• First dog Bo takes his master Christmas shopping

    Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

    U.S. President Barack Obama buys a bone for his dog Bo in Alexandria, Virginia December 21, 2011. Obama was in Alexandria doing some Christmas shopping and stopped in a pizzeria for lunch.

    By Rich Shulman

    Do you take your dog Christmas shopping?

    AP reports: ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Home alone at the White House, President Barack Obama headed on an impromptu Christmas shopping trip Wednesday with first dog Bo, searching for some holiday cheer despite the latest stalemate with Congress.

    The president's wife and daughters already are on the family's annual Hawaii vacation, leaving him behind to negotiate with Republican lawmakers to keep payroll taxes from going up in the new year. So Obama squeezed in time after calls with congressional leaders to hit a PetSmart and a Best Buy in this Virginia suburb before picking up pizza for lunch.

    Carolyn Kaster / AP

    President Barack Obama and his dog Bo visit with a poodle named Cinnamon as they check out at PetSmart, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Alexandria, Va. Obama bought the presidential pup a toy bone and a bag of food while Bo played in the store with Cinnamon.

    Kevin Dietsch, Pool / Getty Images

    U.S. President Barack Obama shops for Christmas presents with his dog Bo at Petsmart on Dec. 21, 2011 in Alexandria, Virginia.

    President Obama greets people at a Virginia Best Buy store and reveals what he is buying for his two daughters.

  • Obamas give White House Christmas tree the thumbs-up

    Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

    The official White House Christmas Tree arrives via horse-drawn carriage at the White House on Nov. 25. The tree, a 19-foot-tall balsam fir, was grown on Schroeder's Forevergreens farm near Neshkoro, Wisconsin.

    Nicholas Kamm / AFP - Getty Images

    First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, accompanied by dog Bo, receive the White House Christmas tree on November 25.

    The AP reports from WASHINGTON:

    Nicholas Kamm / AFP - Getty Images

    Michelle Obama speaks with daughter Sasha as they receive the White House Christmas tree.

    Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and family dog Bo have witnessed the arrival of a 19-foot balsam fir from Wisconsin as the official White House Christmas tree.

    The fir came from Tom and Sue Schroeder's Forevergreens farm near Neshkoro, Wis. It's the first time one of the Schroeder's trees has made it to the White House.

    The tree was hauled up the White House driveway on Friday by horse-drawn carriage, where the Obamas inspected it and then gave it a thumbs-up.

    The fir is destined for the Blue Room, where it will serve as the centerpiece of White House Christmas decorations.

    Read more in TODAY.com's story: Christmas arrives at the White House

  • Decking the halls of the White House

    Mark Wilson / Getty Images

    A worker hangs holiday decorations at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Dec. 1. This theme for this year's decorations is "Simple Gifts," which was inspired by our nation's state and county fairs.

    Larry Downing / Reuters

    Christmas decorations brighten the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

    Mark Wilson / Getty Images

    Layers of Christmas decorations surround a portrait of former President Bill Clinton at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

    Charles Dharapak / AP

    A miniature of The Obama family's dog, Bo, sits on a 400-pound white chocolate-covered gingerbread replica of the White House in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

    Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images

    The Red Room is pictured during a media walk-through of the holiday decorations at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

    Charles Dharapak / AP

    The official White House Christmas Tree is seen in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

    By Jonathan Woods, msnbc.com

     

    The White House has been meticulously trimmed with seasonal decorations for the holidays. This theme for this year's decorations is "Simple Gifts"

    Mrs. Obama settled on a theme of "Simple Gifts" for the holiday season, emphasizing the simple things that bring joy at Christmas. Many White House decorations also are made from basic — and, in some cases, reusable — materials such as wood, newspaper and magazine pages.

    Read the FULL STORY to find out more about the seasonal spangle at the White House.