And we're back... I'm back... and speaking of backs....

Hello everyone... I'd go into a long diatribe about how sorry I am about not writing lately but we all know you don't want hear that... right?

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes about my back. It's been a rough three weeks of laying around, whining, complaining and wishing back transplants were a possibility. I've driven poor Karli absolutely nuts and for that I'd like to publicly apologize to her for my general lack of manliness.

The back is finally doing better. Finally. There's nothing like a lack of a healthy back to help you to see the light that a healthy dose of diet and exercise is necessary to avoid ever having to go through that again. Cause man... I need for that not to happen again.

But enough about my back and on with the truncated version of a blog post this week. There will be no photos or video.. just me writing... since our beloved Mac is experiencing the effects of old age and is in the Mac Hospital. Poor Guy.

We had a great Stake Conference this past weekend, a very timely message that spoke to a lot of things that have been on my mind. A lot of time was taken in speaking about Lehi's Dream. I have probably read 1 Nephi Chapter 8 a zillion times, but never has that vision been more relevant than in today's world. That Great and Spacious building is very real and many people in our day are pointing the finger of scorn directly at us for doing what is right.

Karli and Katelyn sang in the choir and I got to sit in the crowd with Dustin and Kristen and Dallin. For those of you who don't know Dustin and Kristen very well... they love each other dearly ... but fight like banshees at the drop of the hat. So... I got to sit and play referee while Karli happily sang.

After the adult session last night we had a fun party at our house. We invited the Algoods, the Holdaways, the Burnsides, the Melansons, the Rockwoods, the MacFarlanes and James Conlee. Karli made her world famous pistachio pudding cake (she also made a chocolate version) and we had a great time talking and laughing. And laughing.

During the party Julie Burnside asked me how my back was. I was interested in knowing how she knew my back was hurting. She says that she 'BlogStalks' and reads up on our family. I thought that was a good explanation and Karli admitted that she's rather adept at it.

We've also decided to take the kids to Disneyworld in about a month. It just so happens that I have a conference to attend in Orlando at the Dolphin Hotel. So Karli and I decided to cash in all my Skymiles and my Marriot Points and make a whole week of it. We'll pay nothing for hotel, but did have to come up with one airfare ($200).

We then invited Mom and Dad Craner along... so it should be an amazingly fun party. The kids are already bouncing off the walls, designing logos for our t-shirts and hoodies, creating advent calendars/chains and studying up on all the rides they want to go on. We even got Dustin to commit to go on The Tower of Terror.

Well, there's an update. If all goes well, there will be an update with photos next week.