Error Proof Test Makes First Error, Conveniently Corrects itself One Week Later

Well Claire hadn't been feeling too well and before the Red Barns went out to the ranch on Aug. 8, Phillip made Claire take a second pregnancy test. In the first test, the results came back negative and the two went on their merry way. I mean, it was an Error Proof Test, right?

The Red Barns got the surprise of a lifetime. Phillip was in the kitchen munching on an ice cream, and Claire enters the room with a panicked look on her face. "I'm pregnant!" she said. Phillip could only laugh hysterically as excitement and fear engulfed his thoughts. Nonetheless, when the hysteria settled, the Red Barns were super excited and anxious to confirm the test. Claire would soon find out that she was almost seven weeks along.

Summer Drought Doesn't Stop Family from Finding a Little Water at Lake Buchanan

At the beginning of August, the Red Barns joined up with the G Clan to rehash some old memories at Lake Buchanan in Central Texas. Claire booked her family into the same cabins they stayed in during their many vacations in the '90s. Unfortunately, a summer drought made it difficult to launch the boat. Mark had to drive 500 yards into the lake just to launch from the shoreline.

One afternoon, the gang found a nice little cove near the dam. It was filled with large boulders that usually hide underwater and a nice little beach to have a picnic. Phillip and Sam were able to do a little boulder-diving just before the park ranger decided to crash the party. According to the megaphone, the dam was restricted area and the group was "subject to arrest."

While the Red Barns were lucky to make it out of there unscathed, Mark and Sam weren't so lucky. Mark suffered a neck injury after he took a nasty tumble when the ski rope broke. Sam's aerial wakeboard antics ended when he overshot a backflip and sustained a knee injury. Despite the injuries, everyone enjoyed being back at the lake and hoped to return when Buchanan, and their health, returned to normalcy.

Red Barns' Anniversary Helps Set Chicago Ablaze

After St. Louis, the Red Barns made the five-hour trip up to Chicago to celebrate their 2-year anniversary. In keeping with their theme of seeing great baseball rivalries in historic stadiums, the Red Barns purchased tickets for the Chicago Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals Sunday game at Wrigley Field. As soon as they got to Chicago, the duo loaded onto the "L" and rode it to Wrigleyville for a bite to eat and the purchase of a couple Cubbies shirts before the game. The seats might have been a little high, but the experience of being in Wrigley for a rivalry game was magical. After the game, the two walked the Magnificent Mile for a look at all the action.



The next day, it was on to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum near Lake Michigan. The Field Museum had an awesome pirate exhibit that followed the career of a real-life swashbuckler. There was a lot to take in, but the two had to hightail it over to the Shedd before it closed. It was by far one of the best aquariums the Red Barns had ever experienced, and they were fortunate enough to get a sneak preview of the new show "FantaSEA." After the aquarium, Sherri K. told them about an awesome pizza place called Gino's. The Red Barns gorged on some thick Chi-town pizza.



Their last day there, the Red Barns took a river cruise that outlined the major architectural feats of Chicago. The two checked out Millenium Park, walked around downtown during a typical work week and said their goodbyes to the Windy City with a drive down the lake.

To cut the trip in half, the Red Barns stopped in Springfield, Illinois for a look at the home of Abraham Lincoln. Talk about a town that has thrived off the history of one man ... Geez. It was pretty cool to see where he lived and worked though.

St. Louis Brews Up Some Good Times in July

In July, the Red Barns decided to make a road trip out of friends Kevin and Sherri's wedding. Instead of just flying up to St. Louis, Phillip and Claire opted to load up the family truckster and make a trans-American voyage out of it. On the first leg of the trip, it was on to St. Louis. The wedding wasn't until Saturday, so the couple headed downtown to check out the Gateway Arch and downtown activities. With All-Star Weekend underway, the redheaded duo walked around Busch Stadium, checked out the scene underneath the arch and did a little gambling in a riverboat casino.



On Saturday in between the wedding, the Red Barns knocked out the most important stop in St. Louis -- the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Dressed in their Sunday best, the two took the Budweiser tour with about 50 other individuals dressed in cargo shorts and flip flops. At the end of the tour, it was free all-you-can-drink Budweiser beer! Despite being overdressed and having someone ask if we just got married (and were honeymooning at the brewery?), it was definitely an awesome experience. After three days in St. Louis, it was on to Chicago...