Obamas mark first Halloween in White House

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- With the White House bathed in orange lights and spiders and cobwebs hanging over the portico, the first family celebrated Halloween with about 2,600 people.

First lady Michelle Obama got into the spirit, wearing an orange-and-black leopard-look top and cat ears. President Obama dressed up as, well, a middle-age man -- in casual slacks and black sweater. Or maybe a president, celebrating his first Halloween at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Neither of the Obamas' daughters, Sasha and Malia, were spotted but reporters were told they were at the party. The president noted Sasha "doesn't like big furry things."

The Obamas -- along with Marian Robinson, the first lady's mother -- doled out White House M&Ms, sweet-dough butter cookies and dried fruit to about 2,000 children and 600 of their parents and wished all the trick-or-treaters a happy Halloween.

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, came as Darth Vader; U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, as Goofy.

Dancing musicians wore skeleton suits as they played. Red and yellow butterflies floated inside giant bubbles. Costumed "trees" on stilts walked the grounds. Scarecrows kept a watch on the festivities. Three giant pumpkins, each weighing about 1,000 pounds, dwarfed the hundreds of other pumpkins.

The children, most ages 6 to 14, came from schools in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

Inside the White House, the first couple greeted a few hundred military families, chosen by each service.

"We are so grateful to you, especially those who are separated from family members," the president said.

He thanked White House staffers and their children, at which point his wife said, "They're so cute!"

"They're adorable," the president said, "as is, by the way, my wife -- a very nice-looking Catwoman."