Michelle Obama Answers Phone Calls From Kids With NORAD Tracks Santa Program

In Hawaii, First Lady helps hi-tech Santa tracking operation...Transcript of the calls...
While President Obama hit the links in Hawaii on Christmas Eve, First Lady Michelle Obama took calls from kids across the US who were looking for Santa Claus with the NORAD Tracks Santa program. Above, in a White House photo, Mrs. Obama reacts while talking on the phone; she answered the kids' calls for about 40 minutes from Kailua, where the First Family is staying in a beachfront rental. The holiday program is run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

“It is wonderful to be part of this holiday tradition. I love answering calls from children who were anxious to learn where Santa was and when he would arrive at their home," Mrs. Obama said in a NORAD statement. "I passed on to each child the current location of Santa and reminded them that he would come to their house only after they were in bed sleeping."

Mrs. Obama answered the calls, "Hello, this is First Lady Michelle Obama with NORAD Tracks Santa. How may I help you?," then gave the kids Santa's location using NORAD's global Santa Tracker. She asked about Christmas wishes, and advised the kids that Santa doesn't show up until they're in bed.

"Santa only comes to your house after he knows you're asleep. So no matter where he is in the world, you've got to be asleep, okay?" Mrs. Obama told more than one child.

Santa was flying between Finland and Turkey during Mrs. Obama's stint as NORAD operator; Hawaii happens to be the last stop on his global gift journey, and he's carrying a payload of a magical 73,500 pounds, according to NORAD. Mrs. Obama participated in the annual event last year while on vacation, too, and advised kids to leave cookies for Santa and veggies for the reindeer. She gave the same advice this year.

The NORAD Tracks Santa website receives millions of unique visitors from hundreds of countries and territories around the world, and a live Operations Center is occupied for 25 hours with more than 1,200 volunteers each year who receive hundreds of thousands of phone calls and emails, according to the White House.

President Obama golfed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii after arriving on island to join his family on Friday night, when he took friends and family to dinner in Honolulu at Moritmoto Waikiki. Senior Policay Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass was in the golf gang; he arrived with Mrs. Obama last week.

The First Family typically enjoys a Christmas Eve dinner of steak, macaroni and cheese, and plenty of pie, Mrs. Obama said during a holiday visit to the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC.

"We have pie. Loooots of pie. The President looooves pie," Mrs. Obama said. "All kinds of pie."

The President and Mrs. Obama's holiday message is here.

CLICK HERE for all 2011 White House holiday posts. CLICK HERE for all Holiday Photos of the Day.

More on Norad, from the White House: The NORAD Tracks Santa program began in 1955 after a phone call was made to the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The call was from a local youngster who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper advertisement. The commander on duty who answered the phone that night gave the youngster the information requested - the whereabouts of Santa. This began the tradition of tracking Santa, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958.

The transcript of the First Lady's calls:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady
_____________________________

For Immediate Release
December 24, 2011

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY

TO CHILDREN

WHILE TRACKING SANTA WITH NORAD

Via Telephone

11:03 A.M. HAST

OPERATOR: You're connected, ma'am.

MRS. OBAMA: Hello, this is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. How may I help you?

MRS. HARRIS: Hi, I have my daughter right here. She'd like to speak to you.

MRS. OBAMA: I would love to speak to her. Is her name Summer?

MRS. HARRIS: It sure is.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, I'm ready for Summer.

MRS. HARRIS: Here she is.

SUMMER: Hello.

MRS. OBAMA: Hi, Summer? Is this Summer?

SUMMER: Can you tell me where Santa is?

MRS. OBAMA: I can. Right now, I am looking at the tracker and I can see a dot on the satellite screen. It says that Santa, right now, is flying over Finland. So right now --

SUMMER: Wow.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah, he is over Finland. And I can see a glowing light, and it looks like, from the satellite, that he's got all nine reindeer with him, and it looks like his sleigh is pretty full. It looks like a full sleigh of toys. So I hope you've been good this year. Summer, have you been?

SUMMER: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: What are some of the things you want from Santa?

