First Lady Michelle Obama’s “new neighborhood tour” landed at a community health center a short distance from the White House on Tuesday.

 She has stopped by a few federal agencies in the three weeks since Barack Obama became president. The nearly hour-long visit to Mary’s Center was Mrs. Obama’s first solo venture into a Washington neighborhood.

“Why did you want to come out and meet us?” asked one of the teens who sat with her. 

“Barack is real busy right now so I figured I’ve got the time on my hands and while the kids are in school, I figured I would come out and hear about programs and meet students,” Obama said.

She also read to a group of 3-to-5-year-olds and wrapped up with a call for hugs. Most of the kids complied.  “More, more, more, whatcha leaving me hanging?” Obama asked.  “Oh delicious. Thank you.”

Photo credit: Reuters/Joshua Roberts ( Michelle Obama visits community center near White House)

By Ayesha Rascoe

After a tough week of haggling over an economic stimulus package and cabinet nominee dramas, President Barack Obama took some time to unwind on Friday night and stepped out for a dance show with his family.

Obama, first lady Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia attended a 50th anniversary celebration performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

The audience at the sold out show greeted the Obamas with raucous applause as the first family waved from a red VIP box decorated with the presidential seal.

The Ailey company is a celebrated predominantly African-American modern dance troop founded in 1958.

The group has performed for estimated 21 million people in 71 countries.

After their date night on Friday, the Obamas will go to Camp David on Saturday for their first visit to the presidential retreat outside Washington.

Reuters photo by Kevin Lamarque.

The Obama girls had other ideas during their first visit to the White House since their father was elected the next president of the United States. Aided and abetted by President George W. Bush’s daughters, Barbara and Jenna, Malia and Sasha Obama did a little bed jumping during their visit.

First Lady Laura Bush told the story ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday.

“It wasn’t the Lincoln Bedroom,” she explained. “It was another bedroom with a very tall bed that we usually put a step out for people to step into when they stay in that room. But instead the little girls did the running jump, and Barbara and Jenna of course aided and abetted that jumping.”

There are other ways for Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, to have fun after they move into the White House.

Bush said that a ramp in the solarium is really good for sliding on your bottom.

In a separate interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters to air Wednesday night, Michelle Obama had some other ideas for her daughters after they move into the White House on January 20.

She has a few White House chores in mind.

“We’re going to have to set up some boundaries because they’re going to need to be able to make their beds, they do that now, that’s going to be one of my goals,” she said.

The White House staff will be free to make mom and dad’s bed, but they will be told to “skip the kids. Let them make their own beds. They have to learn these things.”

Photo credit: Reuters/Ho New (Michelle Obama  meets Laura Bush at White House)