The Obama family faces yet another first this holiday season: their first Christmas in the White House. The people want to know what they’ll do and where they’ll be. One-day searches on Yahoo! show that lookups on “obama christmas” grew 100% in the last day. Queries on “obama christmas card” and “obama christmas eve” were also popular. Here, a rundown of what to expect from the first family.
Tradition: He said, she said
Cross Obama off your Christmas list. According to the president, the first couple agreed a few years back not to exchange Yuletide gifts. But this just in: In a separate interview, the first lady acknowledged that the president is getting “sports stuff” under the tree. If someone didn’t get someone a present, there may be one very desperate last-minute shopper at the mall. Although the Obama daughters’ wish-lists haven’t been made public, Obama told the Tom Joyner Morning Show that Malia and Sasha don’t want much, but like iPods, video games and books. Santa, take note. What Obama really wants can’t be bought: He said he’d just like hugs.
A very western White House
Let’s face it: Even the leader of the free world needs a break once in awhile. Obama may feel more entitled than most, with his push on health care, his management of the war in Afghanistan, and his work to fight an economic downturn. Bush sought salvation clearing brush in his Texas ranch. Reagan headed to horse country in Santa Barbara. The current president goes really far west to his native Hawaii.
Though the president says his vacation is on hold until the health care vote in the Senate is put to rest, the family hopes to spend at least some time in the island paradise. The first lady told Oprah Winfrey about her family’s plans: “You know, we’re going to spend the holidays in Hawaii as we always do and with probably the same friends and family that we always see, and the girls look forward to that.”
The presidential rental
If the Obama family returns to the oceanside suburban retreat where they spent a winter holiday last year, it will be in a multimillion dollar Kailua manse. The property is at the base of the Koolau mountains with Kailua Beach out back, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The five-bedroom home is about a half-hour drive from Honolulu. Sounds like a pretty good perscription for relaxation to us.
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia (L-R) read Christmas books to patients at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington December 22, 2009 from Rueters.
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