White House Christmas Party 2008

(ABOVE: We just got our official White House pic

in the mail but it's a hard copy

so I had to take a photo of it off my own camera.

It's a little blurry here but the real one is crystal clear!)

(ABOVE: on the White House grounds just outside the side gate)

WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS PARTY 2008!

This week, Travis was invited to the media White House Christmas party and he invited Mindy as his 'guest' to go! It was such an honor to be able to attend. We were like giddy teenagers going to our 1st prom!

The party started at 4pm and a long line of DC media employees lined up outside the northeast gate. We taxiied over from Travis' work with him wearing a black suit and silver tie...and Mindy a red holiday dress.

We had to show our i.d's and the White House checked our name on the guest list before escoring us through security. But once we got through the secret service, we were free to enter the gates of the White House!

We walked in and someone greeted us right away. "Welcome to the White House! Enjoy your time."

We checked our coats and were given a blue card. Each guest was given a red, white or blue card with instructions for the presidential receiving line. When our blue card was called, we were welcome to go get our picture taken with the President!

In the meantime, we wandered through some of the side rooms...pointing at large portraits of past presidents and historic books lining the walls. We meandered upstairs to a large entryway where a festive band in red uniforms was playing loud Christmas music. Hundreds of people crowded several of the rooms and we tried to find anyone we recognized. There was a small bar area for drinks and the large red/white/blue Christmas tree straight ahead. And Travis ran into several of his colleagues from work.

In large ballrooms to our right and left were long buffet tables with the President's and First Lady's favorite Christmas dishes. There were all sorts of fine cheeses, a cucumber and lobster salad, really delicious lamb with mint jelly and thinly sliced roast beef.

On our way to fill up our plates, we saw Helen Thomas (the veteran White House correspondent who has covered the briefing room for decades) and Mindy asked to get a picture with her.

That's when we also noticed the White House Egg nog! Mindy doesn't normally like egg nog, but she says it was the best she ever had....smooth, strong and delicious!

We managed to grab a single chair overlooking the South Lawn. As we inhaled our food....of course trying to appear dainty.....we marveled at the view overlooking the long lawn and white pillars. It was absolutely surreal.

Travis was in charge of the dessert and came back with a platefull of chocolate treats, bread pudding and white cream cake.

After dinner, we saw Dana Perino (White House press secretary) greeting guests. We asked to get a picture with her. You'll notice she still has a black eye after getting hit with a microphone during the Iraqi shoe throwing fiasco with the President!

After that, the White House announced the 'blue card' group so we stood in line. Several decorated Air Force military escorts took us by groups of 4-6 downstairs. We gave our names to the check-in woman who pulled a card out with our names, Travis' work title, and our home address. They confirmed the information and gave it to us so that the White House could later mail us our official photograph. We waited less than :10minutes before we were escorted to the President and First Lady. The President looked skinnier in person and Mrs. Bush wore a bright green suit dress. We didn't have much time to say anything but we did say "Merry Christmas" before the White House snapped our photograph! After, Travis mentioned to the President that he grew up in Athens and the two talked "Texas" for few seconds.

We stayed at the party for nearly 2 hours and had a great time experiencing a White House Christmas party. It was such a great moment but one that we hope we share again in the years to come!

Merry Christmas!