Since Jade has a December 1st birthday we have always let her decide when the tree will be put up. Some years she has wanted it up the day after Thanksgiving, others on her birthday, and others like today, we did the 1st Saturday available. The kids had a blast decorating the tree, and our kitty has had a blast un-decorating the tree. She seems to think it is fun to very carefully select an ornament, remove it, dart across the room (while making sure at least 1 or more of the kids know she has it), the let them chase her as they giggle. 

These ornaments and stolen back from the cat, placed back on the tree, and the cycle begins again.