"Westerns are closer to art than anything else in the motion picture business."

December 29th: Wrapping up the year with my little elf. He had a wonderful year with a lot of progress. He is able to say sentences, he is working on potty training and is an avid runner. In the next year we are going to be working on our normal things, stubbornness, temper and how to be more awesome than the next year. Duke is going to have an awesome 2014.

There are several adults around him ready to catch him.

Merry Christmas from the Duke!

December 24th: Duke's teach has been very creative with projects for the class for the holiday season. FYI some of the pictures are cropped because he has kids in his class (who are adorable) but I don't have permission to show their pictures, just my little guy.

Mini Gingerbread houses make around milk cartons

Lessons planned around reindeer.

Special Reindeer food to lay out on Christmas eve.

 

Sad John Wayne Trivia Fact: Although it has often been written that Wayne was dying of cancer when he made The Shootist (1976), his final film, this is not actually true. Following the removal of his entire left lung in 1964, he was cancer-free for the next 12 years. It wasn't until Christmas 1978 that he fell seriously ill again, and in January of the following year the cancer was found to have returned.

December 17th: Duke love Santa. he was so excited to see him and it was hard, like holding back a wild stallion for him when he was next to see Santa and had to wait his turn.

 

Santa got out of Duke that he wanted a Ball, love this kid!

[his speech at The 42nd Annual Academy Awards (1970) (TV)] " But tonight I don't feel very clever, very witty. I feel very grateful, very humble, and I owe thanks to many, many people. I want to thank the members of the Academy. To all you people who are watching on television, thank you for taking such warm interest in our glorious industry. Good night." John Waye

November 25th: Duke's Thanks giving week at school was filled with fun picture books, turkey hats and a turkey feast. I love the great things they do in class and how engaged they get the kids.

The funniest part of the Thanksgiving pictures is this one to me. It's Duke looking at a plate of food I couldn't get him to eat if my life depended on it. His face is one I am familiar with and still love.

Duke trivia: Duke's first movie he saw with John Wayne was Donovan's Reef

November 12th: Duke's IEP meeting was today, I heart his teacher and all the people who adore him and treasure working with him!

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.