Bush Spending Christmas in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)â€” President-elect Bush attended a Christmas party at a neighbor's home before returning to Austin on Sunday to attend a Christmas Eve church service. <br><br>The former Texas governor

Sunday, December 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)â€” President-elect Bush attended a Christmas party at a neighbor's home before returning to Austin on Sunday to attend a Christmas Eve church service.

The former Texas governor returned alone to the state capital after unwinding Saturday at his 1,600-acre ranch in Crawford, several hours north of here. His wife, Laura, already was at the governor's mansion, supervising packing for the move to Washington next month.

Bush, attended by a small security detail, chatted with friends Saturday at a party on the Engelbrecht property, next to his own ranch.

He and Mrs. Bush were attending evening services Sunday at Tarrytown United Methodist Church.

After a Christmas in Austin, they were joining relatives for a short vacation in Boca Grande, Fla., the state that gave him the presidency and where brother Jeb is governor. A trip to Washington was planned for later in the week for Bush to attend transition meetings.