Chloe drew this picture of dragons the other day. No doubt inspired by her successful go at slaying the dragon during the MagiQuest game at Great Wolf Lodge, she spent a good amount of time creating this tableau of a family of fire-breathing, flying dragons.

Her drawing skills have improved magically over time – it’s pretty cool to see the evolution in her compositions. At the eye doctor today, she drew a family of pirates for the nurse to hang on one of the walls.

The family theme that permeates her artwork is definitely a good thing. They aren’t dysfunctional, psychotic families – just happy families of four. Whether dragons, pirates, bears or other creatures. When I see these images, I’m reassured. We must be doing something right.

Of course, these feelings of child-reading success are often undermined when one of the two little angels starts screaming at us for some perceived slight. At which point I start wondering, with increasing alarm, “what kind of monsters are we raising?”

But this usually doesn’t last too long, and then we’re all back to being lovey-dovey and happy until the next outburst.

On another note, I’m turning 40 in a few months. And every time I remember that I’m turning 40, I realize that Sophie will be starting college when I’m about 55. That’s crazy. When my mom was 55, I was already 31 years old – and pregnant with Chloe. Jeez.

Will my husband and I ever be able to retire? Probably not. Playing the lottery is looking more and more tempting every day.