14 trips to Home Depot and 5 gallons of paint later....

By Saturday night we had the Glamper thisclose to being ready for interior paint, sanding was complete, all of the cabinet doors had been removed and all of the "new construction" was completed on the inside. Just a little final clean up, caulking and masking on Sunday morning and she was good to go.
I had bought paint and primer (one gallon each) on Saturday, Dusty set up and fought with the paint sprayer for a time before he finally was able to get to work. It became apparent fast that the paint was being used much faster than we had anticipated and he sent me back for 2 more gallons, luckily Home Depot is less than 5 minutes from our house. I ran in and grabbed the paint, when I got in the car my phone rang... it was Dusty needing better primer the normal stuff we had bought was not sealing out the water damage, I ran back in and bought a gallon of Kilz primer. When I got home he shot the inside with the Kilz, but there was still bleed through. I googled Kilz and found out that stains may still show through but after the primer cures they shouldn't show through paint. We took a break to let the primer dry. An hour or so later he shot the interior with paint, there is still some slight bleed through but we decided most of it will be hidden by cushions. Here she is, all painted up and SO pretty! These pictures read sort of gray but actually she is bright white!

The work continues

Just because I haven't updated the progress of the Glamper doesn't mean we haven't been hard at work. It was hot outside last weekend... but it didn't stop us from spending every waking moment in the driveway. Thursday night Dusty built a new tongue and hitch for her, he added a platform that can haul coolers, bicycles or what he is hoping it will be used for ... motorcycles. Adding the new tongue also served the purpose of stiffening up the frame of the trailer so it isn't so rickety. He also got the front "skin" aka aluminum put back on.

Probably not the most "welding appropriate" attire, but like I said, it is hot

Front exterior put back together

Multi-use cargo rack and new tongue

On the inside, the sanding continued, lots and lots of sanding. Dusty built a "bonk" bed above the dinette area. Grayson coined the term "bonk" bed long ago and I drove the point home when I stood up from the dinette and "bonked" my head on it, luckily it folds up when not in use. He also installed sliding doors under the bed for storage, or a secret hiding spot.

"bonk bed"

Secret hiding spot, any bets on how long it takes me to find Radlee when he discovers this cave?

Dinette/bed - rebuilt

Baby's got back! (and doors and windows)

That's right! Tuesday night Dusty was able to get the entire back end re-assembled, it is amazing what a difference a wall makes!

almost ready...

phase 1 complete!

Wednesday night my sweet in-laws came over and we put the front almost entirely together (minus the insulation and outer skin)

Before last night's work began...

I LOVE how big this window is (almost 7 feet long!)
It was a good night!

Dusty also fixed the door (even though he forgot to put the screen in... after he sent me to the store specifically for screen). I love the door, the top is a window and the bottom opening is screen with a board that fits inside the frame to close it up. When Dusty tore the door apart he realized the existing screen appears to be brass, the edges that were between the wood are still shiny and goldish, it is amazing the difference in materials used 60 years ago and those used today.

Scraping the adhesive from between the door layers, and forgetting to install the new screen

ready to be put back together

On the inside... sanding has begun, have I mentioned how much I dislike sanding? Or how my hands turn bright red and break out at the first sign of dust? Luckily I have 2 little helpers.

Yes, I let my children use power tools.

Progress continues, we are hoping to have the inside painted by the end of the weekend and ready for exterior paint by Monday!

Getting to know her

On Sunday when we got home with our new home on wheels we jumped right in and started working. Dusty pulled the back panel off and started to rebuild. I ran around fetching babies and feeding kiddos. In the time he tore the back panel off, reinforced the floor frame at the back, rebuilt the side walls with lots of little tiny, precisely cut pieces of wood, installed what will be the bed in the back, and cut down 2x4's for reinforcing studs, I removed the screws around the sink and took down 2 light fixtures. I was attempting to remove the sink, unfortunately I couldn't get the drain un-screwed, I attempted to pull the ice box and the stove out but couldn't figure out how they were held in place. Basically, I just tried to stay out of Dusty's way and bring him drinks as necessary.

back view, pre-makeover

back side wall with new insides all clamped together (inside wood will be changed eventually)

During the hubbub, Radlee was playing around inside the trailer, there is no front on it leading to the tongue, he tripped and fell out of the trailer, landing face first on the tongue, cutting his ear on the way down. He almost had a full piercing, as it practically cut through his earlobe. There were major tears and discussion of an emergency room trip but after getting him cleaned up it was obvious that, while deep, stitches were unnecessary. We can now consider the glamper christened, and hope that this is the only injury she is held accountable for during her makeover.