SUMMER: A Clawdeen Monster High Doll.

MRS. OBAMA: Uh-huh. Sounds exciting.

SUMMER: With a pair of shoes.

MRS. OBAMA: With the shoes? Excellent. Well, it looks like Santa has got a lot of toys ready for good little boys and girls, so -- but Santa only comes to your house after he knows you're asleep. So no matter where he is in the world, you've got to be asleep, okay?

SUMMER: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: I know it's an exciting night, but you've got to settle in, cuddle up, and in the morning, Santa will arrive, okay?

SUMMER: Uh-huh.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Well, merry Christmas, Summer. Thanks for calling.

SUMMER: Thank you, First Lady.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Bye-bye, sweetie.

SUMMER: Bye.

OPERATOR: Okay. Hi, ma'am.

MRS. OBAMA: Yes.

OPERATOR: We have Owen and Kaelyn Brayden on the line. I'm going to patch them through.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, sounds good.

OPERATOR: Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA: Hello?

MRS. BRAYDEN: Hi, is this Mrs. Obama?

MRS. OBAMA: Yes, it is. This is Mrs. Obama. How may I help you?

MRS. BRAYDEN: Well, we were just calling to see where Santa is at right now.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, well, let me check the tracker, because -- do I have some callers on the line who are interested in finding out where Santa is?

MRS. BRAYDEN: You do.

MRS. OBAMA: Who's there?

MRS. BRAYDEN: (Inaudible.)

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, my goodness. Have they been good all year?

MRS. BRAYDEN: They have this year.

MRS. OBAMA: That's excellent. Well, it looks like, from the tracker, that -- I see a little dot flashing, and it looks like Santa is just flying over Estonia.

MRS. BRAYDEN: Oh, okay. Well, my kids wanted to ask you a question; so did my brother, if you don't mind.

MRS. OBAMA: Sure.

MRS. BRAYDEN: Well, thank you.

KAELYN: Hi, Mrs. Obama.

MRS. OBAMA: How are you, sweetie?

KAELYN: I'm good. How are you?

MRS. OBAMA: Good. What's your question?

KAELYN: I would like to know, how many fireplaces do you guys have in the White House?

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, gosh, that's a very good question, and I should know. There's almost a fireplace in every single room, and there are dozens and dozens of rooms.

KAELYN: Oh, my gosh. That's really cool.

MRS. OBAMA: But the fireplace that we -- that Santa usually comes down in our -- in the White House is in the Yellow Oval Room. Yeah, that's where we put our Santa tree. And he usually comes down that one, and that's where Malia and Sasha get their gifts. What about you? Where's your Christmas tree?

KAELYN: It's in our family room or our living room.

MRS. OBAMA: That's exciting. Isn't this, like, the best night of the whole year?

KAELYN: Yeah, I'm really excited. (Laughter.) If you don't mind, my little brother would like to ask you one more question.

MRS. OBAMA: Sure.

KAELYN: Okay, have a merry Christmas.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, you, too.

OWEN: Hi, Mrs. Obama.

MRS. OBAMA: Hi, sweetie. How are you?

OWEN: Good. How about you?

MRS. OBAMA: I'm doing great. Just excited that it's Christmas Eve. Aren't you?

OWEN: Yes, so am I. I was wondering, when will Santa be in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania?

MRS. OBAMA: He kind of moves -- right now, he's over Estonia. But generally, he can hop all across the globe at any time, because he doesn't get to your house until you're asleep, and kids go to sleep at different times. So right now he's in Estonia, according to the NORAD tracker. But he will be at your house as soon as every child in the house is asleep.

OWEN: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah, so you want to make sure you get to bed early, and the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner he'll be there.

MR. BRAYDEN: Well, thank you for the advice. What do you want for Christmas this year from Santa?

MRS. OBAMA: Who, me?

MR. BRAYDEN: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, my goodness. I have what I wanted for Christmas: the President is here with us, and we're all together as a family. I think we were all praying and praying, and asking Santa, and the Tooth Fairy, and every fairy that they could think of -- that's what Malia and Sasha were doing -- that he would be able to be with us on Christmas.

