Welcoming 2026

Monday 29/12

The last few days of the year and we get to end and start it being together. I love these slow holiday days. Last week we had something planned for every day but not this time. I wanted a different vibe. The boys were so happy that their unicorn onesies came today. They realised when they put them on they were really big but that didn’t bug them once they discovered they can just put their teddies in haha! After a round of wrestling we did loads of reading before lunch.

George went down for his nap and James and Matt played chess until he woke up. George wanted to join in but doesn’t really understand how to. So we got busy at building our Christmas Lego. George was so excited to build. He is getting really good!

I was busy most of the day doing my Swedish Death Cleaning. Today’s focus was doing the entryway. For the past years it has been chaos whenever we come through the door. I thought I had worked a good system when we moved here but since then have collected more shoes and I had learned the boys need something easier. Sometimes I am tripping over things at the entryway because there is so much clutter. That ends this week! After we had dinner we walked over to my friend Bridget’s house to get a box. It was nice seeing her. I need the box to ship off my wedding dress. I am heartbroken to donate it but it’s time. I don’t need it and I feel happy that it’s going to a charity for terminally ill brides. When we got home we went straight to bed.

Tuesday 30/12

That morning we took it slow again. The house looked like a moving site with all my Swedish Death Cleaning. The hallway is full of things we need to get out of the house. The boys played around and even helped me as I cleaned all the shoes in the house and lined them up to know what shoe rack we need for the house.

George had his nap right after lunch. When he woke up we headed to Westfield. Even the short ride to Westfield was so tough. It is freezing outside. The boys loved seeing the Christmas decorations still up. But what they loved even more was seeing the dresses from the Wicked film. The actual dresses. Glinda’s is so beautiful.

We booked to see Zootropolis 2. The boys loved it so much. James wanted to see it again. I loved too see them enjoy the new films coming out and not just Pokémon and Beyblades hahah! They loved at the end credits when they can get up and dance.

We then took a stroll through Westfield. We were not expecting to be as busy as it was! It was like Christmas shopping busy. I was feeling overwhelmed with the crowds. We slipped into the bookshop to buy some books. Then we had some sushi for dinner. We then cycled home in time for bedtime. It was such a beautiful day out together.

Wednesday 31/12

Another day with another slow start. I am slacking with my mornings. Before the holidays I would get up at 6am to start my day and since the holidays I have been lying in until 8am. Not good. But one of the reasons why is because whenever I get out of bed George wakes up soon after and I didn’t want to be the reason Matt doesn’t get a lie in. So slow starts this week for us.

We headed off to Ravenscourt Park that morning to play with school friends. It was so cold. I could barely move my hands. Matt had to dash off because people where picking up things that we were selling. He came back for the last bit.

The boys still had so much fun together. They didn’t care that it was cold. I couldn’t believe all the frost around us. James and George started feeling the cold and jumped into the bike. Their friends came in too. I took them on a cycled around the park and they had the best time together.

We got back home in time for George’s nap. When he woke up we headed over to my friend Bridget’s house. We have a New Year’s Eve party every year with them. The boys were so excited to be with their friends. They played loads of games. When it was 9pm we got out the grapes and put on last years firework show. I was debating if we wanted to last until 12am but I thought it would just be too much for all of us. We were so happy to celebrate the New Year’s Eve with our best friends. When we were in bed and it hit midnight it sounded like a war zone outside. So many fireworks!

Thursday 1/1

And it’s the New Year! 2026 Here we come. I am feel with hope that I will feel like I am more present in my life. At the moment I feel like I am stressing my life away and it’s passing me by. My hope is to clear my schedule, my home and my health. Let’s go. We start off this year by going to Chessington as a family.

It’s been ages since we’ve been here and James loves it during winter when only the zoo is opened. We knew it would be an easy outing. But it was freezing cold. Can it get any colder? The boys didn’t mind too much if all their skin was covered.

We loved seeing our favourite spider monkeys. There was a tiny baby holding on to its mum. It was the sweetest thing ever. We went from animal to animal to see how they each handled the cold. The boys loved watching the sea lion swim in circles.

We then ventured to the gorillas and lions. We were all getting cold so we hurried a bit more. What a wonderful way to start the year haha. At least we know that the sun is setting later and later. And being here together was so lovely.

We went into the aquarium to warm up a bit. I think everyone else had the same idea. It was so crowded inside but we didn’t mind. I just would get nervous when the boys who push through the crowd ahead of us and I’d lose sight of them. They always came back.

We then went back outside. With sweets in their hands the boys felt recharged again to see some animals outside. We ran into a small playground. James saw the ropes course and ran straight to it. He feels so brave and resilient these days and I am all for it.

