With four cats and two dogs, these are the things I do to protect my holiday sanity and my babies' safety:<br>- Put the tree up mid December -- why give them extra time to break it?<br>- Leave the bottom row of branches off the artificial tree. My big cat liked to wrestle with them.<br>
- No metal hooks. All ornaments get ribbon loops tied to them upon arrival, and they generally last well from year to year.<br>- All the generic "ball" type ornaments are plastic, bought at a Big Lots store years ago. They've lasted surprisingly well, and they were CHEAP. And they bounce, too. :)<br>
- Any breakable ornaments go on the top half of the tree, about halfway back on a branch, or onto displays on the mantle or shelves.<br>- Presents don't get bows until the day before. Stick on bows turn into cat hockey pucks, and raffia gets eaten.<br>
- Confirm that any gifts coming from outside the house have no food in them before placing under the tree.<br>- Remember that part of the point of the holiday season is to enjoy time with your family, including your pets. Getting stressed out about the decorations really defeats the purpose.<br>
- Repeat the previous point to myself as necessary.<br><br>Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. Josh and Abbie had their own Thanksgiving dinner Thursday made from the recipe in Scooter Pie's cookbook, so they have almost as many leftovers as we do! They're OK with the idea of turkey and veggies with their kibble for the next week, though. :)<br>
<br>- Jaclyn<br>