breaking sales, get ready for a new round of bargains. what you need to know to make the process as painless as possible. all that, plus a holiday fireworks display gone wrong. meghan markle turns heads with the royal family. and a surprise proposal on the rock center ring. that doesn't go as planned. giving new meaning to taking the plunge. "today," de kwt" tuesday, decem, 2017. >> from nbc news, this is "today," live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. and welcome to "today." thanks for joining us on this tuesday morning. savannah and hoda have the morning off. that guy, swept her off her feet. >> she was lost in the moment. right there, she goes for a kiss. and then -- weak in the knees. we're going to come sorts of phrases to use. >> we will. how was your christmas? >> very, very nice. >> it was very nice, as well. we'll get to more of that in a moment. let's get to our top story. christmas wishes of snow came true for millions, from the northwest to new england. that's the good news. the bad news, it's making travel very tricky, with treacherous road conditions and flight cancellations and delays. dylan is standing by. we're going to get to her forecast in a moment. ron allen is at boston's logan airport. good morning. >> reporter: happy holidays to you. some 3,000 flight delays and 100 cancellations. here at logan airport, the conditions got so bad at one point, they had to close the airport down. no takeoffs or landings for abhoan hour or so. and for jetblue passengers arriving last night, it was a rough landing. a blanket o the nation's midsection. and a white christmas from chicago, to seattle to boston. the storm causing a disaster. a jetblue plane, sliding off of the taxiway, after landing late monday. the passengers aboard from savannah, taken by bus to the terminal. in a statement, jetblue said, no injuries have been reported at this time. logan closed runways earlier and grounded flights temporarily because of zero visibility. crews unable to clear the falling snow. winter storm was pounding the region, with reports of thunder snow in the northeast, and rare blizzard warnings in maine and new hampshire. >> the roads are a luittle roug. >> reporter: some of the roughest conditions on the coast. winds up to 65 miles per hour on cape cod and the islands. 6,000 homes left without power. in parts of familiar winter wallop, lake-effect snow, blanketing erie county, making driving treacherous. scattered accidents and spinouts across the country, with some vehicles sliding off the roads. >> i hope everybody is where they're supposed to be already. less people on the road, the better. >> reporter: that jetblue plane did a 180, spinning all the way around. no one was injured. things are back to normal here at logan airport here. only a few scattered delays reported. traffic should be scattered throughout the week ahead. that should make things better. the other problem, plunging temperatures. here in boston, the temperature is not going to break freezing until in the new year. >> ron allen, thank you. let's talk about the snow and ice. is it far from over? dylan is tracking what's next. dylan? >> the ice is going to b it will get very, very cold. windchills are even colder. we have an arctic blast that's pouring into the northeast. marquette, michigan, 29 below. pittsburgh, the windchill is 3. because of that cold air crossing over the great lakes, that's where we're seeing a lot of our snowy troubles right now. we have steady streams of snow coming off of lake ontario and lakeer erie. six inches of snow fell in just one hour. that makes things dangerous on the roads. we're looking at lake-effect snow warns. the bands of snow continue to set up. the areas like syracuse, erie, pennsylvania, buffalo, all expected to see snowfall rates of two inches per hour. we could see 18 inches in several areas. that puts the storm total over about three feet of this lake-effect snow that's going to stick around to probably wednesday or thursday. >> three feet of snow. president trump is avoiding that winter weather, spending the week at his mar-a-lago estate in florida, as he wraps up his first year in office. and the president says he's looking ahead to year number two. garrett haake is in west palm beach for us. good morning. >> reporter: hey, craig, good morning. the president and the first family had a pretty quiet christmas day. so quiet, in fact, the president only tweeted three times, all of them about the holiday. but the last tweet suggesting today would be a pivot on this working vacation back towards white house work. a silent night on christmas at mar-a-lago, punctuated by a single tweet. i hope everyone is having a great christmas. tomorrow, it's back to work in order to make america great again, which is happening faster than anyone president wrote. the first couple out with a video christmas message on twitter. >> my fellow americans, melania and i are excited to wish the entire world a very merry christmas. >> reporter: the president spoke with deployed service members on christmas eve. >> we want to thank you very much. >> reporter: he and the first lady surprised nearly two dozen children with phone calls. >> santa moves quickly. >> reporter: and now, he wants to move on the infrastructure bill next month. the white house has worked to reform immigration laws next year may have been made more complicated by a new report christmas weekend. two unnamed sources tell "the new york times," at a june meeting in the oval office, the president said 15,000 haitian refugees all have aids. the white house tells nbc news, cabinet member in that meeting deny the claims. while republicans work on selling the tax plan, steven mnuchin received an unwanted delivery. a los angeles man leaving a gift-wrapped package of horse manure. >> the new tax law that's going to kick millions of people off of health care, i think i needed to do something that was equally absu absurd. >> reporter: the president is up this morning and tweeting, putting new items on the agenda for 2018. a short time ago, he wrote, based on the fact that the very unfair and unpopular individual mandate has been determine nated that repeals over time obamacare, the democrats and the republicans will come together and develop a great, new health care plan. craig and sheinelle, one more item on a very ambitious agenda for the president in 2018. >> garrett haake for us in florida. thank you. there's more to get to this morning, including a money-saving move at the united nations. the u.s. has negotiated a $285 million cut in the u.n.'s budget for the next two years. she didn't specify how that would affect the u.s. contributions. but haley said inefficiency and overspending were well known. rescue teams are in a search for survivors of a deadly christmas weekend typhoon in the philippines. 116 people are dead. that's a number expected to climb. heavy rainfall unleashed mudslides and caused dams to burst in the southern part of the country. 100,000 people spent christmas day in evacuation shelters. forecasters expected the storm to hit vietnam overnight. but it failed to make landfall. it's been a working holiday for crews battling the historic california. 