Obama Celebrates Final White House Thanksgiving

President Obama is celebrating his final Thanksgiving at the White House with family today, and he reflected on his past eight years at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"When I look back over the years, what strikes me most about my girls is that, despite the challenges that have come their way, they have remained extraordinarily kind," Obama said. "They treat people with the respect and understanding that all of us deserve -- no matter who we are, where we come from, who we love, or what we believe. It's that bedrock belief in decency that can only come from an inherent optimism about the road ahead."

The president also posted a Thanksgiving message on Facebook, writing that while the White House has "served as the backdrop to the tough decisions and trying times that often characterize the Presidency," it's also been home, "where Michelle and I have watched our daughters grow into the funny, smart, humble, and extraordinary young women they are today."

Earlier today, the president called Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard service members who are deployed overseas. A White House official says the president "thanked them for their service, and he wished them and their families a Happy Thanksgiving."

President Obama makes Thanksgiving Day calls to US troops around the world pic.twitter.com/ZZVMqPXmJr

- petesouza (@petesouza) November 24, 2016This Thanksgiving, we give thanks for our blessings, and work to fulfill the timeless responsibility we have as Americans to serve others.

- President Obama (@POTUS) November 24, 2016The first family's dinner menu includes a mix of traditional and non-traditional dishes. The complete menu is below.

Hors d'oeuvres:

Mini BLTs

Chicken satay with peanut chili dip

Mini crab cakes

Pizza bites

Fresh veggies and hummus

Pigs in the blanket

Dinner Buffet:

Thyme roasted turkey (carving station)

Garlic jus and cranberry-orange relish

Honey-baked ham

Apricot-mustard glaze

Prime rib and creamed horseradish

Shallot marmalade

Fried chicken wings

Sides:

Cornbread stuffing with chorizo and roasted peppers

Oyster stuffing

Braised winter greens (collards, kale, and turnip greens)

Macaroni and cheese

Sweet potato gratin

Yukon gold mashed potatoes

Green bean casserole

Fresh greens and kale Caesar salad

Dinner rolls

Dessert:

Banana cream pie

Coconut cream pie

Pumpkin pie

Apple pie

Pecan pie

Cherry pie