MR. BRAYDEN: So cool. How nice to talk to you, Mrs. Obama. We really appreciate it.

MRS. OBAMA: Thanks so much. You all have a merry, merry Christmas.

MR. BRAYDEN: You, too. Have a great Christmas, Mrs. Obama.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, we will. Bye-bye.

KAELYN AND OWEN: Bye.

OPERATOR: Hello, ma'am, I'm going to connect you with Victoria, Tenabrie, and Victor.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, sounds good. Hello, this is the First Lady. Who's on the line, and how may I help you?

MRS. BATTLE: Say, "Victoria."

VICTORIA: Victoria.

MRS. OBAMA: Is it Victoria? Are there some other kids on the line as well?

MRS. BATTLE: Tenabrie, Victor --

MRS. OBAMA: Sounds great. How are you guys doing on Christmas Eve?

VICTORIA: We're doing good.

MRS. OBAMA: Are you excited?

VICTORIA, TENABRIE AND VICTOR: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: So, we've got a house full of excited kids over here. (Laughter.) How can I help you? Are you looking for Santa?

VICTORIA, TENABRIE AND VICTOR: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: All right, let me look on the radar tracker. So, okay, I've spotted a little dot, flashing dot that is over -- right now, Santa's sleigh is over the country of Latvia. And he's delivering toys there. It looks like he's got all nine reindeer with him. And it looks like that sleigh is pretty full -- yep, that's what the experts here are saying. We're getting a close-up shot, and it looks like he's got a lot of toys in his sleigh. Pretty exciting, huh?

VICTORIA, TENABRIE AND VICTOR: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: So, he's out there -- he's out there working hard; his busiest night of the year. So right now he's delivering toys to the good little boys and girls in Latvia. Have you guys been good this year?

VICTORIA, TENABRIE AND VICTOR: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? What are some of the things you want for Christmas?

VICTORIA: I want an iPad.

MRS. OBAMA: You want an iPad? What else?

TENABRIE: An Xbox.

MRS. OBAMA: Xbox -- (laugter.) Sounds good. Sounds very exciting. Isn't this the best night of the year?

VICTORIA, TENABRIE AND VICTOR: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah. Well, we're very excited. And I know -- it sounds like you guys have been good kids, right?

MRS. BATTLE: Mrs. Obama?

MRS. OBAMA: Yes?

MRS. BATTLE: Victoria has a question for you, please.

MRS. OBAMA: Absolutely.

VICTORIA: Is Rudolph on the -- with the reindeers?

MRS. OBAMA: It looks like the -- because there's a little flashing light on this tracker, and the experts think that it is probably Rudolph who's leading the sleigh this year. So he's out there. (Laughter.)

MRS. BATTLE: Good to hear. We called earlier, and he was over China.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, well, he's moving fast. But now he just passed -- he comes to your house after you've gone to sleep. So he can pop all over the world, so as soon as you guys are asleep he'll be in your neighborhood, okay?

VICTORIA: Okay.

MRS. BATTLE: We're going to bed early tonight.

MRS. OBAMA: That sounds like a great idea. I think we're going to have an early bedtime, too.

MRS. BATTLE: Well, thank you for taking the time to --

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, this is one of the best things I get to do every year. You all have a very merry Christmas, okay?

VICTORIA, TENABRIE AND VICTOR: You, too.

MRS. OBAMA: All right.

MRS. BATTLE: Merry Christmas.

MRS. OBAMA: Bye-bye.

OPERATOR: Ma'am, we're connecting you to Jared Smith, from Wichita, Kansas. And his mother just wanted to let you know that he is special needs.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, absolutely.

OPERATOR: All right, and here you go.

MRS. OBAMA: Hello, this is Mrs. Obama. How can I help you?

MRS. SMITH: Hi, my name is Annie Smith, and my son, Jared Smith, he's special needs, and I'm sure he'd like to talk to you. And he wants to know where Santa is.

