Tribute to Mark - the Best Big Brother!

Mark made this star description of himself in school last year. It is so fitting and such a perfect description of him that I wanted to record it.

Top point: Mark blue eyes, white skin, brown hair

Right point: Play games, Play football

Lower points: I'm nice, funny and athletic. I want to be a CEO. I like the fact that I'm the oldest in my family

Left point: Nice, thoughtful brother


Everyone of those phrases describes our sweet 11 year-old Mark. He is the kindest, sweetest, most gracious son a parent could ever hope for, and he is loving and generous with his brothers and sisters (which is not easy to do all the time because they can be much more demanding than him). We love our dear, treasured son Mark with all our hearts and are so grateful he came to our family to be the leader and the Best Big Brother on earth!

Mark Hill 5th Grade Year

Mark had a challenging but rewarding 5th grade year. He was blessed to have Mrs. Friedman teach him this year. It was her first year teaching 5th grade GATE and she loved it as much as the class loved her. Mark enjoyed the many science sections, including anatomy and physiology (they learned about the respiratory and circulatory systems), and the advanced math (which Mark still felt was not very challenging). Mark did not enjoy writing, but his writing improved greatly, although his penmanship is still atrocious (thank heavens for computers and keyboards). Mrs. Friedman enjoyed teasing Mark about his love of science and chemistry. She commented that he could be a real "know it all" but he is so sweet and humble in the knowledge he shares, that he is not the least bit condescending (kind of like Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter stories). Mrs. Friedman gave Mark high marks for his hard work and knew he tried his hardest to please her. She was also extremely patient with Mark-junior (AKA Brent) who would often come flying into the classroom unvited but full of so much energy, he took over the class, even when he was supposed to be patiently waiting outside the classroom! The class got along very well together and had a sad "Goodbye" at the end of the year as they all go on to separate middle schools.

Mark with his dear teacher Mrs. Flossie Friedman and her terrific husband Mark Friedman. We are so grateful for the positive, encouraging influence she had on Mark both in 3rd and 5th grade. We were very lucky to get her twice! She and Mark will become grandparents this summer to a very lucky, special child! Hooray for them!

Mark's 5th grade class (including class mascot - Brent!)

Mark at his first football game in September 2009. He is on the Irvine Chargers Clinic-Gold team. It was a dreadfully hot first month with many games being played in 90+ temperatures! "He ain't heavy...he's my little brother Brent" Mark giving Brent a ride, as he so often did this year.

Mark and his favorite sister Jocelyn.

Mark playing at the Fall piano recital.


Mark impressed the parents at TMA and his "nerdy" Primary teachers Sean and Rachel Sumsion by going dressed as an Apple iPhone for Halloween! Sean is attending UCI Medical School.


Family Thanksgiving hike....we hiked to the top of lookout peak at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center for Boy Scouts. Blake and Brent brought along their favorite dinosaurs.

Going on a bike ride with the Webelos den. Mark biked the full 10 mile loop around the Back Bay in Newport Beach area.

Christmastime at Disneyland....we're in shorts and t-shirts while the castle is draped in magical icicles!
A fun family night at Disneyland at Christmas. Jocelyn got her Minnie Mouse Christmas hat for her birthday.

Playing legos with Blake and Jocelyn...Mark's favorite way to pass the time during the Christmas holidays (other than playing basketball and riding his bike and scooter).
Christmas wishes came true -- everyone got a new scooter from Santa Claus!


Santa even remembered to send refills for Mark's beloved gumball machine! Last time he had accidentally let them fall out of his sleigh while flying over Australia, but fortunately Aunt Hillary just HAPPENED to be working in Australia at the time and stumbled upon them one day while walking to work!


New Year's Eve....we had the Gordons and Chubbucks join us for a fun BBQ and lots of playtime with the children. The kids put together their own picnic under the stars!

In February Mark ran for Student Council president. He had the best prepared speech and presentation of all the candidates and received praise from many teachers and parents that he deserved to win the election. He lost to another 5th grader but learned a lesson in keeping a positive attitude despite disappointment. His class elected him to be a Student Council rep, so he enjoyed attending the weekly meetings and participating in the Student Council activities and fundraising efforts.

Enjoying sledding and snowball making with the Gordons. It was so warm that we had to shed our jackets after lunch!

In February Mark and his Webelos Den from TMA bridged over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. All the members of his den joined Irvine Troop 36.
Finally...the football team party! Here is the team with Coach Steve Morini!

Mark and Jocelyn ham it up on the California Screamin' rollercoaster ride! They love to go on this rollercoaster over and over and over...

TMA 5th graders on the bus ride to Orchard Hills for a school tour. Great group of kids (and parents) - Mason Reynoso, Joanna Chou, Meghan Marshall, Jared Machado, Emily Sumner, Hannah Dulaney, Gianluca Allesina, Adam Mings.

Future Orchard Hills students from TMA! (Mason Reynoso, Mark, Meghan Marshall, Joanna Chou, Emily Sumner)

Mark standing under the Texas flag and state project he did in April and May. We enjoyed researching the history of Texas, which is as fun as California only a lot more colorful! Grandpa Woodward sent Mark some great historical anecdotes to share. I was proud of Mark completing this project 100% on his own!

Mark next to the anatomy buddy he drew during physical science. I thought it was so terrific that these 5th graders were already learning about anatomy and physiology! They were lucky to be taught by Tyler Onderdonk's mother Flory Aguilar, who is a full-time doctor.

Last day of 5th grade!! Mark with best friends Noah Gordon and Mason Reynoso (Brent calls him "Big Mason"). Mason will be attending Orchard Hills with Mark in middle school.
Mrs. Friedman's graduating 5th grade class! Last day of school!

On to Middle School and 6th grade!! Now Mark is an official "pre-teen"!

Mark's Fall Football Frenzy!

Our football star!


Conditioning week in July

Mark running wind sprints


Here comes the team! Practice uniforms


Mark doing sit-ups


Meanwhile...Brent's got game at the basketball courts. He would go there during every practice to "shoot hoops" with his mini Lakers basketball.


Fall practice...Mark is #10 as a blocker.

Mark's 4th Grade Class Party

Mark's 4th grade class had a fun final party on Wednesday, June 17th while Jocelyn's class had their scavenger hunt party. Here the 4th graders are lining up for a summer dress-up relay. They had to dress in summer clothes, complete with sunscreen, and then bounce a ball through cones, swing a tennis racket and return to the start all while carrying a big block of ice. They loved the challenge! Mark, Noah, Adam Mings, Jessica Schultz, Hamilton Sparks all on the same team.

Mark's turn to run the relay! He did a good job dribbling the ball (but I think Brent could have done even better!) See the block of ice in his left hand - he only dropped it once!

Next the 4th graders played ice broom hockey. A lot of kitchen brooms were mangled in the process, but the kids had a great time. Thank heavens it was finally sunny! We've had nothing but dreary, cold clouds since June 1st. Finally, summer is here!

Mark won the watermelon eating contest. He inhaled his slice! Mason Reynoso is to his left and Tyler Onderdonk is to his right. These boys could EAT!! Happy summer kids! Next year you are all 5th graders!