Missing the Lazy Days of Summer

I'm nearly three weeks in to a new school year. I'm loving my class. Nine boys, nine girls...nine third graders, nine fourth graders...It's a perfect blend. But getting back into the swing of things and leaving my little guys behind for another year is so hard. Oh how I miss the lazy days of summer....although they did not feel lazy at the time. I enjoyed sleeping in until at least 6:30 or 7.
How I long for days of walking the neighborhood early before the stickiness of the hot summer sun hit for the day or drawing with chalk on our sidewalks and sketching a setting perfect for playing Baby Moses and leaving Daddy little notes to welcome him home
Hanging out in p.j's for as long as we want to and building boats and tunnels and houses with couch cushions
Spending time painting and drawing and cutting and gluing and making wonderful things from play-doh
Listening to books being read by my three year old and sharing a few stories of my own.
Seeing dolls scattered around the room, lovingly wrapped up in blankets for "naptime"
Playing doggie and kitty with a cardboard box doghouse and eating sandwiches cut into bone and dog shapes and making cookies with the same cutters and eating cocoa puffs from a never-been-used kitty food bowl
Zooming around corners catching a little boy, bouncing balls and racing to be first to get them
Enjoying trips to the park anytime we feel up to it
Seeing every new milestone and watching baby guy learn so many new things and grow like a weed and sit, enthralled with his new haircut
Seeing family and going on mini vacations and splashing at the water park and in the pool.
Having picnics and fancy tea parties. Playing games like Sneaky Snacky Squirrel and doing all the things we never have much time for during the school year
Yes, I'm longing for the days of summer, but I'm so glad to have a long weekend coming up. I think I'll spending it capturing a little more of those carefree days like I was able to last Sunday...