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Governor Charlie Crist and his new bride, Carole, made their first public appearance as man and wife today. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the new first couple spent the afternoon reading to foster children.

Here it here: mvpkg1221mp3

The Governor and his wife of 10 days sipped punch, held hands, and talked with foster families invited to the Governor’s mansion. About 30 foster kids were invited for an afternoon read along of “The 12 days of Christmas in Florida”.

Neither the Governor nor First Lady read to the children, but both listened intently and often exchanged glances as the kids read aloud such phrases as “6 gators grinning.”

Afterward the couple passed out gifts to each of the children.

In her first interview, the new first lady says she likes living in Tallahassee, is somewhat surprised by the hectic nature of the job, and says she is thinking about causes she might embrace.

“Well, I think as it relates to Florida whatever we can do, whatever I can do, to be of help to the governor’s office and administration’s agenda I am happy to help in any way I can, say the First Lady, who then added “Particularly children in Florida are very near and dear to my heart.”

and when asked about what words of wisdom she shares with the states chief executive…the Governor chimed in by saying “Okay…that was the last question….come on.

The new first lady won’t be spending Christmas here in the mansion she and the Governor will leave Christmas Eve for St. Petersburg.

Ironically, weather in the Northeast kept the first lady’s two children from being at the Governor’s Mansion.  The Governor says he and the first lady will take a couple days off for Christmas, and then he will start negotiating state budget cuts for a special session that begins Monday, January 5^th.