Katy Turns 9! Where Have the Years Gone?

On March 16, 2012, Kathryn Eliza Cook turned 9 years old! I have no idea where the past nine years have gone! They have been filled with wonderful memories made within our family, but the time has passed us by like water flows in a stream..."You can always see the water moving, and you don't realize that the water that just flowed through, although beautiful and real, is now gone forever." I am trying in this life, to take advantage of all the time we have together, the good and the bad, because if it were gone, even the bad, would be the good!
We go to experience a lot of "the good" on Katy's 9th birthday! We are so proud of the hear she has! Instead of presents this year, she asked her friends to please bring the money they would normally spend on a birthday present, and bring it to help "Bring Lucy Home." Lucy is a little girl in China who will soon be a part of Amy and Brian Trout's family! They will go to China to bring her home in April. Katy has taken this adoption into her heart and wanted to do something special to help bring her home! We are amazed at her unselfish and generous heart! God has special plans for life, I just know it!
We had a Rock Star party, where each girl dressed up like their favorite music star! Katy was so excited to have all her friends over for a sleepover and lots of Rock Star fun! And as a bonus, we had the house to ourselves for the weekend! Darren and the boys went to the cabin with Papaw Cook and Austin.
Katy's excitement rose with each arrival of one of her friends. The moment she had been waiting for was finally here! The party began! We took lots of pictures, we danced to lots of songs, we sang, we played outside, we painted lots of fingers and toes, had a fashion show...we ate tacos and birthday cake (in the form of a blue and zebra print guitar)!
We had 10 girls in all! The celebrities in attendance were:

Katy Cook-Taylor Swift
Sydney Patterson - Carrie Underwood
Lelia Barnard - C.C. from "Shake It Up"
Maggie Plemmons - Francesca Battistelli
Keera Smart - Jeremy Camp
Haley Noe - Taylor Swift
Jala Stamey - Lady GaGa
Elizabeth Beck - Carrie Underwood
Madison Crawford - Rocke from "Shake It Up"
Emry Crouch - Christina Aguilara

On Saturday morning we had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast! Then the girls proceeded to play Dance Party and Sing It on the Wii, and play outside and upstairs until their parents came to pick them up.
Katy and I enjoyed some "Mom and Daughter" time that afternoon! We went to get our toe nails done, then up to Say Hey Boutique to make an exchange! That night we just hung out together, watching a movie of Katy's choice, "Legally Blondes" one of the sequels to Legally Blond with Reece Witherspoon. Then, of course, she slept with me that night!
The next morning we went to church, ate at a benefit lunch to support Ashely Faggard to go on a mission internship. Then we came home, chilled out, and waited for the boys to come home.
All in all, we had a great birthday weekend!

Katy,
We are blessed beyond measure to have you as our daughter! You are so beautiful both inside and out! We know that God has great plans for you! So, we pray you will continue to grow in your faith continue to develop the kind and loving heart you possess! You are AMAZING! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!

xoxoxo

Love,

Your Family