Two!!!!!

This will quite possibly be the longest post I've ever done, but it's his birthday, right? Saturday morning, (the 10th) is when the big party happened. Unfortunately he woke up at about 6:30am; I guess he just knew it was an exciting day that needed to get started. The night before I had decorated the house like crazy with balloons everywhere and streamers flowing on the ceiling. So, he was pleased when he woke up to go straight to balloons. He also stole his first present out of it's hiding place in our room. It's a pool "noodle" with a dragon head. I love this picture below because of his face and Nathan hiding in the background. He was chasing Nathan with the dragon noodle saying "rar!"


and of course a birthday balloon beating.

This was once we got to the zoo. We were waiting for everyone at the entrance, and this awesome tree was there. It's definitely something out of a tropical jungle. There should be monkeys swinging in it, and it's HUGE. I love how I caught him mid-run by looking straight at the camera.
These next 3 pictures are a funny story. These 3 were playing around that big tree as we were waiting for the rest to arrive. They all climbed up on that bench, one after the other. So, I took this picture really quickly. Then....

The next thing I know they're all like this. They were yelling and "spitting" over the bench. I'm pretty sure Levi started it. So proud of my little trend setter.
It was a fun day because of how they all play together.

I think the Elephants were the first animals we saw. This is Levi's Elephant impression.
This little elephant statue was so cute. I wanted to take a picture of just it. Levi walked up and stared at it, but wouldn't touch it until I explained to him that it's a toy and not real. And I of course had to pet it first. He's a suspicious daisy.
The monkeys! Levi's favorite. Every animal we saw after the monkeys just weren't as satisfying for him. He kept saying, "Monkey?" Well actually he said, "I-Ey" It's an extra bonus to have that background at your zoo. I LOVE my boys.
This is when we were at the Tiger Exhibit. It had it's back to us, so here Levi is saying "Tiger!" trying to call it to us. When he yells, he puts his hand over his mouth, instead of cupping his mouth.

It's so cute to see him have friends. He asks after them when they're not around, wanting to see them. I remember at his first birthday he couldn't care less about other kids. He'd rather not have to deal with them. It's so fun to see him become social.
The zoo has a little KeiKei zoo, as it's called, at the end. Just a petting zoo. So, one second we were petting this little lamb, and then the next....
This crazy lipped lama with British teeth was all up in our grill. And all I thought was "Somebody's throwing rocks or something. You gonna start a fire or what? What's going on?"
After the zoo we all headed back to our house for lunch and cake action. I have to show the cakes I made for him. They're pretty fly.

Here we are singing happy birthday and what not.

This was him waiting patiently for the cake to be cut and passed out.
He was pretty into the whole cake scene. He got a piece of each cake, of course. Although, I don't think he's shoving into his mouth in this picture. I think he's laughing with JoJo; lots of times when he laughs he covers his mouth.

He got icing everywhere! I had to go hose him down and change his clothes. There was allot of icing on those cakes. But, it makes for darling pictures.
I bought a little poster for all the kids to color together as a gift for Levi. He's gonna hang it in his room.

Opening presents.....

I think Levi had lots of fun with all his friends over for the whole day. He got to see real live animals that he always talks about and gets tested on their noises. Then all his friends came to his house and sang to him, gave him presents and generally focused on him all day. I don't think he fully understood why exactly, but he still liked it. And I was very glad for him to have this big party. I think birthdays should be celebrated for days; as long as you can keep it going. They should be a big deal with lots of people focusing it all on you! Once we're in the mainland again, he's gonna get huge parties with so much love and attention from his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins....it'll be so fun for him.
This is on his real birthday. Sunday morning, (Mother's Day) we went to church. They sang happy birthday to him in the nursery because Nancy was the worker that morning. Then after church we went out to eat at the PX where there is a play place. After that he had to take a nap. He was pretty exhausted from the party the day before (as was I).

After his nap he got to open his presents from mama and papa. The bed was his big gift, but I couldn't keep from getting him some smaller ones.

Here he's opening "The Little Mermaid." That is from Papa; he had me call around stores until I found it, because it was one of his favorites as a child and he wanted to pass it on.


Miss Nancy and Valentino gave Levi this house for his birthday. They had it given to them at a garage sale, but they didn't have room for it in their backyard, and Valentino didn't really care too much about it. But Levi loved it. anytime he saw it he'd say "House. House. House" run to it, and spend all his time playing there. So, they gave it to him. On his birthday, we took cake outside to eat it and let Levi play for a while.
When he goes in the house he usually stands by the "front door" and says, "Dogy! In!" Yesterday Pippin kept jumping in and out through the window, and that just had Levi awe struck.

We got Levi more hot wheels and a little case to store them all in. The case also has a car launcher on the top of it. The cars may be his favorite present. He loves his cars. And he has been lining them up like this. Then he counts them and claps.

Our little buddy is two years old now. He is officially a toddler and he's growing up. He talks all day long...most of it you can understand. He even draws circles now and can identify them...."Ircle." He's very close to being potty trained. He sleeps in a big boy bed. He says "please" & "thank you" without being prompted (for the most part). He sings and dances. He has friends whom he's learning to share with and laugh with and pretend with. He's a good boy.