1,500 firefighters spent christmas on the front lines, with much of their efforts focused on the largest wildfire on record. steve patterson has the latest. >> reporter: sheinelle, firefighters here are exhausted. as you mentioned, 1,500 men and women on the front lines, battling this fire, away from the families, through the holidays, for weeks. but this christmas, the community came through in a big way. ♪ rudolph the red-nosed reindeer ♪ >> reporter: this morning, a little christmas comfort on the front lines. in southern california, firefighters are engaged in relentless battle, pushing back against the thomas fire for weeks. now, away from their families for the holidays. >> first time working on christmas. >> reporter: and on christmas day, at base coming together. >> they have to >> reporte >> it makes you feel better. >> reporter: also working the holiday, therapy dogs from the crisis response organization, helping spread a little holiday cheer to the tired and emoti emotionally drained fire crews. the thomas fire has killed 2 and destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses. it's the largest wildfire in california history. crews have been working around the clock. hundreds of hours through the holidays to keep it contained. this photo of a few firefighters pushed past the point of exhaustion, now vile. >> it's so great. the community cares for us. we appreciate that. >> reporter: a tireless fight far from home. crews here are hoping they're close to knocking out. the fire is 80% something that's 280,000 acres large. fire officials don't think they will have full containment on this for at least another two weeks. the battle here rages on. now, to the yearly post-holiday rush to the halls. here's jo ling kent. >> reporter: with the retail rush behind us and gifts exchanged -- >> this is the best christmas ever. >> reporter: retailers are giving thanks for strong consumer spending this year. retail sales jumped 4% over last year, according to estimates. online shopping spiking 24% over the holiday season. >> people have gone out in droves and spent a lot of money this holiday season. >> reporter: now, tis the season for returns. if santa didn't check everything off of their list, you're not alone. almost tw last holiday season. before you take back offunwanted gifts, experts say for electronics, don't open the box. hang on to receipts. many retailers won't allow exchanges or returns without them. check store return policies before taking items back. and make sure to bring your i.d. for an extra hand, free apps like slice detect your online purchases using the e-receipts. and paribus goes a step further, tracking your orders and watching for any reduction in price after you buy. if it detects a price drop, it will request money back. >> the growth in ecommerce has been so know the protections they have when they buy things online. given that 2 billion packages are estimated to be shipped this year, we estimate that 60 million will be late in stores, responding because people are making the guarantees and do have policies and practices to protect you. >> reporter: still have items on your wish list? do not fear. this week and next are the best time to buy clothing or cash in the gift cards. and wait until january or the weekend before the super bowl, for the best price on a tv. more chances to find that perfect gift long after santa's gone. jo ling kent, nbc news, washington. now, to something we showed you at the top of the show. dozens of people are being treated for injuries after a fireworks accident in cuba. it happened at a festival, where rival neighborhoods hold a fireworks competition. it draws thousands of officials are investigating what went wrong. but some of the rockets shot off in the wrong direction, exploding too close to the crowds. dylan is back for a look at the rest of the country's forecast. it's cold all over america. >> it is. all of the snow and ice we had recently will let's take a look again at we expect that to continue for there' little band of snow. we also have snowy weather that will move into northwester missou of accumulation if driving in those areas, it will be windy and snowy. countr that's look at the weather your local forecast is i'm storm team 4 meteorologist temper 30 degrees at mid 20s across the suburbs. with a little breeze out bundle up. you'll need your heavy coat today. temper get into the mid 30s for afternoon highs today. and cold weather is here to stay all the way through the infact, all the way int nd that' forecast. >> thank you. coming up, an meghan markle's christmas debut with the royal family. look at that hat. >> love it. we both love it. >> we're live at kensington palace. why microsoft is pushing for a pass word-free future. first, this is "today" on nbc. still ahead, the surprising ways that some of your favorite celebrities celebrated christmas. and the best of "today." we're looking back at our favorite stories of the year, starting with a dream come true fo that's the new rockstar. hurry in to old navy for up to 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febreze. i'm eun yang. >> trying to figure out someon lives on that street home. take a look on the nbc >> take a look at this scene. a smoke alarm is being credited they made it out okay. this home is along couplings lane. now let's check the commute good morning. >> good morning. good morning, folks. northb i-95 in virginia all divert i-395 is a good ride. travel in the district, live from the traffic center, back t >> we'll take a break now your f up next. off to a cold start this we're in the 20s to 30 degrees. a out. if you're planning out your day, there enough sunshine to get up into the mid 30s for highs today. but more cold air is set to come in for tomorrow. so today with a bit of plenty of sunshine but colder a little aftern >> all right. chuck, thank you. anothe news update in 25 ♪ silent night ♪ holy night ♪ sleep in heavenly peace ♪ sleep in heavenly peace ♪ 7:30, now, on this day after christmas, december 26th, 2017. the tree at rockefeller center shining bright. >> that was one of the most popular destinations yesterday, that rockefeller christmas tree. there's a lot going on today. we'll start with a check of the headlines, including weather worries for post-christmas travelers. >> holiday mess. >> the roads are a little rough. but i don't remember the last time we had a white christmas. >> that snowy christmas that americans hoped for, is turning into a nightmare for roads, flight delays and consolations, including a measure in boston after a jetblue plane skids off of the tarmac. president trump's christmas message to troops. and surprising nearly two dozen children with phone calls along with first lady melania, during his vacation at mar-a-lago. analysts lower projections for iphone x because of lackluster demand during the holiday shopping season. farewell. heath heath heather mindy zurich passes away at 68. and falling in love. a marriage proposal on the rock center ice rink includes a small slip-up when the bride-to-be says yes and then falls on the ice. ay 2017. she was weak in the knees. swept off her feet. we need a couple more. >> you know this, when you get engaged. you have to have a great story. they have a great story. >> it's captured on video for all to see. >> we are pleased to report that she said yes and did not break any bones. >> doing just fine this morning. now, to a holiday debut that the world is still buzzing about. meghan markle stepping out monday for her first christmas with the royals. kelly cobiella is at kensington palace with more. