White House Decorations All About Bo

Obamas tell kid patients of 26 trees; 'presents not under each one'

(NEWSER) - The first family—minus the president, but plus the first dog—talked about their first White House Christmas yesterday, but Michelle Obama wouldn’t spill any secrets on what’s waiting for Barack under the tree. Malia told patients at the Children’s National Medical Center about the 26 trees decorating her new home, but clarified that, “Unfortunately we don't get presents under every tree,” People reports. More»

Eco-friendly lights, 27 trees liven up the full-size executive mansion

(NEWSER) - Everyone got into the act of readying the White House for the holidays—staffers and volunteers who helped with decorating, community groups whose members created ornaments, and even the White House bees, whose honey went into the gingerbread that became a 390-pound replica of the executive mansion. At the bottom of the steps of the building Michelle Obama called "a gingerbread masterpiece" is a tiny black-and-white marzipan creation, the Chicago Tribune reports. Yes, dog lovers, that's Bo. More»

A bike and a basketball for him, doll house for her

(NEWSER) - Oprah's Christmas special at the White House airs tomorrow night, in which we learn the first couple's favorite holiday presents. For those who just can't wait: The president picks a 10-speed bike and Michelle a doll house. ("I remember I really didn't know how to set up a house so I had all the furniture lined up along the walls as opposed to nestled around the fireplace. But I loved that little doll house.") And this is Oprah, after all, so Barack digs a little deeper into his psyche. More»

(NEWSER) - Dale Haney has been wrangling White House animals since 1976, but these days his responsibilities are much diminished, insiders tell US News & World Report. “He doesn’t see Bo as much because the girls and Mrs. Obama, the whole family, is taking care of Bo, so Dale has been demoted a bit,” a staffer says. “He misses the dogs.” More»

(NEWSER) - Do you—or does someone you love—have Bo fever? Are you one of the apparently considerable number of people who have bombarded the White House with requests for info about him? Michelle Obama's press staff has heard your call. Send a request (and preferably an SASE), and your new friends in the East Wing will send you a Bo trading card, complete with utterly vital first dog factoids. More»