February work trip, Valentine's and more

 Sunday Feb. 9 Super Bowl watching. Sad Chiefs fans by the end.

Ben went to Sweethearts Dance on Feb. 8.

JB and I had a Valentine's Day lunch at Maria's.

Here are James and Millie's Valentine's Day boxes they made for school. These are probably the largest we've had yet!

JB loves to thank Millie and take a picture when she makes him a craft or treat.

At the school, James pointed out some of his artwork.

Also this month, James went with me to a Relief Society activity where we learned to tie balloon animals.

Crafts continued with a Young Men tie die activity 

I was sent to Southern California for the weekend of Feb. 21-22 to write about how people were doing after January's fires that destroyed whole neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades near the coast and Pasadena near the mountains. Very kind and resilient (though heartbroken) families let me walk around their burned homes with a photographer and videographer. Here is that article: https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/02/23/palisades-eaton-fire-faith-hope-resilience-in-southern-california/

Then President Holland spoke to the members of the two stakes in a devotional and I don't think anyone was left with a dry eye. Here's that article: https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2025/02/22/southern-california-wildfires-president-jeffrey-r-holland-devotional/ 
and the video: https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2025/03/07/president-holland-southern-california-fires-apostolic-comfort/

At the stake center I met Suzy in person -- one of the women I had been talking to over the phone since January about the fires in Pasadena, who connected me with many members for my articles over those weeks.

And we got this photo of Max with his companion!

February's basketball highs and one low

February was full of basketball -- Junior Jazz for James and high school JV and Varsity games for Ben. Highland High won almost every game and went all the way to the final game for the state championship before losing to rival Olympus. 

We loved being there in the Huntsman Center, watching Ben warm up on a college floor. And he got in for the end of the quarter final game.

He's number 24 in these pictures below from the final on Feb. 28.

Here are pictures from the two nights for the semi-final game on Feb. 27 and quarter-final game on Feb. 25, where we sat right behind the bench each time.

A teammates' shoelace broke and Ben quickly gave him his. Then JB took the other shoelace and fixed it and laced up Ben's shoe again. Here's the shoe toss back to him.

Prayer before the game.

Millie watching intently.

Walking in to the Huntsman Center.

I'm going backwards here, and on Feb. 14 they were declared Region Champs and got to cut down the nets at Highland. JB took photos and here's Ben's turn.

With his good friend Tommy and their pieces of the net.

During a Monday afternoon game at West High, Max was calling for his P-day phone call home and got to talk to Ben really fast during the warmup.

Then Ben went out for the tip.

Here we are after that win.

We were sitting close.

Here we are at a home game cheering him on on Feb. 7.

Millie brings toys, like to this game on Feb. 4.

We love getting photos of Ben during the tipoff, like in this game vs Brighton on Feb. 11.

Now to James in Jr Jazz! Here's a Saturday game on Feb. 8.

And the last game on Saturday March 1.

Being a part of Jr Jazz meant a free Jazz game for James and JB on Feb. 13.

Ben has since been playing constantly in the driveway and at the church gym and in spring league games. He'll travel to play in June as well.