The Season is upon us....

I am not sure why, but my daughter is convinced that we need to put up the Christmas decorations today. As a matter of fact, she went so far as to go into the basement where they are stored and try and lug them up herself! Trying to get my 9 year old to understand that it's only Thanksgiving next week, she has taken it upon herself to have her father bring out the tree tonight, anyway. "The turkey won't mind if we have a tree up already!", she said.

It's not the turkey that I am worried about. I wouldn't mind putting up the decorations, really! My wonderful sister probably already has her house all decked, herself. She used to do that back in October since she loved the Christmas decorations and the festive feeling. But, I digress.

What I am worried about is not the electric bill from leaving the lights on all night...(but, mom, I need them on to sleep better) or the pounds of fudge invariably waiting to be made and eaten, all in the name of "Holiday Spirit". I am not worried about the hectic shopping schedule and frantically running around to find that red sweater. I worry about the four-footed "masters" of our home. Princess, Frisky, and Sundae. The little feline members of our family. The ones that would be more than happy to help decorate the house by swatting all the bright, shiny ornaments everywhere. To them, the tree looks so much better on the floor than on the table. And tree skirt with fringe? Mere toys to keep them occupied while resting on the skirt itself. Leaving of course, bits of hair all over it. And getting into the tree? You bet! There is something up there that needs to be investigated. Now!

Now, I am pretty sure that I like the cats and all...well, maybe. There are days when I think about Chinese takeout...
My children love their cats. And the cats actually love their respective kids. Funny, when I think about it. Frisky is Nick's cat. She adores him! For those of you who haven't seen it, it is difficult to believe, but she will go to him when he calls her. And she will curl up around his neck and HUG him. There was one time when I sent him to his room and was on my way to spank him, when she tried to "protect" him by going after me! Then, she laid on his chest and licked his cheek until he stopped crying and fell asleep.

Princess is Mikayla's cat. She is very affectionate and would stop doing just about anything for a petting or attention. I have seen her drop eating when she has a hand reach out to her. Her motor goes and goes until the attention stops. She also will come when she is called, but only by Mikayla. Has to sleep on a special pillow on her bed. Definitely Master. Very Cat.

Then we have Sundae. Sundae Treat, to be exact. A weak moment in our lives. She is 100% cat. Will only come when she wants something. Refuses to stay inside and keeps escaping to the outside world whenever she can. She was supposed to be Aaron's cat, but instead somehow wound up as Karl's. The other cat's sleep on their respective child's bed, but Sundae sleeps wherever she darn well pleases. On Karl's chest, on Aaron's bed, on the couch, in the bathroom laundry. She is the one who is convinced that we are here only to serve her and her desires.

The thought of putting up shiny, pretty objects for them to play with really has me in a tizzy at this point. What's the use? I will fight it and spray them with a water gun to try and get them to stop. I will do anything I can, stopping short of fencing it in from ceiling to floor, and still they will get at it. I will do my best to smile when I have to pick up the ornament balls off the floor and straighten the lights. I will laugh when they get caught in a tree branch and I have to get them untangled.

TIS THE SEASON!