Imitation: the highest form of flattery!

My children, like all children, like to pretend that they are other people. Christin is a fan of pretending to be religious characters. This sounds like a great thing but rarely does it end well. Recently the girls were taking a bath when I noticed I hadn't yelled, "Stop splashing," "Don't touch anyone!", or "Why is she crying?" for awhile. As always, when it is quiet I worry that there is trouble. A quick peek in the bathroom assured me no one was hurt yet, and Christin is retaining the Bible stories we tell her. Lindsey was sitting in the tub crosslegged facing Christin, eyes closed. Christin had handfuls of bubbles which she was spreading on Lindsey's closed eyes. When Lindsey started to protest (due largely in part to the pain, I'm sure) I heard Christin say, "This is the mud! I have to put it on your eyes so you won't be blind anymore!" I don't believe the Bible story says that Jesus first blinded the man with mud but whatever:)
Now for Lindsey. Lindsey is a shape shifter. She becomes whomever she is around. I often feel like I live in a cave. Everything Christin says is echoed by Lindsey in words, tone, and gesture. It doesn't have to make sense, she just repeats. She has two things she has picked up from me saying "darn it!" and putting on makeup. Fortunatly she cannot get into my makeup, unfortunatly she can get into mom's. On a recent trip over there she covered herself in make up (lipstick and foundation) and pulled apart some stuff in mom's room that mom was just telling me how proud she was of herself for putting together (oops). When Lindsey came strolling into the piano room thoroughly proud of herself Mom and I both scolded her as we went to survey the damage. Lindsey just carefully smacked her lips together to make sure her lipstick was even, it wasn't.
We are hoping that Nana will let Lindsey come over again sometime in the next couple of years.