walmart. now to the pure of song and its ability to bring people today. today, correspondent jenna bush-hager is here to explain. >> reporter: good morning, amy.

portland, maine, has become a home for refugees. 30 girls from different countries have come together. it's a group as much about acceptance as it is about song. ♪ voices blended together singing of peace. the name of the choir, the pacintu. it means when she sings her voice carries far. what's fun about being in this chorus? >> it's good to sing with people because we do all our singing and we can hear everyone's voice. we clap, we snap, we move. >> i saw you guys raising the roof. that wasn't -- the choir's home of portland, maine, where over 60 languages are spoken has become one of the largest immigrant and refugee

communities in the u.s. >> this community portland had an astounding number of diverse cultures and traditions. >> loud and proud. ♪ >> reporter: a musician started this year six years ago to brings the girls as well as the natives of portland to music. >> one of the things that happens when you first come to a new country is you lose your voice. so the choir was started to give those kids back their voices. >> choir members ekliss, rita and judith were all borng in sudan. >> right now, the region where my parents are from, there's genocide and ongoing war. >> we're all here for different reasons, not because we want to the but because we have to. >> now it's left in the middle

of the battlefield, not knowing what to do, just hearing gunshots from left to right, seeing dead bodies on the floor. and it was just painful, you see, i see children crying but i couldn't do anything because i was a child myself. >> enis came to portland two years ago from iraq. she says the chorus has helped her feel at home in her new country. >> i like the girls here. i make some friends and all of them are nice. they're just like my sisters, actually. >> 11-year-old ruth was adopted from kazakhstan when she was a baby. what have you learned from being in a group with people from all over the world? >> i've learned that other girls in this group do a lot of work. every day, i come here i come with a big smile on my face and know that i'm going to see them.

>> each is inspired by the songs they sing. >> when i sipg, i feel like it's a relief and i feel like some of my pain is coming out through all of these songs we sing. it is beautiful. >> allegra joyce and patrese somora are hoping to brand their music the a wider audience. >> we really think there's so much out there that these girls can teach us in the world. >> everyone ready? >> yeah. >> on this afternoon, it's almost show time. >> i'm ready. >> you are? >> and the practice has paid off. at this concert, a standing ovation from the community who supports them. 30 girls, 30 stories, united by the harm know of hope and the promise of peace. >> we have to be together. to change something, we have to

be a group. and our voices together are the most powerful thing. >> listen to go them sing and hearing their stories, they really are appear amazing group of girls. and the al pa bet kids have helped them release a cd. proseeds will go towards building schools in the countries where those girls come from. so it's pretty amazing. >> it's a great story here on this christmas eve, jenna. thanks so much for bringing it to us. >> thanks so much. >> we're back in a moment. [ mom ] hey guys.

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still to come on "today," running out to the mall to buy

some lift minute gifts? some last minute gifts the. also, michael bubleo will perform a holiday classic for us to really put us into the spirit of the season. but first, these messages. >> his grammar is pretty good, too. >> yeah, thanks. ys. guys... [ female announcer ] pillsbury cinnamon rolls with cinnabon cinnamon are an irresistible sunday morning idea. nothing calls them to the table faster. sunday morning ideas made easy.

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good morning. welcome. it's 56:56. a dark day today. i'm marla tellez and meteorologist, rob mayeda is working on your weekend forecast. >> it probably won't happen until after 7:23 this morning. you can see how cold it is outside. 22, gilroy. 33, san jose. 38, oakland. 20s up and down the tri-valley. you will see that from livermore to concord. fairfield, 24 degrees. you have to soak in those

numbers this morning. i rarely see magenta show up on theaps. it's a color you rarely see o your maps. that's how things look. the other item to watch is it is a spare the air day today. overnight versions, cold air trapped in the valleys, not the best for air quality. a ban of wood-burning fire places today. the sun is going to give us nice warming. mid afternoon, numbers in the upper 50s to near 60, a chilly start but almost a rebound. if you are going to head up to the high country today, tomorrow, probably not as cold. still, morning frost. we wrap up the weekend on a dry note. much-needed showers come back to the bay area by wednesday. >> santa is not going to get wet. >> it should be an easy drive or fly. >> thank you, rob. some of the stories we are working on today. every available chp officer is on the road looking for people who have partied a little too much this holiday weekend. the stepped-up enforcement is happening statewide. the goal is to put 80% of chp

