Music Monday: It's that Time of Year!

Somehow, I managed to be so busy that it has been close to a month since I've written a blog post!  Sheesh.  Today, is an in-service day that we don't actually have to attend.  I know.  It makes no sense.  Long story short, we stay after school for a total of 7.25 hours over two days to do parent-teacher conferences so that we actually don't have to go to work today.

Anyway without further adieu...

Every year it gets harder and harder for me to wait to start listening to Christmas music.  I know, I know.  There are some of you out there who just cringed.  But the fact is that I love Christmas music.  It's not that I don't appreciate other holidays.  Scott and I had a great time getting dressed up and going out on Halloween.  And I LOVE Thanksgiving.  In fact, I've come to appreciate Thanksgiving more than Christmas.  There's less stress, less pressure, less disappointment on Thanksgiving.  That being said, as soon as November 1st arrives, I'm ready for my Christmas tunes.  I mean, it's not like they even HAVE Thanksgiving music.

I saw this on Facebook:

This is the truth.  The music stations on DirecTV add a Christmas channel.  Hallmark starts showing Christmas movies, and the season of love, joy, and peace begins!  

Scott is not a huge fan of Christmas music, so unfortunately, I did not get to listen to Christmas music on our way home from our Halloween night out.  

In my family growing up, my dad would start to play Christmas music on November 1st, and that was when we would start watching Christmas movies together.  Last year, I walked into my parents' home, and my brother immediately asked me to name the first Christmas album that each of us would pick to play when the season begins.  

It was pretty easy to do.  Here are my family's go-to first-album-of-the-season Christmas albums.

(Let me also be clear that these are all albums we originally listened to on RECORDS.  :)  A few years ago, my dad transferred all of the albums to CDs so now I can take them anywhere. )

Me: The Beach Boys Christmas Album

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I do actually have this on a CD my dad didn't make.  It includes bonus tracks with songs that were not from this album originally and remakes of some of the original songs.  I will not lie: I usually stop listening after the original album's concluding song: "Auld Lang Syne."

My brother, David: Merry Snoopy's Christmas

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I always tease him and say that this isn't really a Christmas album because there are "unChristmasy" songs on it.  But that doesn't mean I love it any less.  

Mom: Kenny Rogers: Christmas

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This is another one of my favorites.  Hearing the beginning notes of the first song on the album always make my heart leap because it really feels like Christmas!

Dad: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings Christmas Carols

I certainly can't say that I don't enjoy any of these albums.  I love them all!  They always remind me of Christmases growing up.  We would play them while we decorated for Christmas and on Christmas morning...so many good memories.

This does not mean that I don't look for new music to listen to!  Over the past few years, I've downloaded two Glee Christmas albums and Kelly Clarkson's new album last year.  This year, I added two more albums to my collection.

Idina Menzel- Holiday Wishes

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Because, um, yeah.  Have you heard her sing?!

Michael W. Smith- The Spirit of Christmas

This is a really cool album because Michael collaborates with a bunch of other artists!  Michael W. Smith is a Christian music performer who has been making albums for YEARS.  He has a unique voice that I've always loved, and I've always had a crush on him!  If you haven't heard any of his music before, I suggest starting with his Christmas albums.  :)

So...what's your go-to Christmas album?  Have you added anything new to your collection this year?