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, sheinelle. this is a really big deal, the queen making an exception so meghan markle can spend christmas with harry and the rest of the family. a far cry from christmas in l.a., freezing temperatures, fancy hats and royal protocol. it's a royal first. meghan markle spending christmas with the queen, an honor usually reserved for family and the presents already opened, all eyes were on prince harry and his bride-to-be, walking to church with william and pregnant kate. prince phillip leading the way. the big moment, the queen and the curtesy. meghan getting advice from harry. >> just as william helped kate in materially days, she will have the duchess of cambridge's help because she's the next woman who knows what it feels like to marry in from the outside. >> reporter: prince harry and meghan, said they wanted to hit the ground running. and they have. on the first royal work trip together, just days after sitting down for their first interview. >> we're a fantastic team. >> reporter: their engagement photos, showing a modern couple in love. >> the queen is delighted that prince harry has found the one that she and her husband are around to witness a >> my family gather around to watch television, as they are at this moment. >> six decades on, the presenter has gone on somewhat. >> reporter: now in her 60th year, the queen talked about family. >> we enjoy spending time this christmas with our family and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year. >> reporter: william and kate will welcome baby number three in april. in may, wedding bells at windsor castle, where prince harry and meghan markle will tie the knot in front of a tv audience. the british public approves in their first royal christmas together. the first christmas of many to come for meghan markle, at sandringham, the queen's ed state. today, is boxing day in another day to spend with family. and harry and meghan will be spending their boxing day with william, kate and the kids. back to you. >> kelly cobiella at kensington palace. i have to say my instagram feed was exploding. they looked at her dresser, her hat, and her shoes. >> i am not into fashion and to see how she puts it together is fascinating. >> i don't know the queen personally. but she looks happy these days. >> there's the hat. i'm certain you can't buy that hat probably at target. dylan is standing by. she's in for al on this day after christmas. how are we looking out there? >> we have you see the fog coming off of this actually watching the water temperature is 35 so you have that warm air over so it's really a cool time lapse off lake superior there watching and now i'll show it to you in take a look at the great lakes. you ha that frigid air we see. so most likely through the rest develo it dumps the heavy snow off the and that's exactly what we're it's snowing for the last we're still looking at an very, very treacherous in this area. also a little slippery and windy back through parts of kansas and into northwester missouri. so you have to travel through that area, just keep in mind now here's a peek out your a little sunshine. otherw mostly cloudy sky to temper now 30 degrees at mid 20s across most of the 26 at dulles. maryla 25 in gaithersburg aftern highs today will be about 37 in downtown washington. a little breezy at times. the real issue for the rest of . thank you. coming up here on the day after christmas morning, an interesting post-holiday debate. is christmas eve actually better than christmas day? also ahead on "pop start," we have your roundup of how the stars spent the holidays. then, a real-life "this is us." the touching story of one family who connects to nbc's hit show in a special first, do you hate having to remember passwords for all of your life happens. that's why feeling safe is priceless. with adt, you can feel safe with an adt starter kit professionally installed for only $49.00. call today, and install an adt starter kit that includes security panel, keypad, key fob, entry and motion sensors and for a limited time, get a camera included and installed at no additional cost. that's a $449.00 value, installed, for just $49.00. 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(avo) to help control cravings. one ingredient in contrave may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teens, and young adults in the first few months. serious side effects are mood changes like depression and mania, seizures, increased blood pressure or heart rate, liver damage, glaucoma, allergic reactions, and hypoglycemia. not for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure, seizure history, anorexia, bulimia, drug or alcohol withdrawal, on bupropion, opioids, maois, allergy to the ingredients, or pregnant. may cause nausea, constipation, headache, and vomiting. reduce hunger, help control cravings with contrave. getcontravenow.com. back, now, at 7:42, with one of the most annoying parts of our digital lives. the endless list of user names and passwords. >> stephanie gosk goes to microsoft to see what that tech giant is going to end this crisis of sorts. >> they're impossible to keep track of and impossible to keep up to date. imagine how nice it would be to live in a world without passwords. there's a big push to get there. passwords are the most vulnerable part of our computer systems. our computers are under attack. all across the world, 1 million victims a day. there's a lot of attacks. >> yeah, there are. >> reporter: tech giant microsoft keeps track of cyber crime at its own internal lab. >> 81% of the data theft we saw was related to user name and password. that gives you the depth of the magnitude of the problem. >> reporter: brett arsenal is the chief information security officer. did you get any bad guys? without going into specifics? >> yes. the hacking community has grown in size and sophistication, the techniques they use. that goes back to why it was so important we solve this problem. >> reporter: microsoft is one of a handful of companies pushing hard to scrap passwords, the most vulnerable aspect of everyday digital life. >> people use simple passwords that are easy to guess or using sophisticated computers, are easy to crack. >> reporter: in 2016, the most popular password found among data breechers was with 80% of people using the same password to 30% of accounts. half of tech users write their passwords down on paper. leaving $24 billion intelligent devices exposed. >> this is microsoft's envisioning center. >> reporter: julia white is the vice president of microsoft's cloud platform. what is biometrics? >> it is using you as your password. your face, your fingerprint, in some cases a heartbeat to say you are who you are. >> reporter: she and her team are working to make passwords a thing of the past. >> it's taking 300 different points and that's it. >> reporter: show me what happens when you try to get into my lob laptop. >> it's not logging me in. >> reporter: even with the same haircut. biometrics are being used on lab tops and cell phones, like the iphone x. access everything, from banking to brooks brothers, without ever typing another password. >> it's better from a security password because it's just a better experience. rather than having to worry about forgetting my password, i am the password. >> reporter: can it be stolen? once my face is stolen, i can't get another face. >> security people will never say nothing is possible. but that's incredibly unlikely. >> reporter: experts say it won't be long until passwords are obsolete. but they caution cyber criminals are incredibly savvy. for the time being, they recommend two types of authentication. wouldn't that be amazinamazing? >> yes. i thought the thumbprint was good enough. >> productivity would go through the roof because we would have that hour or so that we spend every week, trying to recall our passwords. >> and who writes them down? do you write them down? >> i do. all of them. >> there you go. >> it's very safe. >> thank you. let's head over to dylan to see what's happening in the orange room today. >> guys, fun and traditions. the great emperor penguin migration. orange room today. >> guys, fun and traditions. trekking a hundred miles inland to their breeding grounds. except for these two fellows. this time next year, we're gonna be sitting on an egg. i think we're getting close! make a u-turn... u-turn? recalculating... man, we are never gonna breed. just give it a second. you will arrive in 92 days. nah, nuh-uh. nope, nope, nope. you know who i'm gonna follow? my instincts. as long as gps can still get you lost, you can count on geico saving folks money. i'm breeding, man. