The flu has hit the Culver house.

Well George took the girls to the doctor yesterday and they have the flu. They are treating it as swine flu even though they did not know for sure. They said they are treating all flu patients as the swine flu because it is not the regular flu season yet. George took them because I did not feel like going. I guess I have got it to. Erin and Ashley have both been sick and Anna started feeling bad last night. We have all been in bed and everything around us keeps piling up, laundry, dishes, and trash...yeah. Most importantly our homework is piling up. I have missed my first two days of school this semester and I am terrified of how I will catch back up. If you remember I said a while back that I had to stay on track and I was terrified of stepping to left even an inch. I feel like I have fell off the wagon. Pray for us. I am trying hard not to get discouraged it is just so hard not to sometimes. Hope you all are well.

Pumpkin Carving Time!

Erin's little monster!

Ashley's little ghost!

Anna's monster face!

Luke's Big T...Go Vols!!

Anna really wanted this monster on her pumpkin

The dots show you where to cut.

Luke was in for a big surprise....They all were.

Ashley loved her ghost.

Do you remember the good ole days when you carved a pumpkin and you used triangles for the eyes and nose and a crazy shape for the mouth? Well that is not how it is done these days. We have to get the pumpkin carving kit and design a more detailed pumpkin. Its all in good fun though. Last year we actually carved names into the pumpkins. We printed off their names in a fun font and then taped it on the pumpkin, poked dots around the letters and then cut around the dots. Pretty neat. This year the only one we printed out was Luke's... he is begining to like Tennessee since he has gotten to watch football a few times this year. He told me last night...."Mom we need a big play!" I just thought that was too funny. I don't think we needed a big play just a kicker. Anyway back to the pumpkins, hope you all enjoy our pics.

By the way say a prayer for us. I knew the kids were not feeling well so I left them at home with George while I went to church this morning. After we came inside from doing the pumpkins this afternoon Erin and Ashley both said they did not feel well. They have been coughing on and off the last couple of days but now they are both running low grade fevers. I guess we will be extending the fall break tomorrow.

Luke enjoying the truck

We all enjoyed the train

Waiting in line for a ride

This ride was harder than it looks

All of the kiddos

Avery is ready for this to be over

Wow that is a big pumpkin!

The whole gang..my dad, sister, grandparents and kids

Little Abby.

Well my little Luke has been under the weather lately. He has had a cough for over two weeks but no fever. I waited a little too long to take him to the doctor. I kept hoping it would go away on its own... He had the croup, which for some reason is not uncommon for him. They gave him a breathing treatment and some steroids and he is getting better each day.
My dad came and got the girls and let them spend the night with him Friday night. Saturday we went to the family reunion for my dad's side of the family. It is always fun when we get together. The kids did a few arts and crafts and we ate and talked. The girls put on a little concert, which everyone loved. Then we went to my grandmother's house on my mom's side. All of my family except my mom lives up in Roane County. With that said we have to try to visit everyone that we can while we are up there. I just love my granny!!
On Monday we went to Dollywood. We had such a good time. I usually get a little "frazzled"when we go to places like that, but this day was so nice. The weather was good and the kids were well behaved (for the most part.) We watched some of the shows. It helped that we took Erin's friend Ashlyn so they could ride together. Then I hit some of the outlet stores and we ate at Corky's BBQ...yummy. Only downfall is that I gave Erin my cell phone so I could keep in contact with her and it fell out of her pocket while she was on the rollercoaster :( Not to worry, I have my old phone and I have ordered a new SIM card for it so I will back to normal in no time.
Hard to believe fall break is half over :(

Fun times!

Luke's photograph of Ashley :)
Erin with her friend Ashlyn

Can you spot the needle in the haystack? :)

The BAD boys!!

Luke enjoying some cotton candy.

Anna with Ninnie

Can you see a little hair?

Some liked the clown(s) more than others:)

We have been sooo busy lately. School is going full force and it seems like George and I always have our nose in a book or a laptop. If I am not doing that I am in a car going somewhere. We are so looking forward to fall break. We have decided to go to Dollywood on Monday. George gets in free there with his work and we like free here at the Culver house. We are also going to a family reunion for my dad's side of the family on Saturday and then if it does not rain we will head out to the pumpkin patch in Crossville. Now that I write all of that it just seems like more busy???
Well we went to the circus this past weekend and we had a good time. Luke keeps asking to go back. He loved the elephants and tigers, I think he needs a trip to the zoo. On Monday we went to Erin's concert at school. That choir is huge. She has such a beautiful voice, I love to hear her sing.
Update on mom.......If you notice her hair is growing quickly! She will have yet another surgery this Friday. Say a prayer for her. She had a port placed in her upper chest to have access for her chemo. They had to do this because if the medicine had actually touched her skin it would have burned, also it kept her from having a new iv inserted each time. Anyway, she has been given permission to have it removed. That is awesome! Most people have to wait six months to a year after their chemo has finished. The doctors want to make sure the cancer is not going to come back before they remove it. We are so thankful for how well she is doing, God is good!!