An Easter egg hunt for a good cause

A crowd of about 30 members of the Eernisse family gathered at Port Washington home of Rick Nelson and Barbara Bates-Nelson on Saturday for an Easter egg hunt. Elaborate egg hunts have been a family tradition for the Nelson family for decades, and when United Way of Northern Ozaukee held a fundraiser in September, the hunt was an auction item. Marc and Grace Eernisse won the hunt with a bid of $500. The Nelsons, aided by Barbara’s mother Eleanor Bates, decorated and hid more than 100 eggs with prizes that ranged from candy to money to some that exploded with confetti. The hiding places ranged from simple to elaborate — they hid one egg in a birdbath filled with blue Jell-O. Marc and Grace Eernisse (bottom photo) stood behind Rick Nelson as he hid an egg in a floral arrangement made by Grace. The entire group, including Linda Wells as the Easter bunny, gathered for a photo before the hunt. Photos by Sam Arendt