WASHINGTON (AP) – New at the White House this holiday season: penguins

The estimated 68,000 guests the White House expects to welcome this holiday season will be treated to a winter wonderland. Rocking a Grinch-green sleeveless jacquard party dress from the fall 2015 Michael Kors collection, gold stilettos and drop earrings, the first lady welcomed military families to the White House Wednesday for the inaugural viewing of the 2015 decorations.

This year’s almost 500-pound gingerbread White House is covered in dark chocolate.

Obama has established many of her own holiday traditions while first lady, including her steady recognition of military service.

Carolina Herrera was responsible for the China Room, where presidential china place settings used throughout history are displayed. Designed and built by Executive Pastry Chef Susan Morrison and her team, this year’s model – featuring both East and West Wings for the first time – sits in the State Dining Room surrounded by vintage nutcrackers.

Christmas ornaments are seen on a tree in the State Dining Room at the White House during a preview of the 2015 holiday decor in Washington, Dec. 2, 2015. “Hanging ornaments while George Washington looks on, trying to make a room designed by Jackie Kennedy even more handsome”, said Cilicia Wong-Lopez, a military spouse.

The House on Wednesday approved a major rewrite of the No Child Left Behind education law, putting Congress on the cusp of clearing the first significant revision to the nation’s primary and secondary education policies in more than a decade.

“So anybody who is afraid of dogs, you tell me, okay?” said Michelle.

It was presented Friday at the White House by growers Jay, Glenn and Virginia Bustard, co-owners of Bustard’s Christmas Trees. “They’re bigger than they look on TV”.

The families were taken on a tour of the White House. In the library, designers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon of Opening Ceremony and Kenzo collaborated on the theme of “Power of Knowledge”.

Outside the hallway windows, 56 snowmen and women, some wearing hats and scarves or earmuffs, look on from the first lady’s garden. One of the 62 Christmas trees on display featured iPads where families could send holiday messages to USA troops overseas. Short messages to members of the military from their families flow around the tree on a large white ribbon.

The 2015 holiday theme, A Timeless Tradition, is evident throughout the house’s 62 Christmas trees and their adorning 70,000 ornaments.