E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSFirst dog Bo steals the show when he climbs into Michelle Obama's lap before the First Lady reads a Christmas story to children at a hospital. "This is exactly what he does at home – he tries to beat Malia and Sasha to my lap," Obama said.
Kids anxious to learn when Santa would arrive got an update from a surprise guest this year when first lady Michelle Obama fielded their phone calls.
Gary Cameron / REUTERS
Michelle Obama reads "The Night Before Christmas" to children at the Children's National Medical Center with unsolicited help from First Dog Bo.
That was just part of the Christmas festivities for the first lady, who also read “'The Night Before Christmas’’ at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 15.
On Christmas Eve, Obama was patched in as one of the volunteers answering phone calls to the NORAD Santa-tracking operation at a Colorado Air Force Base. She added to the excitement and anticipation of Christmas for several children, including one persistent one from Fort Worth, Texas, who wanted her to come visit him.
A boy named Anthony was hoping that not only Santa could stop by his home, but also the first lady and possibly her husband, according to a report by Politico.
“Yeah, [Santa's] heading your way,’’ the first lady said. “He’s heading your way. But you know what, Santa doesn’t come until you’re fast asleep. You do know that, right?”
“Yeah, I was talking about you trying to visit me,’’ Anthony replied.
“Oh, me come to visit you. Well, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to come and visit before Christmas tomorrow, but if ever I find myself in Texas next year – and I know I’m going to be coming to Texas one time next year – hopefully we can see each other then. How does that sound?”
Anthony then asked Mrs. Obama if she would come to his house or his school.
“You’re at Fort Worth?’’ the first lady replied. “I was in Fort Worth last year. So maybe we can come back. But until then, I want you to have a merry Christmas, OK, Anthony?”
But Anthony was not done.
“Can I talk to your husband?” he asked.
“He’s not here right now,’’ Mrs. Obama said. “But you know what, I will tell him that you asked about him. OK? All right. You keep being a good kid. Work hard in school, okay?”
“OK,’’ Anthony responded. “Tell your daughters I said Merry Christmas.’’
“I sure will,’’ she said. “Thank you so much. You give your family my best, OK? You give them all a Merry Christmas from all of the Obamas, OK?”
Anthony from Fort Worth was from one of several families who received a special greeting from the first lady, including the Thomas family of Winona, N.J.
“Look, this just made their whole, like, life,’’ Mrs. Thomas told her. “They’re pretty excited now if they weren’t already.’’
Gary Cameron / REUTERS
Young A.J. Murray's reactions were a highlight of the first lady's reading of "The Night Before Christmas."
“Well, it’s pretty exciting around here, too,’’ the first lady responded.
There was also plenty of excitement during her reading of “The Night Before Christmas’’ in Washington on Dec. 15, which was released on video by the White House on Christmas Eve. The first lady had barely taken her seat when Bo, the Obama family dog, hopped right into her lap.
“This is exactly what he does at home,’’ Mrs. Obama said. “He tries to beat Malia and Sasha to my lap.’’
With the pet she jokingly called “the big baby in the room’’ nestled in her lap, she then delivered a dramatic reading of the Christmas classic while flanked by her tiny escorts, A.J. Murray and Jordyn Akuoko, as well as Santa himself. The adorable reactions of Murray and Akuoko highlight her reading.
Michelle Obama reads "Twas' the Night Before Christmas'' at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 15 while joined by Bo, the Obama family's dog.
Read more:
'Savannah's Soldiers' send holiday cheer to military in Afghanistan
Former first children reveal highs, lows of holidays at White House
Jenna Bush Hager, Michelle Obama talk 'magical' White House holidays
TIME Person of the Year is President Obama
Leave a Comment:
this is all the press can report on, our ARROGANT First Lafy reading a book while she vacations on our tax dollars we borrowed from China while millions of americans are unemployed not knowing if the will ever get another job. How about reporting what the vacation cost us taxpayers. How about reporting on the OVERSPENDING of this man and what his healthcare law is going to do to this country.
Merry Christmas Jim.
I Hope you find peace in your life.
How about you stop being a world class a-hole?
jimanonfreeloader
Looks like you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas. Happy Holidays to you and hope you can get over yourself over this festive period.
Love her face when Bo jumps on her lap. Bah humbug to you Jim creep being just a grinch.
All,
I know Jim's comments may seem a bit abrasive, but they're fairly accurate. Yes, I understand the purpose of the article was to be festive, but there are quite a few people across the country that aren't "living it up" like the First Family is.
Which is why she visits, reads, and donates time and money to the patients and Children's National.
It's amazing --- I don't ever remember anyone complaining about how the other First Ladies spent their holidays or what it cost the taxpayers! And, from what I remember, GWB and his wife took more vacations than any president in history!
Seems like some people are missing the point of the article. The first lady was giving kids a treat in answering calls and then reading to some of them at a hospital. She was donating her time to give the kids something special to remember. Especially considering she brought her dog, which I'm sure the kids got a kick out of since most kids love animals. Whether you like the Obamas or not, the fact that you had the First Lady come read to your child during a time when they can't go home due to illness or recovery is something that you are not going to complain about. I certainly wouldn't be complaining and I am glad to see that she took the time to do these things unlike other First Ladies we've had regardless of party affiliation.
Damn, I was hoping she killed herself
Alan.....your post is obviously the writings of a troll, who is looking to start some crap. WTF is wrong with you?
Way to go to our 1st lady. There are a few a-holes that want to say something bad whenever they could. I dont recall other 1st lady's getting this kind of attack... I'm proud of the things she's done. These kids were happy she visited.
I am happy she did too.