World·Photos

'Years in the spotlight': The Obama family in the White House

In U.S. President Barack Obama's farewell address Tuesday night, he paid tribute to his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha. "You wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily," he said of his girls. "Of all that I have done in my life, I am most proud to be your dad."

U.S president tells daughters, 'Of all that I have done in my life, I am most proud to be your dad'

In U.S. President Barack Obama's farewell address Tuesday night, he paid tribute to his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha. Obama spoke of his pride in his daughters. "Under the strangest of circumstances you have become two amazing young women," Obama said. "You are smart and you are beautiful. But more importantly, you are kind and you are thoughtful and you are full of passion.

"And you wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. Of all that I have done in my life, I am most proud to be your dad."

Missing from the farewell speech in Chicago was Sasha, who had an exam at school the next morning. But for eight years in the White House, the family was rarely apart. Here's a look back.

(Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

A young family on the campaign trail

During his campaign to secure the Democratic presidential nomination in 2007, Obama, Michelle and Sasha, 7, sing happy birthday to Malia, 10, right, during an Independence Day house party in Pella, Iowa.

(Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press)

Small steps and a great leap forward

President-elect Obama arrives to speak to supporters with his wife and daughters during his election night rally in Chicago after being declared the winner of the presidential campaign on Nov. 4, 2008.  

(Gary Hershorn/Reuters)

Heading to the White House

The Obama family wave during the 2008 election night victory rally. Obama captured the White House after a two-year campaign, defeating Republican John McCain to make history as the first black to be elected U.S. president.

(Jason Reed/Reuters)

A new home and a new school  

Sasha (left) and Malia get ready for their first day of school at Sidwell Friends in Washington on Jan. 5, 2009. The Obama family stayed at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington and then Blair House, before moving to the White House on Jan. 20 after the inauguration.   

(Callie Shell/Obama Transition Office/Reuters)

Express delivery via Marine One

Sasha blocks her ears from the sound of Marine One as she arrives with her family on the South Lawn of the White House on March 8, 2009. The family had spent the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. 

(Jason Reed/Reuters)

Like father like daughter

Obama mimics Malia as she thinks about which flavour of ice cream to buy at the Yellowstone Park General Store, after watching the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming on Aug. 15, 2009.

(Larry Downing/Reuters)

Another summer, another ice cream stop

Obama makes a purchase for his daughters at Brusters Ice Cream shop in Panama City Beach, Fla., on Aug. 15, 2010. 

(Jason Reed/Reuters)

World Cup soccer fans

The Obama family watch the World Cup soccer game between the U.S. and Japan, from the Treaty Room office in the residence of the White House on July 17, 2011. 

(Pete Souza/White House/Reuters)

Festive moment

Obama and Sasha laugh during the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington on Dec. 1, 2011.

(Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

Mom's on TV

The president and his daughters watch television as Michelle Obama takes the stage to deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House on Sept. 4, 2012.

(Pete Souza/White House/Reuters)

Off to church on a Sunday morning

The Obamas stroll across Lafayette Park in Washington to St. John's Church to attend the service on Oct. 27, 2013. 

(Shawn Thew/EPA)

A walk on the Great Wall

Michelle Obama walks with her daughters Sasha (centre) and Malia as they climb the steps at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, on March 23, 2014.

(Petar Kujundzic/Reuters)

Ruffling a few feathers

Obama, joined by his daughters Malia, right, and Sasha, speaks at the White House during the presidential turkey pardon ceremony, an annual Thanksgiving tradition, on Nov. 26, 2014. An aide to a Republican congressman was critical of the girls' pose and dress, saying they should have shown more class. Following a public backlash, the aide apologized and resigned. 

(Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press)

With friends in high places

The president and Sasha (right), along with two of Sasha's friends, board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Washington on July 17, 2015. 

(Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

A grandmother's voice

Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, joins the Obama family to sing Christmas carols during a ceremony near the White House on Dec. 3, 2015. Robinson has lived in the White House with her daughter's family.

(Yuri Gripas/Reuters)

A happy 18th birthday

Obama hugs and sings Happy Birthday to Malia, 18, on stage during an Independence Day celebration in the East Room of the White House on July 4, 2016, for members of the military and their families.

(Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

Sasha's sidelong look 

The younger Obama daughter looks on during a minute of silence as she attends a baseball game with her family and Cuban President Raul Castro at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana on March 22, 2016.

(Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Fond farewell and on to the future

The president laughs next to Michelle and Malia after his farewell address to the American people from Chicago on Jan. 10. Obama's eight-year term as president ends on Jan. 20 when president-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office. The Obama family will lease a house in Washington until Sasha finishes high school. Malia is expected to start at Harvard University in the fall.

(Kamil Krzaczynski/EPA)