Basketball, Books, and Bunnies: the Obama’s First Easter Egg Roll

ABC News’ Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller report:

The President and First Lady, along with daughters Malia and Sasha greeted the crowd of parents and children – along with Elmo, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Papa Smurf – on the South Lawn for the Obama’s first Easter egg roll at the White House.

“How about that,” the president commented as he approached he and his family emerged on the Truman balcony to see the nearly 30,000 people gathered on the South Lawn for the day’s annual festivities.

Fergie, of the Black Eyed Peas, sang the national anthem to kick off the events, afterward giving the President a hug and could be heard saying, "come to my show."

The President, wearing a jacket and no tie, then spoke but only got one word out before the microphone died. The president playfully pretended to test out the ear of the life-sized Easter bunny to see if his ear would have more luck broadcasting sound that the other defunct microphones.

After a few awkward moments, the Obama’s oldest daughter, Malia stepped to the mic for her own test and said, “"Is it on? Oh yeah,” when her trial worked, gaining praise from her sister who said, "go Malia!".

"Hello everybody that’s Malia, our technical advisor," the President joked.

President Obama welcomed the crowd and said seeing all the children warms the First family’s heart because, "It reminds us that this is the people’s house."

He said his "sole job," today was" to introduce, my first lady, your first lady Michelle Obama."

The First Lady, dressed in a green shirt, blue jacket and seersucker capri pants and silver flats then addressed the crowd.

"Our goal today is just to have fun,” she said, "We want everybody to think about moving their bodies."

This year’s Easter Egg Roll theme is "Let’s Go Play," with an emphasis on health and fitness.  In addition to the traditional egg roll, there are a variety of activity stations. There is a kids’ kitchen and organic garden, a sports court with basketball and soccer, the "Hop to it!" area featuring jump rope, dance and yoga, a story time stage, and an arts and crafts station cleverly called "Eggpress Yourself."

The Obama’s youngest daughter, Sasha standing next to her mom, chimed in adding “tennis” to the list of sports she wanted to play.

“We don’t have tennis.  It’s on the tennis court.  The peanut gallery back here,” the Fist lady quipped to her youngest daughter.

The First Family walked down the steps of the South Portico to the lawn. After greeting a group of children lined up to roll their eggs, Malia and Sasha took their places in the roll, and the President blew the opening whistle, and at one point aided a small child coming in last to help roll her egg over the finish line.

The family then moved to the reading station. The President read a pretty wild and boisterous version of “Where the Wild Things Are” – complete with sound affects, and a little acting which may have scared a few children in the audience.

“You scared him” the first lady remarked to her husband.

“It’s alright,” the president said to the children, “You end up back in your bed room and your supper’s still waiting for you.”

With one last growl to the children the President then handed over the floor to the first lady and the first grandma – with an assist in showing off the pages of the book by Malia and Sasha –  to read, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” to the crowd.

Afterward the hoopster-in-chief- went to the basketball station where kids were shooting pink and white basketballs into two baskets at the end of the court. The President lifted one child up so he could dunk.

The Obama family celebrated Easter more formally yesterday by going to church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C for Easter Sunday.

–Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller