hello, everyone. happy christmas eve. robin's celebrating with her family. great to have elizabeth here again. what a week for the secret service. >> i'm wondering if president clinton should be on alert. president bush got somebody on his front line. and now, president obama. >> this was not connected, they think, to the president at all. lots of holiday travel this weekend. it's going to be a busy weekend. the airports will be crowded. a lot of people paying higher prices at the airports and at the gas pump, as well. for the first time during a holiday season, gas is topping $3 a gallon.t time during a it usually goes down at christmastime. >> not just topping it. but topping it by a lot. also, we're going to have a wonderful christmas story about a marine who is serving in afghanistan and found a way to be present for the birth of his first child. there's his wife in labor. there he is. you see him on the computer screen. technology is unbelievable. >> incredible. he sat there. and she was pushing hard for 17 hours. they were together the whole time. we begin with the holiday travel. as we say, lots of developments this morning. winter weather coming for the midwest and the east. and that new alert for passengers going through airport security. sam champion and bianna golodryga are on the story. we're going to begin with bianna at laguardia airport. and the new alert from homeland security has to do with thermos bottles going through security? >> reporter: that's right, george. the department of homeland security has issued a new alert on insulated beverage containers. a lot of people bring them in empty. but they fill up on coffee and tea. this isn't based on one specific threat. but it's best advised that people leave them at home. it's the latest headache for travelers facing the busiest and most expensive travel seasons in years. if you're one of the millions taking a flight next week, you're likely spending more than you did last year. airfares up 7.5% over last year. a $400 flight from chicago to new york, will cost you $28 more. helping the airline industry wrap up its most profitable year since 1999. and jamming airports, across the country. >> the line for our check-in is what delayed us on our flight. >> reporter: after the more than 85 million taking to the roads, filling up that gas tank will cost you more this year, too. a lot more. it's up 13 cents since november. and the highest it's been since late in 2008. denver, colorado, has the cheapest gas in the continental u.s. and the most expensive? san francisco. >> i hate the gas prices this holiday season. how about i have a truck. it's costing me more than my kids' gifts. >> reporter: elizabeth, i don't want to be a complete grinch this season. there are smartphone aps that will help you save time. one is cheap gas. the other is flighttracker. that helps you track your flight and the gate that flight is flying out of. also, weatherbug, helps you find where the traffic and the weather is in your area. that's something that sam knows, as well. >> no kidding. we have our own expert on weather. already on this christmas eve, snow is hitting the midwest and it's heading east. let's check in with sam for the holiday forecast. hey, sam. >> hey, elizabeth. it is that time of year when you're going to sit in the airport for a while. and here's why. let's get up close and personal with the road conditions. in the deep south, dallas is a part of that, to memphis at the borderline here. this is going to be some rain. it will slow some travel here. but there's a little layer of ice, between where it gets to snow, that will be the most problematic. that's from branson, missouri, through memphis. knot of that, into kansas city and chicagoland, and minneapolis. it's a medium snow hit here. three to five inches of snow on the ground, on top of what they already have. here's the airports. in those areas, it will come as no surprise. there will be delays. in seattle, a brand-new wet system. any planes going from the areas or to the areas. from atlanta, all the way to boston, nice and dry. the snow so far, taos had 25 inches of snow. minneapolis, 16. and the next system over the weekend will put a nice, little layer right there. that means atlanta could get some snow there. and could be the first time they see a white christmas in 100 years. nashville, about 17 years. elizabeth? >> all right, sam. thanks so much. out west, they've been struggling. more than a week of drenching rains is finally subsiding. but they're not in the clear yet. a state of emergency has been declared in three more california counties because of the threat of slides and collapses in the mountains and foothills. mike von fremd is in highland, california, with more on all of the mud. good morning to you, mike. >> reporter: good morning, elizabeth. there is still a mountain of mud in this community. but california is calling in the cavalry to try to clean up this mess. the storm has battered and bruised so much of the golden state, it will take patience and true grit to make things right. southern california is used to not seeing a white christmas. but a muddy mess certainly wasn't on their list. all these residents in highland want is a clear path to spend the holidays at home. >> because of all of this mud, we're talking probably hundreds of metric tons of dirt and mud. you have to truck it out and come back. it becomes a 24/7 process. >> reporter: this storm is turning out to be costly. officials in highland estimate it cost $17.2 million in damage. in riverside county, the damage to homes and cars is $30 million. and in orange county, they are looking at $23 million of damage. heavy equipment will be attempting to make a dent in all this dirt. and everyone is enlisted to help. prison work crews are digging out mud-trapped cars. laguna beach lost its boardwalk under the deluge of water and mud. more than 50 businesses are trying to get back in business. at san diego's qualcomm stadium, it was a race against time. clearing out, not only the parking lot, but the water-soaked field inside, in time for last night's poinsettia bowl. >> are we going to get this done? >> reporter: they got the field dry enough for 50,000 fans to watch san diego state take on navy. >> how is that to put a game away? >> reporter: it was a good night for the home team. 35-16. crews are cleaning up again today, all aware that another storm is churning up in the pacific. now, the scare at the war western white house. a man on the run from police blew through a security checkpoint near president obama's hawaiian home earlier this morning. and the secret service went into action. sprinting after the pickup truck with guns drawn. yunji de nies is in waikiki beach with more. >> reporter: good morning, george. this really is the case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. the honolulu police were apparently trying to arrest a man who had five outstanding warrants for traffic violations. he led them on a high-speed chase, that ended up at a checkpoint, near the obama family's vacation rental. he encountered the secret service there, and turned his truck around, away from the house. driving for a while before he was arrested. secret service says they do not believe that 39-year-old leon rodriguez, was trying to get to the obamas. basically, he made a very wrong turn in trying to get away from police. the president was miles away, golfing at a marine base, when all of this took place. rodriguez is in jail on the outstanding warrants. and he could face additional charges. the secret service says they are not getting involved in this case. and they're letting the honolulu police department take the lead. george? >> yunji, thanks. before he left for his own holiday break, vice president joe biden sat down with me for an exclusive interview. we covered a lot of ground. everything from taxes to afghanistan, to gay marriage and christmas gifts. and the vice president was in an upbeat mood, coming off the congressional session, where he served as president obama's dealmaker in chief. you have had a pretty strong lame duck session. the president called it the most productive. perhaps the most productive in history, during the consultations over the s.t.a.r.t. nuclear reduction treaty. in "the new york times," 50 contacts with senators. it seems like you stepped into the role that president obama picked you for in the first place. >> well, i've been sort of doing this all along. you know, when you have a very short time frame in which to do things, it does one of two things. it makes it impossible or accelerates the prospects of it happening. in this case, it accelerated the prospect of it happening. so, things