does any one have any advice on how to get a two year old to follow directions?

yes, take it step by step.  for example, if u want her to put a toy away, give each step to her.  wait until she completes it b4 giving the next step.  1. pick up toy. 2. go to your room. 3. put in toybox.

they are smart poeple they will get it just not as fast as us.

make it fun so they think of it as a game

Teresa,

I started Tae Kwon Do a few months ago and I had to learn to count to 10 in Korean.  When it's time to pick up toys, I start picking up toys and counting each toy in Korean.  My kids are 2 and 4 and within a few weeks have learned to count to ten in Korean.  I also play the color game.  We have some mega blocks and my 2 year old doesn't know his colors just yet (except yellow).  My 4 year old does.  So I have my 4 year old pick up just one color of blocks while she counts in Korean.  My 2 year old sees what she is doing and follows suit.  It's really fun and it makes the job tons easier.