I don't know if I have a solution for you (at least not just yet) but here are a few things to consider and some things to try...
How often do you take all the dogs out on a walk together? If the smaller dogs can't walk as fast as the larger ones, do they also get a separate daily walk with you? If they are not getting enough exercise it could just be boredom & frustration. Many people just figure if they have a big yard their dogs are getting enough exercise but walks are a mental as well as physical challenge to follow their leader as they walk.
Has anything at all changed in the house since the onset of their fighting? Any new pack members or changes with existing pack members? Stresses at work or school or something that might be making you or your family on edge? Sometimes when owners are stressed out over something, the dogs pick up on it and their behavior changes.
I am also curious about the fact that they are only doing it when you're around and that they seem to be fighting over your attention. It seems to imply a dominance battle in control of you. If that's the case, your dominance might be in question by these two for some reason. Maybe your dominance is not getting communicated to them lately for some reason or maybe it's not being communicated consistently. The role of alpha has to be reinforced every day in everything not just at training time but also at eating time, going outside time, playtime, etc. you should always be first/alpha and they should always have to follow rules you have set. Again, being under stress could affect the energy they're sensing from you. Sometimes even just worrying yourself over this new behavior they're displaying can perpetuate that exact behavior you're wanting to stop. I know for a fact there have been occasions where my anticipating some behavior of one of my dogs ended up sending them a message that I was unsure or anxious about it and that encouraged the same behavior.
It would probably be good if you could find a way to safely break up their fights and to make them understand that it is not going to be tolerated by you. Maybe using the gloves you keep on hand or using a tool such as a broom or something to get in between them when they start up would a safe way to do it. If you try to break them up and get bit, never get scared and back away from it, but stay there until you get what you want (them relaxing). And anytime they start to fight over you, once the fight breaks up, put them both in a Down to make them relax (preferably not facing each other where they could start sending aggressive messages to each other with eye contact). Once it's over, sit back down near them but completely ignore them both, especially if they try to come up and sit in your lap. Pretty soon they'll realize that neither of them can demand your attention (which puts you back in the dominant role). Later on when they're both calm, you can call them both to you for some affection, but only if they sit nicely together. As soon as they start acting like they're vieing for your attention, start ignoring them again.
As far as the treating one dog as more dominant than the other, I've read about that before, but have never done that myself. I've always treated both dogs exactly the same. As long as they behave and follow my rules, they both get equal feeding, equal attention, equal play, etc. I figure, as the alpha, it shouldn't really matter to me who the other dogs decide is more dominant than them, all that matters, as the alpha, is that all the other dogs submit to me. From there, they can figure out their own hierarchy, they just have to do it within the confines of the rules I've set for the pack (no fighting).
Sorry for the long-winded post!
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. Could it be that they are interpreting this as a slip in my pack status? I or my husband take the dogs for walks twice a day, the big ones separately, then the two Chis. Also, I and my son set aside special play time (hide and seek, fetch, tug-o-war, sit-stand-stay practice, etc.). I will certainly think about your suggestions. I really, really appreciate your help!
. If I keep them apart for long periods of time, it just seems to make it worse, as if the little Sophia has been saving up all day to get in the larger Queenie's face. I might add that Queenie is constantly by my side and at my feet, around the house and yard and during walks, but lately Sophia has started to run around me, ahead of me, is leaning on me, etc. and she needs constant reminding as to who is the leader. I think Sophia may be trying to make a bid for a higher status. It is driving me CRAZY! I will definately consider all of the suggestions presented here. Once again, Pet Talk members have proved an invaluable source of great ideas and supprt.
Maybe their natural personalities make them like this? I'm not sure about any of it now that I think about it. I'm shocked that your Chis get along with your other dogs. My girls don't get along well with large dogs at all. Everytime they see my kid's dogs, they're so hyper and barky, I have to seperate them quickly. However, most of the time, they're pretty good girls and a pleasure to be around. I did think of one more thing. Did your girls start their original fighting when food was involved? I know D and D's first fight was over something I was eating. Even though food wasn't necessarily involved after that, the growling and "toothy grins" got worse. The only thing I usually have to do is speak to them firmly and authoritative and they stop. Believe me-I feel your pain and hope you don't have to rehome either of them. Please keep us posted and again, good luck with the problem. 
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