were aligned. >> you hit on an important point. it was a concentrated period. is this the beginning of the end of cooperation? or end of the beginning? it seems like it's going to get tougher next year. >> it is going to get tougher. there will be a need on everyone's part, and in everyone's interest to cooperate, to keep the economy growing and address the long-term debts. >> the challenge will come quite early. the nation could hit its debt limit as early as february or march. how concerned are you that you won't be able to reach a deal with the republicans on spending cuts in order to make sure that that debt limit is extended? >> we're going to be submitting a february budget that's going to freeze government spending on discretionary programs. we've already made some difficult decisions, like freezing wages for the civilian side of the government. there's a lot of hard decisions that are going to have to be made. but i just think at the end of the day, the pressure is going to be to do what is right. and both of the debt commissions, the main one, saying, look. this year is not the time to constrain the economic growth. it's to promote it. and we should set in motion for 2012 and 2013. and they talk about tax, they talk about revenue and they talk about spending cuts. george, that's why i think i felt confident in being asked by the president to negotiate a deal on taxes that the equities and the economic imperatives are going to be to not extend the high-end tax cut, which will cost $700 billion over ten years. and not extend this overly generous estate tax. >> you're holding it to two years? that's a guarantee? >> george, you know, nothing's a guarantee in american politics. nothing is a guarantee in life. but i think all the equities, if people look at it objectively, are going to say, we have to cut spending. we have to deal with tax revenues. >> let's turn to foreign policy. a lot of concern this week about north korea. the foreign minister said a whole, new war could be on the horizon. in my own reporting, i detect a level of concern about the situation on the korean peninsula. it's as high as i've ever seen. >> george, there's reason for that. this is the most unstable nation in the region. stabilizing force, north korea. they're going through a power transition. the great leader is about to and has designated his young son to be his successor. i'm sure there's a lot of muscle-flexing in the near term to satisfy the military that the successor is going to be able to be handle the deal. we have a unified front with china, russia, japan, south korea, on attempting to continue to moderate the behavior of the north. but it is -- it is dicey. it is reason for concern. >> you said earlier this week, that we were going to be totally out of afghanistan, come hell or high water, by 2014. the white house stepped out to clarify that a little bit. what did you mean by it? and i guess it's no secret that you've had real concerns about a broad counterinsurgency effort in afghanistan. how confident are you that those withdrawals will actually take place? >> i'm absolutely confident they'll take place. that's the reason i was so definitive. it was in the context of my making, an analogizing, what we did in iraq, getting out of the cities and reducing 100,000 troops. and then, getting out completely. that's the purpose of the timeline here. by 2014, to hand over total control of the country, to the afghanis. >> what about the air bases in bagram and kandahar? >> well, i don't want to prejudge that now. but it is possible that u.s. forces could be in a train and assist position in both those bases. that's yet to be decided. that will be decided by 2014. but we will not be in -- the analogy was, we move from a combat mission to a train and assist mission. >> so, you won't be closing those bases? >> well, i think there's equally a prospect that they remain open, as closed. but we're not going to be there -- my generic point was, there's not going to be 140,000 isaf forces, international security forces, in afghanistan by 2014. >> you said earlier, the repeal of don't ask, don't tell. the president signed that. in his press conference afterwards, he dealt with the issue of gay marriage. a remarkable answer. he said it was something in a he really struggles with. where are you on that? >> i think the country's evolving. and i think there's inevitability for a national consensus on gay marriage. that is my view. but this is the president's policy. it is evolving. i think the country's evolving. i remember, the first time he met with the joint chiefs, i was with him. met and said, gentlemen, i want you to prepare now. i want to end don't ask, don't tell. so, he prepared the ground so it's widely accepted as it is today by the military. and i think the same thing is happening across the country, with regard to the issue of marriage. >> i don't want to keep you too much longer. it's christmas eve. >> that's okay. >> did you finish your shopping yet? >> i have finished my shopping. and the most important thing to shop for is my wife and my daughter and my granddaughters. i got that done. my son's caught up. i've gotten them. so, believe it or not, i'm in good shape. >> with all you've had to do, good for you. what do you want for christmas? >> well, what i wanted for christmas was a 13-degree fairway wood that is essentially a 2 wood. i don't know when i'm going to get to use it. but that's what i asked for. >> i hope you get time over the christmas holiday. thanks for being here this morning. merry christmas. >> thanks, george. you have a merry christmas, as well. >> i love that. he didn't give the miss america answer. >> i know. world peace. >> this is what i want. i want a 2 wood. all right. we're going to turn to a controversial case of new york's governor to commute the sentence of a man that was convicted in the shooting death of a teenager. what started out as a misunderstanding over a girl, ended up as a deadly confrontation. it's a story we covered on "20/20." and ron claiborne is here with this. >> from the beginning, this case touched some very raw emotions. even new york's governor, david paterson acknowledged that the decision to let the man out early, will be seen by some as an affront. john white is a free man, after serving less than seven months in prison, for the racially-charged shooting death of 17-year-old dan cisero. >> it's a blessed day. >> reporter: his family refused to comment. but two years ago, they had this to say. >> disappointed about this justice system. it's about poor mr. white. kills my son. >> reporter: white's sentence was commuted by new york state governor, david paterson, who leaves office in just eight days. paterson write, the action i take today is one of understanding, forgiveness and hope, which i believe are essential components of justice. white confronted a group of white teens, who his son, aaron, claims had threatened him. >> yelling out racist words. i'm going to [ bleep ]. >> reporter: john white wielded an unregistered handgun. he told elizabeth vargas, the boy everyone called dano, grabbed for it. >> he grabbed at it. and i pulled back. and it went off. >> reporter: white likened the teams outside his home to a lynch mob. but evidence at trial showed white never called police in the 20 minutes since his son warned him. and cisero's mother told us, she didn't understand even after he shot her son, he didn't call 911. >> it's a reaction. oh, my good. what did i do? i can't believe it. did he do that? no. he very deliberately just turned around, walked back the up driveway, like nothing. while my son is there, bleeding in the street. >> reporter: and cicciaro's family was outraged of the original sentence, two to four years. white would have faced 22 years in prison. he would have had to serve at least another year before being eligible for parole. >> and governor paterson made the commutation, even though the state appellate court and the supreme court -- >> the supreme court upheld the original conviction. >> saying is the force was unjustified. >> but the governor says this is justice. that five months in prison, was sufficient for this crime. of course, this will inflame emotions further. >> not the last we've heard of this story. >> not at all. >> merry christmas to you. let's check in with sam champion for a look at the nation's weather forecast. >> good morning, elizabeth. let's deal with who gets snow today. if you're hitting the roads a little late, from sioux falls, to the minneapolis. des moines, chicagoland, kansas city, louisville. even into nashville. i'm concerned that what happens in tennessee will be a mix of ice and snow and make the drive even more difficult. how about the southwest? here's a headline. two dry days after seven wet days. there will be showers this weekend. 