officers on the roads. the maximum enforcement period will continue through midnight monday as not only drunk drivers are looking for. they are also on the lookout for speeders, those not wearing seat belts and people texting or talking on their cell phones illegally. these are not your normal detours. get ready for a few long-term detours in san francisco that will affect muni routes for at least four years. to accommodate construction, muni says it is rerouting the 30 stockton and the 45 union stockton lines. the detours will affect the routes between stockton and fourth street and mason and fifth street. the changes begin january 21st. a temporary shuttle route will run in the area to help riders get around those detours. salvation army bell ringer in menlo park got quite a surprise. that's because when she opened her kettle, she found a check

for $10,000 yesterday. the donation was left in the kettle in front of a safeway on el camino real. the unidentified bell ringer did not see the generous donor. the donation comes just days after another anonymous donor dropped a check for $5,000 into a salvation army kettle at a safeway in readwood city. coming up on "today in the bay," an exclusive tour of santa's workshop at the north pole. our bob riddell takes us there. we will be back with our next news and weather update coming up in 30 minutes. we will see you again at 6:26.

feel free to sing along if you want to. welcome back on "today," saturday morning, the 24th of december, 2011. it's christmas eve. what better way to spend part of it than here on the blah yeah at rock center, beneath the christmas tree. thanks to you for spending your holiday weekend here. i'm finishing a cookie. that's why i'm talking that way. i started an oatmeal cookie -- >> and then you didn't have quite enough time to finish it. >> outside the plaza, letter

holt along with amy robach. coming up, we're going to get the latest on prince pill yip's health. >> the 90-year-old husband of the queen underwent surgery on friday after he was rushed to the hospital with chest pains. queen elizabeth went to visit the prince at the hospital. that's understandable. we're going to get the latest from buckingham palace in just a moment. if you haven't finished your christmas shopping, folks, it's time to focus. we're going to help you whether it's last minute gifts for a loved one or what to give to a hostess of a party you're going to, don't worry, we have some simple and easy ideas that will help ease your stress here. and then heaven is for real. colton was rushed to emergency surgery with a burst appendix. when he awoke, he had an astonishing story. it's an amazing family. we will meet colton and his family, coming up. veronica de la cruz at the news desk for us. >> good morning, everyone. president obama is starting his

delayed christmas vacation in hawaii after securing a agreement to some payroll tax cuts for the next two months. kristin welker is in honolulu. good morning to you, kristin. >> reporter: good morning to you, veronica. president obama arrived in honolulu on friday evening. his vacation was delayed by about a week because of that fight over the payroll tax cut extension. now, he's arriving just in time for christmas and starting his trip after what many are calling a political victory. on friday, republicans caved to him and congressional democrats and agreed to extend the payroll tax cut for two months. the bill will also extend unemployment insurance benefits. senate democrats passed an almost identical bill last week, but republicans balked. republicans eventually gave in to mounting pressure from members of their own party who called on them to pass a stopgap measure.

right before the president boarded air force one to head to hawaii, he held a news conference and continued with the theme that we will undoubtedly hear in 2012. >> there will be some tough fights, i'm sure, in the years to come. but that's the kind of country that i'm fighting for. and everybody is doing their fair share. >> now, b this is the fourth time to see obama family will spend their christmas holiday here in the president's hometown of honolulu since the president wag elected in back in 2008, veronica. >> kristin welker, thank you. donald trump may yet run for president. he dropped his republican affiliation friday so he can run as an independent in 2012 if he doesn't like the republican nominee. queen elizabeth accompanied by her children visited prince phillip in the hospital where he is recovering from a heart

