Circle the right alternative: 

When I met Dave I knew he had kids. The first time I (met / have met) them was at a local village and we spent the afternoon playing and eating ice cream. (By / On / At) the time we all moved into Dave’s house, the girls were really comfortable with me and we had got to know each other really well. The change for me was much bigger than it was for them. I left my single life behind and entered a world of routine, bedtimes and bath times, homework, Barbie dolls and later loud music and boyfriends! When I met Dave the girls were eight and now they are 16 and they have really grown up!

 I know that I will never replace their dead Mum, (but / because) I do know that we are a happy family and even though I don’t have any children of my own, I think I have succeeded as a stepmum.