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. you're so cold, come in! it's dry... your scalp? mine gets dry in the winter too. try head and shoulders' dry scalp care it nourishes the scalp and... ...keeps you up to 100% flake free head and shoulders' dry scalp care ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ going for savory, juicy, and crispy... it's goooddddd! choose two fan favorites on the mcpick 2 for 5 dollars menu. [crowd cheering] when you said youe, sir. were at the doctor, but your shirt says you were at a steakhouse... that's when you know it's half-washed. add downy odor protect with 24-hour odor protection. downy and it's done. ♪ ♪ give extra. get extra. i used to have more hair. i used to have more color. and ... i used to have cancer. i beat it. i did. not alone. i used to have no idea what the american cancer society did. research? yeah. but also free rides to chemo and free lodging near hospitals. i used to maybe give a little. then i got so much back. ... i used to have cancer. please give at cancer.org. welcome back. dylan has double-duty this morning, covering for al and carson. dylan, you're flashing all the way back to christmas. >> going way back, guys. we hope you had a very merry christmas and happy holidays. we thought we would share with you some of our favorite celebrations. let's go up to space. starting at the international space station, the astronauts kicked off festivities with a screening of "star wars: the last jedijedi," complete with d bags. looks like santa does deliver in space. back here on earth, we had a great time, too. savannah and company rocked the matching p.j.s. hoda was smiling by the christmas tree. and jenna bush hager with her family, taking that yearly president george w. bush in the middle. here's al's delicious christmas eve dinner. and carson's bloody mary bar, open for business. carson is sleeping that one off. there's craig's family in matching p.j.s. and looks like she got a train for christmas. >> she did. we became the family that we used to mock, as well, in matching p.j.s. >> i love it, though. sheinelle, your family got into the holiday spirit. nice and dressed up for christmas. >> did you have another child? that's my godson. >> look at the smiles. they were so happy. >> it was a good day. >> here's calvin. >> oh, no. >> i guess he didn't like being dressed up like santa. it was the end of a very long christmas eve. he did get some presents, too. >> he got cheerios, too? >> that's all that matters. happy holidays to >> we all enjoy christmas. but is the night before the best part of the holiday? we're going to get into that. and it's all about your returns. your the day after chemo might mean your a trip back to the doctor's office, just for a shot. but why go back there, when you can stay home, with neulasta onpro? strong chemo can put you at risk of serious infection, which could lead to hospitalizations. in a key study, neulasta reduced the risk of infection from 17% to 1%, a 94% decrease. applied the day of chemo, neulasta onpro is designed to deliver neulasta the next day, so you can stay home. neulasta is for certain cancer patients receiving strong chemotherapy. do not take neulasta if you're allergic to neulasta or neupogen (filgrastim). ruptured spleen, sometimes fatal as well as serious lung problems, allergic reactions, kidney injuries, and capillary leak syndrome have occurred. report abdominal or shoulder tip pain, trouble breathing or allergic reactions to your doctor right away. in patients with sickle cell disorders, serious, sometimes fatal crises can occur. so why go back there? if you'd rather be home, ask your doctor about neulasta onpro. from the moment you met you wantecomfort and protection that's why pampers swaddlers is the #1 choice of hospitals to wrap your baby in blanket-like softness so all they feel is love pampers swaddlers kohl's intimates stock-up with 25 to 40% off all bras. kohl's has the biggest assortment from the best brands. so now is the best time to stock up for the new year. at kohl's intimates stock-up sale, going on now. kohl's. ♪ i'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain ♪ ♪ what glorious feeling i'm happy again, ♪ l'oreal's lash paradise. creating a buzz. voluptuous volume. intense length. take your lashes to paradise. new lash paradise mascara. from l'oreal paris. in this home... we count our blessings. uh, this one. both when there's a little and a lot. there you go. what matters most is made at home. now with more icing. ito become dangerous.d for an everyday item new tide pods child guard pack. helps keep your laundry pacs safe and your child safer. align, press and unzip. hey, guys. where are the cookies for the... bake sale? bake... bake sale? need to bake in a hurry? use new country crock buttery sticks with sunflower oil. there's no softening required. so baking is delicious and easy. ooh, cookies! ah, ah, ah! (laughter) that's the new rockstar. ooh, cookies! seventy-five percent off storewide! that's up to seventy-five percent off and this tuesday only, get fifty percent off all jeans at old navy. ♪ 7:56 on tuesday, december 26th. we want to start with a check on the morning com robstallworth has your first 4 >> if you're traveling on the landov got a crash along headin into the district after northb i-95 in virginia, all northb still blocked back t >> all right. rob, thank you. we'll have a check on your we have a lot of clouds for knew. we'll get back to more and more 37 downtown. coldertomorrow. highs on your wednesday, barely 28 the high on thursday. a chance for light snow friday another local news it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, winter weather warning. snow, ice and blistering cold winds across the country, creating treacherous road conditions and canceling flights nationwide. how will that white christmas impact your travel plans? we'll have the latest. plus, let the returns begin. what you need to know when taking back those sweaters and slacks that don't fit just right. and the postholiday deals you won't want to miss. and star-studded christmas. from miley cyrus to mariah carey. we have the scoop on how your favorite celebrities spent their holiday, december 26th, 2017. it's your first time in new york city. who do you want to say hi to? >> hi, grandma and grandpa. >> from 432 to 212. >> hi. >> these guys are in new york for the first time to see iowa football. >> go, hawks. >> we found some clemson fans. >> today is a great day to be a tiger. >> what are you doing on the plaza today? >> we came all the way from atlanta to celebrate lauren's 18th birthday. ♪ welcome back to "today." i'm craig melvin, alongside sheinelle jones. savannah and hoda off today. we're going to be outside in a bit. >> my favorite moments of the show. there's a lot going on this morning. let's get right to your news at 8:00. a snowy christmas is giving way to dangerous travel conditions on the way home. ron allen is at logan airport in boston. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, sheinelle. terrifying moments for the passengers aboard a jetblue flight, arriving around 7:00 p.m. the flight landed safely. then, the passengers said the plane was skidding as it made its way to the terminal, fish tailing and doing a 180. the passengers were put on to buses and taken to the terminal. jetblue said there were no passengers injured in all this. a tough day at logan. at one point, they had to close the airport down, because of the zero visibility. no takeoffs or landings for about an hour or so. it was the first white christmas here in boston in nearly 14 years. a white christmas for much of the country's northern section, from the northwest to the northeast, feet of snow out west and inches of snow here in the northeast. thousands of flights delayed about 100 canceled. we're hoping that looking ahead things are going back to normal here at boston logan, things are back to normal. across the country, only scattered coscatter ed cancellations and delays reported. hopefully the week leading up to new year's will be easier than christmas day. >> ron, thank you. president trump is working on his political agenda for the new year while spending the holiday in florida. garrett haake joins us from west palm beach, traveling with the president. