"I'm glad I won't be around much longer to see what they do with it. The men who control the big studios today are stock manipulators and bankers. They know nothing about our business. They're in it for the buck. The only thing they can do is say, "Jeez, that picture with what's-her-name running around the park naked made money, so let's make another one. If that's what they want, let's give it to them." Some of these guys remind me of high-class whores."- John Wayne

January 21st: Duke is in the phase where he is not a fan of clothing. It could be negative zero and he would want to run around with no clothes on . I can't tell you how many time I have woken up to this little man in bed naked, my next thought is I am praying for no pee on the bed or worse.....well you know. Recently he has taken up acting like a Ninja turtle and showing off his sweet fighting moves (or not so sweet if we are doing them at daycare or school). His cousin who is taking martial arts classes saw these and thought Duke would be a good sparing partner. I am happy to say Duke held his own and Rockey was impressed with his little moves.

Duke and his cousin who were rough housing without shirts on...

Here is a snip-it of Duke's latest progress report "Duke is making great progress at school, especially in terms of his behavior but also in academics and communication too! Today I was working one on one with him and he sorted two colors apart all independently and sorted two shapes apart completely independently! We will keep working to increase to total independence but that is amazing!"

"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