Before the White House, he's just like us (Part 1)

President-elect Barack Obama kicked off the family's 10-day vacation in warm Hawaii with a trip to the golf course. It's a nice change of pace for the future leader of the free world. Lately, with the economic crisis and the Blagojevich scandal, he must have felt like the golf ball and the world the club. But Obama never shows it. Take a look at the laid back president in action.

President-elect Barack Obama wasn't going to let a little snow stop him from waiting for his wife outside his daughters' school on Friday. The future First Couple were attending a party for their girls' last day at school in Chicago, Ill. Despite being a Hawaii native, Obama braved the wintry weather, without a heavy coat nonetheless, like much of the nation. He may be moving into the White House in January, but Obama, isn't afraid to do things, just like us.

He may be busy preparing for the White House, but Sunday afternoon, Barack Obama took a break from his president-elect duties to pick out a Christmas tree with his daughters on Chicago's South Side.

No nanny and chauffeur here! Before boarding a flight to meet with President Bush at the White House on Nov. 10, Obama dropped his daughters off at school in Chicago.

Barack Obama may be the USA president-elect, but he still likes to chow down on some grub just like us. Let's hope he doesn't lose his laid-back moments after he moves into the White House in January.

Obama, while on the campaign trail, pays for his groceries with cash...

...and sometimes breaks a sweat...

Obama gets into the Halloween spirit...

...and takes his daughters trick-or-treating.

He even bares his toes in a pair of flip-flops while on a walk in Hawaii.

But Obama's seemingly favorite thing to do? Eat! He engulfs a cheesesteak, above, on a campaign stop in Phillidelphia...

...grabs an ice cream cone in Le Mars, Iowa...

...slurps up some gumbo in New Orleans...

...shovels in shaved ice with his daughters in Hawaii.

Obama's the top dog!

A hearty breakfast (with Sen. Bob Casey) starts his day...

... while he gnaws down on some fried chicken (with Rev. Al Sharpton) at Sylvia's in New York...

...and hits up a Midtown diner with Mayor Bloomberg.