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. the president's working vacation here in palm beach will tilt a little back toward work today, after spending most of the weekend at more of the ceremonial duties of president. he took calls from children on christmas eve. on christmas day, the president almost entirely off the grid, except for a tweet last night, saying he would be back to work today. and sure enough, this morning, another tweet from the president. essentially declaring victory individual mandate in president obama's health care law in the tax cut bill that just passed. the obamacare law still stands. the president says there could be a bipartisan fix in the future. that adds to a laundry list of things that the white house and congress have to work on, including infrastructure and immigration and all of this taking place in the background of the russia investigation. the president targeted a few senior fbi officials over the weekend. that's the kind of thing that could give this white house headaches going into 2018. craig? >> garrett haake for us in florida. thank you. there's been no break for firefighters, battling the largest wildfire in california history. the thomas fire in ventura has been burning since early december. 1,500 firefighters worked around the clock to keep it in check. the fire has killed 2 people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses. it's 90% contained but can take two weeks to we usually have "hoda's morning boost" at this time. a mother in riverside, california, unwraps what she thought was her christmas gift. she seems confused. it turns out to be a merer. but the real penalty was in the reflection standing behind her. [ screams ] that's her daughter. she serves in the u.s. navy. she managed to make it home early for christmas. >> i just got chills. >> what a unique way to pull off a surprise. >> she was trying to be nice about the mirror. thanks for the mirror. and then, no. look in it. >> those videos never get old to me. >> that was sweet. much more ahead, including jean chatzky's guy to holiday returns. and the post-christmas sales you want to take advantage of. "this is us" storyline hits close to home for one tennessee couple. we'll share their touching story. and the wonderful and wild christmas. as we prepare to say good-bye to 2017, we're looking back at some people who inspired us this year, starting with a family i'll never forget. first, these mes mother nature nothing smells greater than the great outdoors. especially when you're in accounts receivable. only one detergent can give you a sniff like this. the irresistable scent of new gain botanicals laundry detergent. bring the smell of nature wherever you are. hey, guys. where are the cookies for the... bake sale? bake... bake sale? need to bake in a hurry? use new country crock buttery sticks with sunflower oil. there's no softening required. so baking is delicious and easy. ooh, cookies! ah, ah, ah! 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[crowd cheering] at kohl's after christmas sale! your kohl's cash! featuring up to 70% off clearance take up to 70% off family sleepwear outerwear, sweaters and fleece! plus - shop our white sale for big savings on bed and bath! and - take an extra 15% off! kohl's. nick is a logistical mastermind. when it comes to moving packages on a global scale, nobody does it better. he's also an avid cookie connoisseur. dig in, big guy. but when it comes to mortgages, he's... less confident. fortunately for nick, there's rocket mortgage by quicken loans. it's simple, so he can understand the details and get approved in as few as eight minutes. apply simply. understand fully. mortgage confidently. rocket mortgage by quicken loans. this brought to you by rocket mortgage, by quicken loans. apply quickly, understand fully, mortgage confidently. welcome back on this "today" after christmas. what's left? returns, of course. according to the annual commissions report, more than half of us receive one present we don't want each year. an estimated $16 billion will be wasted on unwanted gifts in 2017. so, if you're looking to exchange something today, our financial editor, jean chatzky is here, to walk you through the smartest way to do that. while at the mall, why not hit up big after-christmas sales. let's dig in and start with the returns. a lot of people are going to go to the store today. >> absolutely. the folks at "consumer world" do a survey of returns to find out which policies have changed. two biggies. macy's cut their return window from a full year to half a year. that should be plenty of time. i sit around thinking, i have a year. this is good to know. >> it's good to know. some items it's quicker, like apple products and high-end clothing. be careful of that. best buy added a 15% restocking fee on high-end cameras, drones and big appliances like ovens and fridges and things like that. >> it makes sense. if we look at the big picture, let's look at the general guidelines for holiday returns. >> generally, you do not have to rush. you shouldn't wait as long as possible. you're going to get about 15 days on average. but some stores start that 15-day clock today. some don't start it until the 1st of january. different items have different rules. stores have sliced and diced theirpolicies. the high-end items, they want them back quicker to clear them out again. almost every big retailer has their p look at it before you go so you're not surprised. bring receipts with you. there's a lot of things you can buy at multiple stores and stores want to know, you actually got it there. if you don't have the receipt, ask your mom, ask aunt seuuzy. they want you to get the full value. you're not getting cash. you're going to get a gift card or a credit. >> can we talk about sales, now? if i return something, i end up shopping because of the big red signs. >> you're not alone. after christmas, we want to shop. and we want to shop for us. >> look at that. 42%. >> take advantage. we're buying things for us because we got gift cards. we want to put the gift cards to work. here's what you want to be looking for. first, clothing. you're going to get really, really good deals on coats, hats, gloves, scarves. >> i'm surprised the winter gear is on sale. it's cold. >> they need to move it out to bring the spring break stuff nordstrom's yearly sale starts today. holiday decorations. if you wanted one of the big inflatable things to put on your lawn, today is the day to buy it, as well as the -- >> you have the family pajamas. go all-in. >> and fitness gear. if your new year's resolution is to amp up the workout routine, today is the day to buy it. games that were published in october, november, december, are going to be on sale. >> really? that's good to know. any last-minute advice? >> yeah. it really still pays to compare prices. go on your phone, do a little searching around before you decide where you're going to shop. >> good advice. happy shopping. do you shop, too? >> i shop often. and i shop fairly well. today, i'm not -- >> just eat healthy. >> i have to do my best. over to dylan for a check of the weather. >> let's look at what' we that arctic air just so taking a look at some of our we've got them down below zero the wind chill is 35 below. three below in chicago. it feels like 19 degrees below zero. tomorr morning, not much better 29 degrees below zero in intern falls tomorrow mornin that's the actual air 50 in chicago. it feel like it's 6 degrees below zero. going through the week, morning plains now he ott yo >> it will be a very cold finish 30 degrees right now with a lot temper still below freezing just a everywhere. it will be a slow climb we're looking for high under increasing amounts of colder still for wednesday and below freezing. and then some chance for light our sirius/xm 108. it's time to "trend." here's what's trending on twitter this morning. it's been said many times, many ways. boxing day. #iwishwecouldall. look at this article that's getting a lot of buzz. from the bbc, titled, why i prefer christmas eve to christmas day. the writer shares his own family story, which