don't judge me, you know you have family moments like this

I cannot believe I am actually posting this. These pics have sat waiting as I have labored over whether to share them or not. (Not because they are just so-so pics but because of the story I'd have to tell if I posted them.)  If you are one the select family members that happened to be sitting at the table that night, you too, are probably questioning my decision. (But I bet you had a good laugh as you saw these photos pop up on your screen. You needed no explanation cause you were an eyewitness to the events. Lucky you.)

The scene:

It was my mom's birthday and we had just finished her very yummy chocolate, ice cream birthday cake.

She and Bean were to the right of me looking through the photo book I had just given to her. My sister-in-law was to the left of me. As the girls looked through the photo memory book, commenting on various pictures, we were tuned out to the mischief going on across the table. I would like to note here that this was the male side of the table.

As the gals chit-chatted, our ability to multi-task kicked in and our listening radars picked up on a noise. It was the not the noise of other conversations, or music playing in the background, but the noise frequently heard at tables dominantly occupied by men. 

It was the noise of some very expressive flatulence. (Totally labored over that last phrase--and I cannot believe I just used the word flatulence in my blog.)

It took me a few seconds to bring the events across the table into focus, but when I did, I discovered:

1. My brother, the fun Uncle, had given Zach his phone and the two of them had downloaded (I would not put it past my brother if it was already on his phone) an app that, shall we say, demonstrated various renditions of flatulent talent. And just because I have already tossed all sense of decorum out the blog window I will tell you that each rendition had a name describing each one. (I will not tell you the names because I need to maintain something of my dignity.)

2. My son was slowly making his way down the list of flatulence options, listening to each one, and doing so with a look of quiet amusement that was crescendoing into uncontainable giggling.

3. My brother, the Uncle, was next to him quietly laughing, but then quickly moved to tears brought on by side splitting laughter. (Note him in the top right picture: he had to remove himself into the kitchen.)

4. My husband was also in tears. That's him hiding behind the napkin. He later told me that he did not want to be caught on camera with a face scrunched up in painful laughter, tears flowing down his face. (So glad he could save some dignity.)

5. My dad sat quietly chuckling.

My mom, bless her heart, continued to look at her new photo book and laugh every so often at the boyish behavior. When it became clear that the boys had come undone, the uncontrollable laughter was infectious. Forget the phone app, I was laughing at my son laughing (not sure I had ever seen him laugh so hard), my husband quietly shaking behind his napkin, and the fact that my brother had to remove himself from the table.

Despite the fact that this happened at the dinner table on my mom's birthday (poor mom), all that laughter was good for the soul.

Later when we were talking about it, I told my hubby that it was fun to watch the course of Zach's expressions on his face. He went from quiet amusement that bordered on embarrassment, unsure if it was okay to freely laugh...to throwing inhibition to the wind, letting himself laugh at what his boy heart found super duper funny.  Scott said that he thought it was cool that Zach had entered into a part of manhood that night: sitting at the table with his dad, uncle, and papa as one of the guys.

I am not sure whether I should thank my brother for helping carry out that rite of passage? But I do know that when a family laughs together it has to be good.

Happy Friday Friends. I hope the setting aside of my dignity today brought you a good TGIF giggle.