January 17, 2011 - Martin Luther King Day, and also Michelle Obama's birthday.On Monday, the First Lady turned 47, but before her own private celebrations began, Michelle and her family were on hand to pay tribute to the famed American activist at a community service event.Not that her special day went unnoticed. When Michelle arrived at Stuart Hobson Middle School in Washington DC with her husband and children Malia and Sasha, there was a surprise waiting in store.
As the First Family entered the school's cafeteria, she was greeted with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.While the president happily joined in, Michelle looked surprised – and a little embarrassed – as she hugged youngest daughter Sasha, nine, from behind. "All right, let's get back to work. This is embarrassing," she laughed as the singing subsided.
Michelle, Barack and the girls then moved through the group, working on a number of different programs, including painting 'dancing fruit' on pillars to encourage healthy eating habits - the president was seen colouring in the bicep of a flexing apple.He told reporters: "This is an outstanding program, an example of what Martin Luther King's birthday should be all about. "The school serenade was not the only rendition of Happy Birthday Michelle received. The previous day, she and her family attended a church service at Metropolitan AME church where fellow parishioners also sang to mark the occasion.Once school was out on Monday, Michelle and her husband were free to celebrate her birthday in a more private capacity.
The couple enjoyed a quiet dinner together at Wolfgang Puck's The Source restaurant, famed for its Asia dishes, where they reportedly took a table upstairs.
Ever the gentleman, the president was seen helping Michelle on with her coat after the meal, and placed his arm affectionately around her waist as the couple headed home.