Changes for Carlie

This spring has been our hands down BUSIEST spring ever--definitely NOT bragging just realizing that I need to prioritize and re-think our spring activities next year:)  We were over-scheduled for sure but we made it work.

HUGE happening in our home that I have not blogged about--Carlie switched schools at the semester.  This was  a decision that a lot of fasting and prayer went in to.  She was miserable at her jr high.  I can't tell if the jr high years are just miserable for most kids OR if our daughter was the only one.  She didn't talk to anyone, she got the "Ms. Serious" award in band, and she never did anything with anyone she went to school with.  She was getting straight "A"s but was just going through the motions of everyday life--definitely NOT the girl that I see on stage or with her theatre friends.

Enter Heritage:  There is a charter school in Mesa--Heritage Academy--that is right in the downtown area near the temple.  It's a grade 7-12 school that's been open since 1998 and is run by a very conservative principal (who is a constitution expert).  Average class size is 13 kids and graduating classes are about 75 kids.  So a MUCH smaller school with no room to expand (because of it's location) and so getting in is extremely difficult.  So we started working on the application process over a year ago and they had a spot open up for her on the last day of school in December 2013.  So that day was a BLUR as I rushed around getting all her paperwork done, uniforms bought, transcripts sent, AND all my son's info turned in for the NEXT year--siblings are grand-fathered in.

So she hit the ground running in January.  She was put in the "advanced 8th grade orchestra" but after 2 weeks the band director realized that she was WAY beyond the level of musicianship of the 8th graders and bumped her right up to the top high school "Chamber Orchestra."  She is the first oboe at the school in about 5 years and she is blowing them all away with her skills:)  SOOO proud of her in this accomplishment.

Carlie with Orchestra friends at Heritage's "Grammy Night"

She also joined the softball team at the school--something she would have NEVER done at Santan.  This school is definitely more focused on the fine arts BUT they have a pretty darn good sports program as well--they only play other charter schools in the area so they don't get crushed by the regular schools around.  Carlie always enjoyed playing softball through the city for 4 seasons and jumped onto the 8th grade girl's team and did extremely well.  I learned SOOO much about softball this year just watching her games.  Funny story:  At her first game, Carlie comes up to bat 4th in the line-up.  Chris says, "Yes!  She' bats 4th!"  Me: "What does that mean other than she's 4th in line?"  Chris:  "It means she's the best hitter--the "clean-up hitter!"  Who knew?!  Not me:)  So she was the best hitter on the team and was the first-base man.  The team ended up with 5 wins and 5 losses so they were pretty fair.  Next year, Carlie hopes to make the varsity team at the high school.  I am beyond thrilled that she is doing something athletic!

So have we solved ALL of our teenager's problems?  Who knows.  Only time will tell.  For now it seems to have been the right move--top orchestra/best hitter & first-baseman and oh yeah…she's been invited to 2 birthday parties!!!  So for now, all seems great:)