I usually pick our Christmas tree's color scheme the year before when I can stock up on tinsel and balls at the after-Christmas sales. (The only exception was after 9/11 when I did a last-minute patriotic red, white and blue color scheme.)
This year's colors? Pink and silver.
Huh?
Let me explain. Last year I bought a 4-foot and a 6-foot vintage aluminum pom-pom tree at a thrift store. (You know the kind your grandma had with the color wheel? You can see some examples here.) We already had a new, reproduction 10-foot aluminum tree and three color wheels, which we rarely use because they're fire hazards.
Yes, we do have enough room for three trees.
So this year, I planned to put pink balls on the smaller trees and pink tinsel on the large tree along with the ornaments we have collected 
over the years. I was going for a retro-cool feeling and planned to repeat the theme with silver tablecloths, candlestick holders, etc.
However, did I ever mention that 20-month-old Boo Girl is a climber and must mess with every button or knick-knack that she sees? So I'm predicting that she'll knock down the Christmas tree at least once this year.
Needless to say, I've abandoned the pink GLASS balls and will be using last year's styrofoam green balls, leftover red tinsel from the year before that, and our red and green table decorations. We're also going to only put up the big tree and hang the stockings from the way-up-high window ledges instead of the mantle piece. We're doing whatever we can to make less temptation for the Boo Girl.
Big Bad Dad and I are setting up the tree in stages, too. First he assembled it, hung the lights, and placed it on a low coffee table. When Boo Girl approaches it, we tell her, "Yes, it's pretty. NO TOUCHING!"
Later we'll put on the tinsel and the non-breakable balls. Then we'll put on the hardier ornaments. I think I'll forgo the extremely delicate glass bird ornaments just in case.
(And when we're finished, I'll take a picture and post it. Wish us luck!)