operation. he was successfully treated friday night for a blocked artery. this christmas, more on that at 8:30 from nbc's duncan golasani in london. and nike's new air jordans are sparking a buying frenzy on this, the last day to shop. kerry sander has more on this. kerry, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. this is the must-have gifts. things here at the mall are very calm as people try to buy them. in other part of the country, it has turned somewhat ugly. there were some shots fired in richmond, california, and in indianapolis buyers were trampled. no one was seriously injured there. the national retail federation has increased its spending forecast for this holiday season up to about had $60 billion. that's up 4%. and, of course, they're celebrating the christmas falls on sunday this year. it means they get one more saturday to sell when i held

these up at 7:00, somebody came up and offered to buy them from me. these are the hot item. >> but you're lucky, you got them, kerry. good for you. >> tiny, though. >> that is the news. let's send it back to you, lester and amy, outside on the plaza. >> i'll take those shoes. i'm sure they'll fit one of my kids. veronica, thank you very much. bill carin sess out there on the plaza. >> something knot quite right. someone has forgotten their gloves this morning. >> uh-oh. thank you so much. >> those are mine. i forgot to bring them out. thank you. >> don't say i didn't ever give you anything. we've got a first baby christmas here. >> how old? >> six months. >> and what time do you think she's wake up to get her gifts0 tomorrow morning? >> about 2:00 a.m. >> oh,ou y are so good like that. >> we've got a little bitf y o white christmas out there in areas of west texas.

midland right in the jackpot area. you're going to have a couple inches on the ground by the time it's all said and done. there's not many of us that can go out and play in the snow this weekend. there's no snow on the ground. it's amazing that most of the michigan, wisconsin and minnesota doesn't have snow on the ground. it's crazy. as far as the forecast for christmas eve, rain down in texas and into louisiana, and that looks like where the rain o here is another look at our temperatures around the bay area this mning. 29, livermore, 22, gilroy. san jose, sunnyvale, right at freezing, 32 degrees. oakland, 32. 20s around know vat toe and santa rosa. freezing for the inland valleys. cool through lunchtime. 4:00, a pretty good rebound. a 30-degree swing in temperatures. upper 50s to low 60s. another chilly start but dry finish to your christmas weekend. a chance of much-needed showers arriving wednesday. that's a look at your holiday forecast. amy, back to you.

now to one boy's near death experience and what he described as the trip to heaven that's been a publishing phenomenon. we'll talk to colton and his parents in just a moment. but first, colton answers astounding story. >> some people have called this god's country with christmas job sunrises and rolling farmland. imperial nebraska, population 1,982, is the heartland. it's also where todd, the local pastor, his wife, sonia, and their three kids live, normal in all respects except one. >> a few angels, they came and picked me up and i was looking right at jesus. >> that's right, colton, their 12-year-old, has been to heaven. >> then he says the things that get our attention. but that's where the angels sang to me, mommy. and it's like, wow, angels. wow. >> it all started when colton was 4 with a near tragedy.

>> we hit a real low because we looked at each other and thought we had money it. >> what he this out thought was the flu turned out to be a burst appendix. >> we think it had burst for five days. >> at the hospital, they were given little hope. >> i remember the doctor just not saying anything. that was a nightmare. >> after 17 days in the hospital, colton emerged, but he was different. he began speaking about things he couldn't possibly know about, his mother's miscarriage, his father's prayers and a visit with his great-grandfather, pop. >> i was sitting by the holy spirit. this guy comes up to me and says, are you todd's son? i said, yes. he says, well, i'm his grandfather. >> colton's story is stoeld in the book "heaven is for real." >> there were a lot of colors up there. colors that you can't even name because we haven't seen them before. >> it has been on the top of the

