Even the Barenaked Ladies had better taste in gifts

Julia's been dropping hints about the Chanukah gift that she made for us in school ever since she started working on it a few weeks ago, but she somehow managed to keep the contents of the package a secret until the big day. She was quite excited about her surprise, and the minute the candles were lit for the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, the present was unceremoniously shoved into my hands. Inside the gift bag she'd painted herself, I found a lovely pencil holder (i.e. decorated coffee can) with Julia's photo on it.

It was a lovely gift, to be sure, but it was the card that accompanied the gift which I loved the most. The kids were each asked what they would buy their parents for Chanukah if they had a million dollars, and their answers were written in their cards. I guess it was her teachers' attempt at humor -- instead of this recycled coffee can, you could be getting this fine gift. The joke was on us, however, because it turns out if Julia had a million dollars, she would buy us...

a dreidel.

A million dollars, and all I get is a spinning top made out of clay? There is absolutely no way I am ever giving this child an allowance.