The Greatest Gift of All

Christmas Music!!! It truly is a wonderful gift.  For as long as I can remember I have loved Christmas music.  I remember driving my family nuts by starting to listen to it as early as August!  I would probably listen to it year round but there is something about the anticipation of listening to that first carol that I just love! So I usually hold back until sometime in October, but by November I am in full swing!  Different songs/artists always bring back certain memories and I can't get enough of it.

 I get teased quite a bit for my taste in music.  I mean what 60 30 year old woman doesn't love Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers and Justin Bieber?  But that doesn't stop me.  I love music and I love making other people listen to the music that I like. A lot of the time I can change people's opinions of certain artists just by pulling over on the side of the road in my black jetta and refusing to drive until a certain roommate of mine agreed to listen to Neil Diamond with me!  Oh the good old days.  Sorry about that Bec!
So here you have it.  My favorite Christmas tunes!
I would have to say without a doubt my all time favorite is Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers – Once Upon A Christmas

I really do feel like I belong with them!

I love every single song on this album.  My earliest memory of these songs is sitting around the table with my sister and mom at our old house decorating Christmas cookies and singing along.  Anytime, I decorate Christmas cookies I want to listen to this music and it takes me right back.  Another great memory I have of Kenny and Dolly is a car ride I took with my dear friend/cousin Mandy.  We hadn't known each other very long at the time but we clicked from the first time we met.  (She is married to Matt's cousin) We were riding together to a Christmas party and she was driving.  I hopped in the car and said I have this CD that I love if you want to listen.  It is my favorite ever.  She said sure what is it?  I told her, and then it happened, she said "I love that album too!" And guess what she had it in her CD player.  From that moment on I knew we were meant to be together.  Er I mean that her and Ben were meant to be together! haha  

Number two.  This has also been a love of mine for quite a while.  Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas I believe it came out in the mid 90's.  My sister bought it and rocked out to that CD in her gray camero many many times.  This is another CD that I can say I love every song!  I could probably sing every song in the order it is on the CD a cappella.  

On to number three.  Point of Grace has always been one of my favorite groups.  I love their harmony and their songs are always so uplifting.  So of course I would enjoy their Christmas album Point Of Grace – A Christmas Story.  I don't have any specific memories from this but what I do remember is that whenever I am playing this with Matt in the car he says "can you please make the stop yelling at me!" haahahah Guess this one wouldn't be on his favorite list.  :)

Now I can't imagine that number four isn't on every single one of your lists.  I am not sure why those chipmunk voices don't drive me crazy but for some reason I just can't get enough of them.  My kids love them too and that makes it even better.  

The Chipmunks – Christmas With The Chipmunks

Number five is a newcomer.  And yes I am sure I will get some flack from people for loving this but I just do!  It probably has something to do with my love for boy bands.  It takes me back to high school and jr high.  Yes, it is Justin Bieber – Under The Mistletoe

Yes, I did that. :)

Honorable Mentions

Speaking of being mocked for my music selections here's a doosy for you.

George Strait – Merry Christmas Strait To You

The Statler Brothers – Best Of/20th Century - Christmas

This is one of those CD's that my dad had when i was little and I listened to it simply because I was excited to have a CD player so we would listen to anything.  But now I love it. 

Now I will list songs that I DO NOT like.

Sorry Paul, super lame song.

Dumbest lyrics ever.  

I'm sure there are more that I love and more that I do not like. I definitely love the classics like, Nat King Cole, and Bing Crosby but those go without saying.  And I usually don't like fake made up Christmas songs.    

In the mean time I am so ready for the Christmas specials to be in full swing! 

This year is going to be hard for me.  I am used to running around between family get togethers and Christmas parties with friends and I am not going to be able to do that this year.  As of right now I am just hoping to at least  make it home for the weekend of Christmas to be with our families.  But if not, I will still be with my sweet family making new traditions and memories together.  I'm looking forward to my very first white Christmas too!  

Let it snow let it snow let it snow!!!

PS-clicking on the blue links will take you to Spotify and you can listen to my favs.  If you haven't signed up  you should check it out.  It is pretty awesome.