White House releases new Obama family photo

The first daughters are growing up quickly. The president’s just getting grayer.

Those are some of the immediate takeaways when viewing the Obama family’s new official portrait, released by the White House on Thursday.

It was taken on Sunday by official White House photographer Pete Souza, and shows President Obama, the first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha in the Oval Office with holiday decorations evident behind them. The family had just returned from church services, the White House said.

PHOTOS: White House Christmas decorations

Their previous official photo, taken by Annie Leibovitz, was released in September 2009. It showed the family in the Green Room of the White House. First dog Bo didn’t make the cut for either photo shoot.

The first daughters, now 13 and 10, have largely stayed out of the public spotlight during their father’s time in the White House. In an interview with People magazine due out Friday, the president and first lady did share a bit about family life at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

For instance, the girls are not on Facebook. The family’s favorite TV show? “Modern Family.”

The president, though, prefers “Boardwalk Empire” and “Homeland” when watching without the kids.

According to the White House, the first lady and daughters will fly to Hawaii on Friday night for their annual holiday trip to the president’s birthplace. Obama himself will wait until Congress wraps up its business for the year, including the payroll tax cut extension he’s been pushing for.