The Juarez Family

-- Who they are: Gene and Deborah Juarez and Brandon, 9, Devon, 6, and Antonia, 20 months.

Gene is founder and president of Gene Juarez Salons Inc. and was a bachelor for many years before meeting Deborah, who worked in a jewelry store. They married three years ago, and now she's a full-time mom.

It was an instant family for him - she had two children from a previous marriage. He not only rose to the challenge, but delighted in it. So much so, he and Deborah had a child together, Antonia.

As an older dad - he won't say how old - he says that if he had to do it over again, he'd marry Deborah right away, rather than wait the four years they dated.

-- Family life vs. single life: The difference hit home the first vacation they took together.

Used to small sports cars, Gene had bought a four-door sedan, thinking the entire family plus one nanny and lots of ski gear would all fit in fine for the cross-state trip to their condo in Sun Valley.

"I had to get a rack and then had to get into cutting out some of the toys. That's when it hit me, I'd taken on the full responsibility of a family."

-- Making it work: Gene gives Deborah the credit for making life in their Madison Park home go smoothly.

"She is so caring and loving and puts the family first. It's so neat to see her parent and mother - when things are going right, which is the majority of the time."

In the beginning, "Devon would come into our room every morning with a smile on her face and Brandon would always get up grouchy. We told him we were the Sunshine Family and he had to put a smile on his face. He faked it for a week, but ever since he's gotten up with a smile."