MRS. OBAMA: Absolutely, I would love to talk to him.

MRS. SMITH: All right, here he is.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Hi, Jared?

JARED: Hi.

MRS. OBAMA: This is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. How are you?

JARED: Good.

MRS. OBAMA: Are you looking for Santa?

JARED: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Let me take a look at the satellite tracker. I'm here with all of the experts; they've got all this special equipment. Wait a second, I see a flashing light -- I see one, and it looks like -- yep, yep, the light is Santa. They're closing in on it, and they see his sleigh. There are nine reindeer pulling it, and it looks like it's full of toys. He's over the country of Lithuania right now. Wow, he's all the way in Lithuania. But he's moving pretty fast -- lightning speed. But this super-special equipment here can track him at any speed; they can track missiles and satellites, and they can track Santa as well.

So he's out there, working hard. Are you ready for him to come to your house?

JARED: Yeah, ready to come to my house.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Well, he only comes after you've gone to sleep, okay?

JARED: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. I know you've been very good this year, right?

JARED: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah, well, then he's going to come -- he's going to come. He's got your name on the list. Okay?

JARED: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Well, thanks so much for calling, Jared. I know you're going to have a merry Christmas, okay?


JARED: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Take care, sweetie.

JARED: I will.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, bye-bye.

JARED: Bye.

MRS. SMITH: Thank you so much.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, my goodness. Thank you all, and have a very, very merry Christmas.

MRS. SMITH: You, too. Be blessed, and have a good year.

MRS. OBAMA: You, too. Take care.


MRS. SMITH: All right. Thank you very much. Bye-bye.

MRS. OBAMA: Bye-bye.


OPERATOR: Hi, ma'am. Yes, we have -- we've got Taylor and Logan on the line.

MRS. OBAMA: Taylor and Logan, all right.

OPERATOR: Okay, we're connected.

MRS. OBAMA: Hi. Taylor, Logan, are you there? This is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. How can I help you?

TAYLOR: I see you watching TV.

MRS. OBAMA: Are you watching TV? Are you waiting for Santa to come?

TAYLOR: Uh-huh.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? Have you been good this year?

TAYLOR: Uh-huh.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? Tell me one of the best things you've done this year.

TAYLOR: Help my mom out with Logan.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, awesome, awesome. Well, that's exactly the kind of good little helper that Santa brings toys to. Do you want me to tell you where he is?

TAYLOR: Mm-hmm.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, I'm going to look at the satellite. They have a lot of cool machines here that track Santa. Oh, look -- oh, I can see a dot. I can see a dot. It's Santa -- it's definitely Santa. And he's over the country of Belarus. He's all the way on the other side of the planet, but Santa is fast, and he can get to any house in seconds. And he's going to come to your house after you've gone to bed, okay?

TAYLOR: Uh-huh.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. You've got to make sure you're fast asleep though. Are you going to leave Santa some cookies and milk -- maybe some vegetables for the reindeer?

TAYLOR: Uh-huh.

MRS. OBAMA: All right, awesome. Well, you keep being a good boy, okay? Keep helping your mom out, all right?

TAYLOR: Uh-huh.

MRS. OBAMA: And have a very merry Christmas, sweetie, okay?

TAYLOR: Uh-huh.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Bye-bye.

TAYLOR: Bye.

OPERATOR: Hi, ma'am, I have Samantha and Patrick on the line for you.

MRS. OBAMA: Samantha and Patrick, okay.

OPERATOR: Okay. I'm conferencing you in.

MRS. OBAMA: Hello? This is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. Are Samantha and Patrick there?

SAMANTHA: Hi.

MRS. OBAMA: Hi. How old are you guys?

SAMANTHA: My brother is five, and I'm seven.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, great. Are you excited about tomorrow?

SAMANTHA: No, I'm already seven.

MRS. HANDRIZAN: No, are you excited about tomorrow? (Laughter.)

SAMANTHA: Yes. I'm very excited about tomorrow, because I want presents so bad.

