Happy Holidays!
We are quickly headed into 2025! Here is a quick update on 2024 from Teo, Holly, and Al
2024
Happy Holidays from the Gonzales Family. We hope you have embraced all that was good this year and overcame the challenges that life brings. Enjoy this holiday season and best wishes for 2025!Our update begins with Teo. He moved into a campus apartment with roommates and is completing his second year at USC. He is studying history and photography. He uses the Metro to visit family and friends nearby. Spring Break was in New York with a visit to Connecticut. Complementing his studies and fun are part-time jobs at the USC Bookstore and as a photographer for the Daily Trojan newspaper. He joined the rock climbing club and continues to work with Kesem. Teo is also excited to go to Alaska to visit his long time friend at the end of the year. He misses his car very much. Fight on! ✌🏼Holly is completing her junior year at MVHS. Her schedule is unique and she has a couple of stellar teachers. At the end of last school year, Holly participated in the school musical as a part of the stage crew. She is extremely excited to graduate high school in 2026. She continues to dance, visits family on school breaks, and enjoys earning money. Holly was very nice to join Al at a couple of Stanford football games this past season.For Al, the big news was being recognized as Teacher of the Year for his middle school. The big news after that was taking a leave of absence from his job. (He returns to work in mid-January.) During the summer, Al and the kids joined David and his family in Florence and Venice, Italy. When David and family returned home, Al, Teo, and Holly went to London and Manchester, England. Teo added to the vacation by researching music-focused stops for their itinerary. When returning home, Al (with Holly's design-eye) remodeled the second floor. The house now has a new kitchen and laundry room, new floors, and more. During the school year and while on leave, Al made a number of trips with Jana. They rang in New Year's together on Angel Island. Their big trip was to Puerto Rico, Jana's birthplace. They have been camping on Mt. Tam, Yosemite and a few places along the coast. Jana has introduced Al to many hikes throughout the Bay Area and they look forward to more in 2025.At the end of 2024, we want to recognize the Los Angeles Dodgers for their World Series win! Happy Holidays to you and yours. Be safe and kind in 2025 and beyond.
2023
Happy Holidays from the Gonzales Family. We hope you have embraced all that was good this year and overcame the challenges that life brings. Enjoy this holiday season and best wishes for 2024!Our update begins with Teo. He started school at USC and is studying history and photography. He uses the Metro to visit family and friends nearby. Complementing his studies and fun are a part-time jobs at the USC Bookstore. Teo is also excited to go to Hawaii to visit family. He misses his car very much. Fight on! ✌🏼Holly is completing her sophomore year at MVHS. She continues to dance and visits family on school breaks, and enjoys earning money babysitting. Holly planned the family summer vacation to shot locations of a favorite TV show in South and North Carolina.For Al, he continues to serve as the lead teacher of the STRIVE program. He was excited to help with college applications and serve as a dance dad.At the end of 2023, we hope you have a great year ahead. Happy Holidays to you and yours. Be safe and kind in 2025 and beyond.
2021
Happy Holidays, everyone!We were fortunate to begin the year in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jennifer made another trip in May to visit her sister. Then, to celebrate their 20th anniversary, Al and Jennifer traveled the Big Island in July.Upon our return from Honolulu in January, Teo and Holly completed their school years online. By August, they were more than ready to return in person for their 8th and 11th grade years. Teo earned his black belt and continues to support his martial arts community as a co-teacher while continuing classes toward his second degree black belt. Holly remains active in dance and was able to perform again at Christmas in the Park in San Jose.Jennifer continues to teach at San Jose State University. She balances research and her teaching with other endeavors at work. For this semester, she taught a food systems course she designed. With all of her success, she is moving toward tenure.Al returned to Columbia Middle School this year as a candidate for a Masters degree in School Leadership from San Jose State University. His last class was December 6. He continues to lead the STRIVE program for students who struggle to engage with school.We hope you are safe, healthy, and having fun. Best wishes to you, family, and friends for a wonderful 2022!Love,The Gonzartles
2019
Ho! Ho! Ho! What a year! Jennifer started her 4th year at San Jose State University, Al returned to Columbia Middle School, and the kids started high school and middle school. Suddenly, we are headed to January of 2020! We hope you and your family are well.Teo
Teo started high school this year. We are proud of his work ethic and academic excellence. Teo is not yet taller than his dad. This will not be true much longer. He started his first job: walking the neighbor’s dog 3 days per week. He enjoys martial arts, running, and continues to read, read, read.Holly
Holly started middle school this year and plays the viola in the orchestra for school. She loves math and really loves her math teacher, Ms. Vargas. Holly is also on the Performance Team for her dance studio.We wish you the happiest of Holiday Seasons!
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2018
Ho! Ho! Ho! What a year! Jennifer started her 3rd year at San Jose State University, Al returned to Columbia Middle School, and the kids are moving through 5th and 8th grade. Suddenly, we are headed to January of 2019! We hope you and your family are well.Albert R. Gonzales
We are sad to share that on October 20, Al’s dad passed away. He will be missed by many including his wife, sons, their wives, step-daughters, grandchildren, sisters and brother. “I am proud of my dad and am grateful for all he taught me and shared with us throughout his years.”Teo
Teo is off to high school in 2019. He enjoys martial arts and continues to read, read, read.Holly
Holly is progressing through 5th grade and is learning to play the viola. She also enjoys her dance classes and dance TV shows.
2017
Ho! Ho! Ho! What a year! Jennifer is now a professor at San Jose State University, Al returned to the classroom, and the kids are moving through 3rd and 6th grade. Suddenly, we are in January of 2017! We hope you are your family are well.
Highlights
A National Parks Pass got us driving all last year. When mom and dad begin new jobs, a lot changes. Teo and Holly are very responsible as they manage school work, sports, and music.
Teo
Teo started Middle School this year. He bikes every morning, Chromebook in tow, to his 6 classes. He also reads...and reads...and reads.
Holly
Holly is progressing through 3rd grade with a love for writing and art. She also enjoys cars, Austin and Allyl (TV), and dancing.