62 in l.a. 62 in san diego, as well. it's messy in the middle. and if you were reading that, i never knew there was a mistletoe, kentucky, elizabeth. >> neither did i. they're all kissing each other in that town. thanks, sam. let's go to our "picture of the morning" bo, having some fun, the first dog, out in hawaii. going all over the place. i think it's a smart communication strategy for the president. let them take pictures of bo, to leave me alone. >> that looks like fun. >> good weather out there, as well. coming up here, an amazing story bob woodruff brought us. the marine fighting for his country. 7,000 miles from home. but there was no way he was going to miss his daughter's birth. >> he's right there on the computer screen, through 17 hours of labor. plus, do you pine for a real christmas tree? or is fake the better way to go green? we jump into the great christmas tree debate in our next half hour. don't go away. i have asthma. and when my symptoms came back i'd get this tightness in my chest. so i went back to my doctor again. we chose symbicort to help control my asthma symptoms all day and night. 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[ smack! ] [ smack! smack! smack! ] [ male announcer ] your favorite foods fighting you? fight back fast with tums. calcium rich tums goes to work in seconds. nothing works faster. ♪ tum ta tum tum tums nothing works faster. cwcscccccccc this is my band from the 80's, looker. hair and mascara, a lethal combo. i'm jon haber of alto music. my business is all about getting music into people's hands. and the plum card from american express open helps me do that. you name it, i can buy it. and the savings that we get from the early pay discount has given us money to reinvest back into our business and help quadruple our floor space. how can the plum card's trade terms get your business booming? booming is putting more music in more people's hands. now, maryland's most powerful to lar radar and forecast certified most accurate by weatherate. good morning 59:26. this christmas eve morning. storm chances are not done. watching developments and trying to chug out some of the information here and 29 in baltimore and 30 in easton. we have ourselves a dry start to the day. but the wind chill has us down to 20. we will have ourselves a mostly sunny skies. and we will get to 39 and winds calming down in the afternoon a few backyards could hit the low 40s like yesterday. clouds start to increase overnight. it will be cold 23. chance of maybe snow trying to come in at daybreak. and may speed this thing up and i will tell you why in a moment. looking for a chance of light snow or flurries. possibly a covering and we will play it cautious. but it's more than lot have been saying recently. but christmas snow possibility in baltimore with a high of 36. we shift focus back west. been watching and reading discussions from weather offices out here in missouri. more precipitation and faster than they expected. that's why i think something races into the east a little sooner and more moisture out of texas where storm will rise. we are looking at a coastal storm that forms and it will be hugging the coast. how close it guess to us will determine that. the highest chances along the shoreline for the heavier snow and we are in it a 40% chance around ballmore. alexis, how is traffic. >> reporter: traffic is looking really good this morning make are way out and about this christmas eve. the road are very clear. very light volume no problems to report. and we do have an accident 97 southbound just after ben feld boulevard. another accident as well southbound 97 at route 32 but no delays. we are senning you back to "good morning, america." ♪ you are hearing the philadelphia boys choir and chorale. they're singing a lullaby for baby riley. you're watching her birth. and her father managed to watch from 7,000 miles away, in afghanistan. of course, there's the baby girl. good morning, america. i'm george stephanopoulos. >> and i'm elizabeth vargas. that brings back memories, doesn't it? robin roberts is off, enjoying this christmas eve. coming up, we'll have more music from the choir. that's a treat. 300 strong, i believe. >> yeah. it's become a christmas tradition here. we're glad to have them back. we're going to weigh in on a big debate, real versus fake. why are 30 million christmas trees chopped down every year when fake ones are better for the environment? or are they? we go on a limb for the great christmas tree -- >> i knew you were going to say that. >> i'm all about the bad puns. how modern is eric stonestre stonestreet's real family? he is the star of that show. he brought juju home, to meet all of them, including the woman who inspired his character, cameron. >> he says he is imitating her when he's acting in this role. we're going to begin this half hour, with the remarkable story of a sergeant serving in afghanistan. and the lengths to which he went to be with his wife while she went into labor. bob woodruff is here with this remarkable story. >> reporter: good morning, elizabeth. for the last five months, we've been following the marines of lima company, and their families in columbus, ohio, to see what it is like to live as a military family, at a time of war, on the battlefield and also at home. while these families are like those of previous wars, now, there's an amazing technology, that allows them to communicate and watch the birth of their children from 7,000 miles away. >> we had to set up the crib over the weekend because he decided he wanted to put it together before he left. so -- sorry. >> reporter: like every first time father, sergeant ken pompilli wanted to be there for his wife, melanie. sharing every moment, until he was deployed to afghanistan with lima company for last august. >> i'm not going to be there for the birth. i hope the baby's okay. we'll be there, with skype on that day. if not, i want pictures or anything that i can actually see her. >> reporter: and then, on thanksgiving day, a surprise. >> i got an e-mail this morning. news. >> reporter: melanie is in labor, a week early. >> i'm having a contraction. >> i love you. basically, i'm going to make sure we try not to lose any wireless signal during our transmission with the girls. >> reporter: sergeant pompilli turns his armored vehicle into a mobile command center, with help from corporal jason wall. >> i'm nervous, scared, worried. i'm mad. so, i'm just -- i'm going through each and every emotion that i can ever think of. >> reporter: together, they witnessed every contraction. >> ten. >> reporter: every push via skype. >> good job, sweetheart. >> reporter: for the next 17 hours, armed with dr. pepper and chocolate cookies, pompilli is by his wife's side, 7,000 miles away. >> she sounds like she's in a lot of pain. i don't like hearing her upset. it's hard for me to be here, and not there to be there for her when i need to be. >> reporter: and then -- so close, yet so far away. >> hi, daddy. >> hi, riley. >> a beautiful kid. just beautiful. >> just like her mom. >> reporter: riley will be 5 months old when her daddy comes home. >> look at that. >> reporter: and it was just an amazing story. i think you notice that ken and melanie were very exhausted during the entire feed. >> 17 hours. that's a long time. why did he set the command center in an armored vehicle? >> that's where he has the technology. that's where he has the ability to get this on. this is unique. this did not exist in previous wars. this time, we saw it all. >> bob, thanks so much for a fantastic report. joining us now from columbus, ohio, is melanie pompilli. and from afghanistan, her husband, sergeant ken pompilli. good morning and welcome to both of you. congratulations. melanie, giving birth is one of the most miraculous experiences you can have in life. did you feel like ken was with you and by your side, even though he was on the other side of the earth? >> he was definitely by my side. he was sitting on a table next to me. >> in the computer screen, right? >> that's right. yes. >> and, ken, how did you come up with this idea of setting up this command center? >> it wasn't just me. it was a friend of mine helped out, too, and kind of gave me the idea. we need the power that vehicle supplied for us. >> that's why it was inside the armored vehicle. it took three laptops and a lot of luck with a skype signal. but you were there through the contractions. what advice did you give her during the difficult times in lab labor? >> i wasn't sure what to say. i kept telling her she was doing a