For the first time, Laureen Harper sat down for an exclusive television interview alongside her husband, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, opening up about everything from her interest in motorcycles to what life is like at 24 Sussex Drive.

"There's kids coming and going all the time. You'll come in our house and there will be shoes at the door," Laureen Harper told CTV News Chief Anchor Lloyd Robertson, who conducted the annual year-end prime minister interview with Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife.

"It's just like everywhere else. Kids come and go all the time."

During the interview, Laureen Harper also spoke about why she loves the open road, saying that she bought her first motorcycle when she was 10 or 11 years old.

"I've loved them and liked them ever since," she said. "It's the freedom."

In turn, the prime minister praised her as his greatest adviser, saying that he couldn't do his job without her support.

"Laureen is a very giving person," he said. "Laureen allows me to concentrate as fully as I do on the job and other things. She doesn't put a lot of demands on me."

On Thursday, Harper also delivered his annual Christmas statement, outlining the nation's achievements over the past year.

"It was Canada's year to shine," he said.

Harper, who has been prime minister for almost five years, said Canadians of all religions and backgrounds have much to celebrate when looking back on 2010.

He cited the Vancouver Olympics -- "the best Winter Games ever" -- the G8 and G20 summits hosted by Toronto and Huntsville, and Canada's leadership on the global economic recovery as some of the highlights.

"It was Canada's year to shine. Whether bringing relief to a devastated Haiti, or on Afghanistan's high and dusty plains, we did ourselves proud and our story of achievement will continue in 2011," Harper said.

"Through prudent fiscal management and careful investment in jobs and prosperity, we will help ensure the economic recovery continues to take hold. And we will welcome home our heroes of Afghanistan, the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces whose combat mission comes to an end next year.

Harper also lauded the visit from Queen Elizabeth II as "that glorious Canada Day when Her Majesty the Queen joined 100,000 Canadians on Parliament Hill to celebrate our 143rd birthday."

Harper didn't shy away from mentioning the religious significance of Christmas.

For Christians, he said, it is the time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

But for Canadians of all backgrounds, Harper said, "it is our shared ownership of the most fortunate of all lands, our Canada, with its deep traditions of freedom, tolerance and generosity.

"This Canadian birthright draws to our shores people of all faiths, who in coming, strengthen it all the more."

Harper concluded his message by wishing Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for 2011, from himself, his wife Laureen Harper and their children Ben and Rachel.

Watch the full special, 'A Conversation with the Prime Minister,' Saturday, Dec. 25 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV.