The Crew

I have to say that I really like my family. I love being a dad and I have the best wife in the whole world. They are the biggest reason why I wanted to start this project, so we can all go on family trips regardless if we have a newborn, are expecting, or any other excuses. I just want to hang out with this crew!

So here's the rundown of my team.

Christy: Today is her birthday and I know she can't wait for next year when I take her in her beautifully restored camper out into the middle of  nowhere. She is my number Client, but my goals aren't too high- I don't need her to fall in love with the camper, I just need her to be able sit and sleep in it without bringing along gallons and gallons of disinfectant gel. She has been a good sport about letting me get out there and get work done on our remodel. Although she would never admit it, she actually walked into the RV last week and couldn't hide that she was starting to catch my vision and was secretly a little excited to see this baby to the finish. Anyways- Happy Birthday Sweetheart, I'll only spend a few hours working this weekend just for you!
Brigitte: She is so funny. She loves to come inside the camper and give me a full rundown of where everyone will be sleeping and sitting and also what furniture needs to be reinstalled and where it all needs to go. She is officially the Interior Designer on this project, although she is on a short leash- the rest of us don't think that pink walls, chairs, bedding, curtains, flooring, etc. would look quite as well as she does. She of course is also the Safety Manager and loves to climb the ladder- hopefully she doesn't ever realize that there is a ladder on the back of the camper. I fear that one day I'll go in the back yard and she and Spencer will be on top of the camper having a tea party.

Spencer: He is my best little helper. Every time I bring him into the camper, my tool bags get emptied and no matter how many tools are available, he almost always finds the sharpest tool that will  most likely impale himself or someone else.You better watch your back too, he loves nothing more than to give his old dad a backhand to the head.



Sweet Benett: I just love having this chubby chubs with me at all times. I like to think he's my little QC Manager (I can't have anyone else who might know better give me an opinion of the quality work that I'm doing- sometimes you just have to make things work). He's quite the trooper- he'll sit in that baby bjorn for hours and just be completely entertained. He does try to grab and scratch everything in reach, but he's a good time- even though most times I end up bleeding from his razor sharp nails.

Well that's the rundown. What a great bunch I get to go home to everyday. I love them so much. Gabe

Front Window Gone

The front window had to go. It leaked and the thought of direct afternoon sunshine baking my kids during naps just way outweighed the fun of laying up on the bed while your driving (not to mention it's probably not the safest way to travel). So it was as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Remove Window.

2. Add Putty Tape. 

3. Beg a piece of sheetmetal from your local HVAC company, and voila it's gone (truthfully I had written "walla", it's true, I'm a novice writer).

I also started replacing the putty tape and caulking at the exterior molding. It was starting to look pretty sad. I still haven't caulked, but the new putty is in place and I got it done just in time for  El Nino to hit on Wednesday. It's been 3 days or on and off rain, and still no signs of any leaks. I'll hopefully get it caulked this weekend.

Getting Started

Well, I've finally gotten around to uploading some video's. This first video is footage of all the existing conditions. Who knows, maybe we should have just dusted and started using it....what do you think?

Here is the first 2 weeks of demolition. I can't wait to get the rest of it gutted so I can start to put it all back together.

Brigitte's Prayer

Brigitte has been getting better and better at saying family prayer. The other night I was quite pleased with her progress when she was inspired to say "Please bless that Gus-Gus will stop pooping in the camper". Amen.

My '85 Dolphin

I've started a blog to document our fun little wreck of a motorhome that we just bought- that's right bought. Most people would walk away from this little gem, but for me it was love at first sight. I first saw it a few years ago when we stopped in a Christy's great-aunt Barbara's house on a trip to SLC. Aunt Barbara lives in very rural Paul, ID. and I found it back behind her house next to her shed. I put it away in the back of my head and slowly introduced the idea to Christy that we needed it. Well, the first conversation went a little like this:

Gabe- "Honey, we need to renovate Aunt Barbara's motorhome."
Christy- "Darling, you need your head examined."

Well, time passed and believe it or not, Christy surprised me with it as my birthday gift last year. I finally managed to pick it up about 2 weeks ago and I'm already elbow deep into trickin' this baby out. Here's a picture of it last summer in Aunt Barbara's pasture.
Sorry, don't be jealous!


Here's a picture of me, Alex, and Dad the day we loaded it on Dad's trailer (Chase took the picture).








Here's a picture of us hauling it down the freeway.