WASHINGTON — Calling the moment bittersweet, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcomed thousands of children to the South Lawn of the White House on Monday morning for the final Easter Egg Roll of his presidency.
The egg rolling began in 1878. Now the event includes storytelling, musical performances and tips from professional athletes on how to play basketball, tennis and other sports. There are cooking demonstrations and yoga. This year, the first lady added a fun run to the mix.
“I’m going to be running around the White House with a bunch of kids and any adults who feel like they can hang,” the first lady told the crowd as the president jokingly signaled in the background that the run wasn’t for him.
The Obamas spoke from a balcony that overlooks the lawn with dogs Bo and Sunny and the Easter Bunny. More than 35,000 people received tickets that allow them to walk on the South Lawn of the White House, rain or shine. Fortunately, the sun broke through midmorning after a night of scattered rain showers.