My adorable Helpers, pre-injury

...and post injury, it is amazing what a Cars bandaid will do!

Once Roo was properly settled down and Grayson was doting on him nicely I got back to looking busy and planning for the interior. Here is what her insides look like now:

Looking from new bed to Kitchen

Kitchen view from door

Adorable scallop trim below upper cabinets

Kitchen light, it is actually a propane lantern!

looking from dinette to closet / what will be new bed

End of day one, rotten wood in back repaired/replaced and new bed installed!

Our latest project...

We are not campers. Don't get me wrong, I grew up camping; good old fashion tent camping with a restroom and shower within 50 yards of camp and every amenity you can imagine, my Mama is the original "Glamper". Some of my very favorite memories are from our summer camping trips and I would love for the boys to grow up and say the same thing.

Since I've been married Dusty and I have tried to camp, unfortunately rather unsuccessfully. We have bought tent after tent only to have them fall on us in the middle of the night, air mattresses that leave us sleeping on the ground and camp stoves that won't light, eventually we gave up and borrowed my Grandpa's camp trailer for our last overnight camping excursion, luckily Mama and her glamping arsenal were nearby.

I have always wanted an Airstream trailer, I remember thinking they were the coolest thing even when I was little. I have big plans for one someday in the future and I occasionally troll Craigslist looking for my dream camper. Last week, on one such search I came across this beauty:

not quite an Airstream but I have to start somewhere

She is a 1958 Sportsman (or perhaps it should be Sportswoman because she is obviously a she). She is 12 feet long and full of character, a little rough around the edges but full of possibility. I called about her and was so excited to learn she was still available, and even more excited when Dusty didn't roll his eyes and smirk at another one of my crazy ideas. We drove to Marsing Friday night to meet her and I must admit, it was love at first sight. The only problem was she was in rougher condition than the pictures on craigslist had shown. The owner had already begun demolition which actually turned out to be a good thing because we were able to see the exactly what we were getting into. (I use the term we loosely, as I have discovered I am of little use with a crowbar and am better suited at providing liquid refreshments to my work crew... aka Dusty). The owner wouldn't budge on the price and Dusty won't buy anything for full price so away we went. I didn't sleep at all that night. The next day I called the owner back and explained the situation of my hardheaded hubby and his bargaining ways, she agreed to throw a water tank in with the camper and the deal was made. I spent most of that night on the internet researching adorable campers and the endless possibilities.
Sunday morning I was up-n-atem, ready to bring my new girl home! Dusty wrapped her up with straps and duct tape (that is not nearly as bad as it sounds) and we hit the road... slowly, the tires are not quite suited for 55 mph.

our first road trip

We survived the trip home and jumped right in working on her... Did I mention my family reunion is in 2-1/2 weeks and I really want to introduce her to the rest of the family there? Luckily we work best under a good deadline! Now, if I could just find a suitable name.

Aren't you glad you aren't my neighbor??

Inevitable

It happens all the time: you tuck your sweet baby into bed one evening, kiss his chubby cheeks and whisper that you love him, then the next morning he wakes up looking like a completely different babe. He is missing one of his multiple chins, his smile is bigger, his hair is thicker, his arms and legs wiggle with wild abandon even even more than they did the day before, he is even closer to making it all the way from his back to his tummy.
There will never be enough pictures, or room in my head to keep these fleeting baby moments fresh. It is the one thing that is hardest about knowing I am done with babies. Cooper's "new baby" smell is waning by the minute and he is almost as big as Radlee (not a joke... the kid is huge.)
So for now, I relish every snuggle, every coo and squeal, every look of fascination... all while wondering what he will look like tomorrow morning.