Happy Birthday, Malia Obama!
It's not just the nation's 237th birthday today, it's Malia Obama's too.
She turns 15 today, and although we don't know yet if she will be blowing out 15 candles with her family and friends, we do know that later today her father will host military families for an Independence Day celebration and barbecue at the White House.
The first lady told "Entertainment Tonight" during the family's trip to Tanzania this week that "The fourth of July is also very special in the Obama household because it's Malia Obama's birthday."
Michelle Obama said she also wished the country a "very happy Fourth of July."
Malia and younger sister Sasha have grown into stylish young women, showing a sense of fashion much like their mother's. (Check out the video above for more insight on their style.)
Watch Malia and Sasha Obama growing up in the White House.
They traveled with their parents on a week-long trip to Africa. A highlight was the family's visit to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in captivity. While the president toured the prison in 2006, his wife and daughters saw it for the first time on this trip.
"There was something different about bringing my children," he said. "Malia is now 15, Sasha is 12 and seeing them stand within the walls that once surrounded Nelson Mandela, I knew this was an experience that they would never forget. I knew that they now appreciated a little bit more the sacrifices that Madiba and others had made for freedom."
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo | Miriam May - Pool/Getty Images
Michelle Obama told People magazine that before the first family traveled to Africa she prepared briefing books for the girls.
"We brief them like I'm briefed and like the president is briefed. They get a little packet of material so they understand the history of the country," the first lady said. "I want my girls to get the entire feel of what it means to be in countries that are not the United States.
"I want my kids to be educated and have as much information as they can about the countries that they're visiting."
So, is the first daughter dating now that she's 15?
In February, on a stop in Georgia to push his education agenda, Obama hinted that one of his daughters - likely Malia - was officially dating.
"I do have to warn the parents who are here, who still have young kids, they grow up to be like 5 feet 10 inches. And even if they're still nice to you, they basically don't have a lot of time for you during the weekends," he told the crowd. "They have sleepovers and dates. So all that early investment just leaves them to go away."
Watch President Obama drop hints about a daughter's dating.
Also in February Michelle Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts how her husband feels about Malia growing up.
"Fathers in particular, I don't think they know how they're gonna feel until it happens," the first lady said. "There's nothing like the look on [the president's] face when Malia dresses up for a party and she's heading out. He walks past, and she walks past him, and you can see his face sort of just drop a little bit."