good job and to keep going. doing what she was doing. she was doing a good job. >> melanie, you told us that you actually felt guilty that the labor lasted 17 hours. >> i felt bad. he was sitting in a vehicle forever. he started out and it was dark. by the time we finished, it was daylight, the next day, for him. >> so, after 17 hours of labor, ken, finally, the moment comes when riley comes into this world. what was that like, seeing your newborn baby daughter for the very first time? >> it was unbelievable. i was a loss for words. i didn't know how i felt. i just -- joyful. speechless. >> kids love to hear the stories of the day they were born. melanie, ken, what are you going to tell baby riley one day about the day she entered the world and how that all happened? >> i will just let her know it was an experience. but it was good. i mean -- >> i'm not really sure. probably just tell her, you know, what i was doing and where i was at the time that she was being born. and how -- even though i wasn't there, i was still there for her. through technology. >> and, ken, you come home in spring? you'll be able to finally hold your new baby daughter? >> yes. and i can't wait. i can't wait until i get off that bus and see them both. >> well, ken, melanie, baby riley, blissfully asleep, by the way. melanie, you're so lucky. >> yeah. that wasn't the case last night. >> congratulations to all of you. >> thank you. >> so sorry to hear that. at any rate, merry christmas eve to both of you. ken, thank you so much for your service. melanie, for yours, as well. as we know, it's the families, as well as the people who serve overseas who are sacrificing so much. thank you. >> thank you. and now, there's some other stories developing this morning. so, let's check in with juju chang at the newsdesk. juju? >> good morning, elizabeth. that story made everybody smile. how lovely. we're going to begin the news at the mall. stores are expecting record christmas eve crowds because christmas falls on a saturday. today is a holiday for most people, giving them extra time to finish last-minute shopping. jewelry, sweaters and gift cards are expected to be the hottest items. retailers have enjoyed a surprisingly strong season. overall sales are up 3% from last year. the positive news has spread to wall street, where the dow closed at a two-year high thursday. reports show businesses are beginning to spend again. and fewer people are filing for unemployment benefits. tokyo -- toyota has agreed to pay a $10 million settlement to the family of four people killed last year, when their lexus crashed on a san diego freeway, going 120 miles per hour. the crash was claimed on a jammed gas pedal and prompted the first of a series of toyota recalls. a dramatic crash was caught on tape in oregon. a semitruck took this light too quickly. it took hours to rescue the driver. and new york police are looking for some sophisticated art thieves this morning. they're made off with six pieces of rare art by andy warhol, roy lichtenstein and roy fudge. they managed to steal $750,000 worth of art and jules and got away. >> wow. >> exactly. you wonder how they sell those on the open market when they're so well-known. >> it will be tough. we'll see. let's check in with sam for another look at the nation's weather. good morning, sam. >> this is the happy face of a man who has all of his shopping done. >> really? >> all in one day. >> no last-minute black friday shopping for you? >> wait a minute. unless i forgot something. >> george? >> wait. i'll be right back. let's get to the boards. we're going to start with wsb, our view in atlanta. there's a possibility of picking up a white christmas. that's headlinemaking. to new york, by the way. that's wabc, one of my favorite places in the world. there is not such an idea of a white christmas here. it will be a dry day in new york city. let's show you the east coast storm. two areas of low pressure. one hands its energy off to a deep storm. it's very much in the south. when it curves up, it's expected to stay off the coastline. but it could be a kiss of snow for east coast areas, by the time we get into maybe sunday. maybe into sunday night, some of the coastal areas will see it. on the west coast, the good news is, it's dry in the southwest. messy in the middle. careful of travel there. that will slow d@>@> all that weather was brought to you by jared, the galleria of jewelry. elizabeth? >> you can find something for me at that galleria. >> i'm online, as we speak, elizabeth. >> just kidding. coming up next, does going green mean getting a real christmas tree or a fake one? the great christmas tree debate, coming up. - hey. he went to jared. - he definitely went to jared. that's a peerless diamond. that's the ideal ideal-cut diamond. what? female announcer: jared has five times the selection of ordinary jewelry stores, with thousands of loose diamonds and hundreds of settings to create your own one-of-a-kind ring. - that's an extraordinarily... 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["stir it up" playing] stir up a smile with hershey's syrup. okay. here's the hot debate for christmas eve. real or fake? millions of americans swear by artificial christmas trees. arguing they're easier to deal with and better for the environment. traditionalists say that's ridiculous. so, who is winning? and who is right? jeremy hubbard went to find out. >> reporter: real or fake? the christmas tree debate have families needling each other. like this guy. >> i'm a fake guy. >> i like the real thing. >> reporter: this is a house divided. >> reporter: even ralphie's folks opined about real pine in "a christmas story." >> real green, plastic trees. darn thing looks like it was made out of green pipe cleaners. >> that's not very nice. >> reporter: have you wondered which one is better for the environment? a fake tree? or the real deal? a canadian environmental firm calculated the greenhouse gas emissions and found you'd have to use a artificial tree for 20 years for it to be as green as a real one. we chop down 30 million every year. but they can be recycled. the fake ones, they often find up in the landfills. environmental impact isn't the only reason the real ones are disappearing by the truck load at this new york store. >> it's like comparing cubic zirconia to diamonds. >> you can't compare the smell of a real tree to a plastic tree. >> reporter: but for bill madden and the 13 million other people that buy fake trees every year, there's nothing artificial about their appeal. >> it's the right height. and it shows off the ornaments really nicely. >> consumers look to artificial trees for three, main reasons. you can get one that look and feel real. the other is convenience and safety. >> reporter: real? fake? the debate rages on. one may be more ecofriendly than the other. but when it comes to the christmas spirit, they're both sustainable. >> merry christmas. >> reporter: for "good morning america," jeremy hubbard, abc news, new york. >> no debate at this table. >> no. we're real, all the way, too. >> every time i think of the artificial trees, i think of the charlie brown christmas tree. >> i like how they smell, though. and i like the imperfection of a real tree. >> us, too. you can weigh in, abcnews.com. >> let us know what you think. coming up "my three words." imag possibilities with stelara®. for adults, stelara® helps control moderate or severe plaque psoriasis with 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. in a medical study, 7 out of 10 stelara® patients saw at least 75% clearer skin at 12 weeks. and 6 out of 10 patients had their plaque psoriasis rated as cleared or minimal at 12 weeks. stelara® may lower your ability to fight infections and increase your risk of infections. some serious infections require hospitalization. before starting stelara®, your doctor should test for tuberculosis. stelara® may increase your risk of cancer. always tell your doctor if you have any sign of infection, or have had cancer. alert your doctor of new or worsening problems including headaches, seizures, confusion and vision problems. these may be signs of a rare, potentially fatal brain condition. serious allergic reactions can occur. tell your doctor if you or anyone in your house needs or has recently received a vaccine. with 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses, it's stelara®. if you've had a coke in the last 20 years, ( screams ) you've had a hand in giving college scholarships... and support to thousands of our nation's... most promising students. ♪ ( coca-cola 5-note mnemonic ) it's your fault. naturally, blame the mucus. 