The mother of two children gassed to death by their father says they were "beautiful little angels" and "a reason for living".
Brian Philcox 52, was found dead in his Land Rover with Amy, seven, and Owen, three, in the Conwy valley on Sunday.
Lyn Philcox, who was separated from her husband, said: "We cannot believe... how they have been so unfairly and tragically been taken away from us."
Mr Philcox also planted a hoax bomb at his wife's home in Runcorn, Cheshire.
He reportedly told his wife: "I've left you a present."
After picking up the children, there were reports that he told his wife: "I'll make the papers, just you watch."
Mrs Philcox said in a tribute to her children: ""My family and I are absolutely devastated about the loss of Amy and Owen. They were more than everything to us - they were our world and a reason for living.
"Amy was a very artistic child and was labelled by her teachers at Windmill Hill Primary School as exceptional.
Remote, quiet spot hit by tragedy
"She was a strong-willed little girl and loved to be in the middle of whatever was going on.
"Owen was a very loving little boy and very affectionate. He would always play with my hair which he found comforting. Owen loved playing with his Thomas the Tank engine and Lazytown toys.
"Every night they would both get into bed with me and we would read books and sing together. The children loved story time in bed with me at night.
"We cannot believe what has happened and how they have so unfairly and tragically been taken away from us.
"They are our beautiful little angels and will be greatly missed and they will always be in our hearts."
Residents living near Mrs Philcox's home were evacuated on Saturday night and an army bomb squad called in after the hoax device was found.
A second suspect package was sent to a "family member" police said, and this too was removed by explosives experts.
It also emerged that karate expert Mr Philcox had been in contact with protest group Fathers 4 Justice and may have tried calling them in the days running up to the tragedy.
Mr Philcox and his children were found in his Land Rover Freelander near Llanrwst on Sunday - Father's Day.
They died from carbon monoxide poisoning through inhaling exhaust fumes.
Det Ch Insp Wayne Jones from North Wales Police said there were no other injuries on the children.
Outside the family home, a single-storey, bungalow-type terrace on the Windmill Hill estate, teddy bears and flowers were tied to railings.
Shocked locals hugged each other as they talked on doorsteps, watching as police forensics teams wearing blue gloves came in and out of the house.
One card tied to the railings had a child's drawing, of Lyn, Amy and Owen.
Tied to flowers, one card said: "Good night little angels."
'Shine forever'
Another card read: "No words can express the sympathy or the pain of loss of your little angels.
"Their little smiles will shine forever."
A friend of Mr Philcox, Paul Clifton, said he had been very upset by the turmoil of divorce.
One of Mr Philcox's neighbours said he had threatened violence.
"Last week he was actually bragging, when I walked past, he was actually saying, 'I'll burn the house before I give it... up or the kids to her'," the neighbour said.
Mr Philcox, originally from the Speke area of Liverpool, had been practising karate for more than 30 years, and had held senior positions within martial arts organisations in the UK.
He was named Man of the Year in 2005 in awards for local citizens in Runcorn in recognition for his charity work following the death of his first wife Jan.
Mr Philcox also had other children with other partners.
Fathers 4 Justice said Mr Philcox had called them on several occasions and had been advised to join the group via their internet site to get help, support and advice, but that he had not done this.
Det Chief Insp Jones said officers were still trying to discover his last movements with his children.
He said Mr Philcox had picked up Amy and Owen from an arranged access visit on Friday, and there was a sighting of the three at Llangollen on Saturday.
Mr Philcox had told friends he planned the visit because the children were interested in trains.
Officers were alerted at about 1500 BST on Sunday by a passer-by, who found the car off a hillside road near Llanrwst, parked on a road leading from the A470 between Tal-y-cafn and Maenan.
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