Health
Education
They're role models
They're cool
They're fashionable
They eat well
They're entertaining
And they're friendly to animals
The Washington Times describes the departure:
The Obamas were joined by Michelle's mom, Marian Robinson, and an unidentified young friend of Sasha's. Lucky friend. ...
Malia walked out at the rear of the Obama family and appeared bashful. Her father, after making his brief remarks striding by the cameras, noticed her walking with her head down and put his arm around her as they walked the 50 or so feet to the helicopter.
It was the first flight on the presidential helicopter for Mrs. Obama and the two young girls. Mr. Obama made his first trip on board the aircraft Thursday on the way to speak to House Democrats in Williamsburg.
And it's the first time for the Obama family at Camp David, a presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt first used the retreat, and President Eisenhower named it Camp David in honor of his grandson.
Related: Former White House usher says every first family has to adjust to life 'in the fishbowl' (CBS)
The president and his wife, Michelle, took daughters Malia and Sasha to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance on Friday night at the Kennedy Center. ...
The first family got a warm welcome. As they entered their box seats -- designated with the presidential seal -- the crowd gave them a standing ovation amid cheers and snapshots. ...
The Obamas were accompanied by Attorney General Eric Holder and his wife, Sharon Malone, and Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife, Michelle.
Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, saw Alvin Ailey earlier in the week from the presidential box, with Kaye Wilson, godmother to Sasha and Malia, who is coming to the White House once a month to "cook family favorites and twist Malia's hair."
A baby giraffe at the Buffalo (N.Y.) Zoo has been named Malia, after the president's older daughter. WGRZ reports:
Officials at the Zoo are defending their decision, saying it was their intention to honor the new President, not offend anyone.
"Certainly there was no intention on the part of the President, or board, or anyone here at the Zoo to be offensive," says Hal Payne, Vice Chair of the Zoo's Board of Directors.
Payne adds that many animals have been named after famous people through the years. Two other giraffes were named after Goldie Hawn and Clint Eastwood. They also named a serval after Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys. In addition, Zoo President Donna Ferndandes is the namesake of a porcupine at the Prospect Park Zoo in New York City.
"Malia," the giraffe, is the first daughter of the Zoo's female giraffe, Akilli. Zoo officials say it was timely to name one first daughter for another, especially because the giraffe was born so close to inauguration day.
Related: Zoos lack funds to inspire Obama's future scientists (Reuters)
In an interview with Anderson Cooper about Tom Daschle's withdrawal and the economy, President Obama was also asked about the first family's pet.
Obama: We are going to get it in the spring. I think the theory was that the girls might be less inclined to do the walking when it was cold outside.
Cooper: Portuguese water dog? You don't know yet?
Obama: You know, we're still experimenting.
Related: Favorite names for the first dog (SFGate.com)
Previously:
Kiplinger's personal finance editor Janet Bodnar suggests Sasha and Malia should get a raise as a way to help children learn about fiscal responsibility:
With all due respect, I'd like to suggest that the Obama kids need a fiscal stimulus (your father will know what that means, too). I'd recommend that you get weekly allowances equal to half your age -- that's $3.50 for Sasha and $5 for Malia.
That might sound like a big raise, but in return I'd expect you to take on extra responsibilities with your money. ...
I read that you're expected to make your beds but that your mom is satisfied if you "just throw a sheet over them." Sounds easy enough. Here's a suggestion you're probably not going to like: I don't think you should get paid for doing such chores. Kids should pitch in because their parents need help around the house -- even when it's the White House. ...
Why am I bothering to tell you all this? Because, at ages 7 and 10, you could be the poster children for learning to manage your own money and set an example for other kids. ... you could take on more personal responsibility -- something your father talked about in his inaugural address. If more grown-ups had done those things, we wouldn't be faced with such a big mess to clean up.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha" dolls seemingly inspired by the Obama girls have been retired by Ty. The paper says:
A Ty spokeswoman declined to comment, but the company's Web site featured pictures of the dolls marked with the word "retired.''
The dolls, which debuted in January, were criticized by Michelle Obama and others for using the names of the two Obama children, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10.
A company representative first told reporters that the dolls were inspired by the Obama girls after company founder H. Ty Warner saw the daughters and thought they were "cute.'' The company later backed off that storyline, saying that the monikers of the African-American dolls -- Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia -- were chosen because they "are beautiful names.''
Related: Maker of Obama art dolls 'thinks twice' about making dolls of kids (Baltimore Examiner)
Update:
Previously:
The first lady spent some time at the Education Department on Monday, talking with staff about her husband's stimulus package:
Related: President and First Lady visit D.C. charter school (New York Times)