Oh Christmas Tree (not sung)

Oh, Christmas Tree.  You have been quite the project this year.  

Knowing that we have wonderfully mischievous kittens in the house, we decided to get a fake tree in the hopes that it would be hardier if a cat attempted to climb it.

It looked so nice for an entire 10 minutes before its durability was tested as the cats climbed all the way to the top.

Therefore, we decided to put all Christmas lights outside our house for the neighborhood to enjoy.  And we booby-trapped the tree with string and wire so they couldn't climb it ...

... and begrudgingly let the cats (mainly Dylan) eat the lights.

Until we decided to pivot in our plans -- we CUT ALL THE LIGHTS OUT OF THE TREE and then put strands of soap-covered lights in the tree.  It was a lot of work and was effective ... for an entire hour before Emma climbed to the top again.  Happily, Dylan is no longer eating the lights.

Then James received a game about cats (Stray), so now the cats are TV heads and too occupied with that to bother with the tree.  

Next year, we will have mature cats who know better than to play with fun dangling ornaments, right?!