inspired it. but it seems he's not alone in his preference. twitter couldn't agree more. shane from the u.k. tweeting, i'm more excited for the 24th is at its peak. and it feels more christmasy than actually christmas day. another user agreeing, writing, log fire burning, candles lit, carols from kings on the radio, honey roast ham in the oven, waiting for the fam to arrive. kids on the ceiling with excitement, bliss. christmas day or christmas eve? >> i understand the importance of christmas day being the pinnacle of the holiday. but we always did our biggest celebration on christmas eve. all the family gets together. everyone is so excited about it. and we drove back from boston on christmas day. it certainly -- >> you're christmas eve. >> it's the anticipation of all of it, right? >> how about you? >> i still say christmas morning is pretty amazing. at least right now because the kids are excited. they get up like 4:00 in the morning. no. please, go back to sleep. they were giggling and up. the moon was high in the sky. that's sweet. >> i think it should be christmas ev and now, i think it's christmas day. my boy was fully engaged. >> craig was saying, he knows his name starts with a "d." >> he recognizes "d" on gifts. "d" for daal. that's "d" for daddy. >> oh, a tie again. >> he wanted to unwrap everything. we asked our viewers to chime on which they prefer. 56% say they like christmas eve better than christmas day. 44%, say christmas day. the debate rages on. >> it makes sense. should we pop? >> let's do some "pop start." we'll talk about how the stars spent christmas. we have your full roundup. serena williams showed this photo of her daughter alexis' first christmas. there it is. look at that. that's a filter, right? >> snapchat or something. >> no. she had those that's good. chrissy teigen and john legend and their daughter, luna, spent christmas in the desert. their last as a family of three. and the queen of christmas, mariah carey, she instagramed a photo of her kids and santa. and a photo of her dog and her wearing christmas jammys. kate hudson got in the holiday spirit by singing christmas carols. take a look. ♪ let your heart be light from now on our troubles will be out of sight ♪ >> did you know kate hudson could sing? >> she was on "glee" back in the day, i think. i think. >> she did a cameo one time, didn't she? >> she may be wasting her talents. >> christmas carols sound just the same >> not at all. gwen stefani showed her kids on christmas morning. santa set up a wrapping paper wall. >> that's genius. >> i love that idea. >> we see blake shelton there in the background. >> why were the kid s dressed a lions? >> i don't have the details on that part. the christmas wallpaper wall. >> just go oh. >> they were dressed as lions. you're acting like that's normal. >> everything is chaotic on christmas morning. that's one more thing on the list. kevin hart's family usually spends christmas in aspen. they couldn't this year and they love snow, he brought the snow to them. and gave them a white christmas in malibu. take a look. >> daddy mode kicked in and i decided to bring aspen to my kids. you see that right there. my brother, my daughter, my son. that's snow. that's a snowman over there. i'm missing the christmas music. please. >> there we go. >> christmas music. >> i love that. >> when you have as much money as you do creativity. >> he has the "today" show budget like we do in the plaza. finally, miley cyrus. miley, billy ray and noah and the cyrus family had a fun day at home, which included a christmas dance party. take a look at that. ♪ >> i love it. >> and miley also wrote the tree ain't the only thing getting lit this year. >> of course. >> a line from al roker there himself. that's your "pop start." do you have a "daly click"? >> yes. all of the holiday travel this year, one flight attendant decided to make the boarding take a look. ♪ i'll be home for christmas if only in my dreams ♪ >> wow. >> everyone can sing. southwest flight attendant sherrice miles got applause from passengers after that amazing rendition of "i'll be home for christmas." she has a single on itunes. if you want to hear more of that soulful voice. >> you never know if quincy jones is on your flight. >> on christmas day. >> dylan, thank you so much. to a special series called "the best of today." this is where we share some of our favorite stories in 2017. >> in march, i teamed up with george olyphant. the struggle, was to have condition left them in a tight spot. it's been a tough year for this family. but 4-year-old audrey has defied the odds. >> it's inspirational. we learned audrey had microcephaly. i was at a friend's house. she was sitting next to my friend's daughter. my friend's daughter head was quite a bit larger than audrey's. i called the appointment. he measured her in the bottom fifth percentile. >> reporter: a doctor diagnosed audrey with severe microcephaly. on a trip to puerto rico, tara was bitten by mosquitos carrying the zika virus. >> we were told she would never walk or talk or do what a normal 4-year-old would do. >> reporter: with hope and physical therapy, some of the predictions wer amy. >> she said, i'll have her walking in ten sessions. >> reporter: off to a good start, there were more hurdles. like tara losing her job, as well as their house not being conducive to audrey's needs. >> she's getting so big now and she's heavy. for me to carry her up and down stairs has been challenging. >> and she doesn't sleep in a normal bed. she sleeps in a crib. i feel bad. we look in on her and she's folded up in a little pretzel. >> reporter: after watching "george to the rescue," the couple was inspired to write the producers. what happened next was a dream come true. >> i was contacted by a producer. and the producer said, we have to meet. >> reporter: take me to the day when the doorbell rang and it was george. >> the doorbell didn't ring. he busted right in. he thought he lived here. >> the door opens up. and was like -- we were like -- it was so amazing. >> reporter: geoe easier. we dropped in to check out the progress. it's a beautiful home, first of all. >> oh, yeah. they have a great home. and we don't totally come in and tackle the whole home. we focus on areas of need. this bathroom from start, we had to gut. they had a little shower in here. it was very complicated. it didn't work well. we opened it up. we maximized the space we had. >> reporter: from new tile to count countertops to functional spaces, george went right to work on a brand-new play room for the girls. >> this is vivian and audrey's area. >> reporter: and a new bedroom, with a special new safe bed for audrey. >> she had a crib. it's time to make that next step to a big girl bed. we got a special bed for her, to make it easier for her to get in and out. >> reporter: and after four weeks, it was time to reveal the finished project. >> oh. oh, my look. it's beautiful. look at the little cubby. >> oh, wow, george. >> look at it. >> you like your big bed? >> i do. >> thank you. >> oh, my gosh. >> yay. >> you love it? >> george, from the bottom of my heart, you're officially a part of the family. you know that? >> oh, group hug. i can't take it anymore. [ applause ] >> audrey doesn't speak yet, but she does in my dreams. i know she will someday. she will be the best she can be. and we're right there to support her. >> god picks your children to be with you for a reason. and she's the most beautiful child ever. >> the whole neighborhood was it is one of the stories i will never forget. >> that's a good story. by the way, our friend, george, really great guy. congrats to him. him and his wife just had another baby. four. >> in your mind, that's like 12. >> that is. you have more than 2, it's like 12. just ahead, looking for lighter fare after stuffing yourself on christmas day? we have the perfect thing for dinner tonight. first, your local news and 8:26 o this tuesday, december i'm aaron gilchrist. let's get a check on the morning commut robstallworth is in with that. hey, rob. >> good morning, aaron. folks, northbound i-95 in virgin after route 606, we all northbound lanes. now we are hearing that all no being reported on virgin inboun suitland parkway after right lane. live from the traffic center, back t you. >> we'll get a check out si only mid 30s for most of about here in washington. 