What tore Heidi Klum and Seal's "fairy-tale" marriage apart? After four children and an almost seven-year relationship filled with grand gestures (vow renewals, exotic getaways), the couple reveal that they've "grown apart." This week's issue of PEOPLE examines some surprising details about the shocking split. Heidi and Seal's Christmas vacation in Aspen should have been a magical time. However, coming off his latest European tour, an exhausted Seal "wanted to sleep, not spend time with other people and be out all day," which led to arguments between the Grammy award-winning singer, 48, and the Project Runway host, 38, a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE. In the end, "instead of being back together as a family," says another source, "it was difficult for them to get along."

Three weeks later, the pair stunned family, friends and fans by announcing that after much "soul-searching" they had decided to separate. While Klum and Seal (born Sealhenry Samuel) took great pains to help their four children – Leni, 7, Henry, 6, Johan, 5, and Lou, 2 – process the news at their L.A. home over the weekend, the rest of the world struggled to come to grips as well. "All this is just shocking," says Niche Media founder Jason Binn, a longtime friend of Klum's. "I've only seen them as the most loving couple." Says another friend: "I never thought they'd give up on their marriage. They seemed so committed."

After they wed in May 2005 on a beach in Costa Careyes, Mexico, Heidi and Seal renewed their wedding vows on every anniversary with a spectacular party ranging from a masquerade ball to a '80s-themed get-together. At their Venetian-inspired bash last May, "they were kissing and holding hands and laughing the whole time," says a friend of Klum's. "There were no signs that they were having problems."

But there were cracks in the surface of their marriage. "They were just really great at keeping it private and putting on that 'perfect couple' front that everyone expected," says another Klum pal. But "it's actually been about six months that they've been working through some issues." For one, they spend long stretches continents apart. While Seal was criss-crossing Europe last year, Klum was holding down the family fort in their $14.2 million manse in L.A., where she shuttled the kids to and from ballet classes and karate lessons. Although Seal made a concerted effort to Skype with his family and send photos from the road, "it got harder and harder for both of them to re-engage in the relationship after being apart for so long," says a source close to the couple. "It's a crazy love affair with highs and lows," the source adds, who describes their last family trip to Aspen as "the final straw. When they got back they realized there were more lows than highs. They realized while they love each other, they're not in love anymore."

As the household grew, Klum's career exploded as well: In recent years the retired Victoria's Secret model has become a businesswoman who now ranks No. 2 on the Forbes list of the world's top money-making models. While Klum also travels for work, a source close to the couple says she is adamant about making only quick trips so she can be home for her brood. "She made her life around those kids and put her work second," adds the source.

For now, as the family remains living together in L.A., their sole focus is protecting their kids. "They're devoted to making sure their kids are happy and not affected by this," says a friend of the couple's. "I do believe they love each other. I believe they were madly in love," says a source close to Seal. "But they're just two people going in two different directions."

Heidi Klum and Seal - Relationship Timeline
 
Seal and Heidi Klum first began dating in 2004, which was the same year the British singer released a single titled "Love's Divine" off his fourth studio album, Seal IV. It's also the same year Klum began working on Project Runway, a reality show that still airs 10 seasons later.
 
Wedding Bells, Round One
After getting engaged on a glacier in British Columbia, the couple walked down the aisle together on May 10, 2005, along a sandy stretch of beach in Mexico. Though this was their first official marriage, Klum and Seal would go on to renew their vows each year on their wedding anniversary.
 
Baby On Board
Soon after the wedding in May 2005, it became very apparent that Klum was expecting a baby. And indeed, the supermodel would give birth to their first child, Henry, on September 12 of that year. He would turn out to be the first of three biological children the couple would bring into this world.
 
Together On the Runway
Just two months after giving birth, Klum strutted down the runway at the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Not only did she reveal her unbelievably toned body, but she got to do so with Seal right by her side. Millions of mothers watching at home were left in a jealous rage.
 
Bumpin' Down the Red Carpet
You can barely tell from this photo, but when Klum arrived on the red carpet of the 58th Annual Emmy Awards in August 2006, she was hiding a baby bump under that stunning red dress. Just three months later, in November, the beautiful blonde would give birth to her and Seal's second baby, Johan.
 
Back at It Again
Another year, another runway shared. In December 2007, Seal and Klum got to sing their duet "Wedding Day" together at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. At this point in their relationship, the couple had been married for over three years, and their love appeared strong as ever, as they couldn't keep their hands off each other while sharing the stage.
 
Going for Three
Arriving at the 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards alongside her husband, there was no hiding Klum's enormous baby bump. If you're looking at this picture and thinking to yourself "Wow, she looks ready to burst," well, your thoughts aren't too far off. Less than three weeks later, the supermodel gave birth to her and Seal's third child, and first daughter, Lou.
 
Lovely Leni
In 2009, Seal officially adopted Klum's first daughter, Leni, whose biological father is Italian business mogul Flavio Briatore. Judging from how happy the two looked together at the time, we'd say it was a good move.
 
Goin' Alone
While we found it strange that Klum arrived at the 2012 Golden Globes sansSeal, we didn't really think much about it. Yet just two weeks later, the couple announced their split.
 
The End
On January 20, 2012, Seal crypticallytweeted "The End." Two days later, the couple confirmed the rumored news of their split to People. "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate," they said in a statement, bringing an official end to their seven-year marriage.