Day To Day Life Of The Obamas

White House releases unguarded pictures of First Family as Obama faces toughest test of his presidency

It has been a very tense two weeks in Washington as the U.S. faces a looming debt crisis deadline on August 2.

And while warring parties fight to overcome the current stalemate, the White House has released its latest batch of behind the scenes photos, documenting those at work at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The July collection includes the President meeting with financial regulators, signing the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and in lighter moments with the First Family.

Family time: President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters Malia (front L) and Sasha (back L) watch the World Cup soccer game between the U.S. and Japan, from the Treaty Room office on July 17, 2011

Calm: First Lady Michelle Obama waits to be introduced during an event at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley, California on June 14, 2011

Spiritual leader: President Obama meets with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House on July 16, 2011

Inspiring: First Lady Michelle Obama meets with former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa at Mandela's home in Houghton, South Africa, on June 21, 2011

Fist-bump: President Obama greets Make-a-Wish child Diego Diaz after reading a letter he wrote, during his visit in the Oval Office on June 23, 2011

In a photo taken on July 18, the President is shown meeting with heads of financial regulatory agencies in the Roosevelt Room of the White House to receive an update on implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

That week marked the first anniversary of the President signing into law the strongest consumer protections in history and the most significant reform of Wall Street since the Great Depression, the White House states on its official flickr account.

All smiles: First Lady Michelle Obama talks with young people at the U.S. Consulate meet and greet at the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa on June 23, 2011

Relaxed: President Obama greets patrons at Thomas Sweet Ice Cream and Chocolate in Washington, D.C., during a family outing on Father's Day, June 19, 2011

Drawing a crowd: President Obama talks with Puerto Rican Senator Alejandro Garcia Padilla during a lunch stop at Kasalta, a restaurant in the Ocean Park neighbourhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 14, 2011

Official visit: President Obama tours La Fortaleza, the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, with Rep Pedro Pierluisi (L), Gov Luis Fortuño, and First Lady Lucé Vela de Fortuño in San Juan on June 14, 2011

Appreciating art: President Obama, Ruby Bridges (C), and representatives of the Norman Rockwell Museum view Rockwell's The Problem We All Live With, hanging in a West Wing hallway, on July 15, 2011

In talks: President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with National Security Staff in the Situation Room of the White House, June 20, 2011

Four days later, the President was photographed in the Oval Office signing a certification stating the statutory requirements for repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell have been met; pictured alongside smiling executives Brian Bond, Deputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement; Kathleen Hartnett, Associate Counsel to the President; Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta; Kathryn Ruemmler, Counsel to the President; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen; and Vice President Joe Biden.

The president is pictured in a newly-released June 13 photo supporting American manufacturing on a tour of Durham, North Carolina LED lighting company Cree, Inc.

The following day he was photographed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a tour of La Fortaleza, the official residence of the Governor, and later captured in a moment of laughter over lunch with Puerto Rican Senator Alejandro Garcia Padilla.

Supporting American manufacturing: President Obama tours Cree, Inc, a manufacturer of LED lighting, in Durham, North Carolina, on June 13, 2011

Briefing: President Obama meets with heads of financial regulatory agencies to receive an update on implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act on July 18, 2011

Politics: President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with a bipartisan group of mayors to discuss the economy and local efforts to create jobs and spur economic growth, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, on June 20, 2011

Legislation: President Barack Obama signs the certification stating the statutory requirements for repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell have been met, in the Oval Office, on July 22, 2011

Dramatic: President Obama walks from the Blue Room of the White House to address the nation and lay out his plan for implementing the draw down of American troops from Afghanistan on June 22, 2011

Meanwhile, that same day, First Lady Michelle Obama is seen quietly waiting, head tucked down and arms folded, as she prepares to be introduced an event at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley, California.

Back at the White House, the president is seen with Ruby Bridges and representatives of the Norman Rockwell Museum on July 15, viewing Rockwell’s The Problem We All Live With, hanging in a West Wing hallway near the Oval Office. Bridges herself is featured in artwork.

The following day, his highly-publicised meeting with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama was documented.

Lighter moments show the President with his family on July 17, as Mrs Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, watch the World Cup soccer match between the U.S. and Japan with their dad the president - from the Treaty Room office in the residence of the White House.