We had to go to a new restaurant this year since Sonia's Lawrenceville location closed. We had been going to Sonia's for over ten years. We could have gone to Sonia's Buford location but everyone was starving and didn't want to drive that far. We settled on Dos Copas and it was a good choice. We filled up on chips, salsa, cheese dip and delicious food.
We had a fun time listening to Stephen talk about his first day of school. He has some rough students. The assistant principal made an announcement this morning to remind students of things not allowed at school to include inappropriate attire, cell phones, pagers, grills, automatic weapons. The students in his class all smiled at him to show their lack of grills except one student. Stephen told him he had to remove it. He sheepishly said for them not to watch then he sucked out the saliva before putting it in his pocket. Stephen blessed the food before we ate and concluded with, "Please don't let me get killed at school." Scott told him that was blasphemous. He said, "It was sincere." Then David said, "If you get killed, can I have your motorbike - strictly for selling purposes."
Kellie loves her new school, Brookwood Elementary! This is her 3rd year of teaching first grade but first in Gwinnett County. She said that it is a big change from her school in Gray, GA. Her Brookwood students first day achievement was like her middle of the year students in Gray. She was surprised at how advanced the students are. She is very happy to be teaching in Gwinnett! Brianne begins the teacher cohort at her school tomorrow. Greg begins classes next week. Bunk takes his senior pictures in two weeks. Patrick got braces last week. He is the fourth and last child to go through orthodontia. And the price has more than doubled since Stephen's treatment years ago.
Best wishes to everyone for a great school year!
I can't believe you guys have started school! Our girls don't start 'til the day after Labor Day. Nicole just had a new retainer made today as a couple of her teeth shifted a micrscopic bit and she doesn't want crooked teeth since she's already had the braces. I know they are expensive, but they are so worth it in the long run. Let's hope Patricks don't take as long as "Bunk's". Ashley had her senior pictures taken a couple weeks ago, now the tough decision of which to pick! Carol
I'm not up on the latest. You'll have to explain "grills."
Two gorgeous pictures. Everyone looks happy to be back at school. Patrick looks happy to be on his way to the glory of the Clayton trademark: beautiful smiles with straight, white teeth. I'll say a prayer that Stephen won't be killed at school but if he is, David gets a good price on his motorbike.
I'm ashamed I wrote that. I join you in wishing everyone a wonderful, joyous school year.
What a nice tradition!!
Yesterday was the first day of school. I asked Julia how it was. She answered, "what do you wanna know?" That is a far cry from previous school days when she started telling me of every bit of minutiae from the moment she stepped off the bus in the afternoon; who said what to whom, what others wore, especially the teacher, and anything and everything that I couldn't care less about. It started coming out when Aaron got home and wanted to discuss his first day at school. I, for one, and glad school has started again, though I wanted a weekend at the beach before now. Maybe after labor day...
Patrick looks so handsome and like such a "big boy" now. "Hercules, Hercules!"
I just survived my 2nd day as a 4th grade teacher. I have four sections of 4th grade, I'm teaching Reading and to my homeroom will teach English. Today is the first day our students switched classes and I could not figure out who each student was with only 55 minutes to tell them apart. By the end of the day they were all running together. I have some very chatty boys in my class. I only have five girls and the rest are boys (14).
Sue inspired me to start my own tradition with my family. We went out to eat Chinese last Thursday on their first day. Carol, can you believe we started last week? August 10th was their first day. My students didn't start until yesterday.
Grandma (and anyone else who is not hip on the lingo...), check out the latest and greatest ways to accessorize those pearly whites here.
I had to ask two of the same students today again to remove their mouth jewelry at the beginning of class. I actually got a tutorial from the second kid and a big rise out most of my students when I asked how they worked. While it was in its box, I took a closer examination. And it is very similar to a retainer that fits over your teeth. I used to think that the metal was molded to fit the person's teeth, but they are just generic covers with a wax type substance inside that then fits to their teeth. Regardless, I don't understand why anyone would want all that bling in their mouth!
P.S. Kellie had a great day at her new school, Brookwood. She has a very diverse class this year, which is a change from her past experiences. However, all of the kids are very very smart. Most of them can already READ even. It is going to be a big change for both of us this year.
