Scenes from Hawaii, Part II

Photos by Mandel Ngan / Getty Images

While in Hawaii, the President and First Lady visited the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor (December 29), and toured an exhibition of anthropological work by Ann Dunham, President Obama's mother, on display at the University of Hawaii (January 1). Yesterday, the First Family said goodbye to Hawaii and headed back to Washington.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to 2012!  

Update: In the third photo, Mrs. O wears a Tracy Reese Border Frock in Black Spades.

Happy New Year

Dear Readers,

I will be away through January 2, and will take a short hiatus from blogging until then. Happy New Year!

xo Mrs. T

Scenes from Hawaii

Photos by AP Images / Getty Images

The Obamas celebrated the holiday by attending a Christmas service at the Kaneohe Bay Chapel on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, followed by a visit with military families at Anderson Hall.

On the Mrs. O fashion front: a Sophie Theallet dress and Comme des Garcons skirt.

Mrs. O Speaking

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The First Lady took 10 phone calls with children while tracking Santa with NORAD on December 24th. For more on the volunteer operation:

"NORAD Santa trackers have record holiday" [Washington Post]

P.S. Merry Christmas!

Odds and Ends

(1) The President and First Lady will answer 10 personal questions asked by Barbara Walters in a 20/20 holiday special, set to air Friday, December 23 at 10:00PM EST on ABC. [ABC News]

(2) The New York Times has a profile on the new Ikram store in Chicago. "Helped by an Obama Stimulus" [New York Times]

(3) Already in Hawaii, Mrs. O took her daughters to MA'O Organic Farms for a pizza party with Honolulu chef Ed Kenney. [Obama Foodorama]

(4) For the bakers among us, a mouth-watering collection of White House holiday recipes: [Obama Foodorama]

(5) And if you've not yet had your holiday fill, do watch this "Behind the Scenes at the White House for the Holidays" video, compliments of the White House Photo Office.

Happy Holidays to all!