"new york times" best seller list for nearly a year. now in his latest book, colton is sharing his trip to heaven with other kids. >> i remember seeing gee jesus. he had really pretty eyes. he had a rough, kind face. brown hair and a smile that was brighter than any other smile that i've seen. >> and we're joined now by the burpa family. todd, sonja and colton. good morning to all of you. >> good morning. >> and, todd, i have to wrnd, you have your son have this incredible experience. he decides to write about it. but are you surprised by how much attention his story is getting and how popular it's become? >> we're very surprised. we thought a few people would find it, it would sit on a shelf and that would be it. >> commenton, let me ask you, this trip to heaven happened when you were a little boy. i know memory starts to fade a little bit. what still stands out the most to you when you remember those moments? >> well, two of the things i remember the most are my family

members and jesus. >> and what do you remember about them? talking to them, what they looked like? >> well, with jesus, i remember being with him and just having a great time with him up in heaven. but my family members, i just liked having a great time with them. >> and meeting them for the first time. >> yes. >> and sonia, speaking to that, i can only imagine how shocking it would be to hear your 4-year-old talk about a daughter you miscarried. what was that like for you? i mean, it probably was hard to believe. >> it was shocking, but it was very comforting to know that she's okay and she was in heaven and being taken care of and that we don't have to worry about her. she's waiting for us and we're thrilled to hear about that. >> how did he describe that? >> he basically told us, i have three sisters, mom, and i was trying to figure out what he meant. at that point, we had not shared with him that a baby died in

your tummy. and so he said, she told me, she died in her tummy. and he kept revealing things and gave us such a complete peace and comfort. >> with the good comes the bad. u the doubters and the haters. how have you all handled some of the unfavored comments you've received? >> the main thing that we found is god has, i think, convinced a lot of people that we're not making this up. not only that, we come from a small town. this story began eight years ago. our friends, family, people there in town have encouraged us to write it, to share it with others. and i think there's lots of witnesses that have heard from colton first hand that this is true. it's not just us. >> colton, how have you handled all of the attention you received? >> i don't. i just go with the flow and pretty much -- >> you just tell what you remember? >> yes. >> and what impact do you think that's had on people like your friends or even grownups? >> well, with my friends, they have grown up with the story, so it's only impacted them a little

bit because they knew the story and when it came to the book, that's when they starteded being like, oh, okay. but with the adults, it's started healing some of their hurts. >> adults have enjoyed your first book. why did you make the book to children? >> who is going to know how to talk to kids better than kids? all the colors, jesus loves them, playing with animals. i don't know how many kids have asked colton, is my pet going to be there? he doesn't know if their pet is going to make it, but he saw animals and played with them. that's why i think it's natural. it's like, this is what it should be. >> todd, sonja and colton, the books are "heaven is for real" and "heaven is for real" for kids. th just one purpose ♪ ♪ to help you fall in love with nook ♪

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if you're weaking up this morning and still in the need for gifts, no worries, you have a few hours to go, anyway. >> what can you buy? where do you find it? and is it too late? >> here to help us figure out where to do that last-minute shopping today, is lifestyle expert robin mereno. let's get started. one of the big -- but we mentioned this earlier in the broadcast. these air jordan shoes are back. >> people are going crazy. they're rioting in the streets for these guys and they're still available, luckily. so if you go to nike.com, they'll tell you they're out of stock. if you're lucky, they'll have them at a store near you. >> expensive? >> $180. on ebay, they're 500, but $180 from a normal store. >> we've seen some mega deals already in this file week.

are we going to see more? >> procrastinators, it was good that you waited. you can get some big deals. macy's is having up to 60% off their cashmere. car mere is a lovely gift. if you're in the market for a watch, kohl's has up to 60% off for their entire selection. that's a great deal for men or women in the market to have sears is having half off their craftsman tool sets. and walmart, they're having big sales on their kids' bikes starting at $50. >> and one thing you said was don't discount the pharmacies and drugstores. >> in addition to organic turkey, you can pick up scarf and earrings, the cute stuff. tomorrow, if you're down to the wire, cvs will be open from 10:00 to 8:00 tomorrow.

