What's In A Name?

I've wanted to climb Mount Trashmore since I first heard about it. James, on the other hand, had absolutely no interest. I think it was something about the name that turned him off. After all, it's not like "Mount Trashmore" conjures up images of fields full of sweet smelling flowers with fluttering butterflies and brightly colored rainbows, but rather the name implies a large mountain of stinky trash. Let me set the record straight before I continue- Mount Trashmore does not smell like garbage.

Actually, on the day we went it was gorgeously picturesque. The sun was shining through a beautiful blue sky peppered with fluffy white clouds and a cool breeze was sweeping off the hill and carrying the smell of freshly cut grass past our noses. This park was created by compacting layers of earth on top of layers of garbage, hence its name, Mount Trashmore. Ingenious really. And so much fun!

We started our trip with a visit to Kid's Cove, a deluxe playground. There were plenty of new and creative play equipment for the kids to try.

Josie found some kids close to her age to befriend. Jamie, my little expert climber, enjoyed scurrying up and down and up and down.

Mommy only had to come to the rescue once or twice when he'd gotten himself into a twisted predicament that he was unable to unwind.

Johnny loved the idea of running wild. This kept the kids happy for quite a while.

Once they'd explored everything there was to discover, we decided it was time to climb the mountain. We ditched the stroller and Johnny was strapped onto my back. Josie and Jamie had to rely on their own little legs to carry them up the steep incline.

But the exercise was good for all of us. What a thrill it was to make it to the top! We were proud of ourselves for making it to the top of Mount Trashmore so I can only imagine the emotions that fill a climber when he's standing atop Everest or Kilimanjaro. We stood there overlooking the city with a clear view for miles.

Josie pointed out all the cars and trees and the nearby lake while Jamie took off running, in a scene that I can only describe as one like the opening to The Sound Of Music when Julie Andrews is twirling to the orchestra music in a wide open meadow in the Alps. Dreamlike.

Soon it was time to come down, which meant...? You guessed it! Rolling down the hill.

All the playing and climbing and rolling wore them out. By the time I tried to sit them all down together for a picture I got nothing but sour faces.

But the frowns are not indicative of our time there because it was a fun adventure, one that I'm sure we're bound to repeat.  It all goes to show that you can't judge a mountain by its name. Our trip to the mountain of trash was lovely! Now how often have you ever seen that sentence used before?