33 in gaithersbur and colder a little bit more sunshine. breezy highs tomorrow only nea good morning. back at 8:30 on this tuesday morning, december 26th, 2017, the day after christmas. what a fantastic crowd out here this morning. >> a fantastic crowd. thanks for coming by, guys. >> they are troopers because it is not warm out here. >> they get 20 points. it is freezing outside. >> nothing you can do with those points. they get 20 points. >> we should give extra points to our fan of the morning here. >> okay. >> it's so cold, my brain isn't working. i can't even speak. i want to introduce someone. what's your name? >> judy. >> thank you for being here. 80 years old today. a round of applause for judy. [ applause ] delray and daughter, right? >> there's big al. 59th anniversary in about a week. >> 59. you've been married to him for 60 years? >> yeah. >> you wanted to come off to the plaza. we want to check it off of the bucket list. there we go, judy. thanks for coming by. >> that was nice. >> it's cold out here. >> don't steal the marker. >> you may want to take that back to delray beach. >> that was good. sweet. coming up, prepare to be blown away. one of the original illusionists, he's bringing a little magic to our plaza. plus, we're cooking up an easy post-christmas dinner, so delicious, your guests may never leave. dylan, a check in the northwest, temperature a couple spotty showers. temper in the 50s. that lake effect snow will tomorr is going to be bitter cold. even colder than this morning. temper continue to tumble. we'll see mountain snow and also some gulf showers and even all the way down to southern that's a look at the weather now a peek out your 30 degrees now in washington. under a partly to mostly cloudy sky. temper a little colder in still all right at mid 20s in mid to upper 20s through fairfax and loudoun county. 21 degrees in winchester. highs today around the freezing mid 30s closer into the city. then for tomorrow, more breezy and cold. highs in the upper 20s to around 30 degrees >> nbc's hit show, "this is us," has touched the hearts of fans and just picked up a golden globe nomination for best tv series. it centers around the pearsons, a couple who lost one child, only to adopt another. and it hits close to home for a family in tennessee. >> good morning, dewey. >> i heard it said, if you want to hear god laugh, you tell him your plans. >> reporter: in 2015, life handed josh and katie butler the unexpected, when their son dewy was born, with a rare chromosomal disorder. >> some of his chromosomes were flip flopped and that caused him to have difficulties breathing and eating. >> reporter: a big fight for a little soul. >> he had deep, brown eyes like josh. he was such a calm, sweet spirit. >> always from my kisses from you. >> h passed away. losing your child is sad. that's not the way it's supposed to go. are we doing the best we can? we are trying. we are trying to live happy lives but we are sad. ♪ happy birthday to you >> we met brax when he was 11 months old. >> reporter: left behind at the same hospital where dewy lived out his life. and the nashville couple turned their sadness into purpose. >> the moment i got the text message, the initial inquiry, we were taking home a baby. we decided to love brax, sight unseen. >> reporter: they adopted him, giving him the family he needed. and then, a second chance at parenthood. >> people ask us about the show "this is us." as that, the dad saw the child through the glass and he just knew that was going to be his son. that's kind of what happened with us. >> reporter: and with a newfound passion to show their son that dreaming big should be the rule not the exception, josh applied for and was accepted to compete on this season of "american ninja warrior." >> to help us to spread a little bit of love and joy. >> mom and brax giving the sign for daddy. >> when brax watches, one thing i want him to know is it's okay to name your dreams and go after them. >> good job, daddy. i think that a way to describe our short journey so far, is taking what is sad and making the best of it and living with hope. and choosing to see the joy. >> i love that sm of growing their family. they've been fostering siblings and plan to adopt them. >> what a beautiful family. >> it is such a beautiful family. >> it's beautiful. name your dreams and go after them. >> inspiration. thank you. >> "this is us" returns tuesday, january 9th, at 9:00, 8:00 central here on nbc. just ahead, the magic of adam trent. he is about to amaze our crowd. and all of you, as well, at home. but first, this is "today" on nbc. >> make yo choice. ur ♪ welcome back. as they say, prepare to be amazed. magician adam trent is here with some tricks that are about to blow your mind. >> he was one of the original cast members of "the illusionist" on broadway. now, he's traveling the world, with the magic of welcome back. >> thank you for having me again. good to see you all. >> take it away, brother. >> i'm going to hundreds of cities all over. these are my stagehands. they could not be with me. i wanted to bring them along with a photo. i posted this on my facebook, my instagram. there's a lot of things you will notice about my show. i posted them. everyone in the audience has a sheet of paper. numbers and colors on them. we chose our colors and numbers. we have balls of paper. i'm going to collect a sample of these. i will put this on. i got this from my veterinarian. toss them in. how are we missing from this close? how are we missing from this close, people? come on. okay. okay. coming through. toss them all in. i'm coming back this way. second chance if you have anymore. second chances. how am i doing? come on. don't miss. don't miss. okay okay. okay. i'm not sure how some of them are missing this. okay. okay. all right. i think we're done. >> okay. >> ladies and gentlemen, this right here represents our choices, our favorite colors and our favorite numbers, our ability to hit a moving target, our ability to follow instructions properly. this is great. meredith, come over here. we have five clear cups here. i'm going to give a little shuffle like this. shuffle, shuffle. mix, mix. i'm going to dump them over the cup. we got several in each. we're going to clear this off. we're going to remove the extras. we'll remove that one and that one. only the first one that made it in. and that one got about five in it. hook at that. i think we're good. go ahead and call the numbers out nice and loud, on the -- call them out. that's a green number 5. next number. 0. next number. 4. and finally -- 5. 