Peeking into the window at the Cattron family’s house on the Saturday before Easter, one would find junior Chris and senior Monica gathered in the kitchen with their family and grandparents. It is here that their Easter traditions begin.

“We have a billion hard boiled eggs and we have a contest to see who can make the coolest one,” Monica said.

According to her brother Chris, this is a contest that Monica almost always wins, as she is very artistic. The hard boiled eggs that survive the dying process without being eaten are used the next day for an Easter egg hunt around the family’s home. Also on Saturday, the Cattrons help out with the Easter Egg Extravaganza at their church, the First Baptist Church of St. Charles. They help hide the eggs for the hunt and bring candy for the eggs.

“One time Chris thought there was an extra egg left over from the hunt and he was going to get some free candy,” Monica said. “He reached up and grabbed the egg, but it was a real bird egg, and it cracked on his head.”

The sun rises on Easter morning and the Cattrons head off to the Easter Sunday service at their church. They come home to Easter baskets filled with candy, a little gift such as a DVD, and the traditional springtime essential, a pair of flip flops. Extended family arrives at the house for lunch, which is usually ham.

“Then if its a nice day, we have an Easter egg hunt outside for eggs filled with candy,” Chris said. “One egg has a $10 bill in it, and everyone wants to find that egg.”

After a fun-filled afternoon of family bonding, all of the Cattron’s extended family goes home for the night. The Cattrons are left to peace and quiet, as well as all the leftover candy.

“After everyone leaves we get sick on sweet tarts and all the candy is basically gone by the next day,” Chris said