Mayor's Christmas tree arrives in Topeka

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- It's beginning to look a lot more like the holidays at the governor's mansion.

The governor's Christmas tree was delivered Friday to Cedar Crest in a mule-drawn surrey.

Normally it arrives in a horse-drawn wagon.

Gov. Mark Parkinson joked that the switch shows the effect the budget is having.

He then turned serious and said that despite the budget crisis, he hopes everyone will find something to be thankful for this holiday season.

First lady Stacy Parkinson says the family will be honored to hang their decorations on the 8-foot Scotch pine. The couple has three children.

The tree came from Pine Lake Christmas Tree Farm in Derby.

One of the owners, Celia Goering, called picking the tree "quite an honor."

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Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com