MRS. OBAMA: It's so exciting, I know, I know. Well, I can tell you where Santa is right now -- you want to know?

SAMANTHA: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, I'm looking at the satellite screen, and he is over the country of Ukraine. Wow, that's a far, far away place. But I can see from the Santa tracker that he's got his sleigh full of toys, and -- oh! He's got all nine reindeer pulling the sleigh. He looks very busy. But they are -- they're out and about. Santa is delivering toys as we speak. Have you been a -- have you guys been good boys and girls this year?

SAMANTHA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? What's one thing you want for Christmas?

SAMANTHA: I always wanted a (inaudible) and a (inaudible).

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, that sounds good. Great.

MRS. HANDRIZAN: What else would you like for Christmas?

SAMANTHA: And a snow ball with reindeer.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, wow. That sounds great. Well, I know that you are going to have a very exciting Christmas. But you know what?

SAMANTHA: What?

MRS. OBAMA: Before Santa comes to your house you have to be fast asleep, okay?

SAMANTHA: No, I'm always asleep. I always snore.

MRS. OBAMA: All right, that's good. That's great. Well, if you do the same thing he's going to be there in the morning when you wake up, and it's going to be great!

SAMANTHA: Yeah, but can I say something?

MRS. OBAMA: Yes, please.

SAMANTHA: Once, when I was downstairs, I ran up the stairs and then I turned on the light and I saw Santa.

MRS. OBAMA: Did you see Santa? What did Santa say when you saw him?

MRS. HANDRIZAN: What did he say?

SAMANTHA: He said, merry Christmas, and put me to bed. (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: Well, you are a lucky little person, because not many people get to see Santa delivering toys.

SAMANTHA: And I didn't even get to see (inaudible). (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: Well, you all have a very, very merry Christmas, okay?

SAMANTHA: Okay. Merry Christmas.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Take care, you guys, and happy New Year.

MRS. HANDRIZAN: Merry Christmas. Happy New Year to you, too. Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay.

SAMANTHA: Wait, wait -- can I -- I want a (inaudible) that I can put everything to get.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay.

SAMANTHA: But most -- we both wanted a humongous slide so he can zoom all over the house and stuff, where we want it.

MRS. OBAMA: Wow, that sounds cool. You guys are some lucky kids.

MRS. HANDRIZAN: Do you want to say merry Christmas, too?

SAMANTHA: Merry Christmas!

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, guys. Merry Christmas.

SAMANTHA: Thank you.

MRS. HANDRIZAN: Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, bye-bye.

SAMANTHA: Merry Christmas!

MRS. OBAMA: Merry Christmas.

OPERATOR: Okay. Ma'am, I have little Isabella, from Indiana.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay.

OPERATOR: Too cute. Okay, here we go, patching you through right now.

MRS. OBAMA: Hello?

MRS. STEIN: Hello?

MRS. OBAMA: This is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. How can I help you?

MRS. STEIN: Okay, I'm going to let you talk to Isabella here.

MRS. OBAMA: All right.

ISABELLA: Hi.

MRS. OBAMA: Hi, Isabella?

ISABELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: How are you, sweetie?

ISABELLA: Good.

MRS. OBAMA: Good. Are you excited that it's Christmas Eve?

ISABELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah, this is a very exciting night, isn't it?

ISABELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: What can I do for you?

ISABELLA: Nothing. (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: Do you want to know where Santa is? I can help you with that.

ISABELLA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. All right, let me look on the satellite tracker. We've got some really great equipment here, and it tracks everything in the sky, so -- oh, look, I see a flashing light. Oh, my goodness -- oh, my goodness, it looks like it's Rudolph pulling Santa's sleigh. And it's full of toys. And right now, the sleigh is over the country of Romania. Wow. Isn't that cool?

ISABELLA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah. Well, it looks like Santa is out and about, and he's busy this year delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls. Have you been good this year?

ISABELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yes? What is one of -- tell me a good thing that you've done this year.

ISABELLA: Clean my room.