53045. a number that's special to us. in the beginning i told you my stagehands wouldn't be here. i posted a photo on social media. there's a lot of things you'll notice. the stagehands are one of them. look at their hands. if i line this up. that's five. that's three. i'm holding up zero. that's four. that's five, ladies and gentlemen. >> that's really good. >> no. >> you want to tell us how you did that? >> what's crazy is that right now, this is a number. the numbers can be looked at one of two ways. if i do this with the number. numbers can become letters. they don't notice the letters spell shoes. the stagehands are wearing shoes. the shoes are colors. if i line them up perfectly this. that's green, blue, red, yellow, green. and that's impossible. >> that's amazing. >> i always wanted to know how you do it. >> you can verify it online. it's all there. >> amazing. >> how did you get into magic? >> i started when i was 8 years old. i saw david copperfield. i'm going across the country to do what i want to do. >> does it make it hard in this age of google to keep the secrets in magic behind it? >> that's a got point. >> you cannot google that trick. i think people are more skeptical these days. magic is about entertainment. that's what my life tour is all about. >> good to have you, adam. >> thanks for being here. >> next time, we'll let you inside. >> it's warm out here. >> next time, we'll insist on it. be sure to look for the magic of adam trent in a city near you. up next, the perfect recipe for dinner. won't want to leave after you make this. >> a simple salmon and salad. >> you're making it, craig. >> get upstairs and eat, ladies. >> that was fantastic. thank you so much. >> this is "today" on nbc. >> we'll say it on the same time. ♪ whoa! the mercedes-benz winter event is back and you won't want to stop for anything else. [ barks ] ho! lease the cla250 for $329 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. we're back. 8:45 this morning on "today food" salmon in a snap. after a day of indulging, you might want to lighten things up. the executive chef of tupelo honey. this is lighter than the ribs we made last time. >> 100% lighter than those ribs. >> let's start with what we're working with here. >> the thought process, a really quick and easyea to do after a busy holiday. beautiful salmon. boston lettuce is grown in water. grain mustard for a nice dressing. >> what kind of salmon do you recommend using? >> there's some good farm salmon. one producer is called velaso. if i had my choice, it would be wild salmon. >> you can gauge how good the dish is at "today" when the women are stuffing their faces. you can't even speak. >> the dressing is really good. it makes everything come together. >> the dressing is what we call grown-up honey mustard. it has agave nectar. and it has tarragon, which i don't know a child that likes it. we will season the salmon. lay it in so the oil splashes >> skinside down. >> you want to get that skin crispy. two or three minutes on that side. depending on the thickness of the salmon, you can take it and pop it in the oven. or you can turn it over, turn the heat to low or finish it cooking on the flesh side. you have crispy salmon, beautiful skin. >> what's the rule with the skin? >> salmon skin is one of the healthy, happy things in my world. it's good fat. >> there's not a lot of fats left. >> crispy skin salmon. we drop the heat down to low. this is medium rare, another two or three minutes on that side. >> is there a general rule in terms of gauging when the salmon is done? just eye ball it? >> everybody eats salmon differently. my wife eats it superrare. my in-laws eat it well done. >> let's get to the slat aalad dressing that dylan is about. >> it's beautiful. there's a couple of beautiful ingredients. the lettuce fans out and looks like its own head of lettuce again. we'll take some watermelon radish, which is my new obsessi obsession. >> you have to be careful with the mandolin because i almost lost a finger. >> this guy can be worse. >> that's a beautiful knife. you got some radishes, onions here. >> the thing we miss cooking at home a lot, is to season everything, including the lettuce greens. >> you season the lettuce before you put vegetables on it. that's a chef trick? >> it's a chef trick. it's not just sitting on top. it's getting in there. you're working the seasoning straight through. >> a pro tip. >> i actually dress the salad, too, before the salmon goes on. and then, i add more on top, as you saw in the tease. but spread this out nice. >> this is so good. >> i want to take that dressing. >> this is really light. >> the hardest part of the whole thing is >> and that was supereasy. >> five minutes and you're done. and you have a beautiful -- >> my goodness. >> this dressing here. >> we talked about grown-up honey mustard. agave nectar, whole grain mustard, tarragon, a little apple cider vinegar. and we drizzle in the olive oil. it's emulsified with the agave nectar. it is stable. it's not a true vinaigrette, that it's not going to separate. >> it has such a unique flavor. it's something we haven't had. >> adults love honey mustard, they don't like to admit it. >> i will add more. >> you can make that in advance and keep it. >> yeah. 100%. i have a quart of it in my fridge. you can put it on everything. >> you cook like my mother. just eye ball it. what's the verdict, ladies? our plates are almost clean. >> well, that's no shocker. >> you didn't eat on christmas day. >> i'm eating healthy now. >> this is delicious. >> i had mcdonald's yesterday. this is fantastic. this is good. >> you throw the salmon right on top of this, huh? >> for me this, is a complete meal. if you want something extra, roasted potatoes, roasted asparag asparagus. >> what kind of cheese? >> this is feta. you can use any crumbling cheese you like. >> this is guilt-free. >> it is guilt-free. >> did you save me a plate over there? >> there's one for you right here. >> you have to try this. >> i am. >> yes. you actually get to. >> woo. >> i hope it's good. it's delicious. >> it is delicious. >> isn't that good? >> you're right. that's money. >> it can make or break a salad. >> for more on this recipe and more on other recipes, go to today.com/food. i apologize. >> really? right befor >> my mother is watching at home. oh, my god. i can't believe he's talking with his mouth full. not sure why i use how's it going down there? that's good. lica misses you. i'm over it though. (laughter) that's fine. i miss her more than you anyway. ♪ ♪ hey, my window is closing. yeah that's okay. alright miles. i love you. (phone hangs up) ♪ ♪ yeah i love you too. ♪ ♪ welcome back. dylan, let's celebrate birthdays. >> i'll let you continue eating. and i'll wish a bunch of people some happy birthday wishes. let's start and spin the smucker's jars and wish happy birthday to oleta krauss. she is a sports fan from florida. and volunteers for activities in her church. ophelia pitts likes to spend time outside in her garden. happy birthday to her. and happy 100th birthday to treva baker of missouri. she got late board after she retired. she went on to work as a middle school. earl minor is a retired postal service employee, from champaign, illinois. he stays active by walking two miles every day. good for him. joy ditler is also 100, a proud grandma from ohio. she has 28 grandkids and 56 great grandkids and 6 great grandkids and a couple more. wonder what christmas was like there. and last but not least, happy 100th birthday to esther deets of kingsville, maryland. her spam recipe won her the grand prize at the state fair three times. if you know someone with a milestone birthday, tell us at today.com/celebrates. >> i would try that spam. >> i would, too. >> we are chomping away as dylan was talking. should i take this next line? are you good? ahead. first, your local news and weather. >> well done, craig. >> now back to my plate. i was going to take it home for lunch. but it's gone. ♪ ♪ 8:56 this tuesday, december right let's get a check on >>morning, aaron. folks, on the capital beltway, no big problems reported as you in maryland, west bound route 50 this is before t lane getting you by. no problems being reported inboun on the suitland parkway is gone. live from the wtop traffic center i'm rob stallworth. >> thank you, rob. we'll a check on your still, at or below freezing we'll get a little warmup today. don't plan on much warm air for high today 37. that's the warmest of the bunch. high at or below and can get the latest news in our hopeful holiday series, he was sent, wrongly, to prison. but it did not stop him for forgiving the man who sent him there. are your feasts not going as planned? we have what you need to fix your culinary fails. plus, ring in the new year in style. how to work your wardrobe on the big night. all that and more on "megyn kelly today," right now. [ applause ] hello there. welcome, everybody. thank you very much for being here. welcome to the show. i'm megyn kelly. it's great to have you here.