We then went to the last animal. James has been dying to see the Giraffes. And for some reason there was a long queue to see them inside. Was the 30 minutes worth it? Well not for the giraffes but yes for all the fun we had in the queue as we waited. I loved making them giggle so much.

We had some lunch there and then we headed home. George took a nap and then we played until dinner time. We then made our cupcakes for our family birthday. Our anniversary was the 27th but things were so busy we didn’t have the time. And the boys didn’t let us forget it. I am grateful they love our family birthday celebration so much. We had some delicious cupcakes before we headed to bed.

Friday 2/1

Today was James’s choice of activity. He chose to have a slow morning full of wrestling and reading. I am loving these slow morning. I honestly feel like it’s such a special day when we stay home. For the past 5 years we have been go go go.

After we had lunch we then got on the bike and headed to Madame Tussaud’s. This was James’s choice and he was so excited. I don’t know why this place was on the top of his list but I love that we can come here so easily with our Merlin Pass.

I was expecting it to be so quiet since it was just past the New Year and normally London empties out. But I was dead wrong! The queue to get in was so long. And then when we went inside it was nearly shoulder to shoulder as we walked through the place.

It’s basically a selfie factory so if the boys wanted to get close to any of the figures we had to wait. But what the boys mostly love are any buttons they can press. They dance in every corner. James and George had so much joy despite the crowds.

I was a bit nervous because the kids would get through the crowds faster than us but it was all good and made us go through the place quicker. The boys were thrilled when they saw David Attenborough. We have just finished his new documentary called Wild London.

I loved seeing them stand next to Taylor Swift. Ever since I saw her docuseries on Disney+ I have become a swiftie. I love her. And the boys love rocking out to her music. This was Matt’s first time to Madame Tussaud’s and he was wondering why so many people come here haha!

What Matt was looking forward was seeing the Jack the Ripper area. These wax figures were literally made when the murders were happening in 1888. We have just listened to a history podcast about Jack the Ripper so it was so cool to see this section.

We then hoped on the ride and learned some London history. Matt said it felt like he was in a bad dream. We then made it to the superhero section. This is George’s favourite area. We spent our sweet time with each superhero. The boys loved touching their favourites.

There is a 4D film in the heroes section. This time we sat in seats where you could feel the effects and the boys loved it. And finally it was the Star Wars section. James was so excited to show his dad this area. It was so busy which made Matt a bit anxious. They loved showing their dad and reenacting scenes.

It was nice to see them get back into the world of Star Wars. It has been a while since we have watched any Star Wars. With early school nights we just don’t have that extra time to have a film night. But maybe in the summer we will start up again.

We walked through the gift shop and made it without taking anything home. There is still so much clutter at home I just feel anxiety with the thought of bringing more in without taking out the clutter. We cycled back home and had dinner. We then headed off to bed together.

Saturday 3/1

We had no plans today which felt so special. I love it when the day is mine. I mean they have always been mine but know I am really doing it for me and not because of pressure. We spent the morning reading together. The boys loved touching their cuddling up to me and reading a chapter book with me.

After lunch George took a nap. Once he was awake we headed to Westfield. We got there a bit before our film so we headed to Hamley’s. James wanted a beyblade for his birthday (next Sunday) and since we had time this Saturday opposed to the next we got it today with him.

Both James and George got one and they were so happy. They just couldn’t stop. I love their joy. We then went to the cinema to see the new SpongeBob film. Matt really wanted to see this one and we giggled through it. The boys don’t really watch it but they like the jokes.

We then headed home. The boys grabbed some cardboard (which our house is filled with at the moment) and set up a beyblade stadium. They had the best time and went for over an hour. It was so fun to watch. When the time came we went straight to bed.

Sunday 4/1

The boys got ready for church so fast in the morning because they wanted to pull out their stadium to play beyblades. These days we only play in the bedroom because the playroom is so cluttered. It’s bad. I can’t wait until I Swedish Death Clean the playroom.

Church was at 9am and we actually made it early! We drove that morning because it was -7 outside and I did not want to cycle in a dress. James and George had a blast with their friend Giulio. They were quite loud but I am happy they had each other. We actually got to listen to the Fast and Testimony meeting.

After Sacrament I took the boys up to Primary. George is finally in primary! He was unsure but was so happy to sit next to James during singing time. He didn’t even need me! Then we went into our classes. I went in with George. He did so well! I am so proud of him.

We then got home before lunch which is so strange! I actually think I like 9am church more. George had a nap and then we played the rest of the day. I can’t believe Matt goes back to work tomorrow. We all love having him home relaxed. It has been such a beautiful 2 weeks of holiday. Next week we get back into the routine of things. 2026 is here and I really home this is the year I can clear my life so I can live presently.