On January 20, 2009, America celebrated the inauguration of its first African American president, Barack Obama. On the same day, 100 White House employees packed up all of George Bush's family's belongings and then unpacked all of the Obamas' stuff in just a few short hours. That night, while the president and first lady attended 10 different inaugural balls, Malia and Sasha Obama spent their first night in the White House having a scavenger hunt and watching movies. Soon after the girls' granmother also decided to move into the White House with them.
About The White House
There are 132 rooms at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 15 million people visit the 55,000-square-foot mansion each year. As a visitor, you can stroll the White House lawns, walk through its halls and even sample a meal from its kitchen! A new attraction built by the Obamas is a cool new swingset for kids to play on! The Obamas host lots of special events at their home, too, like the annual Easter Sunday White House Easter Egg Roll - a tradition that started in 1878.
The White House includes special sections for public visits and work and private family sections that are just for the family. The president's office, for example, is in the West Wing of the building. Above the Oval Office are the family quarters, where the Obamas have dinner together nearly every night and tuck their daughters in at bedtime.
White House Staff
It takes a lot of people to keep the White House running smoothly - about 1,700 to be exact! These employees do everything from cooking to answering phones to taking photos to arranging flowers to decorating the place for Christmas each year. There are official White House plumbers, electricians, maids, cooks, secretaries and even librarians.
Home Sweet Home
The Obamas - Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha - have lots of special things in the White House to make it feel like home, including the swingset, a swimming pool, a kids' garden, tennis courts, a bowling alley, a basketball court and a horseshoe pit. There's even a private movie theatre, complete with its own popcorn cart, where the family likes to relax. And the kitchen is awesome, churning out tasty food that's also healthy, like fresh-squeezed juices.
Presidential Pup
On election night (November 4, 2008), Barack Obama promised his daughters they could get a dog, now that he'd won the election. That's how, in April 2009, a six-month-old black-and-white Portugese water dog named Bo came to live in the White House, too. Bo loves to run and play with the president and his girls. One of his fave things to do is chew on people's feet and play with his ball. Although he can be a naughty puppy (what puppy isn't?), Bo is a loyal and loving pet. He greets Malia and Sasha when they come home from school and loves to cuddle with them as they read and relax in their rooms.
Family First
Even though they're all pretty busy (you know, running the country and stuff), the Obamas love spending time together. President Obama has read all the Harry Potter books with his daughter, Malia, and both girls have to get their homework done before they can start playing.
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