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[ male announcer ] prevent uncomfortable gas moments with gas-x prevention. just one before meals helps prevent gas before it starts. from gas-x, the gas-xperts. we're talking about giving sam a baby for christmas. >> i was talking about giving him mine for a weekend. >> we have a very special "your three words" for the holidays. accompanied by annie lennox singing "the holy and the ivy." here's the service members from camp acres. ♪ the plague of the many will be singing in the pride ♪ ♪ the holly bears all crinkle and was born jesus christ ♪ ♪ in the morn riding on the sun ♪ ♪ and they're running on the fields ♪ ♪ the name of the merry will be digging in the wild ♪ >> i like that one. who is counting. merry christmas. >> we got your extra christmas gift, an extra word. be right back. you soak up some rays in the morning, grab a cool drink around noon, and sleep soundly at night... knowing no one looking to freeze or concentrate you... will ever set foot in this paradise. simply orange. honestly simple. 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[ male announcer ] prevent uncomfortable gas moments with gas-x prevention. just one before meals helps prevent gas before it starts. from gas-x, the gas-xperts. now, maryland most powerful doppler radar and forecast certified most accurate by weatherate. good morning. 7:56. what a beautiful christmas start to the day. we have a breeze out there but here it is a clear sky in baltimore. temperatures surrounding the city with 28 in pasadena 25 columbia and 26 reisterstown and back to 25 in bel air and winds carrying us down mostly into the teens. as we will push the wind and it should ease up. 39 low 40s in a few backyards and tonight we increase the clouds we come back to 23 and this should be a good thing for many of you. light snow. we expect to build in on christmas day i know it was in and out and now it's back in. and possibly covering the ground many and here's the reason for thinking. we have add moisture on into the midwest. they are getting it in st. louis and it's spreading east. these are the clouds that roll in tonight. this is the storm that looks like it has a little more moisture and it will reform off the coast. that is stale big question as we head into sunday but the northern fringe light snow possible christmas day and the coastal storm bigger hit at the beaches. alexis. >> reporter: thank you. we have an accident we are dealing with right now 95 southbound just after caton avenue. two vehicles involved. it's off on the shoulder. use caution as you approach. elsewhere still seeing lighter than normal volume traveling all around beltway. clear on 795 from reisterstown to the beltway and i-70 looks good on east and westbound directions. andand arun -- ann anne arundel east and westbound incident free. live look at the beltway at liberty road, stay with us, we are sending you back to "good morning, america. [ groaning ] whoa, whoa! [ car alarm blaring ] we got this. holiday decorating runs on dunkin', with our delicious gingerbread lattes, gingerbread donuts and gingerbread muffins. hurry in. when the holidays go, they go. warm yourself up this holiday season with a gingerbread latte from dunkin' donuts. ♪ jesus to thee be all glorious ♪ what a way to kick off christmas eve. "o come all ye faithful." the philadelphia boys choir and chorale.all ye faithful." >> this is a treat. >> they look great, too. >> don't they? can you believe all those boys are in white pants? >> they haven't been spotted up yet. >> my boys would last ten seconds. good morning, america. i'm george stephanopoulos. >> i'm elizabeth vargas. robin roberts is enjoying this christmas eve off. coming up, the first time home since winning the emmy. "modern family's" eric stonestreet, takes us to kansas, for a family celebration. we will meet the person who is his inspiration for cam. it's his mom. juju spent the day with them. also, we're going to meet a young family who learned a lot about community and giving when they lost their home in the fire. then, they found a way to pay it forward in time for the holidays. they're from new hampshire. we'll meet them in a little bit. and why is nba superstar dwight howard standing by in orlando this morning? well, he's up early for a christmas eve visit with us in a few minutes. dwight, good to see you. oh, thank you. >> happy to see you, too. we'll get to him in a couple minutes. first, juju and the news. >> i'd like a kiss, too. >> i'm holding on to that one. >> good morning. we begin with a big holiday escape. the midwest is bracing for snow and ice today, as a winter storm makes its way across the country. roads and airports are expected to be 3% busier than last. for drivers, gas prices are topping $3 a gallon nationwide for the first time in years. and for flyers, there's a new security precaution. screeners have been told to pay close attention to insulated drink containers like thermoses, because of concerns they cause be used by terrorists to hide explosives. authoritieses in mumbai, india, are on alert, searching for four pakistani militants, believed to be on a mission to carry out a terrorist attack. police believe the men belong to the same group blamed for the 2008 attack in that city, that killed 166 people. we're learning more about the bombings at two embassies in italy thursday. our miguel marquez is in rome. good morning, miguel. >> reporter: good morning, juju. italian anarchists have taken responsibility for both of the bombing. the group called the formal anarchist federation say they did it. it's an umbrella organization for several anarchist groups. the police say the bombs were sent locally here. in 10-inch and 12-inch boxes. a note attached to one of the bombs said, we have decided to make our voice heard with words and facts. we will destroy the system of dominance. though two bombs exploded, there's concerns by authorities here there may be more in the mail system here. authorities are concentrating on that. and so far, none, no suspicious packages found at the u.s. embassy here in rome. but people are on high alert. juju? >> thanks, miguel marquez for that update. back in this country, three more counties in california are under a state of emergency this morning, because of the damage following this week's record rainstorms. damage is in the tens of millions of dollars. tense moments for presidents obama's security detail in hawaii. a man being chased by police was arrested after driving through a checkpoint near the president's vacation home. he was wanted on outstanding warrants for traffic violations. the secret service says the incident had nothing to do with the president's visit. and we have a brief clarification now. we had a report thursday that american airlines has pulled out of orbitz, making it harder for travelers to compare fares. in the story, one airfare was incorrectly listed as round-trip, when it was, in fact, one-way. it was love at first fight. and they're still going strong more than seven decades later. a michigan couple just celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary. jack and ella esenberg tied the knot in 1923. and when asked the secret, jack replied, always answering yes, dear. that's the news at 8:04 this morning. sam, remember, that's the answer. >> i'm sure that's going over well at home. guess who is watching at home. >> my husband is in today. i'll tell him. don't worry, sam. >> everybody say good morning to juju. >> good morning. >> on this christmas eve, it's lovely to see you. that is the secret to longevity in a marriage. and the fact they started early, too. 70 years. you had to lock that in early. you had to be in the teen years. good morning.ck that in early. show some of the crowd a little bit. we've got a huge audience in here on their christmas eve. i want to make sure everybody gets in. all right. almost everybody. there's all this crowd over here. we'll show you at the end. now, let's get to the boards. one or two things going on this morning as you hit the door and the roads potentially. here's the area that gets some snow. we think it's later this afternoon and evening for the deep south. kentucky, tennessee, a little later in the day. i am concerned there's an icy mix that goes on there that eventually turns into snow. if you are looking at our who gets snow? 40% of the country is already snow-covered. then, magically through television and "good morning america," look who gets a little bit of snow during the day today. if it's nashville, first time in 17 years. if it's atlanta, first time making his broadcast debut, eric from atlanta. eric, where are we going now? >> george. >> very good. good job, eric. >> all right. sam, you're going to be out