What Chanukah means to me (besides candles, miracles, etc.): Spending money on outings, spending money on gifts, spending money on days at the mall. What Chanukah means to the kids: Writing cards to their grandparents. Notice a theme here? We love holidays, but they can be expensive – and who’s got money to spare this year? The kids are wonderful, and we want them to have a good time. But with the way reality is biting these days, it pays to be prudent. So, we’re looking to cut costs …

Kids say the darndest things. To us, that is. But you should hear how they talk to each other when there are no adults around. It’s downright scary! But we don’t mind a little ribaldry from our kids, bless them; it’s part of growing up. We know our kids’ friends, and their parents are pretty much like us – raising their kids as best as they can. Sure, our kids’ friends may have occasional lapses in judgment, dragging our children into trouble with them, but it’s usually nothing …