MRS. OBAMA: You cleaned your room? That's awesome. I mean, that's just the kind of good little helper that Santa loves to bring toys to. So it sounds like you're going to have a very merry Christmas, right?

ISABELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Well, thanks for calling, sweetie. Is there any -- do you have any other questions?

ISABELLA: No.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Well, you have a merry Christmas, sweetie, okay?

ISABELLA: Merry Christmas.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Now, you've got to be asleep before Santa comes to your house, okay?

ISABELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: All right, so have a good night's sleep. And when you wake up, it's going to be an exciting morning! Have fun, okay?

ISABELLA: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Bye-bye.

ISABELLA: Bye.

OPERATOR: Hi, I have a Bella Mertz -- M-E-R-T-Z -- calling from North Carolina.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay.

OPERTOR: All right, here you go.

MRS. MERTZ: This is Michelle Obama -- it's President Obama's wife. That's so exciting.

MRS. OBAMA: Hi, this is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. I hear that Bella is looking for -- has some questions.

MRS. MERTZ: She does. Hold on one second.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay.

MRS. MERTZ: It's really nice talking to you. Hold on.

MRS. OBAMA: It was great to talk to you.

BELLA: Hi.

MRS. OBAMA: Hey, is this Bella?

BELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: How are you?

BELLA: Good.

MRS. OBAMA: How old are you?

BELLA: Six.

MRS. OBAMA: Six? Wow, you're a big girl this year, huh?

BELLA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah. Well, you want to know where Santa is right now?

BELLA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: I'm looking at the radar screen, and it looks like -- oh, Bella, this is so cool. I can see Santa. They're closing in on him. He's in the sky. He's got a sleigh full of toys, and right now he's over the country of Romania. And it looks like -- oh, Bella, it looks like Rudolph is pulling the sleigh! Oh, my goodness, this is so exciting. Santa is busy this year. He's coming to all the houses of good little boys and girls. Have you been a good girl this year?

BELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? Have you helped out with mom?

BELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? What's one of the biggest helper things you've done this year?

BELLA: Folded the laundry.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, wow! That's a lot of work for a six-year-old. That sounds like just the kind of helping that Santa is looking for, and I know you're going to have a great Christmas tomorrow, okay?

BELLA: Mm-hmm.

MRS. OBAMA: Uh-huh. Do you have any other questions?

BELLA: We went to the White House this year.

MRS. OBAMA: Did you? What did you see when you went to the White House?

BELLA: Lots of pretty rooms.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? Did you see the Red Room?

BELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah? That's one of my favorite rooms, the Red Room. Did you see the Blue oval Room?

BELLA: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah. Did you see the South Lawn? Did you see the garden? Did you look out the windows?

BELLA: Mm-hmm.

MRS. OBAMA: That's very exciting. Well, we're so excited. Malia and Sasha are excited about Christmas, too. So -- but the one thing that we know is that Santa only comes to your house after you're fast asleep -- you know that, right?

BELLA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Anywhere he is in the world, the minute you close your eyes and you're fast asleep, he pops to your house and delivers toys. So you've got to make sure to get a good night's sleep tonight, okay?

BELLA: Mm-hmm -- that might not work so well.

MRS. OBAMA: Why, is it -- it gets a little tough going to sleep when you're so excited?

BELLA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Well, even if you get a moment's sleep, Santa knows. Because when I was little, I used to have a hard time going to sleep on Christmas Eve, too. It was just too exciting. But you know what you do, is you just close your eyes, and think good thoughts, and count to 100 really slowly -- sometimes you just fall asleep. You want to try that tonight?

BELLA: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Well, you have a very merry Christmas, sweetie, okay?

BELLA: Merry Christmas. Bye.

MRS. OBAMA: Bye. All right, thanks for calling. Bye-bye.

BELLA: You're welcome.

MRS. MERTZ: Hello?

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah?

MRS. MERTZ: Hello.

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you so much.

MRS. MERTZ: Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. You all have a great Christmas and happy New Year.

MRS. MERTZ: You, too. Merry Christmas. Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA: All right, take care. Bye-bye.