>> so you can pick up, like, stereo systems and tablets and they have cute toys, gift sets featuring didny's favorite characters like princess and cards. it's something for the entire family until the last minute. >> it's panic buying, but it works. >> they'll never know. >> how here is amy. lester, thank you. if you're heading to a party or a family member's house this weekend and still looking for a last-minute hostess gift, help has arrived. allison is here from thefind.com. i love your first two items because they involve food that i love to eat. pizza and meatball makers. >> they have makers for everything these days, doughnuts, cakes. these are both from bella. if you have monday night football, the kids are coming back from a hockey game, everyone can make their own pizza, and these are both available at kohl's. so you can scoot into kohl's

today and they're all under $40. >> that's impressive. and then instead of a bottle of wine, you suggest perhaps bringing -- >> coffee. so keurig is the hot new item to have. instead of sending your hostess back into the kitchen, set autopsy coffee making station so she can enjoy dessert with everyone. these are the barista people yumm coffee house flavors which are the fave. you can make colder drinks witness as well. >> i was just saying we needed one of these in the kitchen. the can you leave this with us? >> i'll ask if they don't mind. but that is what is so great. instead of the wine, bring the ba rita. along with the desserts, bring the dessert stand. you're bringing something chic and beautiful. these are actually sin day crawford style collection. she's getting into everything these days. these are all available at jcpenn jcpenneys. these ornament bowls just went on sale for $10.

so bring the dessert, bring it on something and that way you're leaving it for the hostess as a gift. >> and then you have some fun, rote row games for the kids? >> yes. and what i like about this is it's kind of bringing friendly competition. these are all available at marshals, ranging from $20 to $6. and they're nice enough and decorative enough that you can leave them out on the table. what i love about places like tjmaxx, marshals, 10,000 new items every single week. >> you don't have to tell me on that. thanks so much. now here is lester. >> amy, thanks. it's the season for giving. if you're looking for a gift that gives back, we have a few unique ideas. elaine griffin is here with us, contributing design et tore at better homes & gardens. if you want to donate to a person's favorite charity, you can do that online. but if you want something tangible along with that, how would you go about it? >> you want to take it a step farther. number one, we think that giving online for gifts with a

charitable tie-in are great for last minute things. but always do your homework on the charity first. that's number one. we love heiffer international. if you want to pair your gift cardses from them with something that reminds you of the gift. if you give to honey bees, pair it with honey. exactly. >> now, a fashion gift that gives back. >> yes. >> you've got some ideas for that. >> for the style maid on your gift, loving the j-gel compassion t-shirt. it's stylish, cute, comfy and benefits their compassion fund which helps homeless women. >> and this new balance product here, it's supporting breast cancer research. >> you have to have accessories. it's their new heart rate monitor watch punish new year's resolutions are coming up. exercise is going to he one of them. >> you just hold this, right? >> you just hold it and this benefits see san g.komen. >> and ornaments.

where are these being sold? they're from macy's. add a little celebrity buzz to your christmas tree. the macy's design star ves all done christmas ornaments. they benefit the make a wish foundation. this is from madonna, rachael ray. >> starbucks? >> they have a great gift card that your recipient will louf every morning for. and it goes to benefit the global fund which supports aids research in africa. when you do that, you want to pai pair it with the ultimate morning combo and that's charity mugs from west elm. >> and they're donating to -- >> a variety of different charities. >> perfect. thank you. >> happy holidays. >> this is "today" on nbc. [ female announcer ] holiday plus cookies plus memories

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good morning, 6:26. live look at the golden gate toll plaza. not too many making their way into san francisco this christmas. meteorologist, rob mayeda checking on the very chilly forecast. >> i rarely see the maps tning purple. it is not this morning. outdoor, 24 degrees. 29, livermore. concord, 28 degrees. 32, san jose. san francisco, 43. right near the water. that's pretty chilly. look at oakland, 32. very cold.

a freeze warning up for mostly the inland valleys through the bay area. lunchtime, we are still going to see cool temperatures mostly in the 50s. 3:00, 4:00, not a bad day. we are going to get almost a 30-degree rebound, temperatures upper 50s to low 60s today. christmas morning, another chilly start. a dry finish for holiday travel. we will be watching if maybe there is any deicing. planes in the local airport due to chilly temperatures. wednesday, we seal showers coming back and snow finally heading back to northern california. here is a few stories we are following today. what started out as a report of a car crash quickly became a stabbing investigation in ville ho. police officer responded to a call on monterrey near carolina street. the victim drove his truck through a fence and on top of a trash can in the middle of a residential neighborhood. it turns out the driver had been

