Too many candles for today or yesterday, but 9 branches is the correct number for a Channukiah (A menora has 7 branches...one for each day of the normal week. A Channukiah (pronounced HA-NU-KEE-YA) has branches at the same height for the 8 days of Chanukah and a 9th, higher branch (usually in the center, but not required to be in the center) known as a Shamas to light other candles).
I agree with Luke about not trusting (on this particular subject) a Jew named after Jesus's mom, but Jesus's mom was Jewish, so maybe you can trust her.
Source: Tuesday night and Saturday mornings of my youth.