Everyone Wants to be a Rock Star

No matter the age. No matter the preferred music genre. No matter the vocal quality. With the Guitar Hero World Tour video game, stick a mike in someone's hand and provide some back-up musicians and they instantly become a rock star. Here are a few classic shots from jam fests in the wee hours of the morning. Claire's absence from most of these pictures means she's either behind the camera or already in bed.

Phillip's 26th Birthday Wine Spectacular

After a hot bit of silent bidding at a church auction, the Red Barns decided to use the free wine tasting event for Phillip's 26th birthday. Joined by 25 family and friends, the Red Barns tossed 12 delicious wines back. It was a great way to start the evening. Then it was off to Dave and Busters for a little shuffleboard, video games and good food. While most of the Gannaway and Barnhard clans joined in the festivities, friends Kevin and Sherri Krekeler and Gary and Tina came along for the ride. As a present, Phillip got a few video games and a spray-in bed liner for his truck.

Top Chefs: Wild Game Edition

The Red Barns spent a few weekends out at the Texas LG2 Ranch and came away with about seven quail, a first for Phillip. To read all about the hunt, click here. Now that the Red Barns were stacking the freezer full of game goodies, it was time to turn to the best wild game chef in town, Claire's dad Mark. Mark showed the Red Barns how to make Chicken Fried Venison, and the group chowed down on some of the best food ever consumed. It was a fun day of food, fellowship and family!

Touched by an Angelfire Ski Resort

In Jan. 2009, the Red Barns were off to Angelfire Ski Resort with the Davis clan. The group spent three days carving it up on the not-so-crowded slopes of northern New Mexico. While Phillip spent most of his trip on his rear or face, expert downhill skier Claire only fell once the entire trip. Friends Jana and Gabe drove down from Denver and joined the gang on the last day of skiing. With great weather the entire week, the Red Barns couldn't have asked for a better holiday getaway!

Christmas on the Coast 2008

For Christmas 2008, the Red Barns decided to keep this one pretty low key. Phillip had Claire go through a scavenger hunt around the apartment which finished with the diamond heart necklace. Claire got Phillip Guitar Hero World Tour, a video game in which he could relive his favorite rock n' roll fantasies.



After opening a few presents, Phillip made his first trip to Lake Jackson, about 20 mins. from the Gulf of Mexico, to visit Claire's grandparents. Claire really appreciated getting to spend some one-on-one time with them and Phillip had the pleasure of getting to know them a little better. Uncle John took us to Surfside Beach where we admired all the damage from Hurricane Ike earlier that year. Cousins David and Chelsea Tisdale even stopped by to say hello. We had a great time!

So a Doe and a Hog Walk into a Feeder ...

Shortly after Thanksgiving, Phillip and Mark went to the ranch to do a little hunting. Mark had already bagged a big buck at the beginning of the season and Phillip was anxious to add more than just dove to his trophy room. Phillip bagged his first deer on Nov. 30, which he chronicled over at the Texas LG2 Ranch Web site. To read his take, click here.



Phillip was getting pretty comfortable behind the rifle when he decided to add his first hog to the collection. In December, he shot a 100-pound boar in the sniper stand and even had a chance to take out Hogzilla. You can read more about that excitement by clicking here.



To round out the rest of the hunting season, Phillip and Sam accompanied by Princess Belle and Mark the Guide bagged a few quail. Here's the recap. For more hunting stories and to see the LG2 ranch movie, visit http://texaslg2ranch.blogspot.com.

A Farm Family Thanksgiving '08

While turkey was on the mind of most Americans, the Red Barns and family had visions of succulent pork gracing their Thanksgiving table. After cousin Matt shot a good looking hog at the Texas LG2 Ranch, the gang shipped it down to the farm to feed the family. As in years past, the Burial of the Pig has become a tradition at the Schulenburg Farm. We season the pig, wrap him in burlap and chicken wire, and drop into a giant hole filled with hot coals. After covering it back up with dirt, the pig cooks overnight under the ground. This particular pig didn't come out entirely cooked so we finished him off in the oven. It was still delicious!



Everyone enjoyed watching the Cowboys and Texas vs. Texas A&M football games. Claire's Aggies weren't so lucky. Despite the loss, it was another fun Thanksgiving weekend

What a Couple of Tourists

For Halloween '08, the Red Barns raided their parents' closets for some costumes. Claire, the oh-so creative one, had the idea to go as tourists. The gang snagged some old clothes, a couple of fannypacks and some other attire. The two had a blast dressing up and making fun of themselves. Everyone loved the costumes.

At Phillip's Christmas party for work, he followed the tourist costume up with a nod to the Disco Era. Claire could only watch and laugh as he took home first place and $50 with this ridiculous outfit.

Red Raiders take down Aggies in College Station

In mid-October, the Red Barns packed their bags and headed south about three hours to College Station, Texas, for the Texas Tech-Texas A&M game. With a years worth of bragging rights and Christmas ornament positioning on the line, the two lovebirds parted ways for a few hours to root on their respective teams. With an early kickoff, it was mimosas in the morning and beers after the game. Claire was all smiles at the start of the game as the Aggies took a small lead into halftime, but Phillip and the Red Raiders would have the last laugh, with the Red Raiders coming out on top, 43-25. After the game, Phillip and Claire headed back for some tailgating with the her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, a little pigskin-tossing and some dominoes. The highlight of the weekend was when Mark, Claire's dad, managed to schmooze the gang's way onto the rooftop RV.

Summer Fun with Family and Friends

The Red Barns ended the summer with some quality time with both families. Claire's brother Sam turned 22, so the G family got together to share in the celebration. Phillip invited some of his family members for a day of feast and festivities. The kids took advantage of the Red Barns' apartment pool and Phillip's ability to launch them out of the water. Speaking of water, the Red Barns spent Labor Day Weekend at Jeff and Patty's lakehouse on Lake Livingston. The couple was treated to a weekend of water sports and extreme Cranium. Phillip shredded the lake on the wakeboard, while Claire slalomed in and out of the wake. Throw in a few weddings and you can call Summer 2008 one to remember.