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...

The Red Barns Crash a Few Family Weddings

Summer 2009 was the season of love for Red Barn cousins. Phillip and Claire attended four weddings this summer, traversing the nation for each "I do" with exactly one wardrobe.

It started out in May with New Orleans for Lawrence and Cecille's wedding. The first lovebirds were married Cajun-style in a wonderful rustic hotel courtyard. Inspired by the evening, Phillip opened his taste buds to new cuisine like oysters, which he quickly removed from his diet. After the wedding reception, the wedding party was escorted through the French Quarter through Second Line -- a New Orleans tradition that features a real brass band leading the parade. The Red Barns got a good hard look at the Mississippi, gambled a little on a Sunday morning and said their first, but hopefully not last, goodbyes to a great city.



In June, it was time for a nostalgic trip to Aggieland as Claire and Phillip headed back to her alma mater for cousin Sara and Matt's wedding. The second lovebirds were married at St. Mary's, Claire's Catholic church while attending Texas A&M, so it was nice to go back and reminisce. After the wedding, it was on to the local country club where the Red Barns shredded the dance floor. Phillip and Mark came up with a new dance move called the "Leapin' Gazelle" which can be seen in a few of the photos. It was inspired by Mark's interpretation of this reading from Song of Songs. The Hinkle's wedding was a blast!




A month later in July, it was down to Georgetown and a country wedding for Claire's cousin Candace. Upon arrival and shortly after Claire took over driving duties to allow Phillip enough time to change into proper outdoor wedding attire in the backseat, the Red Barns wanted to kick off the party early with a few beverages before the festivities. "The Man" told them that outside alcohol was not allowed on the premises. So the Red Barns decided to obey their thirst and drive 50 yards down the road for Wedding Tailgate 2009! The two enjoyed a few cold ones in the back of Phillip's truck while guests began arriving. Along with enjoying great family at the wedding, it's another wedding memory they will never forget.

Movin' On Up ... to the East Side of Allen

In May 2009, the Red Barns were blessed enough to make an upgrade from their awesome two-bedroom apartment that had been their home for the first two years of marriage. The two began searching for a house in February, and after trolling online searches each day for two months and using up several Saturdays to do some house shopping, the Red Barns stumbled upon the perfect home that had just entered the market. It was an amazing one-story, 4/2/2 that Claire best describes as "really open."



The couple closed in the first week of May and were able to slowly move their stuff from the apartment over to their new-yet-previously loved house in East Allen (about 30 minutes north of downtown Dallas). Since the Red Barns didn't have to be out of the apartment until mid-June, the two were able to paint the entry way, study, laundry room, hallway and den. The Red Barns welcomed their old apartment furniture and, with a handsome federal stimulus package, were able to add a couple new pieces like a dining room set, computer desk, TV console, patio furniture and grill. It was more perfect than the couple could have ever imagined for their first house!

Egg-citing fun with the Siblings

Easter Sunday at the Barnhard house means one thing: The Adult Egg Hunt is On! Family lines are divided as each sibling and spouse traverses the yard like a bloodhound, sniffing for the scent of a pastel, egg-shaped piece of plastic. Inside each egg lies promise. The promise of a better tomorrow via a few extra dollars, a new toy or gift cards to delicious restaurants. The adult egg hunt has become a tradition over the years at Phillip's parent's house and one day, the Red Barns promise to take pictures of it. Unfortunately, they're too busy scouring the yard for pinks, yellows, blues and greens of all shapes and sizes. Instead, enjoy the pictures of the not-so-vicious kid's hunt.

Back to the Ol' Ballpark

A year after almost barehanding a foul ball at the Rangers game, the Red Barns headed back to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (formerly Ameriquest Field in Arlington and The Ballpark in Arlington) for an April outing with the Cleveland Indians. In an effort to mimic similar foul ball fortune, the Red Barns invited Claire's folks and purchased similar seats along the rail. The group decided to sport the Josh Hamilton sherseys (shirt + jersey = shersey) that Mark so generously purchased for everyone last year. While a foul ball didn't come slice their way, the Red Barns shersey power brought the Rangers some more luck as the home team took home another W.

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.