the Datrice's, Hayes', Hill's & Wells' take on the White House

i'mmmmmm baaaaaaaaaaaaack...

:)

it's been a while and i've missed sweetest joy!

guess that's what happens when you've got a jam packed schedule...

and the best people in the world to share it all with...

:)

the fam came to visit..

and by fam...

i mean...

mom, dad, aunt karen, aunt donna, aunt cheri, cousin derek and mr. datrice (my second dad growing up)...

there was quite a crew... 

and this crew knows how to party... :)

so i'll start the series of posts with what was certainly one of the highlights of the past week and a half...

our private, behind the scenes tour of the White House...

...

it was arranged by a friend's, husband's, sister's, husband's, sister's husband...

yup...

in other words...

we were LUCKY! :)

our tour guide has worked for the White House for well over 10 years and was SO knowledgeable...

ok, enough talk, now for the pictures!!! :)

first off, let me say, I didn't have the "good" camera.. 

i didn't want to appear too "paperatzi-ish" so i just brought the "point and shoot"..

but it did serve me well :)

here we are on our way to park the car... remember this pic, cause i have one of this same angle but instead, looking out from the center window!!!  :)

we arrived a bit early, so we waited patiently in a hotel cafe right across the street...

the boyzzzz... :)

our first stop after our official security check was to the florist...

the White House is fully self contained with it's own florists, mechanics/engineers, electricians, carpenters, kitchen staff, and even chocolate room...

pretty much anything you could ask for...

Nicole and Jim in the "flower cooler"

dad and Jim admiring the arrangements left over from the White House 4th of July celebration that had just occurred a few days prior!

next stop, the private bowling alley..

apparently the Obama girls like to have their friends over and play here pretty often...

and 

 had to check out the "official" liquor cabinet :)

then who came around the corner to greet us?  

None other than the "first dog".... Bo!

we were all a little star struck!

he was very friendly and loved anyone who would pet him...

i guess "stardom" really doesn't change everyone :)

yeah, Bo pretty much made our day! :)

then we got to check out the kitchen...

the First Family can have ANYTHING they want made in this kitchen...

it was pretty cool talking to this guy, he was the 2nd chef to the first family...

then we entered the main part of the house...

this seal greeted us...

and we were told that Mr. President himself was "around" and we could not take pictures and we would be "held" in whatever current room we were in as he moved about...

he was getting ready to entertain at a lunch...

we did not ever actually get to see him.. but exciting none the less...

this is the "china room" where each china service that has been selected by each first lady is displayed...

some of them had beautiful taste...

some, not so much...

it dated back very far, and many people, over history, have been caught trying to steal the place settings and 

some of the china has even had to be retrieved form private residences...

everyone was pretty impressed with the magnitude of historical significance all around us...

we were all very solemn and serous...

ok, wait, remember who you're talking to...

we all thought being in THE house was SO cool!:)

all of the rooms down the center/front of the White House are simply named after their obvious colors...

this is the green room.... 

the aptly named blue room...

dad preparing to address his adoring subjects right outside the window...

the view looking out from the center of the white house... 

the Obamas would, theoretically, have the same view from their private residence which is directly above this window!

the furnishings are all certified antiques...

there is a log on every single piece of furniture and there are staff whose job it is to just keep track of all of this stuff...

Lin, contemplating the future of America, in the red room.. :)

each president has a beautiful painting commissioned that is hung after their term in office... 

this practice dates back centuries... 

Republican, Democrat or other...

they were all pretty stunning...

we got to sneak a peek into the room the President was hosting his lunch in, just minutes before his arrival.  

it was pretty cool!

and then there he was, the President emerged from the room where he makes many public addresses...

oh, wait... it's just dad :)

although that didn't stop him from "quieting" everyone down so he could make his announcements...

we could only take pictures through the windows of the amazingly manicured lawns...

for some reason, they didn't want us running around on them...

and as we were looking out the window...

you'll never guess what we spotted...

Bo remembered us and brought a few members of the First family running up the lawn to greet us!!!...

ok, so maybe it's the middle of July and 100 degrees outside and they would likely be dressed a bit different...

and MAYBE this is just a picture of a picture hanging up in the White House...

but it was cool just the same..

and even cooler if i had you going...

even if it was for just a second... :)

:)

and that concludes our awesome day at the White House...

it was certainly something i never thought i'd do and I'm SO glad that i got the opportunity! :)

but at the end of the day, I was feeling very fortunate and blessed to head from the White House... 

back to the Wood House... :)