she is really pretty and she is always smiling and seems like a very happy person, so it makes me feel good that people see me in her. >> reporter: and with that terrible loss, say the kids, they have grown up happy and content for the most part. all thanks to one person. tell me about your dad. what kind of guy is he? >> funny. >> reporter: funny? >> he is funny and the most caring guy in the world. he is nice and we are his whole world and he is protective and just loves us so much. and wants the best for us. >> reporter: protective dad who said he tried to shield them as best he could from the not so happy times. >> michelle was really struggling with those kids at a young age, which i totally understood. what i noticed was that she was just drifting away from being a stay-at-home mom and i understood that.