stabbed multiple times. he is now in the hospital while investigators try to determine how he was stabbed and why. scary moments for shoppers at a popular south bay mall. a chemical scare forced the evacuation of shoppers at oak ridge mall in san jose yesterday. dozens of firefighters and hazmat crews responded to an area near the mall's century 20 theater after a man complained his eyes and throat were irritated much the theater lobby was evacuated for two hours. turns out the problem stems from a bathroom where someone washing the floors used too much cleaner. the man was treated at a hospital for his symptoms and later released. this morning, peet's coffee is ponying up for a good cause. miniature horses will visit danville's peet's coffee to spread holiday cheer and raise money for the sun rise equestrian foundation. they are going to match dollar for dollar up to $1,000. they help raise money for

children in hospice care and those at special needs schools and camps. this event runs from 11:00 this morning until twhun afternoon from the peet's coffee in dan vil. coming up on "today in the bay," global concern over breast implants. why thousands of women are being urged to get them removed. that story plus a look at a holiday tradition in san francisco that's helping make this christmas merry for kids that aren't so fortunate. it all gets started after the "today" show coming up in about 30 minutes, of course. we will see you again at 7:00. mother merry christmas, everybody!

we're back on this saturday morning. it's december 24th, 2011, and christmas eve. look at this crowd we have out here on the plaza getting ready for santa to come to their homes. we want to thank you for spending your morning with us. i'm amy robach along with lester holt. still to come this half hour, we're going to give the latest on the condition of prince phillip. he had a heart issue. >> heart issue. the duke of edinburgh taken to the hospital for chest pains on friday. prince william and harry's

grandfather turned 90 this past june. he was getting ready to spend the holiday with the rest of the royal family. we're going to find out the latest on his condition, coming up. >> then we're going to switch gears and turn to the holiday feast. as many folks across the country get ready to celebrate, some of us may wonder what's on the menu. we're going to show you how to mae a traditional christmas eve feast. these dishes are easy to make and they're delicious. >> later on, we're going to hear from michael bublea. we're going to hear one of the songs on his album coming up. >> looking forward to that. but first, let's get a check of the weather from bill karins out of the plaza with us. bill. >> i'm hiding behind lester. it's a great morning out here, fantastic. and behind all these beautiful pooep people out here, we have the lovely christmas tree right there. a lot of football fans, too. kind of a weird saturday with a lot of football fans. let me take you through your

weekend forecast. if you're lucky enough to get all your shopping done, you can spend the day indoors watching football. as we go into christmas day, the weather forecast doesn't change much. what you have today is pretty much what you're going to deal with for your christmas day. it looks pretty soggy out there. we also in the northwest are going to see the first storm system in a while coming in. just some light rain, mountain snow, but that's about it. pretty simple weekend for your once again, the graphic of the morning is how chilly it is outside. 20s and 30s across inland valleys. the reason why we have a freeze warning up through actually 9:00 this morning. look at the afternoon, not too bad for christmas eve. easy for your travel plans heading out of the bay area and over to the sierra. numbers in the 40s around truck key and 50s to low 60s in the north bay. more of the same for christmas day. a chance of rain creeping back by wednesday. colorado, and

it still looks nice and pretty. of course, here in new york, we have a big football game today. we have the jets against the giants with sunday night football. that's going to be a good game, too. lambeau field, you can't get any more historic than that. a surprising loss last week taking on the bears. is weather will be tranquil for lambeau field. 28 to 30 degrees. that's pretty warm up there. back on you, amy. >> royal family was beginning to gather for their christmas holiday. prince phillip began experiencing chest pains and was air lifted to the hospital. duncan is outside buckingham palace for the latest on his condition. good morning, duncan. >> good morning w, amy. at this time of year, buckingham palace pretty much shuts down as the family moves out for the holiday season. that's why an announcement late last night took everyone by