Stephen,
Thanks for filling me in on grills. I'm grateful that my second graders are NOT into them!
Have a great school year!
Katie
I agree with you Stephen, why would anyone want the extra hardware in their mouth is beyond me. Maybe dentist will start making retainers look cool so kids will wear them longer. Christina, I can't believe how early school starts in the south. When are you done? We start Sept. 5th and are done June 8th. Carol
The cheapest ones were $155. How old are these kids?
Sue,
I love that your family believes in traditions. I'm so impressed that everyone was there. My family is the same way. I love tradition - I think it is important to a family!!!!!
Patrick,
Love the braces!!!! I thought you already had beautiful teeth. I'm sure they won't take as long as David's. And if I recall, I don't think it was David's fault that his took so long!!!! I won't say anymore about that.
Brianne,
What is a teaching cohart? Is that the same as student teaching. Anyway, good luck with it whatever it is.
David,
I can't believe you are starting your senior year. Are you going to enter the muscle contest like Stephen did? I told you when Stephen did it that if you did it I'd be there to see you win!!!!! I still think Stephen should have won the year he entered - he definitely had the best muscles!!!! Have a great school year and have fun!!!
Stephen,
Thanks for the explanation on the grillzs. I had no idea what in the world that was!!!!!! Good luck to you and Kellie on your new jobs. And a belated Happy First Anniversary!!!!!
I loved the catalog page you referred us to and I studied them and studied the prices and picked my favorites . . . But no, I didn't order one for myself. I've never seen anyone wearing these, but if the principal comes across the PA system with orders to remove them, I guess there are plenty in your area. Interesting. I really think I like this idea better than the gold tooth with the star in the middle. At least it's temporary. I wish you great success in your first year, Stephen. And do keep in touch on the blog if you can find the time.
Robbie, Stephen's students are 10th and 12th graders. If you are interested in a less expensive grill, Bunk showed me some more. Go to the top of the page he linked to his comment. Where it says Gold Teeth, there are pages of silver, platinum and gold ones. Mama, you can get your single gold tooth cap if you are inclined. I didn't see one with a star cut out but there was one with a cross for $4.99! Bunk showed me all the ones he thought were "tight" so now Christmas shopping won't be such a chore.
My co-workers and myself have gotten quite a lot of entertainment out of the thugfashion.com web site. The people I have shared it with had never heard of grillz's before either. We've decided that we should all get one - we thought they might be great ice breakers for the heated meetings we have been in. We also thought the individual gold teeth might be great also and they even come in a six pack!!!!!! We thought about the Christmas present idea also - one stop shopping on the web site!!!! :0)
Sue,
I probably have a hundred grand invested in teeth. The majority of it was Mom's money. I suppose another $100 is appropriate. Didn't see any that I liked, though.
Ms. Barbara,
The teacher cohort is a two year program that prepares us for teaching. We are having an orientation week right now, but next week we start our classes. I have classes from 8-5 (with a lunch break in between) on Monday and Wednesday and then I'm put in different elementary schools for seven weeks at a time on Tuesday and Thursdays, for the entire school day, and then I have a class afterwards for two hours on Tuesdays of each week. I also have a tech ed class five Fridays a semester. They try to allow us to sample a different grade level for the four placements in our junior year. For our senior year, they try to put us in our top two choices for the full fledge student teaching. I'm very excited about it, but it has been an exhausting week! I'll be sure to keep you posted on how things are going!!
Hi Brianne,
Thanks so much for the explanation. It's sounds exciting but exhausting. What a great program though. Please keep me up on your progress. We definitely don't keep in touch enough. Please e-mail me at work any time you have a moment (hahaha) and keep me up on how things are going.
Sue, I love the beginning of the year night out. We went but we are EXTREMELY limited by our choices. My people are so picky and not everyone was satisfied. I wish we would have stayed home and ordered pizza. Going out to eat with the whole family is rarely fun.....maybe when they get older.....
I never knew that those disgusting grills weren't permanent! While I still don't like them, I don't think they are AS stupid as if they were permanent. I thought people were actually drilling into good teeth to place the jewelry in.