I’m feeling sad and a little nostalgic this week thinking about the Obamas leaving the White House. Hard to believe this family will no longer be ours. I just adore this family. They really did everything right by humbly working at making our nation better and it’s First Family sympathetic and lovable.
Eight years went by in a heartbeat and those little girls turned into young ladies before our eyes. Watching them grow up held particular fascination for me as they are the same ages as my boys. I loved how the Obamas raised them with their grandma as live-in nanny. The closeness of this family was always in evidence. I feel like they tried their best to give these girls a normal upbringing. That can’t have been easy as the girls spent half their childhoods in The White House, yet their public appearances were minimal.
Barack Obama has been one of the most lovable presidents ever. He truly wore his heart on his sleeve. He was a modern man in every sense of the word, able to shed tears as well as crack jokes, and related to the man on the street and the Queen with ease. That he cared greatly for our country and all of us, was never in doubt and the frustration he often felt was clearly visible though he never gave up his optimism and the things he believed in.
Michelle Obama, for her part, has been the most relatable and genuine First Ladies. Being a mom first and foremost was her priority and her pet projects naturally lead from that. The first White House vegetable garden ever was just one of her initiatives to get kids and families to eat healthier.
I loved the book and her idea this as it’s something everyone can do to be healthier.
Changing the school lunches was another of her projects that was also sorely needed. I think she will be remembered as one of the most outspoken First Ladies we have ever had. She was a powerful public speaker and her speeches have been widely loved. She honestly seems like a lot of fun as well. In fact, both Michelle and Barack appear to have a great balance of light-heartedness which has made them immensely likable.
Mrs O has also been one of the most stylish First Ladies. She began with her own unique spin on clothes, mixing J Crew with designers and pairing disparate colors in a fresh way. She’s a fearless wearer of prints as well as pretty solids.
She looks wonderful in both, but the look she wore best were figure hugging shift dresses that harked back to Jackie Kennedy’s signature. Their figures were actually similar and Mrs O has the 21st century toned arms to make hers look fresh.
In fact Michelle Obama was a such a fan of the dress, it was a struggle to find a photo of her in a pair of pants in the past eight years.
Her love of fashion was passed on to daughters Malia and Sasha who have looked appropriate, but with their own teenage flair. It will be fun to watch what happens to these girls as they grow into adulthood. I see nothing, but good things in their futures with the parents they have!
I thank the Obamas for bringing class, kindness, intelligence and compassion to the White House. They’ve made us all proud and we were lucky to have them for eight years. I look forward to what they will do in the future.
On the way to meet the Queen.
Love that the girls got to attend their first state dinner last year. They looked like little princesses.
Kim, Thank you for a beautiful post on President and Mrs Obama…He personified class and dignity to the utmost and brought a special charm to the White House…I went to bed last night saying "Could you stay just one more week?"…I am saddened today…will wear black as a most sincere sign of mourning…for loss…Thank you again for saying what I was thinking in such a lovely way…Best, Dianne
Kimthis is a lovely tribute post to the Obama's. They brought grace and dignity to the White House in difficult times. I too will be wearing black today for mourning of what was and what is to come. Thank you for all the pictures of a loving and elegant family.
Love this post Kim. You found such wonderful photos! They will be missed that's for sure. It has been wonderful to see those girls grow up into such poised young ladies, their ages are in between my own two daughters so I've also watched them with interest.
And Michelle Obama, she has so much style, and she's a terrific Mom, I've always admired her priorities. xx
Hi Kim, thank you for this beautiful post – I think I'll bookmark it so I can look at the photos again.
I usually have the tv news running in the background while I'm working around the house, but this morning I can't bear to watch anything. Tomorrow my husband and I are going to the women's march in downtown Ottawa. You are definitely not alone in your sadness at seeing this family go!
NAILED IT!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT A GREAT FAMILY.
I would LOVE to see a photo of the GRANDMAMA………..did we ever see her?
THAT in itself is A M A Z I N G!
XX
Loved this post! Yes, they will be missed. Lovely family inside and out. Michelle was a real person who loved to go to Target just like every other mom I know and she wasn't embarrassed to admit it. Love that! I think they used to take secret trips there. They were so down to earth with so much concern for everyone. I'm not sure if you saw Obama's last interview with 60 Minutes last week but it was really good. And the NY Times had a great article about him recently about how he likes to spend his evenings. It was titled, 7 Almonds and Solitude. I'm sure they are happy to be out of the fish bowl, especially their teens.
A lovely tribute to the Obamas…a difficult day for me too..
Never in my 67 years have I felt so in tune with a first family. I felt I knew their hearts and minds. I felt that I could sit with them and have so much in common to talk about. I'm trying to think of this new wave as the chaos that comes just before true change. The Obamas have said to Keep the Faith and I will! Hard though that may be!!
With grace, intelligence, honor, dignity, charm, laughter and tears, the Obamas were inspirational. We will miss them. It is, as President Obama said, time to lace up our shoes and get to work. To all of the women—and men—who are in DC today and around the world, it is time to rise.
Dianne, Thanks so much. I feel the same. We were so lucky to have them!
Brenda, Thank you so much! I could not agree more.
Dear Dani, There were so many great photos. It was very nostalgic looking back at all the years. I agree Michelle was a great example of amor and first lady. xo
Patricia, I felt the same.. Just couldn't watch. Thank you.
Patricia, I felt the same- just couldn't watch any of it. Thank you.
Elizabeth, I was thinking the same. The grandma wasn't in many pics after the first few years. I wonder if she stayed there the last few years…
April, Thank you. So cute that she loved Target. She was just very relatable right? That sounds so funny.. I have to look for that about him and the almonds. Cannot say enough about how much I loved those two! I bet they will love being done with all the strife for a bit. They did a great job for us! xo
Sheila I know! xo
I know his words and positive outlook help. I feel like he's going to do some great things in the future, as Biden plans too also. I hope you're right and this is just a transitional time! Thanks so much!
Beautifully said! Yes we must get to work. He was more inspirational than he knows.. Both of them were. Thank you.
I'm a real fan of Mrs O since 2008. I miss her already. Thanks for posting.
kim this is such a beautiful post. i wake up every single day missing them. i believe he will go down as the greatest president we've ever had. thank you for this gorgeous piece this am. xoxo