A smile at last! Malia and Sasha Obama look full of festive spirit as they help their father light the US national Christmas tree

Flanking their father, their mother Michelle, and their maternal grandmother Marian Robinson, the teenagers beamed as
they clustered around the light switch just feet away from the White House. It was a welcome change after the pair appeared less than festive at the annual turkey pardon for Thanksgiving. Obama said the national tree is a 'symbol of hope and holiday spirit.' He urged Americans to remember members of the U.S. military serving overseas, as well as their families.