Long overdue update

Pete, me, dad, and ma sitting around the fire, eating dinner


Well, how are you all? I'm pretty good. I've been gone from the blogging scene for a while, so I thought I'd pop in. I don't know about any of you who have been pregnant or have kids, but it certainly seems to put a crimp in how much time I'm on the computer, especially with blogging. I miss it, but most days I'm unable to get around to posting anything, much less taking pix for my photography blog, vivid.

Anyhow, the project I mentioned in the previous post is STILL going on. Not to the same degree it was before, but there are revisions that still trickle in here and there. Today I actually have to change something back to the color it was before, even though a previous revision asked for the color change. It's kinda funny, but hey, at least I'm getting paid for it, eh?

And I was able to get back onto unemployment this morning, so that's a big relief. The guy said it shouldn't be a problem for future projects, which is good, because I think more might be coming down the pike (I hope).

Well, what have you all been up to? Busy? Not so much?

We went camping this weekend on our big annual family camping trip. It's our 8th year (I think), and it was quite different this year with all the babies and me being pregnant (and quite pregnant right now, in my mind, although it'll get worse, I know). Here's a shot of me on the beach in Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. Yikes! That's some baby belly!

That's my dad behind me, and Spanky at my feet.


We had a great time, and it did rain a little, but not too much. We hiked and went to town too, but I quickly realized how little stamina I have now that I'm pregnant.

Here's a group shot on the last day. I had a meltdown about 30 min. before this picture was taken because I had a severe migraine and bad allergies that would not stop, and Tylenol/caffeine was NOT making them go away. But as you can see, I was not the only weepy person in the group!

(From left to right, front row) Me, Hambone, Sam, Jane, Henry, ma, Jonneal, Tallulah, dad, Otto; (back row) Mani, Pete, Adora, Quinn


Anyhow, I am slowly feeling better, although I still don't feel 100% as of today.

Some GOOD news we got on Friday morning, before leaving for the trip: Little Baby Hoogestraat is a..............BOY!!! Yup, we are the proud future parents of little Peter Jack, a.k.a. Jack (we're calling him by his middle name, since he's a junior). Here's pix of him from the ultrasound on Friday.

Jack's profile


He was quite an active little boy, squirming and kicking all over the place. The tech and doctor were quite amused.

Frontal view of Skeletor—I mean Jack


Pete swore up and down since day one that it was going to be a girl, but I refused to call the baby anything but "it." Well, when the tech rolled the wand over his little bottom and said, "Yep, that's definitely a boy!", Pete's jaw dropped and he was speechless.

Yup...it's a boy!


I just started laughing because Pete was soooo sure, as were 90% of everyone else who was guessing. I must admit I was even a little surprised because of my "girl" symptoms, but I also had "boy" symptoms too—mild morning sickness, craving meat/dairy, etc. I think Pete bet Steve a 12-pack of beer that it'd be a girl. Well, Steve is ready to collect!

Jack likes to use these feet all the time on my insides, lol.


Anyhow, we are both thrilled and glad that we can start calling him by his name, buy him gender-specific clothes, etc.

Other than that, not much else going on. Dollie was sick for a while, but she seems to be getting better. Looks like her throat is raw, but they don't know why. Maybe she ate something she shouldn't have? I know she's fond of plants.

Our little goofball is doing a lot of this lately—sleeping.


I'm still unpacking from our trip, doing what I can while I have the energy. Mainly I'm trying to take it easy and rest, because I think I overdid it this weekend. I'm not used to being limited in what I can do (besides issues with Hooveritis), and I think I pushed myself a bit too hard. But you live and learn, and little Jack seems none the wiser of his mama not taking it easy. He's still kicking and rolling around in there as always!

Well, I hope all is well with you guys. I hope to start posting regularly again, and reading all my favorite blogs. I'll have to pick up the camera and start shooting again too. I hope my fatigue and headaches/backaches ease a bit to help me with this, but we'll see.

Have a happy Wednesday!

And finally...the group shot from the Annual Family Camping Trip, 2008—Nelson Dewey State Park in Cassville, WI

Take one

Take two

Cool camping pix, take five (more casual shots)

Studs Steve and Matt on the beach

Resting our doggies

Tribute brat for Chuck

Pete and Chris on the beach

Hambone looking forlorn in the morning sunlight

Cool camping pix, take four (casual shots)

Henry feeding his pet beaver

Bugs shagging on Mani's shoulder

Zip Zap Rapp and Matt (flashing the Z sign)

Henry and a watchful Pete

The girls and their shave ice

Cool camping pix, take three (portraits)

Shannon in a sun hat

Izzy drinking juice

Sabrina and the view

A blue-lipped Henry

Sam and Mani

Cool camping pix, take two (campfire photos)

Shannon and Matt with drinks by the fire

Pete playing guitar

Sam in a blur

Stephi working by the light

Alien Pete

Cool camping pix, take one (abstract shots)

Henry's feet and my foot on the beach

Otto's eyes

Reflections in Matt's sunglasses

Adora gazing

Beach ball and legs

(Adora photo courtesy of Izzy)

Adora and Izzy

This was taken at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, when Izzy, Adora, Spanky, and I drove up to the shower house at Nelson Dewey State Park. We had arrived at the park really late, and were about to shower and hit the air mattresses. Spanky was sitting in the back, and Adora was in the passenger seat, where Izzy was supposed to sit. Izzy tried to push Adora out of the way into the back seat, but Adora was resistant and acting weird. She seemed to try to squeeze between the seat and the car door to get to the back seat, but at the last second she slid down next to Izzy and wrapped her paws around her, hugging her in a strange but needy grip. Izzy and I were cracking up, and I shot a few pix of the scene on my iPhone.

I'll be posting some camping pictures, hopefully tonight (there are about 500 of them). And yes, I'm still working on the Hawaii pictures too. With the camping trip successful (and over!) and only small family events left for the next few months, I can breathe easy and have some free time for such things as editing and posting photos. I also intend to clean my house, the yard, and maybe start on a children's book I've been thinking about.

Random pix from previous camping trips

Sam in charge of a s'mores operation


American gothic, Hoover-Hoogestraat style


Otto barking, Hambone observing


Rabid Otto


The future Hoogestraats by the campfire

Group shots from previous camping trips

Family Camping Trip 2005, Nelson Dewey State Park, WI


Hoover Siblings Camping Trip 2005, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, IL


Family Camping Trip 2006, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, IL


Family Camping Trip 2006, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, IL (frolicking in a field of sunflowers)

Camping countdown

Well, it's here again. Time for the annual family camping trip. This year we're going to Nelson Dewey State Park in Wisconsin. Yesterday afternoon Pete, my dad, and I were setting up tents in my parents' backyard, airing them out and checking for any needed repairs. Seems like a lot of the camping equipment has disappeared yet again, like it does every year. My stove has reappeared (Steve has it) but I'll need to go buy an air mattress and some other supplies. I already had my mom pick up some lanterns and flashlights too. I swear I've bought like six lanterns in the last five years, and I only go camping once or twice a year. But stuff just keeps disappearing, so what else can you do?

It was funny though. Otto saw us setting up the tents and ran outside to see all the action. He was so excited he tried to run into my tent, but the door was zipped shut and he just ran smack into the canvas. Luckily the structure was fairly sound and it didn't collapse from the force of his massive head.