CHICAGO — President Obama returned to Chicago Friday, making his first trip home since his inauguration and ending a turbulent week in which he dealt with partisan bickering over his massive economic stimulus package.

Obama waved to onlookers as he disembarked Air Force One and walked across the tarmac at O'Hare International Airport. The president's wife, Michelle, two daughters and mother-in-law accompanied him on the roughly 90-minute flight from Washington.

Bundled up against a cold Chicago wind, the first lady and the girls smiled as they climbed aboard Marine One, the large presidential helicopter that whisked the family to the South Side and spared authorities the headache of closing the Kennedy Expressway during rush hour. Though the president has taken several trips on Air Force One in recent days, his family had not been aboard the country's most famous airplane until Friday.

The family was expected to spend three days in the city before returning to the White House tomorrow, Presidents Day.

The trip home was expected to be low key, the visit being described as Obama's first break since becoming president despite his family's retreat to Camp David last weekend. Aides were predicting a Valentine's Day dinner out for the Obamas, as well as a possible basketball game for the president with some of his Chicago pals.

The Obamas take Valentine's Day seriously. A year ago, amid a fierce nomination fight with Hillary Clinton, Obama left the campaign trail to take his wife out to dinner.

In many ways, the Obama family's weekend in Chicago will look and feel like the transition period between the Nov. 4 election and Jan. 4 move to Washington.

Flight restrictions are in place for an area 60 nautical miles wide centered near Obama's home. The restrictions will not affect commercial flights, but small-plane pilots who do not observe the rules could find themselves escorted from the area by F-16 fighter jets. Planes approved to fly in the area will be required to be on a flight plan, transmit a discrete transponder code and maintain two-way radio contact with controllers.

Obama's neighbors have observed an increasing security presence near the family's home all week. Additional barriers popped up on his block and along East Hyde Park Boulevard.

In December, Obama told the Chicago Tribune he planned to return to Chicago every six or eight weeks.