And the award for favorite granddaughter goes to...

My sister has two incredible daughters, who are fast approaching the age when they will no longer want to hang out with me. Too bad for me. They make competition for favorite granddaughter on my side of the family stiff. My nieces have an advantage in this competition, it would seem, based on proximity to my parents. They have the benefit of being able to call my parents for a sleep-over, something my children just don't have since a sleep-over requires a plane ticket and an adult to accompany them.

But let's face it. Helen is also incredible. At age 3, she can twist most anybody around her finger. Today, she decided that despite the disadvantage of distance, she was going to win "favorite granddaughter" of my dad, hand's down.

Here was our conversation in the car.

H: Mommy, why is Grandpa Rodney an engineer?

Me: Because that's what he went to school to learn how to do. To be an engineer, you must be very good at math, you must be able to solve problems creatively, and you have to be really smart.

H: I'm going to be an engineer.

C: (sensing that something might be on the line) Me too! I'm also going to be an engineer.

H: Well, I'm going to be the kind of engineer that builds roads.

C: Not me. I'm going to be the kind that drives trains.

Don't worry, Connor, you get to be favorite grandson by virtue of being the only grandson. And Grandpa Rodney is not one to shy away from long drives across the country, so I presume he'll enjoy long train rides with you as well.

Helen, my dear, I guarantee that your Grandpa Rodney will burst out laughing as soon as he sees this post, and then he and your Great Aunt Connie will rush to the phone to report who read the post first. And in that conversation, your Grandpa Rodney might just admit that you are his favorite granddaughter - though he'll never admit this to anyone else.

It's OK though. We know.