surprise. the duke of edinburgh should have been welcoming family for the holidays. instead, this morning, they're visiting him in the card i can't go yak hospital 50 miles away. he was rushed there last night by helicopter. buckingham palace confirmed he had chest pains and underwent some minor operations called artery exte artery stenting. >> june, the prince turned 90. and enjoyed all the royal pomp of the palace celebrations. later, he was flirting with film star gweneth paltrow. >> despite all the wonderful things you do, it's wonderful when you stop doing them. >> but he's not likely to stop. there was a grueling 11-day tour of australia. >> the duke of edinburgh carriesing on something like 400

engagements a year. he realizes that he can't carry out the same pace. >> the prince has been married to the queen for more than 60 days. always a few steps behind her, careful to be the supporter, never the star. but behind closed doors, she turns to him. >> the queen described prince phillip as her strength and stay. he's simply somebody who has been with her for such a long time, she can't imagine life without him. >> they were together for the biggest occasion of the decade, their grandson's marriage to kate. it's possible he'll miss her first christmas. the royal family have big celebrations. this year, they'll be wishing for the home coming of a much loved husband, father and grandfather. >> and through the morning, all of the prince's children have been to visit him, including prince charles and his wife, camilla, and the latest from the hospital is he's in high spirits. amy. >> all right, duncan golastani, thanks so much. come up, how to make a

simmer traditional christmas feast. it's not too late to get started. we're going to show you how. [ female announcer ] you call that bread? in 15 minutes, you can serve some warmth with your bread. and some flavor with your bread. and some layers with your bread. if you're serving bread honey, then serve it.

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this morning on today's kitchen, a extradition that's long by associated with many

homes in the holidays. christmas eve feast might sound difficult to prepare, but it's not. here is ed brown, chef and collaborator for ed's chowder house and restaurant associates. great to have you here. >> good morning. >> what's the significant of a fish with christmas? >> there's a lot of explanations. the one that i'm using which is the easiest one is it starts with the theory that catholics don't eat meat on fridays or on holy day. so on the holy day of christmas eve christmas they eat the dinner of fishes. why seven? they say there's one fish for each day of the week. >> and seven recurs many times in the bible. >> that's right, it does. >> you have a seafood salad you're starting here. >> onions, celery, chili flakes, garlic and a good amount of olive oil. i've got shrimp that i split in half. some fresh squid.

>> scallops. >> scallops. now, if you notice, i don't have the pan on a very high heat because we just want to warm up and cook that seafood to be cooked. we don't want to brown it. we just want it to come along slowly. >> okay. >> i've got one coming along nicely here. and just as soon as that seafood gets cooked a little bit where it's going to finish it off with some lemon juice -- >> this looks like it's going to be an entree. ite actually an appetizer. >> it's an appetizer. >> would you serve it up with crusty bread? >> yeah. i'm going to put a little lemon zest in there to give it a little of that freshness. >> this looks delicious, ed. >> and it's as simple as that. >> how long would you cook this, then? >> total cooking time is probably only about five minutes. >> oh, this is quick and easy. yeah, really quick.

>> now a few minutes so to saute the onions. >> the seafood is the quickest thing. then a little olive oil over the top. i like to put a lot bit of the large sea salt for a little crunch. you can taste that. make sure it tastes good. >> looks terrific. let me give that a shot. very nice. that could away whole meal, though. >> could be. >> we're going to come over here now and do braised cod with muscles and -- ooh, it has a kick to it, by the way. >> yes. a little chili pepper on it. >> here we have gray scott. >> and i've cooked this with cuban ell peppers, fresh chili peppers, a lot of garlic, braised it together with the muscles and the cod. i've salted the cod for about an half hour. then i rinse it off and pat it

dry. the cod firms up. it's much easier to handle. here, i've got white wine and a little vinegar. we've braised everything together. >> is this going to cook a while? >> this cooks for about 15 to 20 minutes. i serve it with some creamy polenta. really make it soft like this. >> i used to think of polenta as being more firm than that. >> in this case, we make it very soft. it's almost like we make a little pool for that. finish it up with basil. then pull the cod fish out. right off the plate. >> right. by the way, if the muscles don't open after cooking, you don't need to toss them aside, right? >> toss them aside. >> great presentation. this looks great on the family

