Obamas host White House Easter Egg Roll

The South Lawn of the White House was transformed into the ultimate
playground Monday morning for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
 
The entire Obama family attended the event, which continues a tradition dating back to the 1870s.
 
But President Barack Obama took a back seat to first lady Michelle Obama.
 
After briefly greeting a crowd of thousands, the president turned the microphone over to his wife, who talked about her “Let’s Move” campaign to end childhood obesity.
 
“Our hope today is that in addition to having fun and doing some of the traditional activities like the egg roll and the Easter egg hunt, that you can learn about beginning to live a more healthy life,” she said.
 
After their remarks, the Obama family, including daughters Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8, spent some time at the egg rolling station and read a story to children.
 
The family was dressed casually, the president in a powder-blue button-down and khakis, and the first lady in a fluorescent pink cardigan and white pants.
 
A number of celebrities attended the annual event.

The cast of the television show “Glee” performed, and the show’s Amber Riley sang the national anthem.
 
Singers Sara Bareilles and Justin Bieber also performed, while actress Reese Witherspoon and J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, read stories.

Tennis great Billie Jean King, Olympic star Apolo Anton Ohno and members of the Washington Redskins also attended.
 
After reading stories to children in the crowd, President Obama headed to the athletic stations at the White House tennis and basketball courts. A blond girl threw him a basketball, and he dribbled the ball back and forth but the girl managed to steal the ball back.
 
The tradition of the Easter Egg Roll began in 1878 when then-President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the White House grounds to children the day after Easter.