Canadian Christmas

The Christmas Tree - they do it up here in Canada!

Christmas morning.  We woke up around 7 in the morning!  

Coffee, gifts, and chocolate.  Can it get any better than this?  

Alexa's parents, Lynn and Leo.  Lynn's got the toaster she wanted!!!

Alexa's younger brother, Andy.  He is currently serving in the Canadian Army.  He's hyped about the classic of all Christmas gifts - socks!    

Some trinkets from Iowa!  

Wanny, the family cat.  He enjoyed playing with the wrappers!

Ooo a big gift

Alex enjoying his new iPod Touch!  He will use it in Europe to take additional pictures/HD video

The other cat is Silver.  She's usually shy.  

Later in the day, more of the Gulkas came over to celebrate, and this is what Lynn had laid out for all of us!  Delicious food!  We gained a few pounds, that's for sure.  

Lynn's speciality - bacon-wrapped rye bread with horseradish.  MMMM

Father and Daughter.  

Leo made this awesome nativity set by HIMSELF!  The clay figures were already passed down in the family but he did everything else, from the rocks to the tree and the manager itself.  

The world was never the same after this.  

The parents

On New Year's Eve, we all went out to a nice restaurant called "Moxie".  Good food!!!  

It's less than two weeks away before we go to Europe.  Keep on praying for us as we prepare for this huge trip.  It's a little surreal to think that we will be soon out of our comfort zone and into a strange new place.  But every time we get nervous, we have to think that we have God on our side and that we are doing this for the deaf orphans that are abandoned - that if we don't go there, then nobody will be able to help the deaf orphans.  That's what motivates us.  And we always need your support through donations, prayer, and encouragement.  And we have gotten PLENTY of all of the aforementioned from many of you.  We love you all!!!

Happy New Year!

- Alex and Alexa