OPERATOR: Ma'am, I have Liam on the line for you. Just one second and I'll conference him in.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, thank you. Hello, this is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. How can I --

LIAM: Hello.

MRS. OBAMA: Hi, is this Liam?

LIAM: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Well, how may I help you? This is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. What can I do for you?

LIAM: I would like to know where Santa is.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, I'm going to look on the satellite tracker right now, and -- oh, Liam, you know what I see?

LIAM: What?

MRS. OBAMA: I see a flashing light, and they're pulling in closer. Oh, my goodness -- it's Rudolph; his nose is blinking and he's pulling a sleigh! Oh, my goodness -- it's Santa; he's right here -- he's flying right now, Liam. Santa is flying over the country of Turkey -- right now, as we speak. He is delivering toys, and it looks like his sleigh is full. He's got all nine reindeer with him. He's laughing, so he -- Santa is in a very good mood tonight, Liam. It looks like he's got a lot of toys for good boys and girls. Have you been good this year?

LIAM: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Tell me one of the good things you've done this year.

LIAM: I helped my parents.

MRS. OBAMA: That's awesome. That is so awesome. Well, you're going to have a great Christmas tomorrow, right?

LIAM: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Are you excited?

LIAM: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: It's very exciting. This is the most exciting night of the whole year, isn't it?

LIAM: Yeah.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah. Well, you've got to have a -- get a good night's sleep, because no matter where Santa is in the world, he only comes to your house after you're fast asleep. And he can get anywhere in the world in seconds, okay?

LIAM: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: So you've got to get a good night's sleep, okay?

LIAM: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: I know it's going to be hard when you're this excited, but just close your eyes, and when you wake up it'll be Christmas morning, okay?

LIAM: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Well, you have a very merry Christmas, sweetie, okay?

LIAM: Okay.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Bye-bye. Thanks for calling.

LIAM: Okay. Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. Bye-bye.

OPERATOR: Go ahead, ma'am.

MRS. OBAMA: Hello, this is Mrs. Obama.

MRS. CASELLA: Hi, ma'am, this is Joyce. I've got Anthony and Gianna on the line.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, terrific.

MRS. CASELLA: One moment.

MRS. OBAMA: Hello?

GIANNA: Hello.

MRS. OBAMA: This is the First Lady. Who am I speaking to?

MRS. CASELLA: Anthony and Gianna.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, my goodness. How old are Anthony and Gianna?

MRS. CASELLA: Gianna is five; Anthony is nine.

MRS. OBAMA: Wow. Two excited little people tonight, huh?

MRS. CASELLA: Exactly. And sure I am yours are as well.

MRS. OBAMA: Yeah. (Laughter.) Oh, it's one of the most exciting nights of the year. So how can I help?

MRS. CASELLA: We want to know where Santa was.

MRS. OBAMA: Well, I happen to be looking at the NORAD tracker as we speak, and I -- I do see a flashing light. And it looks like, if we pull closer in -- I'm going to ask the guys to pull closer in -- it does -- it is Santa. It is Santa, and he has nine reindeer pulling his sleigh, and there's also a flashing light -- they believe that that light is Rudolph. He is pulling. He's leading the sleigh. Santa is looking very happy. He is over the country of Turkey right now.

MRS. CASELLA: Wow. He's on his way!

MRS. OBAMA: He is on his way. Have those two little people over there been good this year?

MRS. CASELLA: Oh, yes they have.

MRS. OBAMA: Well, I am sure Santa is going to rush to get there as soon as he can, as soon as they're fast asleep. All right?

MRS. CASELLA: Exactly. Well, thank you so much, Mrs. Obama, and we wish you a very merry Christmas.

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you so much. It is my pleasure. This is one of the best things I do every year. And you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

MRS. CASELLA: It's absolutely heartwarming. Thank you so much.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. You guys be safe, okay?

MRS. CASELLA: Thank you. You, too.

MRS. OBAMA: Okay. Bye-bye.



END
11:42 A.M. HAST

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*Photo By Pete Souza/White House