In addition to the differences in their personalities, they are also much different when it comes to hygiene. True story follows.

Yesterday, the girls went to the playground with my mom. When they got home, they realized their feet were filthy. Sophie immediately asked my mom to wash her feet with soap and water. That’s because even though Sophie likes to play in the sand and dirt, Sophie does not like to stay dirty once she’s done playing.

Chloe is another species altogether. When Chloe realized her feet were dirty, she proceeded to spit on her hands and start wiping. And you can bet that her hands were just as filthy as her feet. I mean, really. I sometimes think that she’s spent way too much time watching the gorillas at the Bronx Zoo.

This is Sophie at her best. A big, joyful grin. Because she’s such a happy kid. Most of the time anyway. But because she’s been spending so much time with her sister over the last few weeks, she’s also started to take on some of Chloe’s less charming traits. Like getting angry when she feels we’re not taking her seriously. Or getting all serious and stern when she thinks we’re misbehaving.

And Sophie has learned to give as good as she gets. She’s always been fairly talented when it comes to bugging her older sister. But she’s become a master over the last few months. She mimics Chloe, much to Chloe’s consternation. She baits Chloe will all manner of words and actions (like sticking out her tongue). And Chloe makes all of this really easy for Sophie, because Chloe is incapable of ignoring her little sister’s antics. Try as she may, and she doesn’t try hard enough, she allows Sophie to get under her skin for the most inconsequential of acts.

Am I being a horrible mommy for sheepishly admitting that I find all of that pretty funny? Truth is, when I was a kid, my brother James was like Sophie. He was my arch-nemesis. He knew what buttons to push with me, and I’ve always said that Chloe is her mother’s daughter. I love him dearly now, but I wanted nothing to do with him until I left for college. The good thing is that Sophie and Chloe generally get along much better than I got along with my brother when we were kids. At least for now.

Chloe has found all sorts of silly things to do with her friends when they come over to play. The other day, it was this. Today, she and her friend invented a game that involves throwing a deflated pink puffy ball at a larger beach ball and hoping the two meet mid-air.

Chloe demonstrated the game to me this evening, with the able assistance of little Sophie, who was happy to prance around in her underwear. Ah, the joys of youth.

What’s most amazing to me, however, is that today was an absolutely gorgeous day. Not a cloud in the sky, a little on the cool side. Could they have played this game outside? Of course. Was it suited to being played outside? You bet. And yet, did they go outside? No. Ugh.

Sophie is a very happy almost-4-year old. Except when we tell her ‘no.’ In that, she’s taken cues from her older sister. Chloe, while a bit intense sometimes, is generally happy, too. Except when we tell her ‘no.’ Two peas in a pod, these girls.

Chloe was feeling a little sad tonight because Grammy took Sophie back to her place for a sleepover. Chloe would like her own exclusive sleepover with Grammy. She doesn’t always like to share. I promised her she’d get her own exclusive sleepover in the very near future.

In exchange, Chloe and I shared a movie night together. “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” Her choice, not mine. Which is fine – since Chloe in no way resembles the shopaholic of the title. And has no chance of ever becoming the shopaholic of that title. She hates shopping, and basically has no interest in clothes. Except t-shirts. Sophie, on the other hand, only time will tell…