table. >> i'm coming in, hi. it's always awkward to storm the castle. sorry. >> not when you smell this. you come running. >> olive oil on top, fresh cracked pepper. >> look how christmassy it looks, too, on the red plate. >> you got that theme, huh? >> i did. i figured it out. >> pasta dish, pasta with clams. i put raw chopped parsley in at the last minute. >> what is that? >> clementines that we pulled apart prior to the segment. i put syrup, gren na dean and it looks great in the glass bowl. >> what is this, the champagne? >> this is a nice holiday looking sort of drink. >> well -- >> happy holidays. >> merry christmas, happy holidays. >> are you cook this christmas? >> absolutely. >> good for you. thanks for having us. >> thank you.

>> thanks to you for being here. up next, music man michael bublea stops by with a special message. [ mom ] hey guys. guys... [ female announcer ] pillsbury cinnamon rolls with cinnabon cinnamon are an irresistible sunday morning idea. nothing calls them to the table faster. sunday morning ideas made easy. [ younger brother ] oh, do you want it?

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want to add some swing into your holiday season? grammy award winner michael bublea is out with a brand new holiday album called simply, "christmas." good morning. >> good morning. >> your last album called "crazy love" sold over 7 million copies worthwide. seen by over a million people. why did you want to go out and ring out a christmas album? >> i think that it's a huge time for me and my family. the second i legislature that christmas stuff, it brings me back to warm and fond memories with family members. i felt like this could be the most important record of my life

if i had done it right. and i just lost the holidays. i can't even tell you how exc e excited i am tomorrow for my nieces and nephews. santa claus is coming tomorrow. >> he's coming tonight for some. >> for some, yeah. >> and i was telling you earlier, your voice is so perfect for those christmas songs. >> that's my niece and nephew on the video. >> oh, how cute! >> was it difficult, though, trying to make these songs that are so loved and so well known? >> no. you know, i wanted to make this record for so long that i had come up with the concept years ago, some of them 20 years ago. so i walked into the studio and i worked my butt off. we worked in july, which people think isn't christmassy. but just playing these songs gets people into the spirit. and we did it all live at capital records and there were about nine people all playing at the same time. and it made it easy easy to get

into the spirit of things. >> and you mentioned july. we're seeing snow, but you say it was 95 degrees out there when you were doing? >> it was so hot, yes, it was so hot. >> so you're an actor, as well. >> it was filmed in vancouver, canada. it's summertime. they have this weird fake fake bubbles. >> and you're wearing an ov overcoat. >> and every few takes they were patting me down. is it okay if i just go and do it? >> go. take it away. >> merry christmas. merry christmas to you. thanks so much. ♪ i'm dreaming tonight of a place i love even more than i usually do ♪ ♪ and although i know it's a long road there ♪

♪ i promise you i'll be home for christmas ♪ ♪ you can plan on me sneets please have snow and misestle toe ♪ ♪ and presents by the tree ♪

♪ christmas eve is gonna find me ♪ ♪ where the love light is green ♪ ♪ i'll be home for christmas if only in my dreams ♪ ♪

♪ i'll be home for christmas if only in my dreams ♪ >> michael buble, thank you, and we're back after this. tourism season in years. all because so many people came to louisiana...

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and that's going to do it for us on this saturday morning. our thanks to veronica de la cruz and bill karins. coming up tomorrow on "today" we're going to celebrate christmas on the plaza and give you a sneak peek. >> plus, tips for returning unwanted gifts. that will do it tonight for nbc nightly news. so long, everybody. thanks for watching and have a merry christmas. >> merry christmas.

if you can't trust a banker, who can you trust? a san jose man put his faith in a banker and had his million dollar life savings spent on serious bling. an apartment caught fire. how the tragedy has some of the bay area's finest scrambling to help. got a traffic ticket? you may get a discount, dependingn when where you got it. we'll explain in just a few minutes. ♪ making your way in the world today ♪

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well, welcome to our broadcast. take a look at this. a live look over san jose. a s