Not ALL the neighbors bite

Did I mention that we have new neighbors?

Neighbor Sue (the one with the dog who bit my ass) has a 2 family house and a new family moved into the vacant floor.  Evan was uber excited about it because his friend Nick, from his school/grade now lives right across the street from us! 

When I got home last week Nick was over.  It started getting late and Evan hadn't done his homework and as much as I HATE to tell kids to go home, I had to break the news to him that Evan hadn't done his homework yet.  And then it struck me....this kid had been at my house all afternoon playing....

"Nick, have you done your homework?"

"Ummmmm......no" he said.

Obviously, I told him that he needed to do his homework too.  I had a feeling that was the last thing he was planning on doing.  He said it was hard so I told him to go get the worksheet and come back.  He could do it here with Evan and me.  He came back a half hour later carrying only a pen. (?)  He said he couldn't find it but he'd copy Evan's worksheet if I'd help him figure it out.  That was alot more work than it should've been, but he got it all done and went home happily.

It seems that Nick's mom doesn't check homework and doesn't make him go to bed on school nights (!). 

Fast forward to 2 nights ago.  Evan had a big project due on Wednesday and as I was at the sox game Monday night, I told him he could finish it (the lion's share) on Tuesday night.  So I get home from work Tuesday and Evan says "Mom, if Nick gets a bad grade on this project he'll fail, he'll have to go to summer school, he might stay back....I thought he was going to throw in earth quakes next.  And could he come over and do it here?

So Nick's back with his pen and back pack.  Somehow he lost ALL the paperwork and hadn't even started the project.  Ugh.  As Evan was finishing his, Nick was just starting.  We painstakingly went through ALL the steps required.  I made him read every little thing about the Roman colosseums, he drew his pictures, wrote his letter, and answered a ton of questions. OMG In only 3 hours he was done.  ("only" was sarcasm)  In the end he held up his multipage report with every item that was requested done and done well.  He looked at his finished product and exclaimed "This is the best report I've ever done!"  The look of pride on his face was priceless.  He didn't even mind that I had to yell at him (just a little bit) to keep him focused.  :)

Last night he was over (again) because it was Evan's spring concert and I asked him if he remembered to turn in his report.  Sometimes, turning it in is hard to remember.  He told me that he had and he said Mr. Burke looked at it and said it was amazing and easily his best work.  He might even get an A on it and he's never even gotten a B on reports before.

So I made a deal with Mr. No Bed Time.  I said "If you get an A, you have to go to bed at 10pm on school nights!"  He said he usually goes to bed by midnight and he didn't exactly agree.  Not yet anyway.  And of course Evan piped in that his bed time was 9:30 and totally unfair and he should stay up till 10pm too.  As if!

Although I did let Evan stay up till 10 last night because of his concert and he didn't really eat until afterwards.  I offered Nick a bagel and cream cheese and he said "Oh I'm good, I had a bag of potato chips today." OMFG

His mom, doesn't give him dinner, make him go to bed OR check his homework.  Oh and she ain't the sharpest tool in the shed either.  When she saw the racoons on our porch she said "You better hope they don't get in your flute.  If they get in the flute they'll lay eggs there and you'll never get rid of the babies once they hatch." And yes, she said "flute" TWICE, which is nothing compared to her racoon egg theory.

Josie