The holidays are in full swing and I couldn’t be happier about it!  Thanksgiving has past and we all seem to be preparing for Christmas.  As an old friend of mine pointed out, even God has put the Christmas decorations outside already (with a beautiful snowfall).  We’re hoping last year’s winter weather doesn’t become a tradition, but with the holidays now here, I’m looking forward to enjoying this season’s wonderful traditions.

My favorite family tradition is the annual Hawks Family Christmas Caroling.  My dad’s side of the family has gone Christmas caroling for over 30 years now (I never remember the exact number of years).  We’re not as good as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but we do manage 4-part harmony.  We travel around the Quad Cities (driving more than singing unfortunately) and visit family friends to share some Christmas spirit with them.  It’s part of the tradition to leave them with Hershey’s Kisses too.  And I can’t forget the lyrics for ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’.  Half the family sings it one way (”good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year”) while the other half sings it the other way (”we wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”).  Then just when you think you know who is signing what, they switch!  When we finish at my Grandma’s, she has hot cocoa and sweet rolls ready for us.  What could be better?

Some other of my favorites are playing Apples to Apples (although it hurts to laugh that hard in my state) and eating Mom’s Apple Pie.  Purrball’s favorite traditions is sleeping under the Christmas tree.  He’s a little upset that Hera seems to like it now too.  What are your favorite traditions?

I am a huge fan of Gustav Mahler (Romantic period composer).  His music never ceases to amaze me.  Mahler and I have a love hate relationship right now though.  I recently discovered one of his songs (In Tempo Des Scherzo from Symphony 2) and I love it.  It’s 34 minutes long and half way through I start to doubt it’s quality, but then there’s the ending.  Every time I listen to it, I get tears in my eyes.  I’m guessing it’s partially due to current hormones, but every time, even at work?  I love it too much to not listen to it though.  Le sigh.

The other day, I got a song stuck in my head…well, a phrase of a song, from my childhood. I used to have this record that had a guy playing children’s folk songs. I am very close to finding the actual record, but it’s not quite perfect yet. Here are the tracks that I know are on it:

• Put Your Finger In the Air
• Let Everyone Clap Hands Like Me
• Skip to My Lou
• Hush Little Baby
• Jennie Jenkins (what will you wear)

I found an album by Pete Seeger that is similar to the album, but it’s missing at least the last 2 songs (which are the 2 that get stuck in my head). These are definitely old songs, but I love them. I guess I wouldn’t listen to them all the time, but it’d be cool to find that album. Any ideas?

I went to iTunes just now to find a specific Christmas cd. I ended up finding “Christmas Carol Cats” and learned that even I have limits. It’s horrible! My ears still hurt. I mean I love cats and I love Christmas music, but they should never be combined. They’re off pitch and off beat enough to have the nails on a chalkboard effect.

I’m well aware that I listen to Christmas music way too early. I wait all year to listen to this stuff. Some of my favorites:

• I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
• O Holy Night (Josh Groban’s is good)
• Merry Christmas from Sesame Street (this is an album from 1978 not a song)
• Sleigh Ride by Boston Pops
• and of course the ever popular Manheim Steamroller and Transiberian Orchestra

So here’s the thing, when is the right time to start listening to Christmas music? When advent starts? Christmas Eve? I realized I have no idea.