Camp Sunshine: A cause near and dear to my heart!

Hey-o! As my Instagram friends know, I've been at camp ... which has made it really difficult to "plug in" to the online world (boo!). I am enjoying the beautiful outdoors, but I had to stop by and drop y'all a quick note to plug my favorite, favorite, favorite charity - a children's camp called Camp Sunshine. 

It's a camp and community that supports children with cancer and their families, and while it began as a week of camp for children with cancer, it's grown to become so much more. Camp Sunshine is truly a support system for children with cancer - it's a place, one a week a year, that they can feel "normal," rather than feeling like an outsider with the big, bad cancer monster looming over their shoulders. It's a group of people who understand what you may be going through. For families, Camp Sunshine functions may be the only time they see their child smile.  They might even be the only times they themselves relax enough to enjoy a moment or two without the, "What if ..." questions looming over their heads. 

My brother, Christopher, is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was ten and I was twelve. We spent many, many nights in the hospital room where he was a patient on and off. For years he wore a baseball cap to school  - when he was well enough to attend. His friends from middle school still remember him as the kid in the baseball cap. For a middle schooler, who just wants to be like everyone else, being "the kid the baseball cap" was agonizing. At Camp Sunshine he could be one of the crowd - everyone was in a cap (or not!), everyone had to go to the health hut and get their medicine, everyone had a scar on their chest from the chemotherapy port. At Camp Sunshine he was just a kid, getting to run, play, swim and tie-dye with the support of doctors and nurses who could keep him safe. It was the biggest blessing we could have imagined at the time. 

Now a healthy 25-year-old engineer (I'm bragging!), Christopher uses most of his vacation time from work to volunteer at Camp Sunshine functions (I'm still bragging!), and he's committed to raising $5,000 to support children at camp and the many functions Camp Sunshine offers through the year as a support for these kids and their families.

I would be so thankful if you'd consider donating any small amount to the cause that is near and dear to our hearts. The link is here, if you're interested in learning more (and reading Christopher's story) or donating.

And ... because he's awesome - a special Camp Sunshine clothes post to go along with our teacher clothes posts!! :) 

He says: 

Some style points to note:
- Bracelets: one for every year I've been to camp!
- Watch: have to make sure we're always on time for all of the amazing activities!
- Nametag: Everyone has to wear a nametag so that the nurses know who's who when giving meds.
- Camelbak: Hydration is key. Not to mention its perfect for lugging camper's stuff and schedules
- Sunscreen: it's always sunny at Camp Sunshine! But unfortunately bald heads and UV rays don't mix...
- Running shoes: They're neon! What's not to like?! And they make me run faster.

Life Lately ....

I've been largely absent from the blog with end of year and trips to see friends and family {yay!} but I have been floating around Instagram during this busy month. Here are a few pictures of life lately ... 

Row One: 1. My favorite Vera Bradley backpack! 2. Tea + DRAs ... my life 3. Field Day fun! 4. Sudoku - awesome way to think logically at the end of the year 5. Road trip to a mountain cabin with friends and our pups :)
Row Two: 1. Tie-dye - stained hands 2. 40 2nd graders in 40 minutes for tie-dye ... shew! 3. Oobleck experiments for matter! 4. LOVE me some cider 5. Painting our learning journals for this unit! 

Row One: 1. My classroom!  2. Our push/pull wall for Community Night #4  3.  Solids, liquids and gas wall for Community Night 4.  Favorite outfit 5. Working on fractions!  

Row Two: 1. Random painting in my room 2. The BEST hair oil 3. Splattering paint Jackson Pollock-style as we learn about force and motion 4. Me, my mom and brother for Mother's Day!  5. Beautiful Stephanie Ryan print I bought for my momma

Row One: 1. A little reading  2. The front seat of my car ... oy 3. Cousins!  4.  My adorable door from my parents for Teacher Appreciation 5. Yummy muffin that Mr. BBZ took a huge bite out of ... 

Row Two: 1. My mom and Cici on the way to see my grandma for Mother's Day 2.  New shoes from Target! 3. and 4. Zoom balls as we learn about force and motion  5. Another Stephanie Ryan print I bought for my momma in law

Currently AND Five for Friday!

Ohhhhh y'all. I'm tired. It's FRIDAY! We finished up our MAP testing this week, and my kiddos worked so so so so so hard. I'm immensely proud, but my little heart can't take the stress! Testing, boo.

Anyway, every week I see people with their linky parties going on, so I decided to hit all of them in one fell swoop. First, it's MAY! So ... linking up with Farley for a "Currently ..." 

AND  with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday! If you follow me on Instagram {my new obsession} you might have seen many of these ... 

Currently reading Zen Shorts by John J. Muth (close reading!), Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume (read aloud!), The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein (another close reading text!) and Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen (AWESOME for our poetry writing!) {all wonderful, beautiful fabulous books, and you KNOW I love a beautiful book} ...

These two - Mr. BBZ and our pup Cecelia - are my favorite.

We set off rockets this week as part of our forces and motion unit. The kids LOVED it {duh, so did I!}.

A happy Friday outfit that matches my classroom! Aerosole shoes ... #comfy. ;)

Got a haircut yesterday ... it was time. I don't include too many pictures of my face around here, so I figured this one was a great one to start with. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!@#)($&&$#!!! {I'm tired} #crackingmyselfup

And a BONUS .... another teacher clothes outfit! My favorite rodeo princess boots and Spring-y scarf, with a jersey pencil skirt that is, quite possibly, the closest thing I'll ever get to a real pencil skirt in an elementary classroom.

That's it for me - I'm off to bed. ;)  Don't forget to enter the MEGA giveaway of AWESOME TpT supplies!! 

Teacher Clothes: Target Skirt {and INSTAGRAM!}

P(re)S(cript) - Don't forget about our MEGA giveaway - it's SO easy to sign up! 

First things second ... HOW did I not hop on the Instagram train sooner? I've had an account for a while, but rarely added anything.  I joined back up for #teachertalktuesday and realized it's basically ... the best. Pretty pictures from my friends and other teachers? Yes please! I'm @ashleybbz, or click on that little camera over in the "Keep in Touch" section. 

Third - Instagram definitely fuels my teacher clothes addiction. I wish I could be half as stylish as the cute teachers over there! I posted this pic on #teachertalktuesday .... 

This is what it looks like in full. More evidence of my TOMS addiction!! That skirt is cute and I love it, but the waist is oddly tight. Or maybe that's a sign I need to run more .... {probably} #sadface. 

#teachertalktuesday

I am officially OBSESSED ... with Instagram. Follow me! I'm @ashleybbz. :)