President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama Saturday doled out presidential M and Ms and dried fruit mixes to more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters, marking their Halloween at a White House event partly aimed at honoring military families. Dressed as superheroes, pirates, fairies and skeletons, the kids came in with their parents from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, and lined up on the orange-lit White House driveway. Standing outside the White House front door, Obamas smiled, chatted and passed out cellophane goody bags that were also filled with a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses and a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book. Mrs. Obama wore furry cat ears and a leopard-patterned top. Obama said the kids looked adorable, as well as his wife, “a very nice looking Catwoman.” A big, stuffed, black spider dangled in a web of string from the top of the portico, and pumpkins had sprouted up around the columns. Meanwhile, an odd cast of figures wandered around the North Lawn, including skeletons playing musical instruments, walking trees and “Star Wars” characters. The loot handed out was just part of the treat for the visiting kids, who were chosen with help from the Education Department. It was also the first White House Halloween for the Obamas' daughters, 8-year-old Sasha and 11-year-old Malia. But the White House would not say what Sasha and Malia were wearing, even though hundreds of other children their ages were in costume in full view of the media. The White House referred back to the first lady's comment to Jay Leno, that finding out what Sasha and Malia were wearing would require “security clearance.”