of a job soon. it is a big "modern family" week for us. first, sofia vergara. now, we go home for the holidays with eric stonestreet. he headed back home to kansas since winning an emmy. and juju, you went with him. >> when someone asks you to go home for the holidays. and it's the stone streets, you say yes. his real-life family is old-fashioned. held together by loving parents. and i loved meeting the inspiration to eric's character. it's his mom. >> welcome to kansas city. not with flowers. but with barbecue sauce. >> reporter: how authentic of you. we came to kansas city, not just for barbecue. but to follow up on a promise eric stonestreet made to his mother at the emmys. >> i love you, mom. i love you, dad. you're watching at home right now. this is going home with you so you can wake up every day and go to bed every night, and see what you made possible for myself. >> don't you realize? the restaurant is five minutes away from here. oh, free lotion. >> reporter: you said in the emmy speech so poignantly, that you are a product of supportive parents. >> yeah. i think the funniest example is a picture that was in my brother's high school yearbook, of me in a purple afro, in fourth grade. i wanted to wear a purple afro to my brother's basketball game. >> reporter: why wouldn't you? >> exactly. my parents didn't say don't do that. they said go for it. when i showed interest in anything, i had the drums. i had a snare drum. i wanted to take karate. i had a karate outfit and was at the ymca. they were always encouraging. >> reporter: how does it make you feel to hear your son say nice, gushy things about you? >> it makes us feel really special. >> it makes us feel really special. six words. >> reporter: the emmy submission was actually the clown episode. and the clown, fizbo, is named after your childhood name. >> that was a major full-circle moment for me. >> there's four types of clowns. a tramp, an agoous, a white face and a character. i am a classically-trained agoous clown named fizbo. >> i wanted to play football and be a clown. i remember vividly doing it on the weekend. one of my fraternity brothers coming into my room going, what are you doing? i looked at him and said, i'm putting on my clown makeup. >> reporter: right. you have a problem with in a? >> i used to tell jamie all the time. just wait, somebody will give him a chance. and when he gets the chance, he'll knock the door down. >> reporter: and sure enough he did. as the breakout star of "modern family." eric has won our hearts as the lovable and over-the-top cameron tucker. >> do not break the window. you'll get glass on her. >> tell your wife to relax. everything is going to be okay. >> that's a man. >> reporter: thanks in large part to an imitation of his mother. >> he's modeling his character after me. >> reporter: i do know that. >> and with the hand gesture, how would you ever guess that? you know, when i got this part on the show, i called them both and said, i got this part. impersonating you. and there was a moment of silence. and i hear, oh, my god. i go, yep. pretty much like that. pretty much, just like that. >> reporter: and even mom has gotten into the action. >> fizbo delivery. i brought the cake. >> reporter: watch again. that's her in the background. you are home for the holidays with this huge hit show, this emmy that you're bringing home. how does it spice up the holidays? >> before they went to the emmys that day, i said, eric, it's been an honor that you were nominated. if you should happen to win, it's icing on the cake. and he came home with the icing. >> and i love icing. go ahead and put it up there. >> reporter: and so, as promised, the emmy came home. yay. >> beautiful. >> reporter: this is so lovely. and in the spirit of the holidays, we exchanged a few gifts. >> pretty. >> reporter: you're welcome. from us, "gma" ornaments. from them, a candle. it's cinnamon. and a wacky tradition. >> one, two, three. who are you looking at, mom? >> reporter: even eric's girlfriend, katherine, joined the tradition. >> i'm so comfortable here. it just feels like home. >> i have something for you. hold on. >> reporter: you do? i've already been showered with gifts. >> you can't have just a bottle of sauce when you come to kansas city. this is for the "good morning america" crew. >> oh, my goodness. >> and these are some of kansas city's finest. >> reporter: ribs. these are no joking around ribs. >> no joking around. >> reporter: i can smell them. ooh. >> that smells good. >> reporter: there's nothing better than fresh ribs. thank you so much. >> thank you. very much. >> reporter: what a pleasure. and i hand-carried these ribs home last night, on the flight. we're all honorary kansans. the stonestreets are huge fans of "gma." i know we shattered illusions by introducing katherine, eric's girlfriend. but they're just such a wonderful family. they're like a walking example of unconditional love. >> i love the hat, juju. did you bring that home? >> i wanted to. >> i know. it was working for you. >> i got good presents, though. >> he's such a good guy. >> he's such a good guy. we'll be right back. so we earned a holiday trip to the big apple twice as fast! dinner! 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[ sirens ] steven savage is giving a tour of the house where he grew up in windham, new hampshire. the house he shared, not only with his parents. but with his girlfriend and their 5-month-old baby girl. the house was ravaged in an electric fire this past september. >> this is where we were staying in. it's tough to look at the room you grew up in your whole life. and you see, the whole roof is gone. it's unbelievable that my baby, my girlfriend and my grandmother got out of the house. >> reporter: this photo was taken as stephen, and his girlfriend, samantha, with their daughter, haley, watched everything they own go up in flames. >> it's shocking to realize that you don't have a place to raise your baby anymore. you have to find somewhere else and start over. is that good? >> reporter: the family moved into a rental home. meanwhile, something unbelievable happened when -- samantha's aunt, christine, got online and started to spread the word about the family's misfortune. >> i put a message on facebook. and within a half hour, i was inundated with calls. it started from there. >> reporter: the it kristine is referring to, is the overwhelming generosity of a community. the house and basement where stephen and samantha are staying, filled with clothes and items, donated to help the family. >> this crib and the crib set were donated to us. the changing table. everything in here was given to us. we have a booster seat. these are all bags of clothes. the crib you raise your baby in. to give it away, that means a lot. i feel like i'm obligated now to give back. giving something to anyone, i mean, that's just -- i feel like it's going to be second nature now. let's go. >> reporter: stephen and samantha saw "gma's" coat drive as a chance to pay it forward, with some coats donated to them. at burlington coat factory, in nashua, new hampshire, they were able to give a young mother and her daughter a gift of warmth and kindness. >> thank you so much. what do you say, lil? thank you. >> reporter: and samantha also got a chance to thank many of the people who had been there to help them in their darkest hour. >> thank you, guys, for everything that you did. and for showing up here. and showing us that you guys really care. >> there's so many people. like, we didn't even know you guys. and you helped that much. you guys don't know how much this meant to us. you don't. thank you. >> what a great story. what a great community. we're going to continue giving the gift of warmth in our warm coats, warm hearts drive. with a man who gives his all on the court. nba superstar, dwight howard, who joins us this morning from orlando, florida. good morning, dwight. good to have you here. >> good morning. >> i'm so glad you're here. you and your foundation. i know you give year-round with philanthropic works. but your foundation took kids to get new coats. tell us about it. >> we took some kids. we took them to burlington coat factory. and we had a blast. i'm a stylist. so, i looked around. and i had all the kids try out some coats. i was showing the guys and the girls, you know, how to dress. you know? so, we got some good coats, man. and the kids had a lot of fun. you know? just to see the smiles on their faces. how i did a great job. i never drop the style. i did good. i'm happy. >> you're a stylist. dwight, who knew? what kinds of tips did you give these kids as they were picking out the coats? that color's not good for you? try a size