Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon spending holidays together for their kids

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are determined to spend the holidays together for the sake of their two children as they work out their marriage troubles.

The Hero hitmaker separated from Cannon earlier this year (14) after six years of marriage, but the rapper, actor and TV presenter reveals the estranged couple still works closely together to make sure the happiness of three-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe remain the stars' top priority.

Speaking to U.S. talk show host Meredith Viera on Friday (24Oct14), he explains, "(I'm) just staying focused on family and what's right and getting through these times and just doing what's right for the kids...

"They're just happy. They love mommy, they love daddy. We've always been people who are kind of on the go, coming and going, so their life hasn't changed one bit. We spend holidays together, we do everything that we're supposed to do together."

And he claims bizarre reports about Cannon and Carey fighting over custody of their pets are unfounded.

He adds, "You know what I heard the other day? I heard that there's a family dispute over our eight dogs. It's the Jack Russell puppy dispute!"