Christmas music is one of my favorite parts of the holidays and I find that I am appreciating my iPod more and more for this reason. I love the fact that I can create my own playlists and mixes and listen to my holiday music the way that I want to. And the way the boys want to! We spent a good hour or more the other day going through the Christmas music, each picking out the songs we wanted in our list.

Jason's favorite songs are God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The 12 Days of Christmas, and Carol of the Bells. He also likes several songs from the Nutcracker.

Kyle is not quite so selective but he just discovered the Chipmunks Christmas songs and thinks they are hilarious.

I am fairly picky about my Christmas music...leaning mostly towards instrumentals and full orchrestras/symphonies (probably a hang over from my previous band geek life). I love any Christmas album by the Canadian Brass and have a couple Boston Pops albums. I also really enjoy the London Symphony's Great Songs of Christmas (which has a beautiful version of the Hallelujah Chorus). I also do enjoy the Mannheim Steamroller holiday albums. My most listened to album would probably have to be A Charlie Brown Christmas. I just love its mellow piano, especially in the evening.

I really, really dislike most pop or rock Christmas music. Ugh. The only exceptions are those albums which I grew up with. Which means that my poor boys are subjected to Johnny Mathis, the Beach Boys and (yes, I will admit this) Bobby Vinton. I have such fond memories of this music, that I can't help myself. Especially Johnny Mathis. Now the interesting thing is that it is has to be the same version that I listened to as a kid...I downloaded a song by Bobby Vinton (can't remember which one) but it was not the same one I thought it was and I hated it! Go figure. I will credit Johnny Mathis for the fact that I know most of the lyrics to many Christmas songs.

Now I did just discover a new group this year called Straight No Chaser, which is a men's a cappella chorus. They have an absolutely hilarious version of The 12 Days of Christmas and a really nice Carol of the Bells (which is my all time favorite Christmas song).

Needless to say, I have been having fun with my music. It is so cool to be able to slice and dice it the way that I want...and I thought that it was cool when the 5 disc CD changers came out that would let you randomly shuffle the songs. Funny how old fashioned and "clunky" that seems now.

Of course, I also for some reason have persisted on referring to albums throughout this whole post...does that date me? Ah well. I guess I should not be too surprised...I found my second gray hair this morning...

Hope you all get to enjoy the music of your choice this holiday season!