bigger? >> yeah. i told them that. now, you don't want the real big coats. you want the coats that are fitting. make your body look good. you know, so i did an excellent job at that. all the kids came out happy. if you ever need some help, come see me. superman styling. >> we can use some help. george needs a little bit of a makeover. we'll fly you up and have you help him out. >> come on. >> that would be fantastic. >> i'll fly up there. >> you are also -- i want to ask you about something else in the news lately. you are known for your phenomenal dunks. in fact, they call you superman because you fly through the air. did you just announce that you're not going to take part in the dunking contest anymore? the nba official dunking contest? >> yeah. the cape is retired for the dunk contest. i want to see some other guys, you know, shine. and i want to sit back home and watch, just like everybody else. >> well, we are going to miss all your antics. the cape being retired. do you anoint a successor at this point? any picks for who you think will take your place? >> well, you know, if blake gets in the dunk contest, i will co-chair. and i want to see him win it. you know? so, i love his game. and he's a great person. if he gets in it, then i'll watch. >> and you're playing later on today? >> i play on christmas. >> christmas day. >> we have the christmas game against the boston celtics. one of our rivals. the best team in the east right now. and i will say, the best team in the nba right now. we play against them. today, you have the big game, the heat versus the lakers. woo. it's going to be a fun christmas. >> you're donating a coat to us this morning. you want to toss it into our bin for us? >> i am? where is -- hold up. >> there it is. >> warm heart. and some love for you guys. >> all right, dwight. oh. through the magic of tv. dwight, i think you missed your calling. you've got a future in television. i think so. thanks for being with us. >> i hope so. remember, i'm a stylist. >> you're coming up. you're helping george out. good luck today. dwight howard and the magic are taking on the celtics. 2:30, of an all-star doubleheader. - i wanted to get cindy something special this year. - you went to kay. she'll love it. 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[ male announcer ] it's amazing what you can do with a pen. sign then drive is back. for a limited time get any 2011 volkswagen for practically just your signature. now, maryland's most four dull lop lar radar and forecast certified most accurate by weatherate. >> on this christmas eve a sunny and windy start. winds over 20-mile-per-hour settling down a little this afternoon. mostly sunny skies but clouds may filter n we are aiming for 39. tonight clouding up and going down to the low to mid-20s. new developments out west that could impact the-tire overall weekend storm. we are expecting light snow back in the christmas day forecast. maybe a covering. more details on "good morning, maryland" at nine. alexis. >> reporter: thank you. we are getting reports of an accident on the eastbound span of the bay bridge. both lanes of the eastbound side are blocked causing backups leaving the toll plaza. we have the wind warnings in effect still for the bay bridge. key bridge and tiedings bridge use caution approaching bridge and give yourself extra time via the bay bridge. a live look at top side of the beltway light traffic. now charlie crowson for the morning's top news. >> 8:28. thanks so much. an arrest is made in the shooting of a coppin state university student october. 19-year-old michael jones has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in the shooting of 24-year-old dale dunn. dunn was shot during a robbery he's was walking home from an area mall. dunn is a track star and jamaican student on scholarship at the school. time to head back up to new york for more of "good morning, america." we are back at nine this morning. justin and me and more "good morning, maryland" at nine and we will see you then. ♪ ♪ go tell it on the mountain jesus christ is born ♪ ♪ jesus is born the philadelphia boys choir and chorale. a christmas eve tradition here. thank you, guys. that was fantastic. now, we've got something special. our families are here today. >> for the coat drive. >> we are. i'm your wife, ali. >> yes. >> we never see you on the show before. >> he gets confused between the two of us. i'm your wife. >> nice. this is elliot and harper. >> and this is zachary and sam. and my husband, mark. >> ali's boyfriend. >> only on the holidays. only on the holidays. >> a lot going on backstage. this is my husband, neil. and my sons, jared, travis and mason. >> guys, dump your coats. >> put them in there. >> put it in there, sammy. >> nice job. >> one more coat. i took sam's from his office. >> thanks, ali. >> dwight's coming up to give him a coat remake, too. >> that's helping to bring us to a new total. you got it there? >> i've got it here. 126,618 coats. a lot of people warm this winter. >> it's not too late to donate. go to your local burlington coat factory. get all of the information on our website, at abcnews.com/coatdrive. >> the kids have microphones. how about if we let you two co-host. >> it's baby george and baby elizabeth. >> go ahead. say something. >> go ahead. >> say coming up -- >> give it to sam. >> throw it to sam. >> say here's sam with the weather. >> here's sam with the weather. >> very good. what a genetic group. these kids are gorgeous, you guys. >> oh. >> how about beautiful kids? let's go to the boards. we have something we want to talk about this morning. >> you're baby sitting this weekend. all seven of them. >> oh. uncle sam. they're gorgeous from here. let's get to the boards. please. let's go now. one or two things happening in the middle of the country we want to talk about, as you head out the door. and we're all getting ready to leave the show and head some place, too. we're right there with you. there's some snow in the northern part of the middle of the country. then, there's that little icy layer in the middle. that's what we want you to be careful with. the snow, you know how to handle that. there's the ice and the layer of snow that can be problematic. it goes from a little corner of arkansas to missouri. tennessee will be problematic with that. rain into the deep south. @>@> everybody all right? all right. all that weather was brought to you by volkswagen. george? every year after the presents are open, the leftovers put away, my family heads to the movie theater. maybe yours does, too. it's one of the biggest times of the year for movie ticket sales. ben lyons is here for what to see, what to skip. what's coming out right now. let's begin with the new releases. one my kids are excited about in the trailer, "gulliver's travels." >> you feel like you've seen it. it's jack black as gulliver. you don't picture anybody else in the role. he's enormous. everybody is tiny. he's having fun doing his jack black thing. i think the kids will love it. i will challenge you to stay awake for the entire time. >> it doesn't pitch to adults? >> no. emily blount is very funny. and i enjoy jason siegel. >> maybe i can sneak a nap when they're watching. >> yeah. an hour and a half snooze will be fine. >> the date movie for christmas? reese witherspoon and paul rudd. >> she is recently cut from the softball team. she needs a guy, paul rudd. they're at the lowest point of their lives. owen wilson has her interest, as well. a baseball player who is kind of a lady's man. they're all likable. but the film isn't really believable. james brooks. his track record is incredible with "terms of endearment," and "the mary tyler moore show" and it's like jack nicholson walks in from another movie. >> oh, man. the fockers are coming back. >> jack burns is played by the great robert de niro. he's ben stiller's father-in-law. and every scene lets to awkward, uncomfortable moments. it's more of the time. >> ben, you're being danny downer. >> we are coming up on oscar season. there are some. i love "black swan." this is a film that's expanding wider each weekend in theaters. natalie portman as a ballerina set here in new york. i know you saw the movie. >> i did. and i talked to natalie. >> it's about doubts and insecurities and overcoming her fears. a star-turning performance from mila kunis, who people recognize from "that '70s show" and "family guy." >> and you also love "the fighter." >> i do. another film that's expanding and getting awards attention. mark wahlberg worked three or four years to get this movie made. it's a true story about micky ward and his brother, a trainer, played by christian bale. going to win the oscar this year. >> going