Happy New Year
Greetings from London!
2025 has been a year of adventures, milestones, and memorable moments for the Anzelmo family. As we wrap up another year in our adopted home of London, we're amazed at how much Mikey has grown and how many places our little family has explored together.
The Traveling Toddler
Mikey turned two in September, and he's proven to be quite the seasoned traveler. He's a very active two-year-old who loves to climb, run, and tell his parents "no" at every opportunity. He's gone from tentative first steps and no teeth to being fully vocal and fully opinionated. Despite the toddler independence streak, he's still a sweet boy and a great traveler.
His current obsessions include Winnie the Pooh, Thomas the Tank Engine, trucks and machines of any kind, and most recently, stickers. This year, he's collected passport stamps from the US, Japan, Mexico, Ireland, and various corners of Europe—including the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany—developing strong opinions about airplane snacks along the way.
Adventures Near and Far
A major highlight was our spring trip to Japan—part of our goal to maximize travel while Mikey could still fly as a lap infant before turning two. Tony managed to secure us seats in business class using miles, which he claims was the hardest award flight redemption he's ever done. We explored somewhere new this time, venturing to the southern island of Kyushu. We rented a car and drove in Japan for the first time, discovering less well-known sites away from the usual tourist routes. We also had the special opportunity to visit our dear friends Misaki, Yuta, and Misaki's parents Midori and Yasu—it meant so much for them to finally meet Mikey. And Mikey? He became utterly fascinated by Kumamon, the beloved bear mascot from Kumamoto.
In late summer, Tony ventured solo to India for the first time, attending a beautiful wedding in Kerala before exploring the country's vibrant culture and cuisine. He extended the journey through Oman, where the dramatic landscapes of Jabal Akhdar provided a stunning contrast to the lush greenery of India.
Closer to home, we spent the August bank holiday in the Swiss Alps, introducing Mikey to mountain hiking (with plenty of carrying involved on our part!) and the joys of Alpine lakes. The scenery was spectacular, though we've learned that "family hiking" with a toddler means frequent snack breaks and spontaneous naps in scenic locations.
London Life
When we're not traveling, we're enjoying the day-to-day rhythms of London life. Mikey spent another year at his local nursery three days a week, with Dad on duty the other two days. Christy still manages to take him swimming once a week despite her busy work schedule. We've spent more and more time at playgrounds with Mikey.
Work and Studies
Christy continues her work at Foundry, making software for the visual effects and animation industry. Tony has been balancing work at Community TechAid with completing his MSc in Advanced Computing at Birkbeck University, with dissertation submission scheduled for early January.
Looking Ahead
We're wrapping up 2025 with a Texas and Cancun adventure—visiting family in Dallas and Tyler before heading to the Yucatan Peninsula for some warm weather and beach time. Looking ahead to 2026, we're already plotting our next family adventures, potentially including California, Disneyland, and possibly even an Arctic expedition for the extended family.
Holiday Wishes
As we reflect on this year, we're grateful for the adventures we've shared, the friends and family who've hosted us along the way, and the health and happiness that have carried us through. We hope your year has been filled with joy and that 2026 brings even more reasons to celebrate.
Photo Memories
Here are some of our favorite moments from 2025:
