E-Kantipur

WASHINGTON, DEC 23 -

President Barack Obama has plenty of work to do before Christmas, but he and his family have still made time to buy gifts and sing carols, and they even plan to leave out milk and cookies for Santa.

This year's Christmas season is the first that Obama, First Lady Michelle, and the "First Daughters" Sasha and Malia have spent in the White House.

Their new home has been suitably decked out with Christmas garlands, thousands of twinkling lights and baubles and tinsel inside and outside the presidential residence.

Michelle Obama called in help from volunteers to decorate the White House, though a gingerbread replica of the building, covered in white chocolate and complete with a mini-version of the Obamas' dog Bo, was left to the White House pastry chef Bill Yosses.

During a holiday event at the Washington Children's National Medical Center, the First Lady divulged that 26 Christmas trees are up in the White House.

"Unfortunately, you don't get presents under all of them," Malia added ruefully.

The official White House Christmas tree is on display in the Blue Room, lit with environmentally-friendly LED lights and decorated with over 800 ornaments from previous administrations.

But the Obama family has also added a new tree to the White House, which Sasha described.

"One of the trees is called the wishing tree, and it is made out of cardboard. And so you can write down a wish and you roll it up and then you can put it in one of the holes and it might come true," she said on Tuesday.

"It's open to anybody who wants to come," Michelle Obama added, only to have Bo chime in with a bark. "You, too," she told the playful Portuguese water dog, who accompanied the First Lady, Sasha and Malia to the medical facility.

Earlier this month, the president joined the rest of his First Family to light the National Christmas Tree, a 30 foot (10 meters) Colorado blue spruce, in a ceremony attended by Santa Claus himself.

And when Santa returns to the White House on Christmas Eve, Obama has pledged he won't leave the presidential chimney empty-handed.

Obama told Spanish-language television station Univision last week that the White House expected Santa to come through the Yellow Room chimney in the middle of the presidential residence.

"So, that's where we are going to set the cookies and the milk," he said, adding that a reindeer snack would also be provided

"Because we want to make sure when it comes to the White House that he feels like he is getting good service," Obama said.

Sasha and Malia haven't divulged exactly what they are hoping Santa will bring them this year, but their father told the Tom Joyner Radio Show that he would happy with something simple from his daughters.

"All I need from them is some hugs, and I'm happy," the doting dad said.

His girls later expertly dodged a question at the Medical Center about what they planned to get the president, with Sasha carefully saying only: "It's something he likes."

Though much of Washington DC is still covered with a thick layer of snow, the Obamas are unlikely to have a white Christmas as they plan to follow family tradition and head to Hawaii on Christmas Eve.

Showing she has grown quite comfortable with the perks of her dad's job, Sasha said Tuesday she expected Christmas to stay this same this year, but for one thing.

"It will be easier to get on the plane than last year," she said to a chorus of laughter.

Posted on: 2010-03-09 05:18

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