to win the oscar? >> absolutely. when you see the footage of the real-life guys, wahlberg and bale just nailed it. wonderful performances from amy adams and melissa leo. a tough boxing movie. you think you've seen every type of boxing movie before. but this is so real. >> is there anything christian bale can't do on a screen? >> unbelievable. he's losing a tremendous amount of weight. and from the moment he comes on screen, you're sucked in to his performance. >> and the cohen brothers are back. >> yeah. joel and ethan coen are the writers and directors of "true grit." this is more based on the novel. it's wonderfully written. and the great wild west. and jeff bridges as the u.s. marshal, tracking down a killer, played by josh brolin. and you have matt damen in the cast. it's a wonderful film. if you love westerns, they don't make them too often. >> before we go, what do you recommend for kids for the holidays? >> it's time for families to catch up on what's out already. if you haven't seen "tangle," that's a sweet story. and i'm a big harry potter guy. make sure the kids are caught up. if you're 10 years old and want to have you head blown to bits, go see "tron." i love the '82 original. i didn't imagine being a little guy right now. >> i might pull out "toy story 3." ben lyons, from e! entertainment. thanks very much. >> thank you, george. ♪ and now, gingerbread like you have never seen it before. the national gingerbread house competition is an annual competition at the grove park inn resort and spa, in asheville, north carolina. and the executive chef has brought us six of the winners. these are sculptures. i can't believe how beautiful they are. and there's one ground rule. everything has to be edible. >> everything has to be edible. for this particular instance, the sfeers is what makes it difficult. and that's what the judges like. >> this is the grand prize winner. i'm surprised because it is not a gingerbread house. but you say this is a difficult one. okay, sweetheart. look at the gingerbread house. you said it's very difficult to make. >> it is. because of the spheres, it is a structure. thus, again, the spheres make it extremely difficult. >> and quick drawing, they used vodka instead of water. >> it was a food coloring, vodka and corn syrup mixture. because alcohol is easier to brush. >> this is noah's ark. this is our first runner-up. not only the animals. you're explaining to me. if we can turn it, this water. how do they make what is like the ocean here? >> the water is a sugar mixture mixed with food coloring. look how all of the animals are hand-formed and hand-painted. there's such precision and so much care that's taken to this. and these two ladies actually put this together the night before the competition, in their hotel room, at the grove park inn resort spa. one lady made the animals. the other lady made the gingerbread structure. they met the night before and put the pieces together. >> i see shredded wheat for the hay. but what are the animals made of? mars mars pan? >> this is was a preflight pampering spa. santa treats his hard-working reindeer to roof shines, minimud baths to get them ready. primarily gingerbread. she used a honey-based gingerbread recipe instead of molasses because she lives in a humid area. and on the backside, lentils, for the steps and the lightbulbs. the ornaments are some candied mints. but notice the precision and the detail that's taken. >> what about the windows and the poinsettias? >> the windows are gelatin. but the woodpile with the sticks and a beaver. >> that's phenomenal. a massage and facials. >> again, the creativity is amazing. this is another adult top-ten. kathy christensen from gains vill, virginia. this is based on the shakespeare theater where they were originally staged. the pasta bundled with the sweet potato stems. this is made to scale. one inch equals three feet. the flag on top indicates the tragedy is playing in the theater. if you notice in the front, we have -- the gravel is pop ll ll poppy seeds. >> how long did this take? >> about 150 hours, as most of these are. and it's amazing, the time frame they actually took to build these. team first place, was based on the pixar movie. and the characters are molded from paste. six hours alone were used to actually hand-mold the characters. balloons are the spaghetti noodles with jelly beans attached. she's 16 years old. and she's entered the competition every year since she was 5. >> you're kidding? >> one of our legacy folks. >> and finally? >> absolutely. ringo, georgia, rita and monte adams. coffee, dried herbs, edible cold, silver and pearl coating. >> where is the coffee? >> the coffee is inside. everything is inside. so, that creates, again, a lot of skill and precision that goes into this. the inside walls, used a powdered coloring and stencil. fourth year that the adams have entered this competition. and this particular home took over 300 hours to build. >> absolutely beautiful. >> they are. >> the transfixed kids here. >> absolutely. >> think if they could eat it. these are works of art, kids. >> they certainly are. and you can see photos of all these and other amazing gingerbread creations, plus, find recipes for building your own gingerbread house. i don't know if you can build one like this. but go to abcnews.com/gma and get all that. when we come back, the philadelphia boys choir and chorale. ♪ they have performed for presidents and the phillies. and for the third year in a row, we love sharing christmas eve with the philadelphia boys choir and chorale, led by jeffrey r. smith on piano. here they are, with "winter wonderland." ♪ happy holidays while the merry bells be ringing ♪ ♪ may your ever wish come true ♪ ♪ la, la, la, la la, la, la, la ♪ ♪ sleigh bells ring are you list'nin ♪ ♪ in the lane snow is glist'nin ♪ ♪ a beautiful sight we're happy tonight ♪ ♪ walkin' in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ gone away is the bluebird ♪ ♪ here to stay is a new bird ♪ ♪ he sings a love song as we go along ♪ ♪ walkin' in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ in the meadow we can build a snowman ♪ ♪ and pretend that he is parson brown ♪ ♪ he'll say "are you married?" ♪ ♪ we'll say "no, man ♪ ♪ but you can do the job when you're in town" ♪ ♪ later on, we'll conspire as we dream by the fire ♪ ♪ to face unafraid the plans that we've made ♪ ♪ walkin' in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ can you see the wintry scene around you ♪ ♪ and hear all the sounds of friends close by ♪ ♪ can you feel the chill of winter around you ♪ ♪ a winter fantasy lights up the sky ♪ ♪ later on we conspire ♪ ♪ as we dream by the fire the friends that we made the plans that we made ♪ ♪ walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ happy holidays [ cheers and applause ] and we hope you have as much fun on your holiday as we had today. >> yes. merry christmas eve to everybody. we're going to sing you off with "wish you a merry christmas," from the philadelphia boys choir and chorale. ♪ guide us to our perfect light ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ and a happy new year now, maryland's most powerful doppler radar and the forecast certified most accurate by weatherate. good morning 8:56. clear skies and we have a bit of a wind out there. this is ellicott city at 27 degrees. wind have been as high as 29 miles per hour. we are averaging 10 to 20 miles per hour wind taking chill down into the teens. 39 i am shooting fora noon high under mostly sunny skies. tonight we see clouds begin to roll in and thicken up towards daybreak down to 23. one adjustment slight adjustment on christmas day. a possible covering of snow. showing up on radar when we saturate the dry air. we are watching some developments out west which could cause a little wringle in what has been a very frustrating storm forecast. we will have the update on that for the rest of the week and good morning, maryland" at nine i'm lexs. >> reporter: thanks. looking at the roadways, the good news is the earlier accident on the oft bound span of the bay bridge is cleared out. traffic is flowing freely. elsewhere reports of an accident 95 northbound just before the beltway with the right lane blocked. but no reports of delays there. traveling around the roadways, we have baltimore with a report of malfunctioning traffic lights at eastern avenue and north point boulevard near east point mall causing last-minute shoppers to have problems there. and elsewhere good around beltway as well as on 97 in both directions. looking live at 95 just north of i-195 things are still light. this morning. stay with us, we will send you back to charlie for more of "good morning, maryland."