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The president said all he wants for Christmas is hugs from his daughters, but Sasha and Malia have other plans. During a Q&A with kids at the Children's National Medical Center on Tuesday, the girls revealed they're getting their father "sports stuff." They also talked about how Christmas will be different now that they're in the White House and what they're planning for the holidays.
Bo the dog came along for the visit. The pool report by Kevin Chappell of Ebony Magazine recounted:
As [Michelle Obama] began reading, Bo spotted Santa on the podium behind Sasha and Malia, and began to bark loudly.
"Quiet Bo," FLOTUS said.
But Bo kept barking at Santa, prompting Santa to retreat off to one side of the podium. Seconds later, Santa appeared on the other side of the podium. Bo seemed to be fine with that.
See photos and the full Q&A below.
THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the First Lady
___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 22, 2009
REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AND SASHA AND MALIA OBAMA
AFTER A VISIT
Children's National Medical Center
Washington, D.C.
3:36 P.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA: You guys have any questions? You can have questions for Malia and Sasha, too.
Q How will the holidays be different for you this year?
MRS. OBAMA: How will the holidays -- what do you think? Do you think the holidays will be different?
SASHA: Well, it will be easier to get on the plane -- (laughter) -- than last year. But I don't think anything will be very different.
MRS. OBAMA: Yes, we're doing the same things we usually do. Every year, ever since the kids were born and even before, we go to Hawaii, because that's where the President is from. So we go with a group of friends. So as soon as all the work here is done, we'll go there.
So we've done that ever -- I don't think they've ever spent a Christmas --
MALIA: No, there's that one Christmas.
MRS. OBAMA: There's that one Christmas. Any other questions? Yes, sweetie. Here we have one, right there. You want to -- there's a mic. It'll be fun, talk in the mic, talk loud.
Q What did you get the President for Christmas?
MRS. OBAMA: Oh, I can't tell. They're going to -- (laughter.)
SASHA: They're going to tell.
MRS. OBAMA: They're going to tell.
MALIA: It's something good, though. I hope he'll like it.
MRS. OBAMA: It's good. You know, we got him sports -- I got him sports stuff.
SASHA: We got him --
MRS. OBAMA: Don't say it, just give it a category.
SASHA: I'm not. It's something he likes. (Laughter.)
MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Well, there you go.
Well, what do you want for Christmas?
Q A stuffed dog.
MRS. OBAMA: A stuffed dog. Aww. All right, Santa. All right. Okay. This little -- okay, we have one. And she in the pink had a question.
Yes, sweetie.
Q Merry Christmas, Mrs. Obama.
MRS. OBAMA: Merry Christmas to you, too.
Q How many Christmas trees are in the White House?
MRS. OBAMA: How many Christmas trees are in the White House? How many total are there? There are a lot.
MALIA: Like, okay, well, let's see, one, two, three --
MRS. OBAMA: No, wait. (Laughter.) I think it's 24. I think -- where's my team? (Laughter.) It's like 24 -- or 26 --
SASHA: Twenty-six.
MRS. OBAMA: Twenty-six. See, I knew it was close. Yes, that's a lot of Christmas --
MALIA: Unfortunately, you don't get presents under all of them. (Laughter.)
SASHA: What about the wishing tree?
MRS. OBAMA: Well, there's one -- you want to talk about the wishing tree, one of the trees?
SASHA: 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 one of the holes and it might come true.
MRS. OBAMA: So that's a new tradition at the White House. So what we want you all to do next year is to come to the White House, because you can see all of them. It's open to anybody who wants to come. (Bo barks.) You, too. (Laughter.)
All right, you promise me that next year you'll come by the White House and see for yourself? Okay.
MR. SNOWDEN: Those were great questions, kids.
MRS. OBAMA: Those were great -- wait, wait, wait. We have one. We're going to get them all in, I know. She had her hand up. Sorry, Mr. Chairman.
Q I was going to ask --
MRS. OBAMA: Just make something up. Do you want to ask Bo a question? Bo, can you answer something?
Q I was going to ask, people were saying we're going to get our pictures. And I was going to ask, are we going to take them with you?
MRS. OBAMA: Take pictures?
Q Or are you just going to give one to us? (Laughter.)
MRS. OBAMA: That's a good question -- Alan. (Laughter.) Were pictures promised?
MR. FITTS: Shake hands with everyone.
MRS. OBAMA: Okay.
Q What's your favorite Christmas song?
MRS. OBAMA: What's my favorite Christmas song? Oh, well, Malia and Sasha have been playing two that are just drilled into my head. "Carol of the Bells" and "Jingle Bells."
SASHA: Oh, Malia -- oh, yes.
MRS. OBAMA: Yes, we've heard that for months.
SASHA: Well, I don't play "Jingle Bells" as much as Malia plays "Carol of the Bells." (Laughter.)
MRS. OBAMA: Those are my favorite.
SASHA: I'm getting bored of that song now. (Laughter.)
MRS. OBAMA: All right. Okay, guys, we're going to come around and shake hands. Thank you guys. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy New Year.
END 3:42 P.M. EST