King's vs. Pacer's for RJ's Birthday

We got to go to the King's game tonight for RJ's birthday, courtesy of our friends Bethany and Mike, which was awesome!  We were about 10 rows back and it was really cool being so close!!!  RJ loves to cheer and yell, and actually yells "Kings Go!" and "Defense" and "Alright!"  hahaha  Such a sweet boy!  We got posters, and lots of pictures, and overall had a ton of fun!  RJ was even on the jumbo-tron once for about 5 seconds!  : )  Unfortunately the King's lost, but it was still lots of fun and we can't wait to go to another game!

RJ's 2nd Birthday at FairyTale Town!

I cannot believe that our baby Ray Jude is 2 years old!  He is not a baby anymore, that is clear!  He is running, jumping, climbing, somersaulting, talking, counting, you name it!  He is so full of life and has such sweet personality traits.  He is inquisitive, a very good listener (when he wants to be!), and has such a good memory!  He will take books off of the shelf and remember very specific parts of the book, and make sure to turn to that page so he can tell you all about it.  Once he pulled a book from our friends Marco and Catie "The Night Before Christmas" - they had written a note on the inside cover.  He was about 22 months old, mind you the last Christmas he experienced he was 13 months old.  He took the book to Daddy and says, "Marco."  Clear as day, right to Ryan he says "Marco."  WHAT?!  How the heck does he remember us telling him that???? 

He says words all day long about what is happening, what happened, what he wants to happen!  :)  He loves our dogs, Shooter and Winnie, and our new cat, The Machine aka Kitty/Cat/Whatever gets him to listen...  He plays with them and rolls around on the floor with them - he truly loves his animals, and when he is mean to them we make sure he says "sorry."  He rencently has been saying "sorry" on his own accord, which is pretty funny and really makes you step back as a parent and say, "Okay, I don't need to be so harsh, you understand."  :)  He also says "thank you" on his own accord occassionally, and it makes me SO PROUD!  He loves doing things!  He loves going to the park, on walks, to Nanney's, to the store, anything.  He likes to be a part of it all.  Once at the park with our Nana, he walked up to a group of strangers and just stood with them and listened to what was happening.  It was hilarious.  He is so clever and I just could never have imagined what a wonderful boy we would have in our lives!

For his 2nd birthday we took him to FairyTale Town in downtown Sacramento near the Sacramento Zoo. He had a total blast, and although it was a bit chilly, I am just happy that we did not get rained on! He ran around with his cousins, uncle and aunt, and friends and loved every minute! There were sheep, goats, a donkey, a cow, chickens, rabbits, slides, jungle gyms, tons of fun stuff for a speedy little boy to experience! I am so thankful that we have such loving and wonderful family and friends - they really did make for a great birthday!

Ready for his birthday party! 

There I am!  He says he's "2"!  :)

Not too thrilled.  hmmm

Had to inch down this one... 

Lovin his daddy! 

Braying like a horse.  :)

Just chillin like a villain.

Them's some steep stairs!

A DONKEY!

My "you want me to smile so bad right now, don't you?"  face.

wow.

Maddie, our friend's Jen and Gary's daughter.  She is super sweet!

Eatting pizza.

Cole, Makenna and Christian playing.

Randy, Marco, Catie, Rhonda, Jen, Cheyenne, and Gary. 

Lots of friends and family were able to make it, we were so glad!

My Grandma Vi, so glad she and Bill were able to make it!

Kaila, Savannah and RJ - one of my fav's of the day!

Makenna and mama.

The cake - worked out really well!

Okay, so I had been singing the birthday song to him, so he would recognize it and as soon as everyone started singing he got this maniacal smile on his face, like "this is about me!"  hahaha

Seriously he is loving it!

Blew it right out!

My mama and me, so lucky to have her help - thanks mom!

Aw, gotta love it!

Heather and me - so glad she, Aaron and the kids could be there!

A tie-dye shirt from Papa and Popyah, so awesome!

Ripping it right open.

A Toy Story 3 book, with a special wand that helps you learn to read

from Auntie Liz, Uncle Rob and all of my cousins!  So cool!

A Tonka Firetruck from Heather and Aaron!  (He's playing with it as I type.)

HE LOVES THIS!  A dump truck from our friends Mike and Jenn and their baby Vincent.

Auntie Catie and her nephew Vincent Marco.

Our great friend Rhonda, sorry the sun was in your eyes, but I HAD to post it, I love you!

Vincent and me.  Just hanging out, you know.

The 3 of us.  :)