Bunny Hoppin' News: Roaring River, Missouri

By: Jaycie Lillie - 6/11/22

We woke up and left for Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Abuela, Grandpa Bill, Jett, Momma, Daddy, me, Great Gram, and the Stimsons all participated. The first shop we entered was a book shop. I bought two books, The Crescent Hotel …With Ghost Stories by Susan Schaefer and a Jules Verne classic, The Mysterious Island, and a bookmark. Later, after we finished shopping, visited the Home of The Working Rabbits and a chocolate shop, we ate lunch. Our lunch was at the Crescent Hotel. The restaurant was full and we took it to go (just across the hall). As we waited for food the kids and moms explored the hotel.

The delicious pizza had thick crust. I had two slices with crust, but Jett ate four without. I was STUFFED! After lunch all returned to Roaring River. The Stimsons, The 3 Js and Abuela, swam at the Paradise Valley Resort pool. A swim race was held between us kids. I won! Another was held and it was a tie. The Lanes and Daddy came back from the fish hatchery. Kaylor, Jett, Cam and I took a walk to the creek. All the sudden, Kaylor fell, the walky-talky was drenched so we rushed to the camper. That was bad but on top of it, I spilled ice everywhere, and dinner was running late. Momma was stressed [and cranky]. Dinner was finally ready. We all prayed and ATE! I ate FIVE corn cobs. The Lanes left, kids rode bikes, and adults talked. We got to the ball court and the talky battery DIED! The parents were scared. As soon as we noticed, we raced home. We figured it out and said bye to the Abuela, Grandpa Bill, & Great Gram. Us kids road bikes again, Roaring River is the BEST place to ride bikes! As we approached the basketball/tennis court, we saw a bunny and a huge bunny rabbit/guinea pig/beaver type thing. Turns out it is a NEUTRIA (AKA an “ankle bitter”). Kevin told us it was known to bite kid’s ankles. We decided to stay away from it. As we were turning around the bend, we heard a cry. It sounded like a Coyote howl. Oh I also cracked my phone’s screen.

(We wont talk about that though.) Every time we rode by this one trailer the coyote cried out. Jett stayed to video it but music started playing. Everyone laughed. Turns out it was a prank from the people on the end trailer. They hid a speaker in the woods. It was the best and funniest prank when we realized. When Uncle Dude and Anna got back to camp we were going to prank them too, but the walkie was on and they heard the plan. So it failed.

Later at night, we read ghost stories around the citronella candle [it was too hot for a fire]. We also read Jett’s funny laws book. After that we read “teacher Sam’s” book. We all made sound effects. Everyone laughed. [lol, literally]. This has to be ranked as one of the best days ever (minus the phone screen cracking).