President Barack Obama (L) helps a young participant roll an egg during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (L) helps a young participant roll an egg during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (L) watches participants roll eggs during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (L) watches participants roll eggs during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) helps a young participant roll an egg during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Barack Obama does pushups as the Harlem Globe Trotters watch during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama hosts the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama hosts the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
First lady Michelle Obama reads from the book ‘The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear’ during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A young girl takes part in the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Crowds of children and their families take part in the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama acts out a part of the story while reading from the book ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ with first lady Michelle Obama (L) and his daughter Sasha® during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama and his wife Michelle have kicked off a sun-splashed Easter Egg Roll at the White House, with thousands of kids and their parents thronging the South Lawn.
The president says his family’s thrilled to have so many guests on a sunny Easter Monday. Appearing with him and daughters Malia and Sasha under the South Portico, Mrs. Obama said she hoped all the visitors had comfortable shoes on.
The annual event, which dates back to 1878 when Rutherford B. Hayes was president, features traditional egg-rolling races — as well as obstacle courses, book-readings, musical performances and sports from basketball to tennis. There’s even a yoga garden. Officials expect some 30,000 kids and their parents to take part.
WATCH ANDREA MITCHELL’S COVERAGE OF THE EASTER EGG ROLL HERE:
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Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
