John Wayne Trivia: Allegedly John Wayne gave Sammy Davis Jr. the first cowboy hat he ever wore in a film.

October 31st: Duke did awesome this Halloween. He was Clark  Kent for Daycare and the Red Power Ranger for Trick or Treating. He ran from house to house and this kid crushed it, his bucket is 100% full.

It's amazing how Duke has done from this costume his first year, to these over the past 4 years.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

 

"When I started, I knew I was no actor and I went to work on this Wayne thing. It was as deliberate a projection as you'll ever see. I figured I needed a gimmick, so I dreamed up the drawl, the squint and a way of moving meant to suggest that I wasn't looking for trouble but would just as soon throw a bottle at your head as not. I practiced in front of a mirror." John Wayne

October 23rd: Newest update from Duke's Teacher. I very proud of how well Duke is doing and am so proud of him, he's fantastic.

• "Duke had a great week at school! I am so glad that you were able to come to the bounce house. I know that he had a great time and I hope you had a great time meeting the other parents. Duke is doing really well using words in the classroom. We know that he is very capable so we always encourage him to try to use his words when he wants something or when he is trying to tell us something. His little stubborn behaviors continue to improve every single day. He is making it through circle time without indicating that he wants to be somewhere else. He is doing really well with following directions in the classroom and transitioning through our routine with fewer prompts. We are really proud of him :)" I asked what Duke likes to do in the classroom here is the response."Duke loves to dance, play during centers (blocks, housekeeping, and reading tree), play outside with his friends, eat snack, and sing songs/finger plays during circle time! "

It's amazing how big he is now compared to this little guy on his first October.

 

"I was overwhelmed by the feeling of friendship, comradeship, and brotherhood"- John Wayne in regards to DeMolay

October 19th: Duke had a play date today with his classmates. They went to the mall to a old store that was converted to a bouncy area. Duke had such a good time working on his climbing skills and punching the inflated bunching bag things (sorry I am sure there is a real name, but I don't know it).

Thank you I-phone update that does multiple shot when you hold it.

Sliding with Ms. Rogers!



How did they know my nickname without asking, Shout out to my  BP!



They gave me socks to wear.....They obviously aren't prepared for women with a size 12 foot....

"I don't want ever to appear in a film that would embarrass a viewer. A man can take his wife, mother, and his daughter to one of my movies and never be ashamed or embarrassed for going." Johne Wayne

October 18th: Duke making his masterpiece in class. He looks very into his painting!

"There were periods when you could blow the valve and let off some steam. Like Halloween. You'd talk about it for three months ahead of time, and then that night you'd go out and stick the hose in the lawn, turn it on and start singing Old Black Joe or something. And when people came out from their Halloween party, you'd lift the hose and wet them down. And while you were running, the other kids would be stealing the ice cream from the party. " -Johne Wayne

October 16th: Duke had his first field trip today, they went to the local farm and pumpkin patch . His Pop-Rock went with him and had a BLAST. We've even got a picture of Pop-Rock taking a selfie with Duke and someone taking a picture of that.

I'm not sure he was ready for the bouncy area

He's a really tiny guy on a really big slide

 

Downward Facing Duke

I love this picture most because Duke is OBSESSED with bugs, especially spiders

 

"I was trying to play a man who gets dirty, who sweats sometimes, who enjoys kissing a gal he likes, who gets angry, who fights clean whenever possible but will fight dirty if he has to. You could say I made the western hero a roughneck." John Wayne

October 13th: Duke has his first chore, cleaning his handprints on the window. Typical kid, he has to listen to the I-pod as he does his chores.

"[on the Oscars] You can't eat awards -- nor, more to the point, drink 'em." -John Wayne

October 9th: Got an update from Duke's Teacher about his progress in class. I am very excited about how he is doing in school (minus the stubbornness). He's been working with me as I write lately; which I love.

"Duke had an AWESOME week at school! Although we are still working on those stubborn behaviors, he is responding really well to cues from adults to follow directions. Duke has learned to sit through our entire circle time without whining to get up. He drank from a cup today (multiple sips) without spilling! He did spill the first two times but the last attempt he drank multiple sips without spilling. He was really proud of himself. We have also heard a lot of language from Duke this week. He is repeating words and signs. So funny...today he was eating cheez its (sending the extra home with him) and he started putting them back in the little cheez its bag. So I took one of his and started to put it in a different cheez its bag. He went to grab for it and shook his head "no" to tell me that it was his. It was very funny but also very smart that he knew exactly what I was doing. Smarty pants!"